Two weeks later, Parker stood in the center of his brother’s backyard, smiling as he glanced toward the giant unicorn bounce house situated in the corner. Maybe it wasn’t traditional entertainment for a wedding reception, but Evie maintained that Parker and Mara’s love story had started at Anna’s birthday party so it was only right that they have a bounce house as part of their wedding day.
His wedding day.
He glanced behind him at the arbor he and Josh had built, which Mara and her friends had decorated with wildflowers earlier this morning. They’d only invited their closest friends and family to the celebration. It meant more than he could say to have his brother at his side with Finn and Nick smiling at him from the front row.
In addition to the bounce house, Evie had asked for a sundae bar along with a strawberry-flavored wedding cake. Mara’s only request had been a honeymoon in Hawaii, and he’d happily booked the three of them on a first-class flight leaving tomorrow morning. Parker would have said yes to a horse-drawn carriage, a mariachi band or even a postceremony round of beer pong. He was simply so damn happy to be marrying the woman of his dreams.
There had been no question in his mind that he didn’t want to wait to make Mara and Evie his official family. He’d even called Paul to explain the situation. His client—former client at this point—hadn’t been thrilled with the news but he’d finally wished Parker well and given him a strangely paternal-sounding warning about taking care of Mara.
It was an easy vow for Parker to make.
He’d put in motion plans to sell his practice in Seattle and was already working with Rudy Marshall to transition the older attorney’s clients to Parker. Several of his colleagues in the city had expressed disbelief that Parker had so quickly changed his tune on marriage, but Parker knew he was making the right choice.
Mara meant everything to him. Who better to be a good husband than a man who appreciated the value of love and family because he understood the depth of pain on the other side?
He’d never purposely cause Mara an instant of pain and felt a soul-deep commitment to loving and supporting her no matter what came their way.
The string quartet they’d hired from the local high school went silent for several seconds and then began a hushed version of “Pachelbel’s Canon in D.”
Evie and Anna appeared first, arms linked as they skipped down the makeshift aisle, grinning and giggling along the way.
Parker had explained to Mara’s ex-husband that he had no plans to usurp Paul’s role in his daughter’s life but would love Evie with his entire heart. After so many years of keeping his emotions walled off, it felt good to allow himself to love unconditionally. He’d been missing out on so damn much in life, but thanks to Mara his future was brighter than he could have imagined.
His breath caught in his throat as her gaze locked with his. She wore a cream-colored dress made of lace and satin. It had a scoop neck and long sleeves and was fitted to her curves until flaring out just below her waist. Her hair was pulled back into a low knot, a few dark tendrils curling against her neck.
Parker blinked as tears sprang to the backs of his eyes, which didn’t make any sense because Parker Johnson didn’t cry. But the happiness bursting through him wouldn’t be contained.
He swiped at his cheeks and tried not to lose it completely.
“It’s okay,” Josh whispered at his side, and Parker realized it was more than okay. The profound sense that he was doing the exact right thing filled him with more joy than he’d ever experienced.
Rudy Marshall, who was officiating the ceremony, shoved a tissue into his hand.
As Mara drew closer, Parker reached out and laced his fingers with Mara’s then tried to give her the tissue with his other hand.
Her smile gentled. “Um… I think that’s for you.” She took it from him and dabbed at his cheeks, and that’s when Parker realized he was all but bawling in front of their friends and family. He could have cared less.
“I love you,” he told her and pressed his lips to hers.
Rudy cleared his throat, and Mara pulled away with a laugh.
“Perhaps we could make it through the vows before any more kissing?” the older attorney asked, one heavy brow raised.
Parker nodded, worried that if he tried to say more he might totally lose his composure. His emotion seemed to set off a chain reaction. By the time he and Mara made it through the vows, which they’d written for each other, there wasn’t a dry eye in the backyard other than Evie and Anna, who couldn’t quite figure out why all the adults were crying.
But Parker knew that everything was okay because all the mistakes he’d made in his life—and there had been plenty—led him to this woman and this moment. And it was perfect.
* * *
“For the rest of my life,” Mara said to Brynn and Kaitlin as she held up her champagne glass for another toast an hour later, “I’m going to look at my wedding photos and everyone is going to have puffy eyes and tear-stained cheeks.”
“All you’ll remember is the happiness,” Brynn said gently, and Mara couldn’t help but wrap her new friend in a tight hug.
“I’m sorry if this is hard for you.”
