by Sheila Kell
Her father kissed her and moved to stand next to Nancy. Amber came running to her, excited about the Dalmatian scrub shirt she wore. She kissed her daughter through their masks and took her back to AJ to watch.
Throughout the ceremony, Emily’s focus remained on her husband-to-be while thoughts of their wild lovemaking took center stage. They had years of lost time to catch up on in the bedroom, and they were trying to make up for it. Her cheeks heated thinking of some of the things Jake had shown her.
Then she was caught off-guard, and her focus surged back to the ceremony.
“I understand you wrote your own vows, Jake,” the family preacher said.
Jake turned to her and clasped both of her hands in his. Oh no. Her mind raced. She hadn’t prepared any vows. What was he doing?
“Em, I don’t expect your own vows as this was last minute. I just wanted to speak.” He squeezed her hands and warmth flooded her. “There was a time in my life when my best friend’s sister used to follow me around telling me she would marry me when she was older.”
A light chuckle passed through their family. She couldn’t help but smile at the memories.
“I remember watching you grow up from that little girl into a beautiful woman. What I didn’t realize was that during that time, I’d fallen in love with you. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize what you mean to me.” Jake lifted their entwined hands to his chest. “You are my heart, sprite. I need you as I need my next breath. I never want to be separated from you again.”
He took a step closer. “I pledge to be the husband you deserve, and the father our children need until the end of time. I love you, Emily Hamilton.”
A tear slipped down her face. Her heart overflowed with happiness and love. No words had ever sounded sweeter or more beautiful.
She had to say something. He’d opened his heart. She only hoped she didn’t sound like an utter fool. “Jake, I’ve loved you since the day I met you. I’ve always known you were the only man for me. It’s not important what happened in the past because now we are together, and that is all that matters. I love you, Jake Cavanaugh.”
The next steps, rings and I dos, passed in a blur until she heard the clergy’s final statements.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
His eyes lit with a smile before Jake lowered his head toward hers. It didn’t matter that they wore masks, didn’t matter that his lips wouldn’t be pressed directly against hers. All that mattered was that he was finally hers, and they’d have the rest of their lives to be the family she’d dreamed about since the day she met him when she was six years old.
The End
About The Author
Sheila Kell writes smokin’ hot romance and intrigue. She secretly laughs when her mother, in that stern voice, calls it, “nasty.” As a self-proclaimed caffeine addict nestled in north Mississippi with three cats, she wears her pajamas most of the day and writes about the romantic men who leave women’s hearts pounding with a happily ever after built on a memorable, adrenaline-pumping story. When she isn’t writing, she can be found visiting her family, dreaming of an editor who agrees her work is perfect, or watching cartoons.
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