Page 98 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

Ladies and Gentleman, today we celebrate as Travis Bowers (Country Music’s King of Rock), sweeps our very own Gemma Carlson off her feet (again) as the two recommit to each other in front of God, their friends and family, and the eye of SAURON (AKA Mrs. Marcie Andrews). I will be there, cheering them on, in a red and black dress . . . Or will I? LOL! Come on, folks, like I’d make it that easy for you? Congratulations to Gemma and Travis! Oh, and as for our favorite neighborhood barista and bartender . . . I’ll be watching you two! ;-)

GEMMA SAT IN the little antechamber of the church, waiting anxiously for the vow renewal ceremony to begin.

“Will you hold still, for Pete’s sake?” Gracie said irritably, holding Gemma’s veil as Katie Connors put the last pin in Gemma’s hair.

“I’m excited, what can I say?” Gemma smiled in the mirror. Gracie stood behind her and slipped the veil below the cascade of brown curls.

“Excited, good. Lopsided hair, bad,” Gracie said, as Katie laughed.

The door opened, and Callie, Gemma’s mom, and her sister Dawn came into the room.

“They’re getting ready to start,” Callie said, sounding a little nervous.

Gemma was happy that Callie had agreed to be one of her bridesmaids. Big crowds tended to make her nervous, but she’d been a real trooper, and Gemma reminded herself to ask Travis about that interview. They’d been so wrapped up in each other and Charlie the last month, they hadn’t had time to think of anything else.

As Gemma stood up, the women around her gave a collective gasp.

“Oh, Gemma, you are beautiful,” her mother said, giving her a hug.

“Thanks, Mom,” Gemma said happily. She was so excited about all of the work the people of Rock Canyon had put into the ceremony and reception, and she almost started giggling when she thought about her mother and Mrs. Andrews nearly coming to blows over the bouquet flowers. She hadn’t cared one wit about the flowers, the food, or even the dress. All she’d cared about was standing up in front of the people she loved and remarrying Travis.

After his song, he’d stayed two days with her, and they’d needed the time to themselves to talk. Gemma had never been so honest in her life, except maybe with Gracie, but it had been such a relief to open up to Travis and feel his love and acceptance.

The makeup sex hadn’t hurt either.

A loud knock sounded on the door, and her brother James walked in, covering his eyes with one hand. “Are you decent?”

“Yes, you dork,” Gemma said.

James dropped his hand and whistled. “Not bad, baby sister. Mom, it’s time to start the parade.”

Her mom went to take James’s arm and they left the room quietly.

Gemma turned to look in the full-length mirror. Travis had insisted on a new wedding dress, even though she’d protested, assuring him that the dress from their first wedding was wonderful, but he’d wanted a fresh start. She’d ended up finding the perfect strapless, champagne taffeta wedding dress on eBay, and Travis had teased her about being a penny pincher. Wearing the teardrop diamond necklace he’d bought her, she’d paired it with her sapphire studs for her something blue and the silvery heels she’d saved from their prom as her something old.

Gracie handed her the round bouquet of orange roses and Gerbera daisies. Gracie, Callie, and Dawn all wore tea-length, sea-foam-green dresses they’d gotten off the sales rack, and the color complemented each of them.

“You ready?” Gracie asked. “Or do I need to go get the escape mobile?”

Gemma smiled. “I’m ready.”

Following the other women out to the entryway of the church, Gemma saw Michael, who was one of Travis’s groomsmen, looking very handsome in his tux, and gave him a bright smile. Returning her smile, he covered his heart with his hands and acted like he’d been shot. Things had been getting better between them, especially since Travis and he had rekindled their friendship with a late night of drinking and a couple of thrown punches. They never would tell her why they’d fought, but considering both men had been thick as thieves ever since, she didn’t press it.

Charlie came running up to her in his tux, his hair slicked flat with gel and beaming. “Hey, Mom!”

“Hey, honey.” The processional started, and two by two, the couples entered the church until Charlie and Gemma were the only ones left. Slipping her hand through her son’s crooked arm, she asked, “Are you ready?”

“Yeah!” he said, moving forward a little fast at first, but a quick squeeze of his arm slowed him down. They entered the church, and the rest of the room melted away when Gemma saw Travis waiting under the arbor.

They seemed to float down the aisle in slow motion until they stopped at the bottom of the three-step stage. Gemma held her breath, unable to look away from Travis’s face. A combination of love, wonder, and happiness shone from his deep blue eyes, and tears started falling down her cheeks before she could stop them.

“You’re going to ruin your makeup,” Gracie hissed from the top step.

Ignoring her, Gemma waited as Travis came down the stairs and cupped her cheek, bringing her to him. Leaning down, he gave her a long, soft kiss that only broke when Pastor Edwards coughed. “Eh, not time yet.”

Smiling as they held each other, Travis said, “I love you, Gem.”

“I love you, too, Trav,” she replied, one arm around his waist as they faced the pastor and started up the steps.

---