“So, I have to ask,” Liam’s brother Sean said as he adjusted his tie for about the third time in as many minutes. “Why are you doing this if you’re already hitched?”
Liam glanced at Sean and grinned. “Because I want to marry the woman I love in front of our friends and family. Because I want to see her in a white dress. Because I want my brothers standing at my side for the most important moment in my life. Take your pick,” he said and tapped his younger brother on the shoulder.
Sean had arrived in Cedar River less than six hours ago, Kieran the day before. And Jonah two days earlier. He was incredibly grateful that they’d all made the effort to be part of his wedding.He looked at each of his brothers. All three, wearing dark suits with a flower in the lapel, waited for him to make a move and head through the door and into the chapel.
“Thanks for being here,” he said. “It means a lot to me.”
They all nodded. Even Jonah, who Liam suspected had agreed to be a groomsman despite his continued resistance to the idea he was an O’Sullivan.
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Kieran said and grinned. “Besides, every time I come home I remember how much I like this town.”
Sean groaned. “I knew it, you’re gonna move back here, right?”
Kieran shrugged. “Maybe,” he said casually. “If I can get on staff at the hospital.”
“What about you?” Sean asked, looking at Jonah. “You got any plans to ditch Portland and settle in Cedar River?”
“Not one,” Jonah replied. “Although, now that my mother has decided she wants to spend more time here, no doubt I’ll be commuting when I want to see her.”
Liam looked at the three men. All different. But all bound together by blood. Which felt even more important to him now that he had Kayla and a baby on the way. Now he understood why his father had fought so fiercely to keep Jonah in his life. And why he still did, even though his youngest brother rarely gave J.D. the time of day. Family. The only thing in life that truly mattered.
“Okay,” he said with a smile and took a deep breath. “Let’s do this. I want to go and marry my wife.”
Then he turned on his heels and left the room with his brothers right behind him.
* * *
As the car pulled up outside the chapel, Kayla experienced another flutter of nerves in her belly. Silly, she supposed, since she and Liam were already married. But, somehow, this truly felt like her wedding day. Maybe it was the beautiful lace dress, or the flowers, or the fact that she was sitting in the back of a limo with her father...whatever the reason, she was brimming with happiness. And a few pre-wedding jitters.
“Everything okay, love?”
She met her father’s gaze and smiled. “Fine, Dad. I just can’t quite believe I’m here.”
Derek’s gaze softened. “He’s a lucky man.”
Kayla smiled. “I’m the lucky one. Liam is the kindest and most amazing person I have ever known and I feel so incredibly blessed to have him in my life. And thank you,” she said and gently squeezed her father’s arm, “for giving him a chance. I know how difficult it was for you to accept this...to accept us.”
Derek shrugged, his eyes glistening a little. “He loves you...that’s all I could ask for.”
“He does,” she said and smiled again. “He really does.”
As they stepped from the car, Lucy, Ash and Brooke were quickly by her side, straightening her veil and fluffing her small bouquet of tiny white roses. Kayla ran a hand down the lace gown, felt her small baby bump and sighed happily.
“You ready?” Ash asked, hugging her.
“Absolutely.”
Kayla took her father’s arm and followed the bridesmaids up the steps and into the chapel. She heard music, saw people rise as Ash, Lucy and Brooke headed down the aisle and waited with her father until it was her turn to follow. She spotted her grandmother and her aunt in the front row and her mother at the end of the aisle, and Liam’s parents on the other side.
And then she saw Liam standing by the altar and everything else faded around her. He looked so handsome in his dark suit, and when their gaze met she saw love and longing and her heart brimmed over. When she reached the altar, Liam held out his hand and as her father released her, Kayla moved toward the man she loved, entwining her fingers with his.
“Hello, beautiful,” he said, his voice the only sound she could hear.
She smiled and moved closer. “You’re here.”
His blue eyes glittered brilliantly and he laid a gentle hand against her belly as they turned toward the preacher. “We’re here,” he said softly.
In that moment, she knew that nothing and no one would ever come between them. They had each other—body, heart and soul. And for always.
* * * * *
Look for Ash’s story, the next installment of THE CEDAR RIVER COWBOYS Helen Lacey’s new miniseries, on sale August 2017.
And catch up with Kayla and Liam’s friends and family by reading the previous books in THE CEDAR RIVER COWBOYS miniseries for Harlequin Special Edition:
THREE REASONS TO WED
LUCY & THE LIEUTENANT
And
THE COWGIRL’S FOREVER FAMILY
Available wherever Harlequin books and ebooks are sold.
Keep reading for an excerpt from MEANT TO BE MINE by Marie Ferrarella.
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