Natasha and Belle helped Christie carefully pull the strapless dress with the beaded bodice over her head so that her hair and make-up wouldn’t be mussed.
When the dress was zipped and the short train fluffed out, Madelyn held up a piece of jewelry. “Don’t forget your great-grandmother’s diamond bracelet for something old.”
As Madelyn put the bracelet on Christie’s wrist, Belle picked up a heart-shaped pendant on a gold chain and clasped it around Christie’s neck. “Of course the diamond necklace Trace gave you on your birthday for something new.”
Madelyn arranged the veil that had a crystal-studded tiara at the top. “The wedding veil is something borrowed.”
“And the garter for something blue.” Natasha motioned for Christie to extend her leg.
Christie pulled up her dress and slip on one side, revealing her stocking-covered leg. She still hadn’t put on her shoes. She raised her foot and Natasha slid the elastic garter that was made of bunched blue satin, to Christie’s mid-thigh. Hidden above that, Christie wore a sexy garter belt set, the straps holding up her white stockings. Trace was going to love the garters and tiny matching panties that were meant only for him to see.
When the three women were finished primping and preparing Christie, Madelyn slipped out to check on things and let the organist know that Christie was ready.
Natasha handed Christie the wildflower cascade bridal bouquet with silk Shasta daisies, pink mini lilies, blue lupine, lavender accents, and goldenrod. Natasha and Belle each carried similar but smaller bouquets.
Madelyn opened the door and Natasha and Belle went ahead of them. A few moments later, the first strains of the wedding march began. Christie’s belly did a major flip-flop. Shaking, Christie stepped through the doorway and met up with her grandfather, who held out the crook of his arm. She took it and they started down the aisle.
Trace couldn’t breathe as Christie stepped out of the darker recesses of the back of the church and started to proceed down the aisle with her grandfather.
He almost forgot his two best men, Brooks and Dylan, standing beside him. They’d been giving him a hard time for being the first of their friends to get married after accidentally catching the bouquet at Dylan’s wedding. The razzing faded to nothing as Christie walked toward him.
He did forget the reverend’s name in that moment. He almost forgot his own name.
Christie was a beautiful woman to begin with, but right now she positively glowed. Her smile was brilliant and she looked only at him as she came closer and closer. She couldn’t reach him soon enough, couldn’t become his wife fast enough.
His throat grew dry and he wondered if he’d be able to say his vows, much less remember them.
When her grandfather released her to give her away, he said something, but Trace’s ears were buzzing. He had eyes only for Christie. She clung to her bridal bouquet, which trembled in her hands. He wanted to reach for her, comfort her, hold her in his arms, something that would calm his own nerves.
He had no second thoughts. He’d wanted to spend the rest of his life with this woman for what seemed like forever. Maybe since the first time he’d met her.
Christie handed her bouquet to Belle to hold. They stood at the altar and faced each other, Christie’s fingers in Trace’s hands, in front of Reverend Jones.
Trace thought he’d get lost in Christie’s blue eyes. He wanted to reach out and touch the red strands of hair that curved against her cheek, skim his fingertips along her cheekbone, and slide his fingers into her hair. He wanted to draw her into a kiss, take her away from the church to a private hideaway, and make love to her for hours.
“Trace?” Her sweet lips formed his name and her soft voice brought him back to reality. A slow heat traveled through his body and he hoped to hell he wasn’t blushing.
She smiled and then nothing else mattered.
The moments seemed to crawl by while at the same time passing in a blur. He wasn’t even sure he’d said the vows he’d memorized correctly. But he did remember her smile, the glitter of tears in her eyes as he told her how much he loved her.
Before he knew it, he was sliding the ring on her finger and she slid a ring on his. The ring felt good, like a promise that became reality as the reverend told him he could kiss his new wife.
The kiss was long and filled with a meaning that only the two of them understood. When they broke the kiss to the sound of applause, he started to lead her away from the altar.
She held his hands, drawing him back to her so that they were still facing each other. “There’s something I have to tell you, husband. A wedding gift I want to give you now.” Her smile was beyond glowing.
“Go on.” He wasn’t sure if he should be worried or excited.
“You are going to be a daddy.” She lit up even more as she spoke, her smile broadening. “In about eight months.”
Trace understood then what it meant to have one’s knees go weak. He’d always thought it as something dramatic used in books. But for one moment he thought he was going to drop to his knees on the platform in front of the altar.
“We’re pregnant?” The words barely made it out through his lips. “We’re going to have a baby?”
She squeezed his hands. “Yes.”
He grabbed her by the waist and whirled her around in a circle and knew his grin spread ear to ear. She giggled as he spun her and then set her on her feet. She clung to his arms as if to steady herself.
Trace placed his hand on her belly, where soon a baby bump would start to appear. He turned and looked at everyone in the church. “We’re having a baby!”
The applause was explosive, even louder now than it had been after their first kiss as husband and wife.
As they ran down the aisle, guests beamed or shouted congratulations. He saw that Christie’s grandmother was crying, as were several other women.
They made it out into the June sunshine, only to have guests follow them and toss birdseed at them in lieu of rice. He swept Christie up into his arms. She let out a happy squeal of surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. Her laugh was as joyous as his heart felt as they entered a future bright with everything he’d ever wanted since falling in love with the woman of his dreams.
He jogged down the church’s stairs to his waiting SUV, a “Just Married” sign on the back with tin cans tied to the trailer hitch with twine. Obviously his friends had been at work since he’d gone into the church.
