His feet were in motion before he realized. His prosthetic struck the ground with purpose as he moved toward the two.
Maggie looked up as though sensing his presence. She'd been smiling at Xavier, but when she spied Dylan her face lit up like it was the sun dawning.
Dylan nearly tripped at the brightness of her smile. He reached out to the railing to steady himself. She was within his reach. He felt the pull to her again. It was too strong to resist.
And so he reached out to her. At the first contact of his fingertips on her forearm, he felt a humming sensation tremble through his finger pads. That's what made his hand close her in a grasp and tug her into his side.
Maggie gasped, her eyes going wide in the open vulnerable way that did something to his insides. Dylan circled his arm around her back. When he did, his palm crossed over capable shoulders able to handle a heavy load. His instinct was to take all the weight away and heft it onto his own back.
Maggie came willingly into his embrace, fitting perfectly into the space between his arm and chest. Warmth spread through Dylan. But that's not what made him know he was in trouble.
When he looked up, he saw both Xavier and Fran smirking at him.
Chapter Fourteen
Maggie hated simpering women. Women who shrank like violets and didn't speak when men came around. Women who let men speak for them and no longer said anything intelligent when their significant other came into the room.
She was standing in the open air. She'd been having an interesting conversation with a man. A very handsome man at that. Xavier Ramos could only be called beautiful.
He'd been flirting with her, in that way where men didn't really mean it. Where their entire vocabulary consisted of come-ons because they didn't know how to engage a woman's brain. Xavier's interest in her wasn't true. He was flirting because it was in his nature.
Maggie hadn't been bothered by it. They both knew he wasn't serious. It felt more like he was feeling her out than actually checking her out.
Maggie appreciated that. It meant he was looking out for Dylan. This was a preformed squad she was walking into. A cohesive unit. A battle-hardened, well-suited family. And it seemed like she was being accepted. First by Fran, who'd greeted her and walked her to the stables to find Mark. Then by Mark, who'd listened to her suggestions and ideas to heal the ailing horses.
She was sure she'd won over Xavier by not taking his bait. She was certain they all saw her as an intelligent, capable woman.
Then the moment Dylan showed up, the words slowly seeped out of her brain. When his arm made its way around her shoulder, she forgot how to breathe. She didn't shrink into herself out of shyness. She didn't recoil from his touch. She melted into his welcome heat with an aim to become a part of him.
"Don't you have somewhere to be, X?" Dylan growled. But Maggie didn't mind. The reverb sent a tingle down to her toes.
"Just making nice with the prettiest lady on the ranch." Xavier winked at her.
That snapped Maggie out of it. She laughed at Xavier's fake flirting. "I'm pretty sure I'm the only woman on the ranch, outside of the four-legged variety."
"Well, your legs are—"
"That's enough." Dylan cut Xavier off with another low growl.
Dylan's voice made Maggie jump, but Xavier only smirked. He tilted his hat to Maggie. Then he smirked again at Dylan before taking off.
Fran gave her a friendly smile and then gave Dylan the same smirk.
Maggie turned to face Dylan but found that she couldn't. His grip on her shoulder was vise-like.
Was he jealous?
That was absurd. No one had ever had any cause to get jealous over her. But Dylan's grip was really tight, as though she were something he had no plans to let go of or share.
"Dylan? Are you … I mean … This might sound silly but …"
His grip loosened now that his friends had disappeared into the stables. Maggie turned to face him, feeling less brave now that she was looking up into his blue eyes. He looked uncomfortable and shifted his weight from one leg to the other.
"Ramos is a good guy," said Dylan. "I trust him with my life. But he's bad news with women."
"Why is that information necessary for me to know?"
Dylan looked even more uncomfortable.
He was jealous. She might not know men well. But she knew animal behavior. He was exhibiting the telltale markers of having his territory threatened. She was his territory. She didn't mind him prowling around her perimeter. But she needed him to know that she had no plans to stay.
