Page 37 of Secrets and Lies

His father again seemed to lose focus, and if Mitch wasn’t mistaken, he’d actually gone pale under his Florida tan.

“Dad?”

“Yes?” he asked.

“Why are you asking about the other guy?” Mitch watched his father closely. Something didn’t sit right with him. Something about this conversation had his alarm bells sounding louder than the wedding bells in his mind.

He glanced at Gage, who was also studying their father. He was feeling it too. Something wasn’t right.

“Time to go,” Logan said as he got to his feet, staring at his phone screen. “We don’t want you to be late for your own wedding.”

Gage followed suit and nudged their father, who was still somewhat lost in thought. Mitch watched them start to head out of the room. “Logan, hang back a sec.”

Logan waited by the doorway for Mitch while watching Gage and their father head down the hallway.

Mitch came to a stop beside his brother. “I just wanted to say thanks. What you’ve done here…it’s amazing. Above and beyond. I can’t thank you enough.”

“You don’t have to thank me. It was a pleasure. It’s also my way of saying sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?”

Logan shrugged. “When I think back to our childhood, I think you were right. Maybe, Gage, and especially me, locked you out in certain ways. I regret that more than I can say. I wish I had behaved better. But I am eternally grateful that we’re on good terms now.”

Mitch swallowed an unexpected lump in his throat. “We’re more than on good terms. I would be lost without you and Gage. Family is everything.” He immediately wrapped his brother in a bear hug.

Logan broke the hug. “Now let’s go get you married.”

Mitch couldn’t believe his luck. He’d married the love of his life in front of all their friends and family. As he watched Alex and Leo dance together, his heart was full. Seeing Alex come down the aisle toward them, looking so stunning that she took hisbreath away and brought the prickle of tears to his eyes. It was like some kind of miracle.

When he’d been a SEAL, he’d seen the kind of love members of his team experienced with their wives and girlfriends. The worry on their faces that this might be the last goodbye. But they faced it by knowing the depth of their love for each other. He’d been envious, and more than a little afraid he might never find that with anyone. But now…

He’d never thought when they’d started the expansion of Callahan Security that not only would they be successful, but that he would find the woman of his dreams. The woman who made him want to wake up every day. Alex brought spice and laughter to his life, but most of all, she brought love. And for that, he was truly grateful.

And the love wasn’t restricted to Alex. He discovered how much he loved his brothers, even when they were major pains in his ass. He couldn’t fathom a way to do life without any of them.

He was…complete.

“Are you going to stand here all night or go dance with your bride?” Lacy teased as she and Logan danced by.

“I’m going,” Mitch commented and then went and cut in on Leo.

“Hello, wife.”

Alex grinned up at him. “Hello, husband. Wow, that is such a weird thing to say.”

“But good though, right?”

“Oh, so good. I am…” she swallowed as tears filled her eyes. “I am happier than I ever thought possible.”

Mitch leaned down and put his forehead to hers. “Me too.” Then he whispered in her ear. “When do you think we can ditch this crowd and go celebrate in private?”

Alex laughed. “We can’t go before we cut the cake.”

Mitch sighed. “Seriously? When is that going to happen?”

“I’ll see if I can speed it up,” she said with a wink, “but until then, let’s see if we can find a quiet corner.”

“Now you’re talking,” he commented as Alex pulled him off the dance floor. They left the circle of light and Mitch pulled her behind a large sheltering tree. “You have made me so happy.” He smiled and then kissed her.

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