Regan stands there, hands clasped in front of her, shy and vulnerable in a way that makes my chest tight. She’s in a white dress that fits her body so damn perfectly I can’t look away. Sleeveless with thin straps, low-cut, hugging her curves before flaring out in soft layers of tulle at the bottom. She looks…fuck.Just like a princess.
Her dark auburn hair falls in loose waves, delicate braids woven throughout, giving it depth and dimension. Her skin, warm and sun kissed. Her eyes, glowing under soft gold makeup. Lips, full and pretty, the lightest shade of pink. Small diamond earrings catch the light.
I’m gutted because I think I’ve always known this but never admitted it: she’s easily the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and I can’t believe I was a fool to ever let her go. She was right. She was completely right. I think I fell in love with her the night that I met her.
“Fuck,” I breathe out. “You look gorgeous, baby.”
Her cheeks flush, that soft, secret smile tugging at the corner of her mouth like only her and I know what we did last night right here on this lawn with the rain from the sky pouring down on our naked bodies, and that’s it. I step toward her, forgetting the photographer, forgetting my brother, forgetting the whole damn world exists. My hands find her hips, sliding up, fingers mapping over the smooth, bare skin of her back.Memorizing.
I cup her chin, tilting it up just enough before I kiss her. Gentle. Unhurried. The soft clicking of the camera is the only sound out here, but I barely register it. It’s just her. I’m not doing this for the website or for anyone else right now.I’m doing this because I get to. Because she’s my wife.
“Okay,” the photographer’s voice cuts in, clapping her hands eagerly. “Wow, those are beautiful. Let’s grab a few by the pond, then we’ll be ready to head over to the Marshalls for the ceremony.”
The next five minutes blur together. Pose after pose, my arms around her, looking at her, kissing her. Nothing too posed or forced, justus.And maybe I should mind how natural it all feels—how easy it is to touch her like she’s already mine. But I don’t.Not even a little.
When it’s finally time to part, Regan and her bridesmaids pile into the golf cart to head over to the Egg Farmstead. I should step back, should let her go, but instead, I dip my head under the roof, my mouth brushing against her neck as I groan, “You look so beautiful baby, and you smell so fucking good. I can’t wait to see you out of this dress tonight.”
She laughs, but it’s breathless, like I’ve knocked the air out of her and she’s not sure how to handle it. I press one last kiss there, ignoring the quiet giggles from her friends watching us from thecart. Her brothers and mine have already taken off, but I don’t even care that we have an audience. I should care, given the circumstances and all. Given this is all supposed to be fake.
But I don’t.Not one fucking bit.
I cup her face, holding her there, letting her see all of it—everything I don’t know how to say yet. I want to tell her. That this feels like more. That I want to—fuck, date heror something. But that’s insane, right?
What the hell am I doing?
I’m already married to her.
The words slip out before I can stop them, soft and meant for her alone to hear.
“I can’t wait to remarry you.”
She stills, just for a second. Her gaze searches mine, like she’s trying to figure out if I mean it. And God, I hope she sees the truth there.
Because I do.
I do.
I want this.
She leans back, lips curling into a small, knowing smile.
“I’ll see you at the altar,” she murmurs before her friend Molly puts the golf cart in drive and takes off. I watch her go, my chest tight the entire time.
The photographer calls my name as she waits for me to join her in the car she’s taking next door. I exhale, shaking my head, but I can’t stop the small smile pulling at my lips.
There goes my fuckingwife.
Chapter 29: Regan
“Are you nervous?” my dad asks, finding me tucked away in the back of my childhood home—his home still, now that Cash and Rae have finally finished building their house on the Marshall property and moved in.
A familiar ache settles in my chest, even though I know it’s silly. All my brothers live here on the land with him, and I’m only a few miles away now. I’ll keep checking in, making sure he’s not lonely. But he’s getting older. You can see it in the deeper worry lines on his forehead, even though he’s always been one of the most easygoing people I know. And he’s been moving slower ever since that knee injury a few years back when he jumped down from one of the tractors and landed wrong.
I shake my head, exhaling softly. “No, Dad, of course not. This isn’t real.”
It’s not a lie. Not entirely. My dad and brother’s think that this is all for the business too and it is, I think. But a small part of mewishes it wasn’t, and I could enjoy tonight without wondering what’s going on in Hayes head.
He studies me for a second like he’s trying to see through me, then nods, squeezing my shoulder. “You kids did an amazing job with the property. Can’t believe what Cash and Colt pulled off in such a short time, but truly, the star of all this is you, baby girl. You’ve always been the one with the vision for the Manor and you’re the reason Mrs. Mayberry sold the place. She was right to choose you. And Hayes.”
