by Avery Gale
Cash had known Jesse Hunt forever. The man was a genius according to Collin and that was quite a recommendation coming from the man who’d maxed out every test the school had ever tried to give him. Jesse had moved to Houston and gone to work for Collin right out of high school and from all appearances hadn’t ever spent much of the money he’d earned so Cash was sure he wasn’t working because he needed the money. Standing six and a half feet tall he was imposing but not overwhelming because of his slender frame. Cash knew that Jesse was also a childhood friend of Noah Drummond so he’d considered asking the man about the history between Noah and Lainy. And he probably would, but not tonight—tonight he intended to get married, then have their commitment ceremony and then make love to his wife after they’d enjoyed their party for a while.
Making his way over to his grandmother he warmed at the smile she gave him. “Shimá sání Níyol, I am so happy you are here.” Using the Navajo word for grandmother was always his initial greeting for her because he knew how much she appreciated it. He had always been her favored grandchild, there was no use denying what was obvious. But Níyol Red Cloud held a very special place in his heart as well. As a child he had teased her about her name being the Navajo word for wind, always telling her to stop blowing smoke at him. Her response had always been that she was named after the spirit-wind that spoke to her. And as he’d grown up, he’d understood just how impressive those conversations were. The woman’s ability to understand the soul of another and to foresee the future was almost frightening. Damn, thinking about her teaming up with Mitch Grayson was scary as hell.
As he wrapped the tiny woman in his arms she placed her hands on either side of his face and pulled him down and looked at him so intently he was sure she was seeing clear into his soul. “He’s going to look just like you. I’ll come and give him a blessing and weave a protection for him. But tonight…oh, tonight is for wrapping his sweet mama in the love of my three grandsons.”
Cash wasn’t at all surprised that she’d known Layla was pregnant. Most grandmothers would have been at the very least, suspicious of the rushed plans. He knew she wouldn’t judge and heaven knew she was no one’s fool. But the fact that she’d just told him that he was the baby’s genetic father and that his son would look like him pleased him more than it should have. “Thank you, but we might want to keep some of that information to ourselves at least for a bit. His sweet mama is still trying to get used to the idea that he’s on his way.” He saw her grin and knew she’d understood.
“Oh, Cash, I am so happy you boys found her. She needed you just as much as you needed her.” He used his thumbs to wipe away the tears that were just starting to spill over onto her sun-weathered cheeks. “I plan to be around for awhile. Your other babies will need me as well, but first I have to help your sister.” Grabbing his large hand in her small ones, she smiled. “She is going to be a challenge, I know. But she holds tightly to a hurt that never really was.” He noticed her grip was still firm even though her hands felt smaller than he remembered. “But she’s going to learn the truth soon. I hope she can accept the truth both within and around her.” Cash found himself chuckling along with her because they both knew what a challenge it was for Lainy to admit being wrong.
Cash led her to one of the front tables and seated her so she’d be sitting with his parents front and center to the action. Looking up he saw the front doors open and smiled as friends and family began filling the room. He could hardly wait for Collin to arrive with Layla. He knew his brother would enjoy dressing her up for the evening. His brother hadn’t had any trouble enjoying the perks of his wealth when it came to clothing. Collin’s fashion tastes had always been more in line with Lainy’s and the two of them had teased him and Clay that they’d been adopted.
Cash wasn’t that surprised when Clay walked up and asked him for the third time if he had the ring. Pulling the small velvet box from his pocket he flipped the lid open so he could show Clay that he did indeed have it. Then he showed it to his mom and Lainy as well. Their friend, Evan Taylor, had designed and made the ring with their input. The band was made up of three small bands and there was one very large diamond flanked by two more that were slightly smaller. Evan was a fellow Dom and member of The ShadowDance Club and had been happy to rush their order when they’d explained the surprise they were planning for Layla. The gold band had been his choice because he wanted her to know how pure his love was and that she would always be his most treasured gift. Collin had wanted a platinum band because he was the strictest Dom and wanted her to understand his strength would always be for her alone. Clay had smiled and said he wanted white gold for his band because he wanted to be her knight in shining armor and the one who could bring sunshine into her darkest days.
Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket he pulled it out and smiled. “They’re on their way.” He saw Clay’s face light up in anticipation as they both headed to the door. Cash wasn’t sure he ever been this nervous. He’d been in some of the most dangerous places on earth and dealt with evil that few people are ever forced to face and never blinked. But now his palms were sweating over one tiny blonde bombshell—amazing.
Cash and Clay were just walking up to the entrance when Collin escorted Layla through the double doors. She didn’t even notice the quieter music or the decorations. Instead, she ran up and threw her arms out to the side and spun around, “Look at me! This dress is so amazing. I feel like a princess. Thank you so much. And check these out.” Pointing out her sexy sandals, obviously Collin had carried her over the gravel parking lot because there wasn’t any evidence of mud on her dainty pink-tipped toes. “I got a lift from a very handsome gentleman or I’d have gotten them dirty.” She grinned and leaned over and kissed Collin when he’d finally caught up with her.
Cash couldn’t help but laugh because she was so thrilled with the clothes they’d gotten her she still hadn’t taken time to look around. Having a woman who could find such joy in a simple gift was rare indeed. And he had been with women over the years that were so busy “playing to an audience” that they were never fully focused on him, so her ability to fully focus on him was seductive in itself. He’d talked with both of his brothers and hadn’t been surprised when they had both made the same observation.
