He regarded her soberly, and she saw the love she felt reflected back. “As far as I’m concerned, the only person who needs forgiveness in this situation is me,” he told her in a low voice laced with love and hope. “Lainey, you were—are—everything to me. I’m the fool for taking so long to realize that I love you just the way you are, and I always will.” His mouth lowered to take hers in a possessive kiss.
“Oh, Brad.” She wrapped her arms about his neck and kissed him back sweetly. The warmth and strength of him cured everything that ailed her. “I love you, too. So very, very much.”
Contented moments passed as they simply held each other.
He stroked her hair. “I’m sorry it took me so long to forgive you.”
She cuddled closer and drew aimless patterns on his chest. “I understand. What I did was…unforgivable.”
“No,” he corrected, lifting her face to his, “you did what had to be done. You helped put the truth out there—about everything. And you were right, the truth does set you free.”
“You really do understand,” Lainey marveled. Better yet, he understood—and admired—her determination to set the record straight.
They shared another longer, more leisurely kiss. Relief flowed through her in great, calming waves.
“So, speaking of the facts…you promised me several weeks ago you were going to give me an answer to the question I popped.” Brad took a familiar velvet box from his pocket.
Lainey grinned with the promise of the future as he showed her a beautiful diamond ring. “The answer, cowboy, is yes!”
Epilogue
“This is going to be the best-est wedding ever,” Petey said as he paced the room where Annie was putting the finishing touches on Lainey’s veil. He had been able to come in, as soon as Lainey was in her dress, and was now waiting to escort her down the aisle and give her away.
“You think so?” Lainey smiled at her son. He looked so handsome and grown up in his wedding attire.
“Brad is even wearing cowboy boots with his tuxedo.”
Lainey reached out to give his cummerbund and suspenders a playful tug. “So are you.”
Petey grinned proudly. “Aunt Bunny isn’t feeling too well, though,” he said, continuing his recitation of events.
Aunt Bunny was pregnant. And she and Bart couldn’t be happier about the late-in-life pregnancy. Lainey smiled and said reassuringly, “That’ll pass, honey.”
Petey’s eyes widened curiously. “Are you and Brad gonna have more babies, too? ’Cause it would be okay with me if you did. Kurt and Kyle and Teddy, Trevor and Tyler say it’s lots of fun to have brothers…and I’d really like to have a brother. Even a sister would be okay.”
Lainey grinned. She brought her son to her for a hug. “You are one special guy, you know that?”
Petey smiled back as the music started.
“Are you ready to walk me down the aisle and give me away?” Lainey asked.
Petey nodded, held up his arm to her. “Let’s do it.”
As they left the anteroom, she saw Brad’s whole family gathered on the Lazy M lawn. Lainey’s friends from Dallas were there, too. Sybil had even talked them into allowing a photographer from the magazine to take photos.
The sight of everyone close to them filled Lainey with gratitude and peace, but it was Brad, looking so determined and so full of love for her, standing next to the minister at the other end of the aisle, that made her heart race. The joy in his eyes matched her own.
The ceremony itself was a wonderful, happy blur. “…to have and to hold…from this day forward…forevermore…”
When the minister announced, “You may kiss the bride,” Brad grinned and said, “It’s about time!”
The crowd erupted around them and their lips met. Basking in their joy, Lainey and Brad’s life together, as husband and wife, began.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7802-2
THE ULTIMATE TEXAS BACHELOR
Copyright © 2005 by Cathy Gillen Thacker.
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