"Tristan, you better not come in this room," Alyssa scolded.
"He's fine," Elle said. "Yeah, I'm here. How's Conner?"
I smiled. "He's good. Mom took him when we got in." My shoulders relaxed. "You ready?"
She sighed, and I pictured her resting her forehead on the door with both palms against the thick wood separating us. "Yeah. What about you?"
"We could always run away and elope."
"Shrimp, get the hell away from here."
"You're in a church," Elle whispered to her.
"Okay, okay. I'll see you in a few minutes."
"See you."
Dad rounded the corner. "Son, it's time."
"On my way."
The church was small, fitting about two hundred people at most inside, which was perfect. We'd invited only our closest friends a few family members to share our day. At the back entrance, the preacher spoke with Paul and Bret when I walked up.
"Mr. Daniels, glad you could join us."
"Couldn't be late to my own wedding." I shook his hand. "Thank you for agreeing to officiate on such short notice.
"We had a last-minute cancellation. Looks as though someone else wanted this marriage to happen, too."
"Guess so," I agreed.
"The room is full. Apparently, word got around after all," Paul said, glancing through the door window leading to the auditorium.
"Nothing stays quiet in this town," I said, looking at the rows of people sitting in pews. The person I'd hoped to see most, Elle's dad, wasn't in the crowd of faces. I'd left him a message, hoping to bridge the gap between them. Apparently once an asshole, always an asshole. Didn't matter. Dad offered to walk her down the aisle anyway.
"Looks like you've gathered a good group." The preacher clapped his hands together. "How about we get this marriage underway?"
The three of us followed him out the doors. Soft instrumental music played and the audience hushed.
The ring. Shit. "Paul, you got the ring?"
"What? I was supposed to grab it?"
My face heated.
"Man, you should see your face right now." He pushed my arm, and I swayed, but righted myself before stumbling over.
"Not funny."
Bret leaned in the huddle. "It kinda was."
"I'm kicking your ass later, dick."
Both men laughed.
The preacher cleared his throat and all three of us straightened up, turning to face everyone. "Gentlemen, it's time."
As a grown man I could take down others twice my size on the field, but one look at Elle's beauty and she rendered me weak. She followed Alyssa on my father's arm down the aisle, and the sight actually made my knees shake.
"Hey," Elle whispered, reaching me. Her chestnut hair hung in curls down her bare back.
"Hi," I said kissing the tip of her nose.
Someone whistled behind us and color filled in Elle's cheeks.
"Couldn't help myself."
Laughter carried on behind us.
The ceremony went along in a blur, but the one thing I wanted to hear rang in my ears–when Elle released those two simple words: "I do."
"You may now kiss the bride. Again."
Pressing my mouth to hers, I slipped my tongue between her lips. Elle met the kiss with the same passion. It wasn't until the sound of whistles ensued that I remembered people were in the room.
"Fuck," I whispered, resting my forehead on hers.
"Later," she teased.
I pulled back, my hand still holding her neck, and gazed into those vivid green eyes. "Keep that talk up and we'll skip out of the reception."
The smirk she wore would've brought me to my knees had Paul not cut in. "Man, I think the natives are getting restless."
Elle's eyes grew wide, and she ducked her head down, hiding in my chest.
"Sorry," I offered.
Dad shook his head, a hint of humor in the gesture. Conner squealed, breaking the spell. Elle shifted from my hold to pick him up from Mom and Dad. As soon as he was nestled in her arms, Conner settled.
As a family, the three of us walked down the aisle. Paul and Alyssa were at our heels and I couldn't help but crane my neck to make sure the two were okay.
Paul's face told it all: longing. With a grimace, I shifted my attention back to my wife and son. Wife. Son. Yeah, I absolutely loved the sound of that.
Outside, Elle handed Conner over to her mom. "I'll be there soon."
Conner squirmed, and Mrs. Richards bounced him. Mrs. Richards kissed her daughter's cheek and said to me, "Tristan, it's nice to finally call you my son."
"Thank you for raising an amazing woman."
Elle wrapped an arm around my waist.