"I gave you my word," Maggie said. "I'm not the kind of girl to play around on a guy. I wouldn't know how. I've never had a boyfriend."
Dylan eased up his hold. Maggie regretted the loosening embrace, but she wanted any show of affection to be genuine and not some alpha male reaction.
"I didn't take Xavier seriously. He was kinda funny. Not as funny as he thinks though."
Dylan looked slightly less uncomfortable. He chewed at his lower lip as he'd done last night at dinner. It was like he was chewing over the words he wanted to say, seeing if they were bitter or sweet before he offered them up.
"I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me? In the Big House this time. We have a cook."
"Oh." Maggie felt her grin spread stupidly-wide. "I'd like that."
Dylan nodded, meeting her gaze now. Neither of them moved. A gentle breeze ruffled the ends of their hair. The sound of a bird's cry and the answering call filled the air.
"Sergeant Banks, there you are."
The spell broke. Maggie and Dylan turned to face a man in a suit. The man reminded Maggie of Dr. Cooper. She did shrink away now, moving slightly behind Dylan. The Cooper doppelgänger looked entirely out of place on the ranch.
"I'm glad I caught you in person," said the man. "I wanted to deliver this notice to you."
Dylan took the proffered papers. Maggie's heart sank with recognition as she spied the bold letters on the document. For the second time this week, she saw the word EVICTION in bright, red letters.
"You said we had until the end of the month to file," said Dylan.
"I'm sorry." The man didn't sound sorry in the least. "They want their hands on this land. If there was something I could do, I would. This goes through at the end of the week. Unless you're getting married in a couple of days, I don't see how this could be turned around."
"We are getting married tomorrow."
Both men looked over. Maggie nearly turned around herself. But she knew the sound of her own voice. She had said those words. She had made that proclamation.
"Who are you?" asked the man.
"I'm his fiancée." Maggie reached down and entwined her fingers with Dylan's. "And like I said, we're getting married tomorrow."
She looked to Dylan for confirmation. His gaze had widened as if to ask if she was sure. Maggie knew it could be thirty days, it could be three days. Her mind wouldn't change. She wanted to be with Dylan for the rest of her life.
As though he could read her mind, Dylan squeezed her fingers. The paper crumpled from his hand.
Chapter Fifteen
Dylan straightened his tie. The knot was perfect. The ends hung even.
The color brought out his eyes. He knew this because his mother had told him so when she'd bought it for him before he'd left for the army. She was always conscious of details regarding his outer appearance. But she had never once looked into his eyes and saw anything but the hue.
He yanked the knot and began the process over again.
He gave a gruff response to the knock at the door. Reed poked his head in the door. His grin preceding him as his prosthetic arm spread the door wide. Behind Reed, Sean slid into the door. He was sure to present the right side of his face, hiding the scars on the left.
"Man, you really cheated us not having a bachelor's party," said Reed. "We could've made a quick trip to Vegas."
Reed crossed his prosthetic arm over his chest. Unlike Dylan, he was not one
to shy away from showing it.
Sean gave Dylan a full smile. With the injury on his face creasing into deep grooves, the smile spread deep into his skin.
"Being the good friends we are," Reed continued, " we do come bearing gifts."
"We'll take over your chores for the next couple of days," said Sean. "So you can enjoy your wedding night."
Both men waggled their eyebrows and made juvenile lewd gestures unbecoming of men their age and rank. Or so Dylan thought. The good humor fell from Dylan's face.
"It's not that type of marriage," he said.
The eyebrow waggling ceased. Both of the men's mouths dropped open in confusion. Their loss reminded Dylan of Sugar, Maggie's diabetic dog that didn't understand why he was constantly denied treats.
Sean and Reed looked at one another, then back at Dylan.
"It's a marriage of convenience," said Dylan.
"Maggie looks really convenient to me," said Reed.
Dylan narrowed his gaze at the man.