“Love, you look amazing, just as we knew you would.” And Cash meant each word. The dress they’d chosen was what his sister called eucalyptus. When Clay had called it green, Lainy had patiently corrected him—twice. Lainy had insisted that the color would be perfect to bring out the unique greens and hidden blues of Layla’s eyes and as usual, their younger sister had been right. The fit of the dress hid the slight bump they had all noticed around her waistline and the fabric floated around her in shimmering, soft waves.
He knew the minute she noticed that things weren’t as they usually were because he saw her eyes track behind him and then dart from him to Clay and then to Collin before returning to him. “What’s going on?” The slight trembling in her voice wasn’t lost on him and he pulled her into his embrace. When he finally released her into Clay’s arms, he watched as Clay turned her so that her back was flush against his chest.
Cash was sure that she hadn’t even noticed that they’d led her to the edge of the dance floor. He saw her eyes quickly sweep the room before locking on the stage for a few seconds and then returning to him. God he loved that she looked to him for guidance. “Smile, love, because I promise you there are lots of cameras pointed our way right now. And I’d like our children to look back on these pictures and see how happy their sweet mama was when her men threw her a surprise wedding.
“A surprise wedding? Seriously?” He almost panicked when her voice was little more than a squeak, but then the smile that lit up her face looked like it was shining clear from her soul. “Oh my God, that is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.” She stepped away from Clay so she was facing all three of them. “You are the most wonderful men and I’m so very lucky.” Then she leaned close and spoke softl
y so only those really near could hear, “What are we waiting for?”
Cash laughed out loud and scooped her up into his arms and quickly made his way to the stage. The local Justice of the Peace made quick work of the official ceremony, but it was the Commitment Ceremony that sealed their hearts together for eternity. As the spiritual leader of their family, their grandmother spoke the blessing over each of them as they pledged their love to one another.
Even though he was her official husband, none of them would ever recognize any difference between their relationships. Each of them would be just as committed and married as the others. When they had finalized their vows they were swarmed by family and friends as congratulations and well wishes surrounded them. As he watched his sweet grandmother raise her weathered fingers to gently wipe the tears from Layla’s cheeks it nearly made his heart burst with joy.
Cash extended his hand to her and everything seemed to focus for him as she placed her hand in his without hesitation. Leading her on to the dance floor he whispered, “Let’s get this party started. Our friends are waiting for our first dance so they can join us.” He moved her skillfully around the floor as “Lost in This Moment” by Big and Rich played. He and his brothers had each chosen a song that spoke to them. He let the words speak for him until the dance was nearly done. “You remind me that there is goodness and joy in this crazy world. I spent so many years seeing only the worst of humanity I was worried my soul wouldn’t be able to overcome that darkness. But then I found you and it was as if my spirit had been thrown a life-line. Thank you, love.”
Turning her into Clay’s embrace, Cash smiled when he heard the first strains of “I Cross My Heart” by George Strait. Walking to the edge of the dance floor he laughed when Collin asked him, “Remember when he was in school and he drove us all nuts replaying that movie over and over? Damn, what was the name of that? Oh, yea, Pure Country, Christ, how could I have forgotten?”
“Bet Mom could have told you in her sleep. I’ll never forget her taking that disc out of the player and breaking it apart and then burning the pieces in the middle of the driveway. Damn, the look on Clay’s face was priceless. I don’t think I have laughed that hard again—ever. And the dads decided she was skating close to the edge and immediately took her on that nice cruise. I’ve often figured she was smarter than we all gave her credit because she’d been trying to get them to go on that vacation for a long time. Hell, knowing her and Clay it may well have all been staged.” They both grinned as Clay danced Layla around the floor and then ended right in front of them, and twirled her directly into Collin’s arms.
* * * *
When the first strains of “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith filled the room, there was a collective female sigh heard throughout the room and Collin looked down into Layla’s beautiful green eyes and smiled. “Did you hear that, sweetheart? Every woman in the room knows exactly how much I love you because I have chosen this song for our first dance as husband and wife.” When she seemed frozen in place, he leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. “Dancing is just a conversation between souls—talk to me.”
She fit perfectly in his arms and they glided over the floor as if they were one person. He’d considered something more erotic, but he hadn’t wanted her to have any reason to feel embarrassment during this party. So he was forced to keep all those thoughts to himself. They were leaving on a short trip first thing tomorrow morning. Neither he nor his brothers had wanted to have to travel tonight because they had wanted Layla to be able to enjoy the party and from the looks on her friends’ faces they intended to grab her for one of their girls’ dances as soon as his time with her was through.
“Collin.” His name on her sweet lips brought him back from his musings. “I just wanted you to know I love you very much. I love all three of you with all of my heart.” She almost stumbled over a step as her eyes filled with tears, but he’d helped her get back in step quickly. “I don’t know that I’ve told you how scared I’d always been that when my uncle got out of prison someday he would kill me. But you and Cash and Clay…well, your love made me brave. And that’s the very best kind of love there is.”
This time it was Collin who nearly stumbled. “You take my breath away, sweetheart. And you are right. Love that strengthens you is the best love of all.”
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
For years, I was accused of living in my own little “Fantasy Land” so I decided to put it to use and started writing. I enjoy creating characters who are loveable but never perfect, who live in and visit places I’d love to go, and who overcome obstacles to find the sexy happily ever after I believe we all deserve. I fall in love with the characters I create and enjoy making them each wacky and wonderful in their own way.
The only consistent trait in my heroines is their inability to cook and that is the only trait they each have “inherited” from me. When I’m not working at my very ordinary job, I am either writing or reading. And even though my family professes to support my writing efforts, but I’m fairly certain they are merely glad to see I’ve finally found an outlet for what they have always considered my over-the-top imagination.
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