by Milly Taiden
Ellie leaned over again. “If not, we’re sending all the rugrats to the grandparents until they turn thirty.” Laughter came from the audience.
“Also, for those who don’t know, my dad is retiring as soon as he and I get everything wrapped up. He’s thinking about moving to the same area Mom lives.” His mother’s face flushed red. “Was I supposed to keep that quiet—”
Nate’s attention was pulled from Caleb. Around the corner of the house ran a pup dressed in a tux, in his mouth a steak the size of his head. Behind him was the catering chef, shouting and waving a spoon over her head. Next, two pups, one in a tux and one in a pearly white dress, rounded the corner. The bedraggled nanny, trying to catch up, bumped into the table display of Jordan’s new book Scent of a Mate. Bookmarkers, pens, key chains, and other swag spilled along the grass.
Nate and Karla whipped around to look through the windows. Nope, no babies sitting inside. They groaned.
The pup with the steak jumped on people’s laps and snaked through hands reaching out and grabbing. Seated ladies launched to their feet, knocking chairs over, not wanting to get steak juice on their dresses. Others raced after the young’uns to help the nanny.
Nate heard a familiar yippy squeal and turned to see a little tail sticking out of a white dress disappear over the ledge of the pool. He was on the other side of the stage and into the pool before Karla knew he was gone. He surfaced with a drenched rat, white dress clinging, licking his face.
Someone whispered, “Isn’t that why babies aren’t supposed to shift until they’re older?”
Elsewhere in the crowd, a hand shot up and Lael’s voice rang out. “Sorry about that. My bad. We’ll talk later.”
A dripping Nate handed over a dripping, lolling, wide-eye, tail-wagging happy camper to her nanny. The little girl yipped, making everyone in the crowd say, “Ahhhh, how cute.” A man and a lady brought the other two tail-waggers over. The chef stomped past with a half-chewed steak in hand.
* * *
After everyone was settled once more, Caleb’s dad, Conly, took the stage and mic. He looked around at the packs as tears came to his eyes. “This is a sight I truly believed I would never see again. So much has changed, yet, so much hasn’t. As Caleb mentioned, I’m retiring soon. I have complete trust and faith in my son to lead you all back into happiness and normalcy.
“I’m so sorry you had to endure what you did with that madman. But I’m not up here to talk about the old, I’m up here to bring in the new.” He looked at the front row. “Would you all take your places?”
The Wolfe brothers and their mates stood before the stage, Caleb and Ellie in the center.
Conly continued. “Since this a renewal, I get to see my son marry. And I can tell him what not to say that’ll get him into trouble later.” He winked at his son and moved the mic away. “Just joking, kid. Sort of.”
He cleared his throat, wiping a tear with his finger. “Since there are so many couples marrying, they decided to come up with one vow,” he pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pants pocket, “a rather long vow.” He unfolded and glanced at the paper, his head tilting down as he scanned the typing.
“I understand why this ceremony is this year and not last year. If the men had to come up with this on their own, it would be next year.” He straightened the paper. “Okay, guys, I’ll read to the audience while you look into the prettiest eyes you’ve ever seen and let your heart speak to her.
“I will care for and protect you, nurture you, and support you, and tell you your butt is perfect in every dress and adore everything about you.
I promise to love you tirelessly through perfect times and the merely fabulous times.
I promise to leave you alone one week every month, for my sanity and yours.
I promise to try to always put the toilet seat down.
I promise to try to remember to put my dirty clothes in the hamper and replace the toilet paper when the roll is empty.
I promise to use plenty of lube before trying to poke things in your bellybutton, no promise about your ears, though.
In the presence of our beloved family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your godlike partner and lover. In good times and bad and in joy as well as sorrow, I give you my heart, my love, my soul.
I love you, now and forever.”