In response, Reed held up a plastic hand, metal glinting from his forearm. "For someone that's looking for convenience, you sure have a lot of feelings when it comes to this girl."
"I hardly know her." Dylan turned back to his tie, doing a quick and efficient knot and leaving it at that.
Sean turned to Reed and addressed the other man as though Dylan wasn't in the room. "Ramos told me he nearly bit his head off yesterday when he caught her talking to him," said Sean.
"Yeah, and I've seen the way he carries around her dog like it's their kid," said Reed.
Dylan knew if he denied it any further, the men would just keep ribbing him. So instead, he pulled on his jacket and headed for the door. The sounds of snickers followed him out of the room.
The ceremony was to be held in a gazebo near the pond. The three of them rode in a golf cart across the ranch to reach the area. Fran and Xavier had already set up chairs and a few Christmas decorations. It wouldn't be the wedding of the season that his mother and ex would've planned for him, but they had done their best. Dylan was touched. He just hoped Maggie wouldn't be too disappointed.
There was already a small gathering. Dr. Patel stood inside the gazebo. As an ordained minister, he had the power to officiate, which was good since the wedding was on such quick notice. But the man had been the one to suggest the match. For the past year, Dylan had put his mental health in the doctor's hands, and he hadn't disappointed him. Now he'd put his future, and maybe even his heart in Dr. Patel's hands.
He'd committed to seeing this through. He wanted to take care of Maggie. He wanted to be the one person she could always depend on. He wanted to be the cause of her comfort and her smiles and her eyes widening in joyous surprise. He wanted to take a closer look into her gaze and see what was past her brown eyes.
Dylan gave his head a shake. He had to remind himself; this wasn't some great romance. It was an arrangement, a convenience to them both.
They could be friends. It was fine for friends to look into one another's eyes to check on their health and well-being. That settled, Dylan walked down the aisle.
He saw the faces of his men, his friends. He saw the faces of his trainers and the ranch staff. No one looked doubtful about what he was doing. They all knew why this marriage was happening. It was saving their jobs, their livelihoods. But still, they were all smiling as Dylan took his place.
They'd all only known Maggie for a couple of days. But it seemed she had made quite an impression on everyone. Maggie's five dogs sat obediently at the front of the archway. Spin had been looking beyond the gazebo at the pond water, but he got up and wheeled his way to Dylan when he sensed the man's presence. Dylan bent down to give the dog a pat before he took his place before Dr. Patel.
The older man gave him a knowing smile. "How are you feeling?"
"This is the logical thing to do. I think we've both thought it through, and I'll take care of her."
A chuckle tickled out of Dr. Patel's mouth. Before the man could say more, his gaze lifted and his eyes lit.
Dylan turned to the way he'd just come and ceased being able to form a coherent thought.
Maggie stepped out of a golf cart with the help of Fran. She wore a simple white dress. No frills, no embellishments. Just like her.
Dylan's palms felt moist, so he rubbed them against his pants. His neck felt hot, so he reached to loosen his tie. A thumping sound filled his ears, and he wondered if the horses had gotten loose. But no. It was his own heartbeat pounding.
Maggie looked nervous. She fidgeted. Dylan fought the need to go to her. He wanted to soothe her. He wanted to assure her that he would take care of her, that he would take care of it all. He wanted her to trust him, to believe in him.
Her gaze locked on him. She let out a breath that he would've sworn he felt tickle his nose. And then she began to move.
Faintly, Dylan heard music playing. But his gaze stayed trained on Maggie. With steady, sure steps, she came toward him. There was no sway in her hips. Just even strides toward him. Before he knew it, she stood before him.
Dylan heard Dr. Patel saying words. Lots of words in his calm, even tone. But Dylan paid the man no heed.
Instead, he watched Maggie's lips move. Her words made no sense to his head, but his heart pounded at the utterance.