"And thanks for taking care of my daughter. We'll see you at the reception."
Mrs. Richards waved, and so did Conner as we dashed away.
In the private limo, I rolled up the divider, cocooning us in our own world for a minute. Moving to Elle, I sat on my knees, separating Elle's legs and got comfortable.
"Tristan," she said glancing at the dark window separating us from the driver.
"Elle Marie Daniels." The name resonated within me, taking root and making me so fucking happy.
Elle's breath hitched, and a soft smile kicked up the edges of her pouty mouth.
"Tristan Wade Daniels, my husband."
I advanced until Elle's back was flush with the seat. "Wife," I said, voice low.
"Kiss me again."
The slow dance of her tongue rolled with mine. I cupped her face to keep from roaming under her dress because I was pretty sure we wouldn't be attending the reception had I allowed myself the freedom to touch her the way I was dying to.
We broke apart. "I love you, Elle Marie Daniels. Always."
Elle
Tristan had one request when I planned the reception. He wanted the room to be filled with clear Christmas lights. "Remember the date night I won, but switched with Eric?"
I'd nodded, confused. Where're you going with this, Daniels?
Tristan continued. "The way you looked when under the lights." He crowded me, pressing his chest against mine. His scent, woodsy spice from his aftershave, filled my senses. "By the grace of God, I prayed you'd find your way to me." He brushed the hair from my cheek. "And here we are, planning our wedding."
"Guess you got lucky." How lucky was I to have tripped, fallen, and gotten picked up by the only man I really ever loved?
Our moms, Alyssa, and Tisha helped me string row after row of lights on the ceiling at the The Woodlands, a wedding venue we'd booked for the reception. When you stepped outside, with the lights on, it looked like a forest surrounded by fairy magic. Torches flickered in the wind around the wooden dance floor. Jazz music streamed through the speakers when we walked in.
Tristan spun me around, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Spud, this is beautiful."
"You really like it?"
The lights flickered, bringing out the golden hues in his eyes. "I love it, but not as much as I love you."
A waiter joined us. "Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, if you'll follow me this way." He stretched out his arm to an area off to the side of the dance floor. Several round tables were scattered in front of our table.
Paul whistled as he toured the area. "Elle, you outdid yourself. Everything looks perfect."
"Of course it's perfect; I helped," Alyssa chimed in. "You look beautiful." She hugged me tight. The layers of makeup she helped me apply would be a mess if she kept this stuff up. Alyssa pulled back, smiling at Tristan. "Be good to my girl."
Tristan rubbed circles on my back. "Always," he replied, and my chest burst with so much joy. "Spud, Tracy and Grant just walked in, I'm going to go say hi."
I nodded and watched as he strolled across the area.
It hit.
I married my best friend, the man I had secretly loved for years, and now, those dreams were a reality.
Someone should pinch me.
"Hello?" Alyssa smacked my a
rm, not exactly a pinch but close enough.
"Ouch." I rubbed the sting. "What the hell?"
"I'm not sure."
"Well, I am. You're crazy."
She laughed without humor and changed the subject. "Do you think I made the right decision?"
I followed her gaze to Paul, the man who showed her what love was, then over to Bret, the man who taught her how to love. My heart sank. "I can't answer that. Only you can."
Alyssa turned, and an ocean of blue peered at me, begging for answers. Only she knew whom her heart belonged to. "I know," she said.
"He loves you, and it's okay to allow it."
"I know," she murmured again, dabbing a napkin under her eyes.
Mom came up behind us, draping an arm around our necks. "Enough, you two." She squeezed, and Alyssa chuckled. "Today isn't supposed to be sad."
"I know. I know." Alyssa blew out a sigh, then straightened her shoulders. She'd made her choice, the one she couldn't live without. "I gotta go." She smiled–a thank you she never needed to say. "Love you."
"Love you, too." I kissed her cheek, then whispered, "Follow your heart."
Alyssa darted away.
"Heather would have been proud of you two today."
"Yeah, I think so, too," I admitted.
Mom sighed. "You take care of yourself in New Orleans."
