Page 34 of Forbidden Confessions: Vol. 2
“Beyond.”
She turns to a niche in the hallway and hands me a cluster of roses. “You’ll need this.”
We share a last smile, and the music starts. Kristi walks down the hall and into the dining room in time with the music, catching the eye of more than one single guy in the room. I can’t help but notice that Ridge especially keeps stealing glances, and I catch her blushing when his stare follows her to the front of the room until she turns to face the crowd. Maybe my wish for her to find love won’t take as long as I thought.
Then the music changes, David squeezes my hand, and it’s time.
Suddenly, the small crowd stands and I walk past a lot of familiar faces—Rob, my mother and her husband, two of Rand’s brothers, and their mother—all wearing beaming smiles.
At the end of the room, my gorgeous hunk of a bodyguard-turned-boyfriend waits for me with his heart in his eyes. His older brother, Ransom, stands beside him, looking handsome and a bit mysterious.
“So I take it this isn’t actually a New Year’s Eve party?” Rand’s brother, Rush, calls out, clearly catching on.
“No, it’s a wedding. Surprise!” I call over my shoulder. “Keeping this secret from y’all was nearly impossible. I had to swear your mother to secrecy, and Ransom almost figured it out when Rand asked him to come in a tux tonight.”
Then Rush steals a clandestine glance at his phone. He’s been checking it constantly since he flew in yesterday. Something about his work is shifting, and I have a feeling his carefully controlled world is about to get complicated.
Everyone chuckles as the minister smiles and asks, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”
“I do.” David pats my hand softly before placing my palm in Rand’s and dropping a tender kiss on my cheek.
Before we speak our vows, we light unity candles. Beside the tapers on the small table sits a framed photo of Rand’s father. Rand’s jaw tightens slightly as he touches the frame. I know he misses his dad terribly.
I squeeze Rand’s hand and whisper, “He’d be proud.”
My groom nods, his eyes bright, then he guides me back to our makeshift altar and faces forward as the minister asks everyone to take a moment to remember those who can’t be with us today. Behind me, Charlene sniffles. After thirty years and four boys, she worshipped that man. She misses him every day.
Ten minutes later, our previously stunned guests are still grinning or conspicuously sniffling as the minister pronounces us man and wife.
“You may kiss the bride.”
Rand does with gusto to a roomful of whistles and catcalls when the pucker goes on longer than is strictly polite.
“Get a room!” Rand’s youngest brother, Ridge, shouts.
My husband—wow, it seems crazy to say that—takes my hand and starts dragging me down the makeshift aisle. “Best advice I’ve gotten all day. Good night, y’all. Thanks for coming!”
I dig in my heels as everyone laughs.
Ransom approaches first and welcomes me to the family with a kiss on the cheek. His smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. All of Rand’s brothers have an edge, as if they’re expecting bullets and mayhem at any moment. Then again, that’s the norm in their world. Rush tries not to let it show, but he has a soft side and a good heart…buried under a lot of alpha male. Ridge is a jokester, but I get the sense that’s meant to hide his very dangerous demeanor, especially given the whispers that he’s neck-deep in the Vegas mafia. But Ransom’s sharp edges cut deeper than the others. There’s something almost untouchable about him, like he’s gone too long without letting anyone close. Despite how good he is with his teenage son, he seems more stone-cold killer than family man.
Rand pulls me in for another kiss as his mother opens her arms for a hug. Charlene is a lovely, kind woman, and I couldn’t have asked for a better mother-in-law.
“You look beautiful, Sophie.” Her eyes water. “You and Rand will be very happy.”
“We will.” I know it in my heart.
“We promise,” my husband adds, tossing a possessive arm around my waist.
“And since you’re the first one of your brothers to get off his backside and get married”—Charlene sends Ransom a pointed glare, which he pretends not to notice—“when can I expect some grandkids from you? Ethan needs cousins.”
Rand sighs. “Mom, we’ve literally been married three minutes. Let us go on our honeymoon and settle into some sort of normal life. Then we’ll start talking?—”
“July,” I cut in softly, casting a hopeful stare to my husband.
He swallows. “Y-you want to get pregnant in July?”
I bite my lip and shake my head. “We’re going to have a baby. In July. Surprise…”
Rand pales. “Oh, holy shit. You’re serious? We are? You’re pregnant?”
“Yes.” I blink, and my stomach plummets to my toes. “Please tell me you’re happy.”
“Happy? No.” Then the biggest smile I’ve ever seen crosses Rand’s face. “I’m thrilled! Oh, honey…”
He lays his lips over mine, and the small, trusted crowd of guests claps for the beginning of our long, happy life together.
