Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21945 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
“Carrie,” the wedding coordinator says, “you’re up!”
“I love you, toots,” I say with a wink. “Knock ‘em dead.”
We give each other one last smile, and then I’m turning around and strolling down the aisle.
The heartache returns. The loneliness is stifling. How could he change my whole world and then leave without saying goodbye?
This day is not about you. Keep it together for Mia.
I keep my shoulders back with a big smile on my face as I walk down the aisle toward the groom and the rest of the bridal party.
That’s when my hulking mountain man catches my eye.
Tyler is sitting in the crowd, nearly a head taller than everyone else. His sexy brown eyes are burning into me. I shiver with the full intensity of them aimed on my body.
Of course, he came. Why would you think anything different?
I feel like such an idiot. Of course, these feelings are real. Of course, he loves me. I’ll never doubt him again.
I walk the rest of the way down the aisle with a euphoric feeling of elation flowing through me. I can’t stop smiling. My eyes fill with tears.
I take my spot on the altar, too excited to think straight.
He came. Of course, he came.
The music changes and our beautiful bride walks out on the arm of her proud father.
I smile as I watch Mia walking toward her groom, but it’s hard to keep my eyes on her for long.
They dart over to Tyler. He’s staring right at me, ignoring the bride, ignoring everyone else in the world. I’m it for him. I’ll always be number one in his book.
My heart drums in my chest and I’m feeling rejuvenated and eager for this ceremony to be finished. I can’t wait to run down these steps and leap into his big sexy arms.
He’s looking deliciously tempting in a sexy navy blue suit with a burgundy tie. It’s so different from the first time I saw him when he was looking like an embodiment of pure raw rugged masculinity. He looks classy and sleek, like he just stepped out of a high-end men’s magazine rather than out of the woods.
Julian hugs Mia’s dad and then takes his bride up the steps. The way they’re looking at each other… it gets me all misty-eyed.
The ceremony flies by in a blur. I give Mia the ring and she puts it on her groom’s finger.
I glance at Tyler and he smiles warmly at me. My cheeks blush as I drop my eyes to the ground. Sometimes, he’s too much to handle. I’m still not used to it.
The priest proudly declares that Mia and Julian are now husband and wife and the crowd cheers as they have their first kiss as a married couple.
My heart is racing as I wait to be free. We all head back down the aisle as celebratory music rings out of the church organ.
Once people crowd around to congratulate the newlyweds, I slip out and look for my man. He’s easy to find. It’s like trying to find an adult in a room full of kids.
I wind my way through the crowded room and go to him.
“Hi!” I say, looking up at him with a permanent smile on my face. “You came.”
“Of course, I came,” he says as he takes my hands and holds them tight. “You didn’t think I was coming?!”
“No, well, yeah, well, maybe. I wasn’t sure.”
His face drops. “I’m always going to be there for you, Carrie. I’ll never let you down.”
“I know, it’s just…”
He looks so distraught, like the thought of him disappointing me is too much to take.
“…you weren’t there when I woke up. I thought maybe… never mind. I was being stupid.”
He squeezes my hand and pulls me behind a big angel statue inside the church. We’re all alone back here with no one around.
“You were sleeping so peacefully,” he whispers. “I didn’t have the heart to wake you. I had to get up early to go into town to get a new suit. It’s not often that I wear one.”
I run my fingers along his burgundy tie and smile. “You look good.”
“I had to go to three towns to find a suit that fit,” he says with a chuckle. “No one carries my size.”
I can imagine why. I’ve never seen a man as big and muscular as him before in my entire life.
“I got something else,” he says with a twinkle in his eye.
“Oh yeah?”
He nods with a grin on his face.
I gasp as he drops to his knee and pulls out a little blue box.
“What’s that?” I ask with a shaky voice.
He opens it and shows me.
My heart stops as I stare at the beautiful sparkling diamond ring in awe. No way…
“Marry me, Carrie,” he says in that smooth deep voice that makes me shiver every time I hear it. “Be my wife. I want to be with you forever. I’m already committed to you in every way. Let’s make it official.”