Page 51 of With You Forever

“I know.” Seth squeezes Lacey’s hand. “But they’re gonna have to deal with it.”

A clearing of the throat has everyone turning.

The preacher stands there. “Y’all ready to begin the ceremony?”

Lacey jumps and claps her hands together, startling the preacher. “Absolutely not,” she says, flustered. “I need to change. I need dress number two.”

Seth chuckles, running his palms down her slender shoulders. “Easy, princess. We got time.”

“Yeah. We do,” she says, smiling soft.

Then with a gasp she snaps into action. The Lacey he knows. This wedding may be simple and easy, but his girl isn’t, and he loves that about her.

Lacey turns to Sal, grabs Emmy Lou’s and Alabama’s hands. “Come help me get ready.” Linking arms, the women gather at the bar for glasses of champagne and then, in a torrent of synchronized squealing, head off toward the back room.

Griff returns from the bar with shots of tequila. His tawny eyes glint. “You ’bout to have yourself a good night, Seth.”

The men gather round and Seth looks to his brother, to Jace. In Luke’s arms, Cash giggles, squirming around in his banjo footie pajamas.

“Raise hell, have some fun,” Griff toasts, and with amens, they raise their shots, shoot them back with smooth finesse.

Exhaling, Luke meets his eyes. His brother’s face is serious, nostalgic. “Never thought I’d see this damn day.”

Seth’s eyes move to where Lacey disappeared mere moments ago. “Me either,” he murmurs, his heart thundering in his chest at the thought that soon she’ll be his wife.

His hands shake. His heartbeat pounds like a kick drum. He’s so goddamn nervous his stomach’s pinned in his boots.

Hell, he’s wanted to marry Lacey ever since he put that ring on her finger. Never thought it would be like this, wearing a plaid shirt, jeans and boots in a dingy dive bar, a handful of guests watching, a jukebox pounding out Hank Williams, but to him, it’s perfect.

He hopes this is what Lacey wants. That she doesn’t regret it—or him—because he knows he can never work hard enough to deserve her, but goddamn he’ll try.

Beside him, Luke nudges his shoulder with his own. A gleam in his eyes. “She’s late. Think she climbed out the bathroom window?”

“Cut it out, man,” Seth grouses, trying not to check the neon clock on the wall.

Across from him, Sal gives him a smile.

Anxious, he shifts, wiping clammy palms on the legs of his jeans.

Then there’s a creak of the floorboard.

A gasp from Sal.

Seth’s jaw drops and he finds his breath catching in his throat. Nothing could prepare him for this moment. Lacey looks like a damn goddess. She wears a shimmering floor-length gown with spaghetti straps and a sexy sheer bodice that hugs her flawlessly. The stark white color makes her bronze skin pop and her bright green eyes sparkle. Her long blond hair is loose, curled slightly at the ends. Around her neck she wears the delicate gold locket that was her mother’s.

In disbelief, he closes his eyes. Opens them.

And she’s still here.

His.

His wife.

As she walks toward him, Seth inhales a ragged breath. His and Lacey’s gazes lock. No nerves in her eyes. Only love and adoration burn within those bright, brilliant green eyes of hers.

Seth’s vision blurs, and then Lacey’s in front of him, slipping her steady hands into his. She gives them a squeeze and all he can do is shake his head at the fact that this one singular motion, her graceful touch, always has him finding his place. Where he belongs. The strength she gives him is endless.

He never imagined a love like this. A woman like this. Brave. Sexy. Strong. A woman who loves him for who he is. Despite his mistakes, his bullshit, she’s stood by him, has had his back with unfailing belief. She’s saved him, whipped up his life into something he never thought possible.

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