Six red, white, and blue carnation bouquets lined the balcony with halfmoon, gathered American flags fanning out underneath and white, silk wisteria cascaded from the railing.
Perfect. Everything was perfect. Especially the groom.
Pastor Grayson opened with prayer and read several Bible verses on marriage.
Facing one another, she and Ryler took turns reciting their vows. Tears blurred her vision as she promised her heart, trust, and future to the only man she’d ever loved.
“Do you vow to love and to cherish one another, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
Gently, Ryler slid the ring on her finger. “I do.”
Solid. Permanent.
She slipped the matching gold band on his finger. “I do.”
“I now pronounce—”
“Wait.” Ryler held up one hand then pulled the prenup from his pocket. “I can’t do it, Shell,” he whispered.
She gasped. Her heart took a nosedive.
Ryler turned toward their guests. “Friends and family, Shell is worried folks might think she’s marrying me for the Kroft money, so she had a prenuptial agreement drawn up. But we’re forever and this thing means we’re iffy.” He ripped the document in two and stuck it back in his pocket. “Now you know, as I do, that her heart is pure. Carry on, Preacher.”
Grayson raised an eyebrow. “Y’all don’t need to discuss this further?”
“No. Get to the husband and wife part. Let no man put asunder and all the good stuff.”
Pastor Grayson looked at Shell.
She nodded, her heart welling with love. Ryler trusted her and made sure everyone else did, too.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. Ryler, you may kiss your bride.”
His heart-stopping kiss made her dizzy. Squeals and loud, rapid pops surrounded them. Shell jumped. Fireworks blazed flickering, gunpowder trails through the afternoon sky.
Even after an hour of pictures on the balcony, in the various gardens, and around all four fountains, the guests still lingered as the reception wrapped up.
Ryler sighed. Go home now. Please. Would love to be alone with my bride.
“So.” Ryler wrapped his arms around her waist from behind as she gazed at the miniature Romance Waterfalls in front of the house. “We’ve got the whole place to ourselves for two hours and the attic room for two more days.”
She leaned back against him and he propped his chin on her head. “Per your request, the ringer is off, with the answering machine on, and the staff is gone, except for the cook who’s available whenever we call. Eva’s handling my duties once the other guests return.”
“There you are.” Darrell’s voice came from behind them.
Ryler stiffened and turned to face him without letting Shell go.
“With the groom’s permission, I’d like to hug the bride.”
Ryler tightened his arms around her.
“Relax, Ryler. Shell’s like a daughter to me, and I’ve got my own bride I’m still head over heels in love with after seventeen years.”
“Sorry. Old habit.” Ryler let go of her.
Darrell gave her a brotherly hug. “I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. Me, too.”
“There’s a clearing south of here…” Darrell gestured behind the honeymoon suite on the opposite side from the day care. “It’s surrounded by oaks, sycamores, and wisteria vines in the spring. I thought Eva and I might build there someday, but she likes the city. So, if you both like it, we’d like to give you five acres as a wedding gift.”
Like some charity case.
“We can buy it.” Ryler’s spine stiffened. “We planned to look for land.”
“Relax.” Darrell patted Ryler on the shoulder. “I know you can buy it. You’re a Kroft. But Shell has always done a great job for me and she’s never gotten a bonus. I like you, Ryler. You’re an honorable man, and I know you’ll be good to her. I’d like to give you both a gift. Or I should say, Eva and I would like to give you this gift. So, please take it.”
Ryler knew Darrell was harmless. Even if he were interested in Shell, Ryler trusted her. But for almost a year, he’d considered Darrell a threat and old issues died hard.
“I don’t know what to say.” Ryler cleared his throat.
“Say thank you.” Darrell offered his hand.
“Thank you.” Ryler accepted the handshake.
“Now, don’t take it if you don’t love it. We’ve got a hundred and fifty acres here. If there’s another spot you like better, let me know.”
“Thank you, Darrell.” Shell gave him a peck on the cheek.
Ryler didn’t even flinch.
“You’re welcome. Now, I’ll round up my lovely bride and leave. Maybe the rest of the guests will take the hint.”
Shivers moved through Shell as Ryler inconspicuously nibbled on her ear.
“Stop it.” She giggled. “That tickles.”
“Do you think they’ll ever go so we can get to the fun part? Why aren’t they leaving?”
They’d made a point of rounding the entire house, speaking with each guest. Now back at the front waterfall, guests still milled about.
“They’re probably waiting for us to go. Most brides and grooms don’t honeymoon at the same place they have the wedding.”
“You’re right. I’ll see if I can speed things along.”
“Ryler! Don’t.” She grabbed his arm, fingers tingling at his massive bicep.
“Why not?”
“It’s rude.”
“It’s rude for people to keep me away from my bride when I’ve lived like a Boy Scout for almost a year. Now we’re legal and these people won’t go.”
“These people are our friends and family.”
“Well, they’re starting to smell like three-day-old fish.”
He clapped his hands. “May I have your attention please? My lovely wife and I are going to say final good-byes to our families. Since we’re honeymooning here, you can throw birdseed while we go inside and then feel free to go.”
Laughter canvassed the crowd.
“Why didn’t you just say so?” Collin hugged Ryler with a macho smack on the back.
“I think I just did.”
Laken hugged Ryler, followed by Sylvie and a much steadier Martin. Each Kroft member hugged Shell, murmuring sincere welcomes into the family.
She scooped Chance up. “I love you and I’ll see you in three days.”
Savannah hugged her. As Jake took Chance from her, Ryler kissed her son’s cheek.
“Okay, we’re going inside now.” He grabbed her hand, turned, and ran toward the house in a shower of birdseed. Fireworks blasted and the smell of gunpowder drifted overhead as the departing crowd cheered.
Ryler took her hand and they stepped inside.
As the door closed behind them, he clicked the lock in place and bowed. “My lady.”
He scooped her up in his arms.
She laughed. “Ryler, what are you doing? We already crossed the threshold.”
“I’ve really, really, really been looking forward to tonight.” Cradling her, he growled in her ear. “For months and months on end.”
She giggled. “Me, too.”
“I want our first time—not our first time, but our first legal, right-in-God’s-sight time—to be special.” He carried her up the stairs in a flurry of white satin and lace, Gone with the Wind style.
Only she didn’t fight him.
At the top of the stairs, he nudged the attic bedroom door open. The gold room. Her favorite. Just inside, he set her down.
Certain she’d swoon as his lips claimed hers, she clung to him and her heart raced for the only man who’d ever made her feel like a lady.
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ARKANSAS WEDDINGS: THREE-IN-ONE COLLECTION Page 50