by Aliyah Burke
Dustin swept her up in his arms and carried her off to his house. She buried her face in his neck. “I’m capable of walking.”
“If I let you go, you may decide to leave. Besides, I love having you in my arms.”
She closed her eyes. “Not a place I enjoy being more.”
He carried her to his bedroom and placed her down upon the mattress gently. Instead of backing up, he boxed her in. “Marry me.”
Knocking his hat off, she wove her fingers into his thick strands. “In a field of bluebonnets.”
“Anything you want.”
“I’d like a proper welcome, if you please. Then we can talk details.”
His grin sent shivers of desire through her entirety. “Sounds like a plan to me.” He lowered his head and kissed her, shoving all other thoughts to the back.
Epilogue
Dustin Kane shifted on his feet and fought with the need to adjust his Stetson. The air was warm as it blew across him. He peered up and saw the arbor he’d built covered in blue and white silks.
“It will be fine so long as you don’t stop breathing,” a low voice whispered beside him.
Glancing askew at the man beside him, he nodded. Connor looked good in his black outfit. His friend winked at him, and Dustin took a deep breath, willing himself not to panic. He gazed out and smiled at those watching him.
It wasn’t the three hundred it had been for the wedding, which didn’t happen. No, not at all. He knew each person who was in attendance. His housekeeper, Rosa. Marley, Judd Travers, and Connor were the ones he’d invited. Mrs. Pendle, Rolf, Gunnar, Gerda, and Kjerstin—the flower girl—had made the trip from Maryland to attend. The preacher was Terry Olden, and Dustin knew the bride as well as the man who would be walking her down the aisle. Mrs. Pendle was standing across from him, serving as the matron of honor.
He lifted his head at the sight of a covered carriage pulling up, being drawn by two chestnut geldings who gleamed in the sun. His heart sped up as the door opened and he watched Evan step down before reaching his hand back in to assist the final passenger down.
All air rushed from his lungs when he first laid sight on his bride-to-be. Stunning and beautiful. His knees trembled before he locked them to ensure he didn’t fall. The slim A-line satin dress was informal. The lines on it radiated asymmetrically, her shoulder straps plunged into the neckline, and the side hip had a beaded design. The lines and the beads were the same color as the field of bluebonnets she walked through to get to him. Her bracelet graced one arm, and around her neck was the necklace he’d given her at the Expo.
It had been a hard few months with her gone, but he understood she needed to finish up there before coming here to start their new life together. And now, she was here. Ten steps away from him and not stopping.
Her light brown eyes held him prisoner. Not that he had any intention of going anywhere. Her father placed their hands together and stepped back. Dustin squeezed tightly and smiled when she returned it.
The preacher began talking, and he tuned him out, focusing entirely on the woman beside him.
“Ready?”
She blinked and gave him a smile that told him she was imagining something they couldn’t do in public. At least not with witnesses. “Yes.”
“You look beautiful.”
“You’re not too shabby yourself, cowboy. I still want your Brumby.”
“Darlin’, keep lookin’ at me like that and I’ll give you anything you want.”
The preacher cleared his throat. “If I might interrupt for a minute.”
Samantha ducked her head, and her shoulders shook from her laughter. He cleared his throat and met the man’s amused gaze.
“Sorry.”
“No problem, just figured you might want to finish this up.”
He most definitely did. One more look out over the few gathered, to his horse that waited to carry them off to a small cabin on his property where they would be spending their honeymoon. She’d not wanted to go anywhere.
“Rings, please.” The preacher stepped back a bit.
Taking hers from Connor, Dustin turned back to her. He lifted her hand and slipped the ring on her finger. “With this ring,” he began, knowing his life was forever changed with those three words.
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here . She can also be found on Facebook or Twitter: @AliyahBurke96.
She is married to a career military man. They are owned by three Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.
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