Page 143

“You ready?” he asks.
I nod, but my heart is pounding.
Because this is it.
This is the moment where I promise forever to a man who has already given me everything—his loyalty, his love, and the family I never thought I’d have.
As I step forward, the small crowd of guests (most of whom I don’t know) quietly rises.
My eyes find Hunter’s immediately.
And suddenly, there is nothing else.
Not the quiet murmurs of our guests. Not the soft notes of the acoustic guitar playing in the background.
Just him.
Hunter stands at the altar, tall and imposing in his black-tailored tux, the sunlight catching in his stormy gray eyes.
Lord, he’s sexy.
He doesn’t smile—not yet. But his jaw tenses, and his fingers flex at his sides like he’s restraining himself from coming down the aisle and carrying me the rest of the way.
Deuce lets out a soft baby noise from Lena’s arms, and it makes Hunter’s lips twitch slightly. Deuce is wearing a onesie that looks like a tuxedo with cute little satin black booties to match. It was Lena’s idea to hold him at the altar so that he’d be a part of the ceremony, and then Ruby would take him upstairs to bed when it was time for the cocktail reception.
I finally reach Hunter,my man, placing my hand in his warm, calloused one.
Lars nods at Hunter before stepping aside, and unknown silent words are exchanged between them with just a look.
“I told you I’d get her here,” Lars eventually says with a rare smile.
Hunter smirks. “Appreciate it.”
Lars takes a seat next to his daughter Elsa, who Hunter flew into Los Angeles the day before yesterday. She’s a beautiful woman, and I can see genetic traces of Lars in her smile and expressive eyes.
Lena rocks Deuce gently, whispering something to him.
“He’s staring at you, Megan,” she says softly, looking down at my son. “Like he knows what’s happening.”
I blink back tears.
Because heiswatching me.
Like he understands that this moment means something important.
Like he knows he came from love.
The officiant smiles, stepping forward. “We gather here today, under this beautiful sunset, to witness and celebrate the union of Hunter Middleton and Megan Taylor…”
I barely hear her words.
I’m too focused on Hunter.
On the way his thumb brushes over my knuckles, the way his eyes never leave mine.
And then, the officiant turns to me.
“Megan, your vows?”