Epilogue
SAWYER
“You look stunning, Sammie,” I say to my sister, standing back to admire her in the wedding dress of her dreams. One we found at the very first dress shop in Dallas almost six months ago.
“You think Carter will like it?”
“Like it? All that man will be thinking about is getting you out of it,” Mel tosses in. When she notices my widened eyes, she just says, “What? It’s true.”
“You’re sure you’re okay with this?” Sammie asks me.
“Why wouldn’t I be okay with this? You two were meant to be.”
“But you and Boone?—”
“Are very happily married,” I cut her off before she can finish her sentence.
Boone and I snuck away to a courthouse the day after I chewed his ass out in the barn for assuming I wanted to leave.
Mel was sworn to secrecy so she could be our witness.
I didn’t want to do anything to take away from Sammie’s engagement.
Or her wedding day.
What mattered most to me was not wasting another day not being Boone’s wife. When we hit our one-year anniversary, we plan to do a vow renewal and throw a big party out at the ranch.
But today is all about my baby sister.
“We could have had a double wedding,” Sammie says.
“And take the spotlight away from you? Not a chance, sweetie.” I lightly grip her bare shoulders in the closest thing I dare to a hug. “This is your day, and I don’t want to hear a single thing more about it.”
There’s a knock at the dressing room door.
“It’s time,” a voice calls.
“You ready?” I ask Sammie.
“More than ready.”
I turn around before Sammie can discover that my shiny eyes. We both wish Mom could be here today, but we’ve already cried a good deal over it. I don’t want to ruin her makeup again. Besides, we know Mom’s watching from above, so happy that both of her daughters have found the loves of their lives.
“You okay?” Boone asks when I meet him in the hallway. He offers me his arm, and I loop mine through his.
“Yeah, just?—”
“Missing your mom?” he asks, his voice low to keep the question private.
“Yeah.”
He presses his lips to my temple. “She’s here you know.”
“I know. Now can you please not make me cry? I’ve had to fix my makeup three times already today.”
“I know what’ll put a giant smile on your face,” he says, his voice a low growl against the shell of my ear that has my entire body tingling with want.
“We don’t have time,” I hiss in reply, though I can’t seem to hide my smile. If only we could sneak away… But the wedding party is due to walk down the aisle in less than two minutes.
“We will after they say I do,” he adds. “Until then, you can just use your imagination to try and figure out all the ways—and places—I plan to make you come.”
“God, I love you, Boone.”
“Not half as much as I love you, Sunshine.”