She takes a deep breath. Her lovely smile reemerges, and she says, “I do.”
I wanna keep that smile on her face, so as I look into her breathtaking blue eyes, I try to reassure her. I know she doesn’t have to help me and my brothers. She could’ve told me off and found some friends to stay with, but she’s going through all this trouble to help me cover my ass. And I’ll never forget it.
As I repeat after the judge, I make a promise to myself that I’ll always do my best to protect this woman. “I, Rhett, take you, Paige, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, to love and to cherish, from this day forward.”
Smiling, she repeats the same words, and I grin. She’s so damn cute.
Frannie nods. “May the circles of your wedding bands remind you of this eternal promise. May these tokens of faithfulness remind you of your unending love for one another.” Then she turns to me. “Please place the ring on her finger.”
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the thin band I bought from Walmart yesterday. It’s a far cry from the diamond-encrusted ring I put on Amber’s finger next to the sparkling diamond I saved up for a year to buy. Another twinge of guilt hits me, but I lock that shit away and try to focus on the beautiful woman in front of me I’ve known more than half my life.
It hits me. How selfless she’s being. Yeah, she’s gonna get her therapy, but I don’t know a lot of people who would do this for my family.
Once again, I repeat after Frannie. “Paige, I give you this ring as a symbol of our vows. I honor you with all that I am and allthat I have. With this ring, I thee wed.” As I slide the band on her finger, my chest gets tight.
Paige pulls out a thick gold band that makes me do a double-take. Where the hell did she get that? After she drags it on my finger, she says her part. I swallow as her eyes get glassy, and that tightness in my chest grows.
When she’s done, Frannie opens her arms again. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. Rhett Walker, you may kiss your bride!”
My brothers, who got the memo to go whole hog about this and act like this is the real deal, hoot and holler, and Baylee and her mother cheer. Harlan lets out a wolf whistle. Their exuberance catches me off guard.
It’s the only reason I can think of that makes me take Paige into my arms, tilt her lithe body backwards, and kiss her like my life depends on it.
10
PAIGE
As I clingto Rhett for dear life, his mouth descends to mine in what I can only describe as the world’s best first kiss.
His lips are firm but soft, and his breath is minty. And he’s close enough that I can smell that amazing woodsy cologne I’ve always loved.
For those blissful ten seconds, the entire planet stops spinning, and I let out a quiet sigh.
If it wasn’t for his arm pressed to my back when he straightens me, I would slump to the floor.
When he finally lets go, I wobble and grab onto his arm.
Rhett leans over and whispers, “Shoulda warned you. I’m a good kisser.”
He looks so pleased with himself. “I should let you walk around for the rest of the day with lipstick on your face. Come here.” Arrogant bastard.
When he leans down, I’m struck by how handsome he is. I’ve always thought that, obviously, but right now, with that shit-eating grin on his face, his good looks are downright sinful. I grab his scruffy face and wipe away my gloss. As my thumb slides over his bottom lip, he nips it.
I gasp and let out an embarrassing giggle. His grin deepens, and my whole body heats.
Baylee’s flash yanks me out of his hypnotic gaze, almost blinding me, and I blink several times. Rhett and I agreed someone should take some pics to make this seem official, and my best friend offered.
Miss Frannie calls out, “May I present Mr. and Mrs. Rhett Walker.”
Fifteen-year-old me is ecstatic. She’s doing backflips down the aisle.
The real me knows that kiss was all for show. With Rhett’s banker sitting in the second row, of course my “husband” was going to play this up.
Aunt Syl yells, “Who wants to bet we get a visit from the stork in nine months?”
Everyone laughs except me and Rhett.
Because that would certainly throw a wrench in our plans.