My eyes filled with tears quicker than Tristan saying "I do." "I'm going to need you so much, Mom." What I wanted to say was, I'm going to miss you like crazy.
She nodded. "Me, too, baby. Me, too. You don't know how to fail, Elle. Motherhood comes naturally to you."
"Think I could steal this beautiful lady?" Paul stood with his hand outreached.
"Yes, of course." Mom kissed my cheek. "I love you so much," she said, holding my shoulders.
"Right back at you, Mom." I hugged her tight before turning to Paul.
"Let's do this." I smiled, reaching for his hand.
Paul led me to the dance floor, a slow melody played. As we swayed, he said, "I love her." His eyes clouded over as he watched Bret holding Alyssa on the other side of the dance floor.
"I know."
Paul squinted, before shaking his head. "He seems like a good guy." He nodded toward them again.
"Bret is a great guy, and he loves her, too."
"Yeah, I know."
"Will you be okay?"
When he glanced my way, a peaceful expression crossed over his face. "Of course."
That cocky, sure-of-himself attitude reminded me so much of Alyssa. I understood why she fell for him. Paul was her safety when she felt like the world was falling apart all those years ago. Now, adulthood led her to Bret, the man with whom she learned how to live again.
"Stop manhandling my wife, soldier."
Paul chuckled and twirled me once before handing me over to Tristan. "Keep this one close." Paul looked down at me. "She's pretty damn likable."
Tristan swept me in his arms, holding me prisoner against him. The slow and steady rhythm of his heart thudded against my hand.
He stared at me with such devotion my chest hurt. Skimming his knuckles down my cheek, he said, "She's so much more."
Six years later
"Daddy, is this it?" Conner ran toward his mother's gravestone, pointing to the gray-speckled granite.
I brought him to the cemetery the same time every year. Elle and I agreed to keep Kellie's memories alive as much as possible. While my wife loved Conner and raised him as her own, Elle wanted Conner to know the brave woman who gave up her life for his.
"Good job, kid." I mussed up his dark hair. "Knew you'd find it."
"It's 'cause I'm six now." His belief system always put a smile on my face. "How come Heather didn't come visit with us?"
I bent down beside him. "She's at home with Mommy."
"Girls have to clean the new house so us boys can go play?" Oh, Elle would have a hay-day with that one.
"No, son. We gotta clean, too."
He scrunched his nose, cheeks denting in like his mom's had. "I don't like to."
"Mommy gives you extra cookies after your chores."
He shrugged. "Yeah, and Mommy and Grandma Daniels make the bestest chocolate chip cookies."
I laughed, ruffling his hair. "They sure do."
One eye closed and squinting with the other, he tugged on my shirt. "Daddy, can we go back now?" Conner flew the new plane that Tracy and Grant gave him.
"Why the rush?"
"I wanna meet the new neighbor." He scowled. "It's not fair Sissy gets to play with him before me." Conner dropped his arms, then jumping to a different subject, said, "Is Mommy giving me a brother?" Dimples sure to reel in more girls than Elle would like appeared. His eyes widened.
"Not sure, bud."
"Can we name him something fun?" Attention to his shoes, he kicked at a rock. "But only if it's a boy and not another girl." Conner scrunched his nose and stuck out his tongue.
I laughed. "Trust me, you'll change your mind about girls when you're older. And yeah, we can go back, buddy, after we give your mom the pretty flowers you picked out for her."
"Okay." He hopped to his knees, adding the bundle of yellow and white daisies to the cup in front of the headstone. "Mommy always says you're watching us in heaven with Jesus so can you tell him I want a baby brother? Amen." Conner smiled up at me. "Daddy, First Mommy will make sure I get a brother. Now I'm ready to go home?"
Again, his reasoning put a smile on my face. "Piggyback ride to the car?"
Conner stood up and brushed grass from his knees. "Race ya!" He took off, tongue sticking out as he bolted to the car.
I glanced back at Kellie's grave. "He's the best kid, Kel. Thank you." The trees rustled in the wind, and I smiled, jogging to catch up with my son.
