****
Melissa laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes while the song played. Brayden had chosen the perfect song for their first dance. She hadn’t been sure letting him pick the song was a good idea, but he did a wonderful job. The song said it all about her feelings for him.
“You picked a great song. It’s exactly how I feel,” she whispered against his neck near his ear then kissed it.
“You doubted me, didn’t you?”
She could hear the laughter in his voice. “I didn’t know what to expect. I just hoped you didn’t pick something like Whiskey’d Up by Jason Aldean.”
“Hey, I like that song.”
“I know and that’s why I was afraid you’d pick it.”
Brayden laughed. “Give me some credit, darlin’. I happen to be a George Strait fan too. I thought this song said it best. Although, there were some nights after you left that I felt like the other song too.”
Melissa leaned back and gazed into his eyes. “I don’t care what song you picked as long as we danced it together as husband and wife.”
“I wouldn’t call what we’re doing, dancing, since we aren’t moving much and feeling you rubbing up against me has me wanting to drag you off to a closet.”
“I’m game if you are.” She laughed when he burst out laughing. “Why didn’t you ever tell me your middle name was Hamilton?”
“You never asked.”
“It’s unusual, but I love it.”
“It’s my mother’s maiden name. All of us have someone’s maiden name, either as a first or middle name.”
“Really? What are the others?”
“Ash’s first name is Ashford, after our maternal grandmother. Grayson is for our paternal grandmother. Gage’s middle name is Buchanan for our maternal great-grandmother, Jesse’s middle name is Dalton, for our paternal great-grandmother, and Dani’s middle name is Murphy for our maternal great-great-grandmother.”
“Fascinating, I love them all. It’s a good tradition to keep up.”
“We’ll have to start work on that then,” he said then chuckled when she blushed.
The song ended and everyone applauded again. Melissa curtsied and Brayden bowed making everyone laugh. She saw her dad walking toward her.
“May I dance with my daughter, Brayden?”
“Yes sir.” Brayden gave her a quick kiss then walked off the dance floor.
“I’ve never seen you so happy, honey.”
“I don’t think I ever have been before, Dad.”
“Brayden’s a good man. I knew when he came after you, he loved you.”
“You knew more than I did then.” She laughed. “I was so angry with him that I was sure he only came to tell me why he couldn’t be with me but needed me to do some vet job. He’s such a hardheaded man.”
“I’m sure you can get around that,” her dad said laughing.
“I love that stubbornness though, at times. Thank you for your help by the way.”
“My help? What did I do?”
“Oh, please. You told him where I lived and what time I’d be home.”
“I admit nothing.” They laughed together.
The song ended and they walked off the dance floor arm in arm. Melissa felt blessed that her special day was turning out so wonderful.
When it was time to cut the cake, Melissa stood and looked around for Brayden. She saw him standing by the door looking outside. Walking to him slowly, she wondered what he was thinking. She stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.
“What are you thinking about?” she whispered near his ear.
“How lucky I am to have found love again,” he said and placed his hands over hers.
Melissa choked back tears. “I truly believe she’d be happy for us.”
“She is. I know she is. She loved us both so much. She used to tell me that you were more of a sister to her than Tara was and how she loved you so much. You were her best friend and she knew she could tell you anything. She trusted you.” He turned to face her and placed his hands around the nape of her neck. “If you were in love with me back then, do you think she knew?”
“No, at least, I don’t think so. She invited me over way too often if she’d ever thought it possible.”
“True. I’m glad you were her friend and that you loved her. I do need to tell you something though.”
Melissa stared up at him, suddenly terrified to hear what he was going to say. Was it that he’d never love her as much as he’d loved Maisy? No, it couldn’t be that because he already told her he loved her more. “What is it?”
“I often wondered what would have happened if I’d met you first—before Maisy. Anytime you were around, I had trouble keeping my eyes off you and though I’d never have cheated on Maisy, I did wonder about being with you.”
“Wow. We were both thinking about each other but didn’t want to admit it. I do love you, Brayden and I’m sure Maisy is happy for us too.”
“I have no doubt she is. As James said, she’d probably be happy to see the two people she loved most, together.”
Melissa lifted her lips to his and kissed him then tugged on his bottom lip with her teeth.
“Do you think anyone’d notice if we disappeared?”
Brayden hugged her. “We have the rest of our lives to disappear together, darlin’. Let’s go get some cake and have some fun. It’s our party, after all.”
She nodded. It was their party and she did want to share all of her happiness with friends and family. So, with her arm looped in his, they walked toward the table where their lovely cake was set up.
When a man stepped in front of them, Melissa frowned. She knew she’d met him in the line after the wedding but she’d met so many people, his name escaped her. She wondered what was wrong with her because to forget the name of a man this gorgeous was unthinkable. He had dark hair and beautiful light green eyes. She smiled when he hugged Brayden then turned to her.
“Melissa, you look absolutely stunning. I’m Bonner Gentry, by the way. I’m sure you’ve met so many people you don’t remember me from the receiving line,” he said smiling at her.
“I do admit it’s hard to keep up, but thank you so much for coming.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. It’s good to see Brayden happy again.”
“I agree and I’ll do my best to keep him this way for the rest of my life.”
“Time you found a woman too, Bonner,” Brayden said laughing.
Bonner’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Brayden. “No way in hell,” he said with a chuckle then he turned to Melissa. “I’m happy for both of you. Now, go cut the cake because I’m hungry.” He winked at her then walked off to take a seat at the table with Brayden’s friends from Clifton.
Melissa smiled when Tessa waved at her and smiled back at her friend. Sam sat beside her with his hand wrapped around the nape of her neck. The room seemed filled with couples in love. Melissa knew all the women she’d met would become her friends and she was looking forward to it. She laughed and took Brayden’s hand in hers as they walked to the cake table to cut the beautiful cake meant to give them luck as they began their life together. While Brayden moved around behind the cake, she took a moment to glance up as if to heaven.
“Maisy, the first girl is named after you,” she whispered then joined her husband behind the table where she placed her hand on his holding the silver knife. Everyone cheered as together they made the first slice into the confection.
**The End**
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Every time I pick up one of Susan's books, I wonder to myself why haven't I just packed my bags and moved to Montana. This woman makes me dream of hot cowboys with no shirts. –– S. Pritt
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Brayden : A Beckett Brothers Novel Book 1 (The Beckett Brothers) Page 17