Page 117 of Never the Bride
I know he’s the type of man who means,as long as we both shall live.
Hess finisheshis best man speech, and the clinking of glasses rings throughout the barn. It’s my turn now. I rise from my chair. My hands tremble slightly against the stem of my wine glass, but I clear my throat and smile at the tables of guests.
“When Selena first told me about Landon, I’ll admit I was skeptical of their whirlwind romance. To me, everything sounded too fast and too good to be true. And as her older sister, it’s my job to worry.” A soft ripple of laughter moves through the tables as I find Selena’s face. “But then I watched them together. Watched how happy Landon made my sister. And the more time I spent with the two of them, the more I began to see what Selena sees. I saw a kind-hearted man, who makes her laugh, who adores her. I saw a man who will take care of her, not becauseshe needs someone to take care of her, but because love makes you want that kind of partnership.”
I pause, my voice catching as I look at Hess, realizing those words are true for him too.
“The truth is, I might be the older sister, but Selena has taught me more than I could ever teach her. She’s taught me not to be afraid of love. To take that risk and give it everything you have. That marriage isn’t chains or obligations. It’s a collaboration. It’s two people building something together out of compassion, respect, and selflessness.”
Tears sting the corners of my eyes now, but I don’t bother hiding them. I glance at Selena, who’s already dabbing her cheeks with a napkin.
“Having spent the last five-plus years as a divorce attorney, I’m the last person in the world to be offering marital advice, so I thought I’d steal something from another woman I respect so much. She said that marriage is all about KFC. Kindness. Forgiveness. And commitment. If you two can remember that, I know you’ll have a long life full of love.
“And so, tonight, as much as it hurts my protective, big-sister heart, I’m officially handing over the reins.” My eyes shift to my new brother-in-law. “Landon, you’ve got Selena from here. I know you’ll take care of the woman we both love so much.”
I lift my glass, and the room follows. Applause breaks out, warm and loud, as Selena jumps to her feet, hugging me.
Hess
Gravel crunchesunder the tires as the last food truck pulls out of the drive, leaving the place quiet again. My hand laces through Camila’s as we walk back toward the barn, the glow from the string lights spilling out from the windows.
She rests her head on my shoulder. “It was a good day.”
“Yeah,” I muse as we step inside the barn.
“I should be more tired, but I’m not.”
I glance at Camila and how her black dress still clings to her. How wisps of her hair frame her face. “If you’re not tired, how about one last dance?” I gesture toward the wide-open floor.
Her eyes soften as she nods.
I lead her to the middle of the room as the strands of lights glow above us like stars. One hand goes to her waist, the other curling around her back as we sway together. Her curves mold against me perfectly, every part of her fitting like she belongs here, with me, in my arms. My cheek brushes her hair, and for a moment, I feel entirely content.
This is what life is all about.
My heart pounds too hard to keep it in. I lean back, just enough to see her face. Her eyes lift to mine, brown and soft, and I know nothing will ever beat this moment.
“I love you,” I breathe out the words. “I don’t know how tonotlove you.”
Her lips part, surprise flashing in her eyes, but I keep going, words tumbling out before I can stop them. “I didn’t mean for it to happen, but there was no way to stop the fall, even if I wanted to. You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. You’re strong and brilliant and so sure of yourself, and every single day, you make me want to be a better man for you. I can’t help it. I love you.”
The bigger her smile gets, the more my chest aches. And then she’s pulling me closer, her lips catching mine like that’s the only way she knows how to respond.
The kiss starts tender, almost playful, as if it’s full of joy and excitement all at once. But as the moments roll on, things shift, the gravity of what I just confessed shaping our intimacy. The chemistry between us is not just physical. It’s a love. It’s the promise of a future. The kind of passion that feels like we’re not two people anymore but one.
We stumble, bumping into a table, a laugh breaking against her lips before I claim her mouth again. My hand fumbles for the light switch, plunging the barn into darkness except for the moonlight seeping through the cracks. I manage to lead us back outside, clumsily trying to shut the doors behind us while still kissing her. But she breaks away, already walking ahead, hips swaying, adding to my need for her. Then she glances over her shoulder with a flirty smile and blazing eyes that challenge every physical line I’ve maintained between us.
I can’t help myself. I run after her, grabbing her around the waist from behind, pulling her against my chest. I bury kissesalong her neck, her laugh turning breathless as her head tips back. She turns in my arms, draping hers around my neck, and our mouths crash together again, more desperate this time.
We stumble toward the house, tripping up the steps, never breaking apart. Inside, the darkness adds to the tension. We kiss our way down the hall until we’re by our bedrooms. I press her back against the wall, tangling my fingers in her hair, kissing her like it’s the only language between us.
My hands slide down her body as she pushes my suit jacket off my shoulders. We both know where this is going if one of us doesn’t say something soon, but it’s like a standoff, neither one of us willing to retreat. When she starts unbuttoning my top button, I pull back, breath ragged as my chest heaves up and down.
“I want you more than a man has ever wanted a woman, but…” My words hang between us, no further explanation needed.
She takes my hand. Her grip firm as she leads me toward her bedroom. My feet stop just shy of the doorway, my heart pounding. I know what this means. If we cross this line, there’s no going back. Not for me. This isn’t convenience. This is real.
A real marriage built on love and commitment.
