Page 2 of The Ranger Gets His Girl

Helen nodded and turned back to the mirror with a frown, fiddling with the lacy sleeves on her v-neck dress.

"But your aunts and uncle—"

"They can shove it," Lucy said, crossing her arms.

"Lucinda!"

"What? They can. If they can't feel happy for you, they shouldn't be here."

Helen's face fell. Lucy's mom was gone. But she had two aunts and an uncle who could've been here for their mom. Well, one aunt was deployed, but the other two could be here if they'd only made the drive.

Lucy put her chin on Nana's shoulder and stared at her in the mirror. "Do you need them here to marry him? Or do you love him and are ready to be with him forever?"

Helen sighed. "Of course I do. But between them and your grandpa. It's just—"

Vonda interrupted. "Helen, I swear to God, if you're pussyfooting around because you're comparing Ray to Jerry, let it go. They're like night and day."

Margarita nodded and stepped closer. "She's right, Helen. Jerry would want you to be happy, wouldn't he?"

Helen nodded, her eyes bright with tears. "I just wish the kids were happy for me too."

Vonda patted Helen's forearm. "Now, now, don't mess up the makeup."

A knock on the door interrupted them, and Vonda's granddaughter, Lola, opened the door. "Ready? The guys just went into the sanctuary."

Katie left with Lola to join the guests, and Vonda and Margarita followed to line up in the foyer. Lucy watched Helen, seeing her jaw firm and chin lift.

Lucy smiled to see that excited, determined look cross Helen's face. Then Helen turned to the door and waved. "Well, let's get this show on the road."

Lucy chuckled and walked down the hall to stand in line behind Margarita. Then Vonda was walking down the aisle with Margarita a few steps behind her. Lucy followed.

THE WOMAN WALKING DOWN the aisle was beautiful. So beautiful that Mason felt he'd been sucker punched. His chest grew tight, and he couldn't breathe. Hot damn, who was she?

Her long brown hair shone in the soft light of the church in some fancy half-up do, diamond studs sparkling throughout. Her long-sleeved peach v-neck dress was the same as the much older ladies standing across the aisle from him.

But on her, it clung to every curve. Those curves trapped his mind in possibilities. No, he couldn't go there. He refused to think of her like that.

He dove into his training, trying to cut off his emotions and make a professional assessment. She was average height, probably five-seven or five-eight. She was fit and toned, an athletic type, but with curves that made him salivate.

She had an elegant, swan-like throat that sparkled with the diamonds that caressed it. She was now close enough to see freckles dotting the bridge of her nose. Maybe she liked hiking or fishing. She had a body meant to be worshiped outdoors.

No, damn it, turn it off, Mason. Get it together.

She walked down the pews, smiling at each person on her right. But when she met his eyes, she stumbled a step before catching herself.

Her expression froze like a deer in the headlights. Then she stepped beside the other two bridesmaids and the music changed to the bridal march.

Mason blinked, and it seemed like the ceremony was over. He couldn't stop staring at the Maid of Honor and lost track of time.

Professionally speaking, she should've been average in every way. Brown hair and eyes, medium height, athletic build.

But there was something about her that pulled at him. She exuded this quiet energy that seemed to brighten the room. He kept waiting for her to hop away like a bird, the way she looked at him then away like she was hoping he didn't notice.

Music pulled him to the present and Helen and his grandpa, Ray, turned to face the now cheering crowd behind them. Ray tucked Helen's hand into the crook of his arm and beamed down at her. She smiled, her cheeks flushed, as they began to walk down the aisle as husband and wife.

Mason cleared his throat and offered his elbow to the peach vision. Her cheeks flushed too as she briefly met his eyes then looked away.

But she took his arm. His stomach flipped, and he felt like he'd won the lottery. He dragged his eyes off her and stared after his grandpa. Together, they walked down the aisle and followed them to the foyer.

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