Chapter 13
Gravel crunched under the tires of Hank’s squad car as they pulled into the parking lot of the church. The Texas sun shone off the white paint of the old sanctuary, causing Paige to squint in the glare.
The sizzle and pop of her nerves made her light-headed, but then she saw Will’s car in the lot and a calm came over her. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, she knew she was supposed to be inside that church marrying him.
Hank pulled the car right up to the front of the building. She had to wait for him to let her out of the vehicle. There wasn’t any way for her to do it herself, since the back of the police car had been felon-proofed by having the handles removed.
The door swung open and Hank held his hand out to her. “Madame.”
She placed her trembling hand in his. “Why thank you, sir.” She’d decided to forgive him, since he was only trying to help. Something cold and heavy clamped around her wrist again. The handcuffs were strung between her and Hank like a felonious umbilical cord.
Forgiveness rescinded.
“What the heck, Hank?”
“Sorry, Paige. I’m just following orders.”
“From who? You’re the sheriff.”
He arched a brow. “Who do you think?”
“Will?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh.” She grinned a stupid grin and swept her hand towards the church. “Then lead the way, officer.”
Will adjustedhis tie in the mirror of the church’s auxiliary room. The fact that his hands shook like he was coming off a three-day sugar high was inconsequential considering it was a significant feat that he’d gotten the stupid thing tied in the first place.
His heart began a triple-time beat when the pianist started playing the song he was supposed to walk out to. Could he do this? Could he stand in front of a church full of people and wait for her to show? This town’s lifeblood was gossip—could his reputation withstand that kind of humiliation?
Screw his reputation. All that mattered was him and Paige, everyone else could go to hell.
“Will, are you ready?” Brother Randy, his pastor, asked.
He flexed and extended his fingers several times and freed the breath trapped in his lungs. “Yes.”
The church was full of his family, friends, and colleagues. The smell of lilies and roses filled the air. The heady scent did nothing for the nausea doing the Cotton-Eyed Joe around his belly. His parents smiled at him from the front row. He tried for an equally excited return smile and hoped he hit the mark.
He glanced at the pews on the other side of the aisle, where Paige’s family would be sitting, and was relieved to see they were blessedly empty except for her mentor Sue Weems, a few friends, and several women she’d helped over the last couple of years.
The bridesmaids began their procession down the aisle. The bile creeping up his throat kept pace with every step they took. As the last attendant took her place at the altar across the aisle from him, the music changed and the congregation looked toward the back of the church, waiting on the bride.
Will counted the thundering beats of his pulse. After several moments of nothing happening the audience began to get twitchy and look around. This was it. This was where he would have to tell everyone that Paige had run.
Disappointment and the jagged pieces of his broken heart hurt worse than anything ever had in his life. Until just this minute he hadn’t believed that she wouldn’t show.
Stupid.
What was he going to say? How could he spin this so that his family and friends didn’t hate her? She didn’t deserve that. They didn’t understand.
Whatever he was going to say, he’d better say it quickly, because people were getting restless. He cleared his throat and took a step forward. Just as he was about to speak, the back doors of the church burst open and in strode Hank with Paige on his arm.
An explosion of elation ripped through his body at the sight of her smiling face. She and Hank made their way toward him, but they were too slow. He met them halfway up the aisle and scooped her up in his arms.
“Will, wait.” Her soft breath fanned across his face.
“What?”
She held up her hand. A pair of silver handcuffs connected her to Hank. He glanced between his good friend and his bride. “Dang. Hank, I was just kidding about the cuffs.”
“Really? ’Cause you seemed pretty serious to me,” Hank said, and waggled his brows at Paige.
“Hank Odom, I’m going kill you, but first I’m getting married.” Her brilliant smile knit those jagged edges of Will’s heart back together.
“Keep up, Hank. I’m not spending one more minute without this woman.”
“Oh, Will.” She laid her head on his shoulder and whispered, “I love you.”
He kissed her forehead. “I love you too, baby.”
Hank hustled along behind them. “Dude, we’ve got to have a talk about the sappy sh—um, stuff that comes out of your mouth. ”
“I’m in love with this woman and I don’t care who knows.”
“Hmph,” was Hank’s only reply.
When they stood before Brother Randy, Hank unlocked the handcuff from his wrist. Before he could unhook Paige, Will took the end Hank held and snapped it on his own arm. He winked. “For later.”
She laughed. “For later.”
Hank took his place with the other groomsmen, and Brother Randy cleared his throat. “Who gives this woman to this man?”
Paige stood tall and statuesque. “I give myself to this good man, completely and totally.” His loving gaze undid her. “I’ll never leave you again, Will Sinclair. You’re stuck with me.”
He cupped her jaw in his hand. “I can live with that.”