Chapter 11
Damon sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of Grace across from him at the back of the church. She looked stunning in her lavender dress. It fit her like a glove, emphasizing her attractive curves. Part of her hair was piled on her head, the rest hung in shiny curls.
She wore more makeup than usual, effectively accenting her big brown eyes and rosy lips. Lips he was anxious to explore again.
They waited for Gabe’s assistant, Luke, and Paige’s cousin on her dad’s side of the family to make their way up the aisle. Then Grace walked toward him.
His heart skipped a few beats when she smiled. He met her in the middle and offered his arm.
He leaned close to her ear. "I'd tell you not to outshine the bride, but I think it's too late." Even the extravagant flower arrangements with purple and blue ribbons at the front and back of the chapel paled in comparison to Grace.
A little laugh bubbled out of her as she slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.
They started their walk up the rose petal strewn aisle.
Kallie and Cassey, Paige's nieces, had taken their jobs as flower girls seriously.
The ring bearer, their little brother James, who was not quite two, had raced up the aisle as fast as he could to get to his Daddy.
It was a good thing the rings were tied to the small pillow he carried.
Warmth seeped through Damon's sleeve where Grace's hand rested and wormed its way straight to his heart. He was so gone over this woman. Without knowing it, Grace had carved out a special place in his heart, and he desperately needed to know if he had a place in hers.
Tonight. I'm going to tell her tonight.
He needed her to know how he felt before he left in a little over thirty-six hours. It didn't matter whether she returned the sentiment or not.
Yes, it does.
He hoped she would say those three little words too, but even if she didn't, he'd ask her to write to him. He'd ask if he could call her. He wouldn't give up on building a relationship with her even if he was on the other side of the world.
A sliver of disappointment arced through him when she let go of his arm at the front of the church. He took his place beside Gabe and turned to watch Daniel and Riley make their way up the aisle. Riley had a special glow about her.
Damon only briefly noticed how pretty Paige was in her elegant satin and lace wedding dress before his gaze drifted back to Grace. He had a hard time focusing on the ceremony, as his mind replayed the last two weeks.
When he boarded the plane in North Carolina, he had no idea his life was about to change forever.
He'd looked forward to relaxing and hanging out with his family—immediate and extended.
He'd anticipated riding horses and ATVs and eating his mom's home-cooked food.
He hadn't expected to fall for the prettiest, quick-witted, and most headstrong woman in Eastern Washington.
Grace caught him staring at her. She held his gaze for a long moment before pulling a funny face that almost made him burst out laughing. Daniel must have seen it too, because he huffed a little laugh then elbowed Damon.
"Gabe and Paige have written their own vows which they will now recite." The officiator took a step back.
Damon pulled his attention back to the happy couple as Gabe took Paige's hands in his. "Paige, you came into my life when I wasn't looking for love. You showed me courage and strength like I’ve never seen before. You taught me that healing isn’t just about strengthening muscles. It’s about trust, courage, and love.
“I've never felt the desire to protect and love someone as strongly as I do you. You played a role when I needed you most, and in doing so, you stole my heart. Love should have been off-limits for us, but despite the risks, I’d gladly do it all again to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to..."
Damon's thoughts and gaze drifted back to Grace as he once again considered walking away from the life he'd known for over decade to be with her.
It would be so worth it.
It wouldn't even be a sacrifice, because he had a feeling life with Grace would be amazing. Grace didn't need his protection, but he'd gladly do anything for her.
"Gabe," Paige started her vows, and Damon had to make himself focus.
"You healed me, both my broken heart and body.
You saw me at my weakest, yet you made me feel strong.
You taught me what love really was when you were willing to sacrifice everything to make your mother happy.
I vow to always strive to be worthy of your love. .."
Damon glanced at Marisol beside Aunt Hope in the front row. Both women had tears in their eyes. He wished Marisol could be around long enough to see Grace married. To him. But that was doubtful. Even though she'd had a little more energy lately than when he first met her, she still tired quickly.
Before he knew it, the minister had pronounced Gabe and Paige husband and wife, and Gabe was giving Paige a lengthy kiss.
