Page 63 of His Best Man's Baby

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Tae stood at the back of the chapel, her stomach tied so tight in knots, she didn’t know if she wanted to pass out or throw up. For some reason, all she could think about was the last wedding she attended and how everything went to pieces afterward. Daniel’s marriage hadn’t lasted five minutes, and there’d been so much between her, him, and Jax, how could she believe it would be okay this time around? Hadn’t she started the relationship wrong with Jax? Shouldn’t she still feel guilty?

The problem was, she didn’t. The lack of guilt made her question herself now that she stood here. She shut her eyes and pressed a hand to her forehead, willing the emotions to die down. Her mother and Sasha had spent forever getting her face just right. No way would she cry before Jax saw her and mess it all up. On some level, she heard the violin, which they’d arranged to play during the ceremony, and recognized the “Wedding March.” The beautiful melody flowed through her, reached the end, and started over again, and still she didn’t move. A light hand at her back made her start.

“Tae, sweetie, we really should go in.”

“I know, but what if he leaves me tomorrow?” The corners of her eyes moistened. She sucked in deep breaths. Her dad took both her hands and held them while he captured her gaze.

“Jaxon Hart loves you. That’s why we’re here. Besides that, you’re a strong black woman. If he doesn’t appreciate what he has in my little girl, he doesn’t deserve you.” Her dad released her hands and held up a finger. “And your mother will have his head for ruining what she calls her perfect work of art.”

Tae laughed. “Of course. It’s all Ma’s planning. Thanks, Daddy. I feel much better.”

He gave her a hug, and she kissed his cheek, and then she nodded to the attendant to open the chapel doors. Tae stepped into the long, narrow chapel with wooden, cushion-covered benches on both sides of the aisle. Her mother had arranged the decorations so that white streamers were pinned at each bench with a white bow. Sunlight shone through the stained glass windows, casting the scene of her husband to be, his best man, and the backdrop of the minister and bouquets of flowers into a warm and inviting cocoon.

Almost every seat in the chapel was filled, giving evidence to how her mother had ignored her wishes to have a small ceremony, but Tae looked beyond all the eyes observing her to meet the gaze of the one who mattered most. She knew Jax, and from the way he offered her that crooked smile with his shoulders too high and his hands fisted at his sides, she knew he was nervous, too. When she smiled back, something seemed to come over him. He relaxed, and unless she missed her guess, the man seemed love-struck.

As she moved along the aisle, she caught her mother’s slightly raised voice telling the person next to her how she had picked out Tae’s dress. That was true. Sasha and her mother both convinced her to buy the white dress with backline all the way down to her butt. Ruching extended over her butt to gather into a big white bow, sitting just beneath the curve of her rear. She loved the daring design, but it meant she’d had to exercise hard to get off the last few pounds, and she’d done it. If she did say so herself, she looked good, and Jax’s response confirmed it.

Her mind a whirl, she went through the motions, lighting a candle, saying a prayer, but when he slipped the ring onto her finger and recited his vows, her attention was all on him.

“Octavia,” he said softly. Jax never called her that. Her heart raced at the name from his lips. “When I met you, I fell in love.”

Gasps broke out nearby, and a “knew that” from one of her family members. She couldn’t take them anywhere.

“When I met you, you turned my life around. No other woman would ever satisfy me or make me happy.”

She ducked her head at his candor, embarrassed and pleased. Jax sharing such deep feelings was a challenge, and she’d better remember the words forever. Wait, she had a man filming this. She’d have evidence.

“I knew you were the one, but…” For a millisecond, his gaze slipped to the side and then back on her. “The timing wasn’t right.” All of a sudden, Tae realized Jax was speaking of not when they had sex in the hotel but before that, long before that. He loved her from the first when she was with Daniel. Now he’d gone and done it. She started to cry.

The love of her life brushed her tears away, and the minister continued with the ceremony. Tae said her vows with all the honesty and love she had, gazing into Jax’s eyes so he knew she meant it. Just as he had said to her, no other man could take his place or be the one like she knew he was. She hadn’t loved Jax from the beginning, but that didn’t matter. She would love him until the end of time.

The minister pronounced them man and wife, and Jax swept her off her feet into his arms. He kissed her so thoroughly, her veil slipped, and she smacked his shoulder. With cheers going up all around them, he set her on her feet, and they turned to face their guests. Tae caught Daniel’s eye, and he offered a sad smile, applauding with everyone else. Between the two of them, he and Jax had agreed that they didn’t feel comfortable for Daniel to act as Jax’s best man, so Jax chose another friend, but Daniel had promised to be there. She was glad he’d kept his word.

Tae took in the sight of family and friends. With her husband by her side, she felt much more accepting of her mother’s attitude and Janita’s selfishness. Not that she intended to give in to it. She and Jax had enjoyed a few dinners with his dad, and she’d met his siblings. They were all nice and accepting of her. Tae had never thought being surrounded by family could mean so much, but she gave the credit to Little Jaxon and to his daddy.

“Ready?” Jax asked, bringing her hand to his lips.

She nodded. They worked their way through the guests, chatting, hugging, and kissing. When the crush was over, she and Jax took the baby to a room they had reserved at The Duke Mansion where they had arranged to have the reception. Tae laid the baby on the bed and kissed his sweet little cheek. Her baby cooed and kicked his feet. She breathed in the wonderful baby smell.

“Tae, let me help you with your dress.”

She eyed Jax over her shoulder. “You know we have to go back downstairs for pictures, Jax. I’m not getting naked before that. I just came up here to freshen my makeup, and my mother is coming to get the baby.”

He looked crestfallen. “But your back is driving me crazy.”

She laughed. “It’s called skin, sir.”

He smacked her ass. “What about this

?”

Tae darted away. “Stop, you’re going to mess up my bow.”

Jax snapped his fingers. “What do you say we go bowling later?”

“You’re nuts.”

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