Page 157 of Their Greatest Strength

“But if you did . . .” I drawl.

“Stop talking and just dance with your mom, Jamieson.”

With a smirk, I do exactly that.

BLAKELY

My father-in-law is an even worse dancer than I am. It’s honestly quite adorable, considering how intimidating he is. Flaws make him a bit less scary.

“Gracie’s right, you know? We did get very lucky with the women our sons chose to have in our lives forever,” he says.

I almost trip on my dress as his words register. “Thank you. That’s really nice of you to say.”

“I’m not in the business of being nice for no reason. I mean it. We’re happy to have you be a member of our family.”

“It’s an incredible family to be a part of. You’ve made me feel welcome, but also Nate, and that’s important to me.”

Tyler offers me a small but incredibly sincere smile. “You did well with him. He’ll be a good man one day.”

I roll my lips and look away, those statements hitting home. The confirmation from a man who raised two incredible men, one of whom is the best one I’ve ever met, is almost too much to handle.

“Coming from you, that means a lot,” I croak, trying to hide the crack in my voice.

“My father was a man I didn’t meet until I was a teenager. I raised myself on my own before and after that, and I wish I’d have had someone who cared about me as much as you care about your brother. He’ll remember everything you’ve done for him for the rest of his life. I admire how strong you are. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, and I know that you’ve foughtharder than you ever should have had to for the good you’ve found.”

There are no words that would do justice to my appreciation. But I hope that as I let go of my fears and hug him, he can tell how much what he’s said has meant to me.

I squeeze my eyes shut and trap the tears that try to escape and ruin my makeup as he adjusts his arms to hold me right back. It’s the second hug I’ve received from him, and it’s even more special than the first one.

“How come every time I find you hugging my wife, she’s crying, Dad?” Jamie asks, his voice soft.

He peels me out of his father’s arms and takes me into his instead. It feels like coming back home after a night spent lost in the woods. My head clears, and my heart races.

I smile at Tyler in a final show of thanks that he doesn’t hesitate to return before patting Jamie’s arm.

“Go dance with your wife, son.”

My husband nods firmly, and then they share an intense look that I glance away from, giving them as much space as I can.

A moment later, Jamie’s twirling me dramatically, a proud laugh escaping him. Several other couples join us on the dance floor, but it’s impossible to pay attention to a single one of them.

“Have you had a good wedding night, wife?” he asks once I’ve landed back in his hold.

I set my hands on his shoulder and waist and hum, undecided. “I’m not sure.”

“In that case, how can I make it better?”

“Will you let me feed you cake and splatter it on your face?”

“Is that a trick question? Obviously, you can rub my face with cake. But only if I can do the same to yours.”

“What about a compromise?” I ask, my chest flaming when his hand finds a new home low on my back.

His head dips, words kissing my cheek. “What do you have in mind?”

“When we get home, you can rub cake anywhere you want.”

“Let’s skip the cake altogether, and I’ll make dessert out of you instead.”

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