While the congregation cheered, Damon looked at Grace again. She watched him, an expression he'd never seen before on her pretty face. Thoughtful and soft. Playful but still mysterious. It pushed his racing heart into overdrive.
He finally pulled his gaze away from hers when Gabe and Paige made their way up the aisle hand in hand amidst more cheers. Grace smiled again when he held his arm out to her to escort her back down the aisle. Her grip on his elbow was firmer than last time.
Or maybe that's just my wishful thinking.
She squeezed his arm. "I think you upstaged the bride in your uniform."
"Not hardly." Damon snorted. "With as gorgeous as you look in that dress, trust me, no one noticed me."
"I'm sure every single girl in the room was checking out the uniform and those ribbons and medals on your chest."
Damon made a show of looking around the nearly full chapel that held few single women. His gaze came back to Grace, and he cocked a brow. "Every single girl?"
She averted her gaze, but Damon spotted the hint of pink in her cheeks.
Thirty minutes later, Damon was thrilled to see Grace's name card beside his at the head table for the wedding luncheon, with Marisol’s name on the other side of Grace. He'd barely settled into his seat when the two women approached. Springing to his feet again, he held Marisol's chair out for her.
"Oh, this won't do." She paused before sitting. "Grace shouldn't get you all to herself." She deftly swapped the position of Damon and Grace's name cards. "There. That's better."
"Now I know where Grace gets her sass from." Damon laughed. "And her beauty. You look radiant today, Marisol." He helped push her chair in.
"Of course I do. This dress cost a small fortune." She winked at him, making him chuckle again. "But it was worth every penny. I've been waiting a long time for Gabe to marry." Then tears filled her eyes. "I'm so grateful I got to be here to witness it."
"I'm glad you did too." He wanted to bend down and whisper that she may not get to see Grace married, but she'd already met the man who planned to marry her daughter.
But he didn't. He still needed to convince Grace they were meant to be together.
He helped Grace with her chair before taking his seat between mother and daughter. Then he laughed more than he had in a long time—and he'd laughed a lot with Grace these past two weeks—as Marisol regaled him with tales from Grace's childhood and her own.
Grace put her hand on his arm every time she felt the need to defend herself.
The contact sent shock waves of attraction ricocheting through him.
At one point, she covered his hand with hers.
It lingered there long enough he was tempted to rotate his wrist and lace their fingers together.
But before he could act on the urge, she realized what she was doing and pulled her hand away, another blush tinting her cheeks.
It almost felt like she was flirting with him. Marisol definitely was—in an affectionate, teasing a nephew kind of way. He loved every second of the attention, from both women. It meant the world that Grace's mom approved of him.
The toasts were humorous and tear-jerking. There wasn't a dry eye in the rec center by the time Marisol finished her toast, praising Gabe for being such a dutiful son who at a young age stepped in as man of the house and worked so hard to hold their family together.
Damon recalled Grace saying she'd hit rock bottom around that time.
He wondered again what exactly happened.
Marisol's words, "I wouldn't wish what happened to Grace that year on anyone," made him think that maybe Grace had an abusive boyfriend or was targeted by a bully who made her life miserable.
But he'd never know unless she chose to tell him.
When the luncheon wrapped up, the whole family pitched in to help shift the tables and finish setting up for the reception, including bringing out additional decorations.
Because of Uncle James' and Aunt Hope's influential positions as a doctor and the high school principal, pretty much the whole town had been invited to the reception
Paige grabbed Damon's arm as he got to his feet. "I desperately need to go to the bathroom, and I need Grace's help with my dress. Will you walk Marisol over to the ranch house to rest for an hour until the reception? Emily said she can rest in the guest bedroom."
"Sure." He stepped behind Marisol's chair. "Can I escort you to the ranch house?"
"I told Paige not to worry about me." She waved a hand in dismissal.
"We want you to be able to enjoy the rest of the evening." He crouched beside her chair to look her in the eye. "Taking a break now will help ensure that."
Marisol let out a heavy sigh. "Fine, help me up."
They slowly made their way through the bustle and out of the rec center. Evening sunlight and fresh air mixed with the scent of animals and fresh-cut alfalfa hit them the moment they stepped outside.