YEARS AGO, HE’D promised his brother he would take care of Nick and Ronni. Today, he’d promise the same thing to them.
Make it official. Really make good on his word.
But he was going to be late to the courthouse.
Again.
The Camaro’s tires squealed as Hayden took a corner a tad too quickly. His brother Greg braced his arm against the dashboard. “Take it easy. It would be great if you actually married Ronni before making her a widow, you know? She’s already lost one Hawkins man before she officially became part of the family. Let’s not make it two. Plus, I’ve got a new baby who really needs a father.”
“We’re going to be late.” The jeweler had wanted Hayden and Greg to ooh and aah over his creations a lot longer than Hayden had patience for.
“She’ll wait, I promise. After all the other hoops she’s jumped through to marry you, including dealing with Mom to plan this low-key wedding instead of eloping with you, I don’t think she’s going to let a few minutes chase her away.”
“It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s the judge.”
“So we’ll find another judge. The courthouse is full of them.”
“No, it has to be Judge Madison. Ronni insists. He’s the one who wrote out Nick’s probation terms. She feels since he brought us together, it’s only fitting that he marry us.”
Hayden checked the dashboard clock one more time, as if that would get them there faster. One other potential problem loomed, as well. “Hope nobody’s leaked it to the media. I’d like today to go without Ronni having to face them.” Getting busted on his wedding day for beating a reporter didn’t sound like a good idea.
Besides, he had plans for his wedding night. They didn’t include being locked in a cell.
“Speaking of the media...” Greg flipped down the visor, checking his tie while they drove. “Just who was it, do you think, who leaked that video of Scott cheating on Ronni in Iraq?”
The media had been all over her when she’d filed the divorce papers, which were a matter of public record. But tones had changed after they’d discovered Scott’s philandering ways. Ronni had gone from evil, coldhearted woman to Erie’s wronged sweetheart in the space of one short video clip.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “But whoever it was, I’d like to shake his hand.”
“Any suspects?”
“Yeah. There’s a guy, Dan Abbott, from Scott’s unit. I met him when Scott was in the hospital. The way he looked at Ronni sometimes... I think he did it. Despite what Ronni believes, I think he might be the one who sent her the video in the first place.”
All the on-street parking spaces in front of the courthouse were full, but because they were holding a small reception afterward at the Erie Club, next door to the courthouse, it didn’t matter. Hayden eased the car into the lot at the club and jumped out, tossing the keys to the valet. “Thanks, man.”
Finn barreled down the steps of the club, turning his jacket collar up against the chilly March breeze. “’Bout time you guys got here. Thought maybe you got cold feet.”
“Hell, no. Everything ready for later?”
“I checked with the chef myself. Tasted everything. It’s all good.” Finn had worked as a chef at the club before leaving to open his restaurant, Fresh. He’d insisted on handling the arrangements for the menu. Probably to the current chef’s chagrin.
At the security checkpoint, they stripped off their coats, sent them through the X-ray machine. Passed through the metal detector and grabbed everything back on the other side. Hayden was partway down the hall when a voice called to him.
“What? You don’t even say hi, let alone anything else?”
He turned to find Jeannie standing at the metal detector. “Jeannie. I didn’t see you there.”
“I’m crushed.”
He grinned, spread his arms. “I told you one day you’d be sorry. Missed your chance. I’m a one-woman man now. And in twenty minutes, I’ll be a married man.”
She placed her hand over her chest. “The women of Erie mourn their loss. Tell her she’s a lucky girl.”
“I’ll do that!” He turned with a wave and bolted down the hallway, heading for the elevators.
“You’re sure about this?” Greg asked him once the doors slid shut. “We’ve still got time to get you out of here.” His brother smirked. Hayden had told him the same thing the day of his wedding.
Hayden slapped him in the shoulder. “Thanks. But I’m going through with it. I’m not taking any chances on losing her now.”
And as soon as he got her home, they’d start working on another tie. A baby of their own.
He wouldn’t mind if it took a few tries to make it work.
When the brothers entered the courtroom, the gathering of people—their immediate family, plus Tamara and Vera, who’d been extremely supportive of Ronni’s choice—breathed a collective sigh of relief. Their mother wagged a finger at Hayden, pointing to her watch.
He shrugged.
Ronni, wearing an eggshell skirt with a long-sleeved jacket, both overlaid with lace, waited for him at the front of the courtroom. When she saw him, she smiled. Her eyes lit up.
Her skin glowed. Everything about her screamed happiness. Life.
A far cry from the first time he’d seen her in the probation office downstairs. Or the day he’d taken her home from the hospital after Scott’s bout with pneumonia, when she’d been a mere shadow.
He squared his shoulders.
“Stop preening,” Greg muttered. “Now get your ass up there and marry the girl. Before she comes to her senses and changes her mind.”
Hayden paused before the railing where Nick stood, looking uncomfortable in his suit and tie. They’d had to buy him a new outfit. The kid had grown two inches since the start of the school year.
Hayden stuck out his hand. “You’re still good with this, right?”
“We’re good.” The boy gave him a firm handshake. “So long as you don’t expect me to call you Dad. You’ve been Unk for so long, I don’t think I could change if I wanted to.”
“I don’t want to replace your father, Nick. Ever. I’m good with being Unk.”
The judge cleared his throat.
Hayden hustled to his place at the front of the courtroom, alongside Ronni. He laced his fingers with hers.
Judge Madison began the wedding ceremony, but Hayden hardly heard a word. He was too busy drinking in the sight of Ronni, knowing that from this day forward they were a team. Until the judge said, “Hayden and Ronni have chosen to write their own vows. Ronni? You begin, please.”
She turned to face Hayden. Unlacing their fingers, she placed one palm on his chest. The twinkle in her eyes told him what she wanted. He covered it with his own hand, and placed his other over her heart. She grasped his fingers. “Hayden. I love you. Every beat of my heart belongs to you. You’ve restored me to life. And I pledge the rest of that life to walk beside you. To be your partner. Your helpmate. Your lover. Forsaking all others. Forever.”
“Lovely,” the judge said. “Hayden?”
“I love you, Ronni. Semper Fi.”
Her smile widened.
“Uh, is that it, son?” the judge asked.
“I think that says it all,” Ronni responded.
“Do you have rings?”
“We do.” Hayden dug in the pocket of his suit coat. Pulled out the two rings wrapped in soft white flannel. “Close your eyes,” he ordered. “I don’t want you to look until they’re both on.”
She shut her eyes. He maneuvered his ring to the first knuckle of his ring finger, did the same with hers. She pressed her fingertips to his, exploring it. “No cheating,” he said.
“No,” she said. “Definitely no cheating.”
“I didn’t mean... You don’t have to worry—” he began.
“Shh. I know that. Now, finish marrying me so we can get on to the kissing, will you?”
The family laughed. Cameras snapped.
“With this ring, I thee wed.” He pushed her ring to the base of her finger.
“With this ring, I thee wed,” she repeated, doing the same.
“Open your eyes.”
While the judge blathered on, pronouncing them man and wife, Ronni looked down at their entwined hands, at the rings he’d commissioned especially for them.
Narrow gold bands at the top and bottom anchored graceful gold script that circled around their fingers.
Semper fidelis.
“They’re beautiful,” she whispered. “You’re beautiful.”
Not sure if the judge had told them to kiss yet or not, Hayden leaned down to claim his wife’s mouth.
Just like she’d claimed his heart.