Inside the white pavilion, a string quartet played just loud enough to add to the festive celebration. All the guests had been served in the buffet line, many remaining seated and visiting at tables, others mingling as they moved around the room.
Hawk mingled with the wedding guests as he made his way around the pavilion. Abby was gorgeous. She and Jay looked so happy. Laura Lynn looked beautiful too. He was happy to hear of her engagement to Michael.
Hawk kept moving through a sea of people—and then he spotted her. He politely elbowed his way through the guests until he caught up with the tiny spirited brunette in a simple black dress.
“There you are,” Hawk said. “I’ve been trying to catch up with you.”
“The wedding was wonderful,” Jordan Bryan said. “Abby looks amazing. You look pretty handsome yourself. I rather like the tuxedo look on you.”
“You do, huh?”
“It’s almost as becoming on you as jeans and a T-shirt.”
He laughed. “It’s crowded in here. You want to go for a walk?”
“Definitely,” she said.
Hawk took Jordan’s hand and led her through the crowd to the nearest exit, and out into the clean mountain air. A full moon lit up the landscape.
Hawk took off his tux jacket and put it over her shoulders. “I’m glad you came. I told you it would be okay.”
“I’m not in the habit of crashing weddings,” Jordan said.
“You’re hardly crashing it when I invited you. Abby insisted.”
Jordan laughed. “And some escort you turned out to be.”
“I’m free now,” Hawk said. “I’m all yours until you tell me to get lost.”
Jordan looked up at him, the corners of her mouth twitching. “Did I say anything about you getting lost?”
“I want you to meet my mom and Elliot,” Hawk said. “We can’t keep putting it off. Abby figured it out. I don’t want them finding out about us from someone else.”
She nodded. “You’re right. I just know how much they loved Laura Lynn. I’m nothing like her.”
Hawk stopped and cupped Jordan’s face in his hands. “They’ll love you. How could they not? I love you.” Hawk let his lips melt into hers, then gently pulled back and looked into her eyes. “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
“You really don’t think they’ll gasp when you tell them I’m a jockey?”
“A winning jockey. And no. I don’t.”
Somebody came outside and announced that the bride was going to throw her bouquet.
“Come on,” Hawk said. “Let’s go watch. I already know she’s going to throw it to Laura Lynn.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“Not at all,” Hawk said. “Come on. Abby’s feelings will be hurt if the family’s not there.”
He took Jordan’s hand and went inside. He saw Abby standing with her back to a bevy of ladies, each eager to catch the bouquet. She kept looking over her shoulder.
“See,” Hawk said. “She’s going to throw it straight to Laura Lynn.”
Hawk walked to where the giggling females were waving their arms. He stood over to the side, getting a kick out of Abby looking over her shoulder.
“Here she goes,” Hawk said.
“One, two, three …” Abby flung the bouquet over her shoulder. It went high into the air, over to one side, and right into Hawk’s hands.
He stared at it in disbelief, aware that the room was suddenly quiet. Then came a round of applause and laughter.
Jordan laughed so hard she had tears coming down her face.
“Okay, babe, let’s give them something to talk about.” Hawk reached down, sat Jordan on his arm, and lifted her up. Waving the bouquet with the other hand.
The room erupted in more cheers and laughter.
Hawk looked over at Abby, who was red faced and smiling from ear to ear. She winked.