Eleven

On the first Saturday in November, Lindsay stood in the foyer of the Dallas church watching Scotty walk down the aisle. Dressed in a black tux with black cowboy boots and his hair neatly combed, he was doing just as he had been told. He scattered rose petals along the aisle and took his place at the front by his dad.

Milans and Calhouns were present in abundance. Tony’s best man was his older brother Wyatt. Tony had said they would kill the old feud between Calhouns and Milans, so along with his two brothers, he had asked her brothers to be groomsmen and all three accepted. Scotty stood in front of his dad and both of them looked pleased.

Lindsay had asked Savannah if she felt up to being matron of honor. After thanking her, Savannah had declined because of her new baby girl, Caitlin. Lindsay then asked Josh’s new wife, Abby, and she accepted instantly, seeming grateful that Lindsay had thought of her. Madison had declined to be a bridesmaid because she was almost into the eighth month of her pregnancy.

“It’s time,” the wedding planner said, smoothing the train to Lindsay’s white satin dress and checking her veil. She smiled at Lindsay as her dad took her arm.

“Lindsay, I wish you all the happiness possible,” he said to her as they walked down the long aisle.

“Thanks, Dad,” she replied. She looked at Tony in his black tux and best black boots and her heart beat faster with joy. She loved him with all her heart. It seemed like a miracle, something she once thought impossible.

When she joined him at the end of the aisle and met his gaze, she lost all awareness of their families and friends. The big Dallas church was filled, but she could see only Tony.

She repeated her vows, meaning every word, feeling as if there would be enough love between them to carry them through any kind of adversity, even the kind they stirred up themselves.

It seemed a long ceremony, but finally they were pronounced husband and wife. Above a fanfare of trumpets, an organ, and applause from the audience, thunder boomed as they rushed up the aisle.

“Wow,” Tony said, glancing over his shoulder at double glass doors. “Is that really thunder?”

“Rain on our wedding day—”

“We had sunshine this morning and rain would be the best possible thing next to being alone with you within the hour.”

“Rain is more likely to happen than that,” she replied, laughing. “Look how dark it is outside,” she said, turning to stare.

“Dare I hope?” Tony replied. “How long will this reception take?”

“Tony, you’ve asked me that half a dozen times. Hours. It will take hours for me to dance with all the Milan and Calhoun men who are going to ask me to dance because it’s the courteous thing to do, much less all the guys who work for me that are here and will be polite and ask me to dance.”

“They’re not asking because they’re polite. This is probably the first time they’ve seen you look like this and they’re having the same kind of reaction I did the night of the auction,” he remarked.

“I hope not.” A bolt of lightning streaked in a brilliant flash, followed by thunder that rattled windows. Tony grabbed her hand. “C’mere,” he said, stepping outside and drawing her beside him as he inhaled deeply.

“Smell that,” he said. “And look at the trees. We have an east wind. It’s going to rain. Hallelujah!” He yanked her to him to kiss her hard, and for a few minutes she forgot everything else until the first big drop hit her.

“Ki-yi-yippie-ki-ay!” Tony yelled, turning his face up to feel the rain.

“Celebrate inside.” She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go around where we’re supposed to or everyone will be out here and we’ll have a mob scene.”

They rushed through an empty hall and Tony pulled her into an empty room and closed the door. “Just one more kiss,” he said.

“Oh, no. You’ll mess us both up for pictures. You have to wait. Come on, Tony,” she said, wiggling away and stepping through the door into the hall, smiling and looking away.

“We’re coming,” she called. “Hurry, Tony.”

He stepped out. “Yes, Miss Bossy.” He looked down the hall. “Who were you talking to? I don’t see a soul. You made that up to get me out here,” he accused, shaking his head but still smiling.

“Come on,” she said, laughing and hurrying along the empty hall.

When they passed double glass doors, Tony pulled her to a stop. “Look at that,” he said in awe, giving another whoop of joy while she clapped.

“Tony, rain! Finally.”

“Just pray it lasts for a week,” he said. “What a fantastic wedding gift—rain. Buckets and buckets of rain.”

“Reception, remember?” she said, tugging on his hand.

Over an hour later, Tony took her into his arms for their first dance as husband and wife. “Lindsay, you’re the most beautiful bride ever. You look even more stunning than the night of the auction,” he said, meaning every word. He knew as long as he lived, he would never forget looking at her as she walked down the aisle to marry him.

“Tony, I’m so happy. I didn’t think I could ever be this happy.”

“Hang on to that as long as you can. I’ll try to always make you happy, darlin’.”

“Don’t make wild promises.”

“I’m not. I want you happy. I love you,” he said, his arm tightening slightly around her waist as he held her. “Thanks again for agreeing to move into my house. My offer still stands—anytime you want me to build a new house for us, it’s fine with me.”