Conly wiped his cheek. “Boys, that was beautiful. I truly believe you wrote this all by yourselves.” He chuckled with the group. He folded that paper, slipped it into his pocket, then slid another sheet out of his other pocket. “Okay, ladies. Let’s see what you’ve got to say. You boys, listen up. You’ve already said yes. It’s too late now.” He smiled. “I’m on a roll here. Maybe I’ll take up a gig as a stand-up comedian.” Several in the audience groaned.
His brows lowered. “Fine, maybe not. I’ll stay and do birthday parties for the kiddies. Think they’ll understand when I talk about payphones at the corner 7-11 store I drove to in my Pinto?” Those under the age of thirty looked confused. “That’s what I thought.”
Caleb cleared his throat. “Come on, Dad. Ellie’s eyeing the buffet table, and she won’t let me keep her waiting.”
“Okay, son. I haven’t talked in over ten years. Just trying to make up for all that time right now.” He mouthed, kidding, I love you. “Ladies, gaze into the most handsome face you’ve ever seen and say, “Yup, it’s too late.” He flicked the paper in his hand. “No, really, here we go.
“I promise to laugh with you, cry with you, and grow with you.
I promise to support your dreams and to respect our differences, and to love you and be by your side through all the days and nights of our lives.
I promise to create and support a family with you, in a household filled with laughter, patience, understanding, and love. I vow not just to grow old together, but to grow together.
We shall bear together whatever trouble and sorrow life may lay upon us, and we shall share together whatever good and joyful things life may bring us.
With these words, and all the words of my heart, I re-marry you and bind my life to yours.
“Grooms, you may kiss your brides. Karla, you can kiss your wet husband.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. The love shared between mates was what every child dreamed of having. Ellie’s mother beamed with pure joy, seeing all her children happily married. That was until Ellie decided to end the ceremony with, “Let’s eat!”
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About the Author
New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
Hi! I’m Milly Taiden. I love to write sexy stories featuring fun, sassy heroines with curves and growly alpha males with fur. My books are a great, quick way to satisfy your craving for paranormal romantic comedies with lots of romance, heat, and happily ever afters.
I live in Florida with my hubby, our boy child, and our little fur babies “Needy Speedy” and “Stormy.” Yes, I am aware I’m bossy, and I am seriously addicted to shoe shopping and Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.
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If you liked this story, you might also enjoy the following by Milly Taiden:
Sassy Mates Series
Scent of
a Mate Sassy Mates Book One
A Mate’s Bite Sassy Mates Book Two
Unexpectedly Mated Sassy Mates Book Three
A Sassy Wedding Short 3.7
The Mate Challenge Sassy Mates Book Four
Sassy in Diapers Short 4.3
Fighting for her Mate Book Five
Federal Paranormal Unit
Wolf Protector Book One
Dangerous Protector Book Two
Unwanted Protector Book Three
Black Meadow Pack
Sharp Change Black Meadows Pack Book One
Caged Heat Black Meadows Pack Book Two
Paranormal Dating Agency
Twice the Growl Book One
Geek Bearing Gifts Book Two
The Purrfect Match Book Three
Curves ‘Em Right Book Four
Tall, Dark and Panther Book Five
The Alion King Book Six
There’s Snow Escape Book Seven
Scaling Her Dragon Book Eight
In The Roar Book Nine
Scrooge Me Hard – Holiday Short
Bearfoot and Pregnant – Book Ten
All Kitten Aside – Book Eleven - Coming Soon
The Bear King Series
The Bear King’s Captive Book One
The Bear King’s Revenge Book Two – Coming Soon
The Bear King’s Queen Book Three – Coming Soon
FUR-ocious Lust - Bears
Fur-Bidden Book One
Fur-Gotten Book Two
Fur-Given Book Three
FUR-ocious Lust - Tigers
Stripe-Tease Book Four
Stripe-Search Book Five
Stripe-Club Book Six
Raging Falls
Miss Taken Book One
Miss Matched Book Two
Miss Behaved Book Three- Coming Soon