Brynn immediately pulled back, shaking her head. “I’m so happy for you and Parker. You deserve the love you’ve found with each other.”
“You deserve love, too,” Kaitlin said, draining her glass. “I’m not going to speak ill of the dead, but your late husband was a royal ass.”
Brynn stifled a giggle, and Mara shook her head. “Honey, I think you just did speak ill of him.”
“Not half as bad as what I was thinking,” Kaitlin countered.
“I have Tyler,” Brynn told them, glancing over to where her son danced with Evie and Anna. “Being a mom is enough for me. I can live vicariously through you two in the romance department.”
Mara shook her head. “We’re definitely finding you a boyfriend. As soon as I return from my honeymoon it’s the top priority.”
“Who’s on top?” Parker came up behind Mara, bending forward to place a quick kiss on her cheek. “Because I’m not picky.”
“TMI.” Brynn made a show of covering her ears with her palms. “For real.”
Finn and Nick joined their table, and Mara couldn’t help but notice that Brynn’s shoulders stiffened slightly as Nick sat down next to her. All three men wore black tuxes. Although the wedding was small, Parker had insisted they go formal on the attire. Mara knew that part of that was the pleasure he took from making his friends put on the “monkey suits” as they called them, but she didn’t care about the reason. Parker looked so handsome in his black tux with the crisp white shirt it almost took her breath away.
“We’re going to find a boyfriend for Brynn,” Kaitlin told the three friends. “We’ve been talking about it since the summer, but now it’s happening.”
“After the honeymoon,” Mara told Parker when he let out a small groan. “You are my priority for the next ten days.”
“I’ve given up on love,” Brynn said softly. “No dating apps necessary. Some of us aren’t meant for it.”
“Amen, sister. Love is for suckers.” Nick held up his hand for a high five but instead of giving him one, Brynn pushed back from the table.
“I’m going to dance with the kids,” she said then walked away.
“Damn,” Parker murmured. “She left you hanging hard, Nicky.”
“Which you deserve,” Finn added. “Since you just called us suckers.”
“I was trying to help.” Nick ran a hand through his hair and grabbed Brynn’s half-full champagne glass, then drained it in one gulp.
Despite the fact that he’d shoved his own foot into his mouth, Mara felt a sharp pang of sympathy for the police chief. It was obvious he cared about Brynn, but between their past and her grief and anger over Daniel’s death, Nick obviously didn’t know how to bridge the distance between them.
“She should have another chance at happiness,” Finn told him. “If anyone deserves—”
“I know what Brynn deserves,” Nick interrupted and the naked longing in his eyes when he glanced toward the dance floor shocked Mara. She’d been so wrapped up in her own life that she hadn’t looked closely enough at the police chief’s feelings for his old friend. “I can tell you there isn’t one man around here who’s good enough for her.”
Mara reached out and squeezed his hand. “There must be someone.”
He met her gaze and quickly shuttered the vulnerability from his own. “Can I get anyone a drink?” he asked, straightening.
“Nothing for me,” Parker said as he tugged Mara up from her chair. “But I would like a dance with my beautiful wife.”
Mara followed him into the backyard, where the rental company had set up a temporary dance floor. As if on cue, the up-tempo song ended and a sweet country ballad began. The kids shouted protests at the slower music and ran toward the bounce house while Kaitlin and Finn joined them on the dance floor.
“Nick likes Brynn,” Mara said as Parker wrapped his arms around her and they began to sway.
“We all love Brynn,” he answered, a small frown pulling at the corners of his mouth. “She was like a sister to Nick back in high school. By the time he realized he felt more for her, it was too late.”
“But it’s not too late.”
“You aren’t going to set up Brynn and Nick.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m feeling as hopeful about love as a guy can get and even I know that ship has sailed.”
“What if the ship came back to port?” She scrunched up her nose. “Ships do that, you know.”
“I don’t want to talk about our friends at the moment.” His hands slid along her back, drawing her closer until the lace of her gown brushed against his tux.
“Shall we talk about how I have the most handsome husband in all the world?” She smiled when his cheeks flushed with color. “And how much I love that he cries and blushes?”
Parker let out a soft chuckle. “It’s like you ripped the man card right out of my hands.”
“You’re the best man I know,” she assured him. “I love you, Parker Johnson.”
“I love you, Mara Johnson.”
With a contented sigh, she rested her cheek against his cheek, knowing with her whole heart that the love between them would last the rest of their lives.
* * * * *