She smiled. “I think your house is wonderful,” she said. “We’ll see, but right now, it looks quite suitable. As long as you love me and you’re in my bed at night, what more could I ask for?”

“I wish I could dance you out the door, through that pouring rain, into the limo and off to that bed right now.”

“You can’t do that. We have to stay and be sociable before we leave for New York.”

“I hope you’re still happy with going to New York for a few days.”

“Very happy. After our babies are born, we can go to Paris and Italy, but I don’t want that big a trip right now while I’m pregnant.”

“It’s your choice, darlin’.” He held her close, inhaling the faint scent of her perfume. He just wanted to make her happy because she made him happier than he had ever been in his life.

“Lindsay, we still haven’t told anyone we’re expecting twins.”

“It’s just been confirmed and it’s still early in my pregnancy. I want to wait a bit. We have time.”

“We’ll do it however you want,” he said, and her blue eyes twinkled.

“I love it when you say that and I hope I hear it millions of times.”

He grinned. “I’ll try. That’s the best I can do, just promise to try. Something I’m trying to resist doing is going out and standing in the rain. I may succumb to that one before we leave.”

“Don’t you dare. A soggy tux would be dreadful.”

“Soggy from rainwater would be dreadful? I beg to differ.”

She laughed. “Tony, life is a blast and I intend to enjoy being married to you.”

“I’ll keep reminding you of that. I’m going to wish I recorded it to play again.”

“You still think we’re going to fight. I don’t think so. You’re doing a great job so far of keeping me happy.”

He laughed. “You can’t imagine how badly I want to get you out of here and all to myself,” he said.

“I’ll see what I can do about that. Maybe I can hurry things up a bit.”

“Darlin’, you do know how to please a man.”

She felt as if she’d danced with every cowboy in Texas when Mike stepped up to ask her to dance. She smiled at her brother as they danced away.

“Caitlin is a beautiful baby, Mike,”

He grinned. “Thank you. I agree. You look beautiful, too, Lindsay.”

“Thank you.”

“And happy. I’m glad. Tony’s a good guy.”

“I agree with you on that one. Savannah said Caitlin is a quiet baby.”

“She is and she’s a little doll. Someone’s holding her constantly. When Mom and Dad arrived, they stayed with us last weekend instead of their usual hotel stay.”

“Our mother?”

“Yes, she did. She thinks Caitlin is adorable.”

“I’m so glad. She looks like Savannah, even as tiny as she is.”

“I agree. I see Jake watching us, so I’m sure he’s going to want to dance with you next. I talked to Abe. He’s happy for you and he’ll run the place just fine while you’re gone. I told him if he needs me, call.”

“That was nice, thanks,” she said. “I’ve never been away like this.”

“It’s time you did, Lindsay, and time you got a life of your own. You don’t have to get out there and work like one of the boys.”

She laughed. “I think those days may be over. Being a mama sounds like a big responsibility.”

He smiled at her and danced her toward the sideline. “I’ll give you to Jake. You have so many guys who will want to dance with you that you and Tony will never get away.”

“Thanks, Mike,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek as they halted and Jake stepped up to take her hand.

Mike was almost right. By the time she’d danced with all the Milans and Calhouns and talked to each of their guests, it was hours later. Finally they made it out of their reception hall.

For just a moment Tony stopped, standing in a downpour and laughing, dancing a jig until she grabbed his wrist and tugged.

They rushed to the waiting limo and fell laughing onto the seat as their chauffeur closed the door.

“The drought will lessen now and your brother told me rain is predicted for the next three days,” Tony said, pulling her to him to kiss her before she could answer.

When she pushed him away she laughed as she shook her head. “You’re incredibly sexy and appealing, but that wet tux is going to ruin my wedding dress.”

“It’s rainwater. Do you really care?”

As she shook her head, she laughed until he drew her close to kiss her again.

Tony had a private plane waiting at the airport, but it was the wee hours of the morning when he finally carried her over the threshold into the New York penthouse suite he had reserved for their honeymoon. Standing her on her feet, he pushed away her short charcoal jacket and wrapped his arms around her.

“I love you, Lindsay. I don’t think I can ever tell you enough. All I can do is try to show you. I’ve waited all day for this moment when we would be alone together.”

Wrapping her arms around his neck, she smiled at him. “Mrs. Anthony Milan! It’s a whole new life for me. Tony, once again, I am happier than I ever dreamed possible.”

His smile vanished as he held her and began to unfasten the buttons down the back of her navy dress. “I hope so and I want to always make you happy, Lindsay. You’ve filled a huge void in my life. I want to be with you, to love you, to have a family with you. I need you, darlin’.”

She tightened her arms around his neck to pull his head down and kiss him. He held her close against him, their hearts beating together.

Joy filled her. She had never known as much contentment as she had found with Tony, and so much excitement as they looked forward to their babies. She couldn’t wait to start her new life, a life shared with the man she loved with all her heart—the one rancher in the whole world she could love.