Christie giggled as he deposited her in the passenger seat, closed the door, then ran to his side of the SUV. He closed the door as he was pelted with more birdseed.
He started the vehicle and took her hand in his. He ignored the crowd of onlookers as he held Christie’s hand.
“I love you, Christie.” He kissed her tenderly before drawing back. “You are my everything.”
“God, I love you, Trace.” She squeezed his hand. “I can’t imagine ever being happier in my life.”
“We’ll make more memories.” He cupped her face with his hand. “Lots more memories just as special as this one. I promise.”
She stroked his cheek. “Yes. Many, many more.”
Trace put the SUV into gear, took Christie’s hand again, and they drove to a future filled with each other. Filled with love.
I hope you enjoyed Trace and Christie’s story. You can receive updates on new releases by signing up for my newsletter here.
If you’d like to read about how Dylan and Belle got together, check out Book 2, No Mercy, in the "Lawmen" series. You can also start with Landon and Tori’s story in Hidden Prey, Book 1. All my books are standalones, so you can jump in anywhere and feel right at home.
Another series you might enjoy is the “Riding Tall” series. Branded for You: Riding Tall Book 1 is available for FREE. Click here.
Check out the “Rough & Ready” series. It starts with Silk and Spurs, Rough & Ready Book 1, which is also available FREE. Click here.
Try a taste of Hidden Prey
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New York Times best selling author Cheyenne McCray returns to steamy romantic suspense with a high-octane thriller about a woman running from a Mexican cartel and the man determined to protect her.
Danger
Tori Cox, a talented and sought after musician, heads back to her roots in a small southwest town in Arizona as she flees an abusive relationship. When she arrives in Bisbee, she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time—and witnesses the execution of a Federal agent by none other than the son of El Demonio, the head of the Jimenez Cartel. Tori and everyone she loves is now in danger as the cartel comes after her before she can testify.
Desire
Landon Walker, a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security, rescues Tori when he sees the beautiful woman running from members of one of the most ruthless cartels in the world. He sets out to protect her, but soon protecting her isn’t enough. The fire between them makes him want her in a way that he’s never wanted another woman, despite his wounded heart.
Death
Diego Montego Jimenez will do everything in his power to kill the young American woman who threatens his business and family. No one lives to testify against the Jimenez Cartel. Landon isn’t about to let the cartel get hold of Tori. He’ll go to the ends of the earth and back to protect her—and show her he’s never letting her go.
Read on for an excerpt…
Almost absently, he rubbed his thumb along Tori’s delicate jawline while they both remained quiet. He liked the way she fit in his arms. It felt…right.
It was the right time to tell her about what happened with Brian. Landon knew he should do it now.
And then every good intention vanished as she tipped her face up to look at him. Her eyelashes glittered from the remainder of her tears and her brown eyes seemed even darker than normal. As their gazes met and held, he didn’t think he’d ever be able to look away from her again. She drew him to her in so many ways and he was helpless to stop himself from wanting to get closer to her.
The other agents were downstairs and he was upstairs, alone. With Tori.
This wasn’t smart.
Hell, it was a long, long way from smart.
He held his breath, then let out a slow exhale as he lowered his mouth to hers.
The moment their lips met, she gave a sigh, surrendering herself to his kiss. That sense of surrender fueled him, somehow making him desire her even more than he already did.
He moved his lips over hers, hungry for the taste of her, the feel of her. Her scent filled him, as if a part of her was now inside him. Her lips were so soft, her taste exquisite on his tongue. God, he knew he could never get enough of her.
She leaned into him as their body heat melded, fusing them together in a way that defied explanation. Her sighs turned into a soft moan as he moved his hands over her shoulders, down her arms, and to her waist. She was wearing one of her new T-shirts and he pushed the hem up just enough that he could feel her soft skin along the waistband. He gripped her slender waist in his hands, his fingers brushing the base of her spine where she’d been tattooed.
Her hunger and his grew in matching intensity. She moved her palms up his chest to his shoulders and gripped them like she was afraid she would slide away if she didn’t hold on tightly.
He slipped his palms from her waist to her ass, feeling the perfection of it as he squeezed her closer to him. His cock was impossibly hard, pressing against her, straining to get free from behind the tough denim of his jeans.
Their clothes—too much cloth was between them. He wanted to feel her warm silky skin against his, nothing keeping them apart. He wanted only to slide between her thighs and drive his cock deep inside her heat.
The rumble that rose up in his chest was like a lion staking a claim on his territory, and she made an answering purr, giving herself completely to him. Not just surrendering, but offering herself for his pleasure. She asked for nothing, just gave him everything she had.
She sighed again as he slid his lips along her jawline to her ear. She gasped when he nipped at her earlobe and shivered in a delicate way that told him he’d just found one of her erogenous zones. He sucked the soft flesh into his mouth and nipped at it again. He felt another shiver run through her body.
HIDDEN PREY is available now
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New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cheyenne McCray’s books have received multiple awards and nominations including three RT Book Reviews Magazine’s Reviewer’s choice awards and three nominations. Chey has had over 80 published novels and novellas since her first novel was published in 2003.
Cheyenne grew up on a ranch in southeastern Arizona. She has been writing ever since she can remember, back to her kindergarten days when she penned her first poem. She always knew one day she would write novels, hoping her readers would get lost in the worlds she created, just as she experienced when she read some of her favorite books.
Chey has three sons, three dogs (Checkers, Nikki, and Daisy), and is an Arizona native who loves the desert, the sunshine, and the beautiful sunsets.
Cheyenne McCray: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter
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