A few hours later, Conner and I pulled up in the driveway. The drive was long, but it was great to be back in Texas. The Houston area was humid, but we were closer to the family.
"Wake up, son."
His eyes slowly fluttered open. One look out the window, his seat belt flew off, and he jumped out of the car running. Elle waved from the kitchen window, her face better than any welcome home gift or party.
I grinned.
Her lips were even better.
Inside the kitchen, Conner hightailed it past me at the door. "Where's the fire?" I moved out of his way.
"Mommy said Heather's already playing with the boy next door. Not fair. I gotta be friends with him first 'cause I'm the big brother. And I'm 'apposed to look out for her."
I quirked a brow at his mom. "Our daughter is playing with the boy next door?" Best start planting a cactus garden under her window.
"Be nice." Elle waddled to me, throwing her arms around my neck.
"How was the visit?"
"Good. Kellie's parents bought the kids a few toys and a little something for this one, too." I bent to kiss her swollen stomach. "Grow strong in there. We need more testosterone in the house."
"Hey." Elle swatted at my hair.
I stood, pulling her to me. "Missed you."
"Right back at you, Daniels." Elle pressed her lips to mine. "Ouch." She bent over, bracing her stomach.
"Spud, you okay?"
"She's pregnant, Shrimp. Isn't that enough?"
Elle glanced up, smiling. "Just another kick. This one's gonna be a punter." She smiled with tears shining in her eyes.
A boy? I mouthed.
Elle nodded.
"Why the hell do they cause so much damn heartburn? My chest is still on fire, and we're not far behind each other," Alyssa complained, plopping in a chair at the kitchen table, out of breath. "Oh, and Heather's playing next door with a boy," Alyssa grunted while kicking her feet up in a chair. "We already know how that story ends. I suggest you two stop that shit now before it has a chance to turn into you two."
My stomach clenched at the picture Amazon painted. In fact, I didn't like the idea of my daughter dating. Ever. I frowned at Elle when Heather raced in, Conn
er on her heels. "Daddy, Daddy!"
Heather jumped, and I scooped her up, tickling her belly.
"Daddy, I got a new friend, Reece." She wiggled until I put her on the ground. Heather ran to the little boy, who watched me with curious intensity for such a little kid.
"Well. Hello, Reece." I folded my arms over my chest. Took all I had not to kick the boy out and lock my daughter in her room, hiding her from all other four-year-old boys. Thanks to Alyssa's big mouth, especially the one who stood in my kitchen.
"Hi."
We stared at each other until the kid blinked. His big blue eyes and smile were damn cute. When it came to my daughter, regardless that they were four, I didn't care too much for it.
"We're going back to Reece's."
My heart sank when Heather grabbed the boy's hand and ran out the front door.
I whipped around, a fierce protectiveness pressing on my chest. "What. The. Hell was that?"
Conner grabbed a chocolate chip cookie from the counter. "Not a nice word, Daddy."
"Sorry, you're right, bud."
"New neighbors." Elle shrugged, resting a hand on her stomach. "Remind you of anyone?"
"I'm gonna lock–"
Elle's glare stopped me from finishing.
I bent down to his level. "Conner, it's your job to keep your sister safe."
"Nuh-huh. Not no more, she's a friend stealer." He stomped up to his room.
"Not fair, ya know." Elle nuzzled into me, and I felt the baby move.
"Bret should be here soon," Alyssa interrupted.
"You're about ready to pop," I said with a chuckle.
"Shrimp," she scoffed. "You don't miss anything, do you?" Alyssa rolled her eyes, fanning a hand to cool the sweat glistening her pale skin.
"Alyssa!" Bret's voice boomed. In seconds, he came bounding down the hall with Heather sitting on his shoulders.
"Momma, Momma, look who came to see me."
Alyssa's face brightened. She held her back, trying to roll out of the chair, so I helped her up.
"Who's your friend, cutie?" Alyssa said to Heather. My daughter giggled when Alyssa tickled her sides.
I smiled and went to stand next to my wife. Resting my forehead with hers, I inhaled the floral scent that still drove me crazy.
Interception (Distraction #3) Page 25