He felt someone nudge him at his side. Dylan turned to glare at Fran who stood up beside him as his Best Man. Fran cocked his head toward Dr. Patel. The good doctor smiled at him and then repeated the words.
Dylan turned back to Maggie and said his vows. As each promise left his lips he was not surprised to realize that he meant every word. He intended to keep each vow; the vow he would make to Maggie, his bride.
"I pronounce you man and wife."
It was done. He was married. Maggie was his wife now, his responsibility. He wouldn't let her down. He wouldn't let any of them down.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Dylan stiffened. How had he forgotten that part? Maggie looked up at him with those wide eyes. Suddenly, the only thing in the world that he wanted to do was kiss this woman, his woman, his wife.
Dylan bent his head slowly, giving her every chance to back away. She didn't.
His lips met hers on the softest of brushes. She inhaled sharply but did not pull away. And so he pressed forward.
Maggie was everything soft and sweet. She was willing and pliant. She was innocence and eagerness.
Dylan found his hand coming to the small of her back. She exhaled, and he drank in her essence, wanting more, needing more, taking more. He gave her torso a tug, and she came to him, fitting snuggly against his chest as he continued to press into her. She clicked into place.
There were cheers coming from a distance. And then he remembered where he was, where they were. He broke the kiss abruptly.
"I'm sorry," he said.
What had come over him?
Maggie's wide eyes narrowed, coming slowly back into focus. She averted her gaze and said nothing. So much for taking care of her. His first act of holy matrimony was to paw at his wife.
Chapter Sixteen
Maggie had to concentrate hard not to press her fingertips to her lips. They still tingled, even an hour after Dylan had kissed her. Her first kiss.
It had been everything she'd dreamed and more. With a man who she never could have imagined would be hers. And he was hers now.
She was Mrs. Dylan Banks.
The problem was that being Mrs. Dylan Banks felt very much like being Ms. Maggie Shaw. She and Dylan sat at their reception, which was dinner laid out in the ranch's equivalent of a mess hall. There was a store bought cake beside a heap of barbecue fare and grilled meat. The soldiers were having a grand time, laughing and clapping each other on the back, as well as clapping Dylan on the back.
Just about every one of the guys had come up to her and congratulated her and shared some funny story about Dylan. Even Sean, the most secluded soldier came over. Sean only gave her his good side when he spoke
to her, but it was something. The only person that hadn't come up to her was her new husband.
Dylan stood at the grill turning hamburger patties until Reed shooed him away. Then he checked for more plates until Fran showed up with a stack. Dylan was the first to rise when someone asked for something else, anything else. And each time, everyone would shoo him down or away from the chore.
Finally, Maggie decided that she needed something that only her new husband could give her. She got up and went over to Dylan. When he saw her coming she detected a sense of wariness in his eyes.
Her steps faltered. He rose and took the last few toward her. He reached out his hand as though to bring her close. At the last second, he snatched it back.
"Did you need something?" Dylan asked. His voice wasn't gruff, but there was a note of hesitancy.
Was he regretting this? Their marriage? It hadn't even been twenty-four hours. She'd been passed over so many times in her life. Left abandoned and disappointed. He'd promised her that was over. Now it was time for him to make good on that promise.
"I was hoping we could have our first dance as husband and wife?" she said.
She watched him swallow. His throat working over words. His eyes darted here and there, likely searching for an escape.
"I know this isn't a traditional marriage, but—"
"I can't." He swallowed again even harder this time. "Dance, I mean."
Maggie looked down at his covered leg. She felt her face redden. "Oh. I'm sorry. I should've realized …"
"I'll do it."
Maggie turned to face Xavier. The dark-haired man held out his hand to her. She turned back to Dylan. Her husband's jaw was clenched, but he nodded his permission.
Trying not to appear defeated, Maggie took Xavier's hand and allowed him to twirl her onto the makeshift dance floor which was just a patch of dirt in the picnic area. Xavier whirled and twirled her for one song.
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