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Chaz and Lottie decided to have a small wedding, and Brandon offered Old Glory for the ceremony and party afterwards. At first, Chaz wasn’t too keen on marrying Lottie in the bar where she worked, but she thought it was a wonderful idea and immediately started coming up with ideas.

And whatever his Lottie wanted, she got. So Old Glory it was.

They spent several weeks planning, and less than a month after defeating Donato Ferrante and returning the bag of gems to his brother Rocco, Chaz and Lottie held hands on the back patio of Old Glory with their friends, her mother and Reya, and exchanged vows.

Looking down at his beautiful, soon-to-be wife, Chaz grew misty. How had he gone from a jaded, unemotional brute to a man willing to cry in front of a roomful of people? The answer was staring him in the face. Because he was so happily in love. And it was all due to the beautiful, kind soul standing in front of him.

With daisies tucked in her blonde curls and wearing a short, yellow party dress, Lottie’s smile was brighter than the sparkling yellow diamond on her finger. Chaz had no idea what he’d done to deserve this woman, but he felt like the luckiest man in the world.

With the stunning, rugged Montana wilderness in the background, Chaz pledged his love to Charlotte Russell. Nearby, Reya sat on her grandma’s lap in a matching yellow party dress and clapped her hands. It would take a little time until she would officially be Reya Madden, but it was worth the wait, visits, background check and paperwork. In less than three months, they would stand before a judge who would finalize the adoption.

The idea of being Reya’s father made his chest tighten.

“I now declare you husband and wife,” the officiant declared several minutes later. “You may kiss your bride.”

Everyone burst into cheers and applause as Chaz captured Lottie’s mouth in a kiss that caused her cheeks to turn pink and several whistles to fill the air. When they finally pulled apart, he threaded his fingers through hers and they turned to face their friends and family.

“It’s my pleasure to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Charles Madden!”

The guests tossed rose petals over them as they made their way back into Old Glory. Chaz still couldn’t believe how nice the place looked. Julia, Ellie, Lottie and her mom had transformed it into something magical. Twinkling fairy lights were strung everywhere. The scarred, wooden tables were covered with pale yellow tablecloths, sprinkled with Hershey’s Kisses, and wildflower arrangements decorated each one. Food covered the entire bar including a three-tier wedding cake. Brand had even brought the good stuff down from the top shelf.

Music filled the air and the party began.

“I’m not sure how you did it, Lottie, but you’ve managed to tame a grizzly,” Brand teased, slapping Chaz on the back.

“Oh, he’s still wild,” she said, and everyone laughed.

“Congratulations!” Julia exclaimed, hugging them both.

“We’re very happy for you,” Mitch Evans added. He’d flown in earlier that day from D.C. and Chaz was glad their handler had made it. He’d also hinted at an upcoming job, but told them they had plenty of time to discuss it later.

While Wes and Ellie began handing out champagne glasses, Lex lifted his glass, taking center stage. Chaz squeezed his wife’s hand. “Prepare yourself,” he warned, and she threw her head back and laughed.

“Most people can’t say that they have such a charming, loyal, funny, honest, intelligent and incredibly good-looking friend who graduated at the top of his Top Gun class. But Chaz can.” Lex smirked and laughs filled the air. A couple of groans, too, from the guys. “But enough about me. Today is about Charles and Charlotte.”

Chaz narrowed his eyes at his full name. He’d always hated it.

“Or as we like to call them, Chaz and Lottie. We all love you and little Reya, and we wish you nothing but the best.”

Maybe he’ll keep it classy , Chaz thought, his shoulders relaxing.

“I’m going to keep this short and sweet. May all of your ups and downs be only in the bedroom. Here’s to the lovely bride and her lucky groom!”

Well, that was about as classy as Lex got. Chuckles erupted and glasses clinked. After taking a sip of his champagne, Chaz turned to Lottie’s mom and opened his arms to Reya.

She stretched her little arms out and said, “Daddy!”

And his heart exploded in his chest.

Doing his best not to turn into a blubbering idiot, he took Reya and cradled her on one side while pulling Lottie close.

“Are you okay?” Lottie asked, looking up at him, her blue eyes shining.

He sniffed hard, forcing a nod. “I’ve never been better, Sunshine. Thanks to you two.”

As the three of them began their first dance as a family, he knew his world had never felt so right. They’d made it official today, but Chaz planned to choose her and Reya every single day for the rest of his life.

◆◆◆

After Chaz spun Lottie and a giggling Reya around the dance floor until they were dizzy, others cut in for a celebratory dance. Chaz was dancing with Ellie, Reya was sitting on Wes’ lap telling him an animated story about her doll, and Lottie was dancing with Corey. She’d already taken turns around the floor with Brandon, Wes, Mitch, Xander and Jayson.

She looked up, past the crisis beard that was longer and fuller than Chaz’s had been, and into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. They were a stunning Arctic shade, but full of secrets, and, she knew, a pain he kept hidden from others.

“Chaz is a lucky guy,” he said.

The former SEAL had been quiet most of the evening and Lottie could hear the wistfulness in his deep voice.

“I’m sure there’s some wonderful woman out there just waiting for you, Corey.” She sent him her brightest smile.

But he shook his dark, shaggy head. “No,” he said simply.

“Don’t ever give up on finding love. You’re worth it.”

His piercing blue eyes met hers and she could practically see the ghosts of regret swimming in their icy depths. “No, Lottie, I’m not.”

“Corey—”

“Move along, Emerson, I’m cutting in,” Lex announced, and Corey released her with a sad smile and walked away.

With a soft sigh, she listened to Lex with half an ear as she wondered how they could help Corey. He’d been slowly drowning in bouts of deep depression and recurring PTSD for years. He and Wes were closest and had served together, but when Corey disappeared for weeks at a time, holed up in his mountain cabin with his wolf, they all said it was best to leave him alone.

But she wasn’t so sure about that. He needed someone to talk to. A non-threatening person who would listen, not judge, and help him work through whatever demons haunted him. As Lex playfully spun her out, she caught a glimpse of Corey sitting in a chair by himself in the corner and she hoped he wasn’t about to leave.

“Give me my wife, Battle,” Chaz said in his gruff voice.

Lottie looked up and her heart fluttered. With a grin, Lex handed her over and Chaz pulled her off the dance floor and over to a nearby table.

“I can’t believe I just spent the last half hour dancing,” he groused, but he was smiling at her.

“I think you’re a very good dancer,” she said as he pulled her down on his lap, wrapping his muscled arms around her.

He scoffed and nuzzled his nose in her curls. “Why’re you tense, Sunshine? What’s wrong?”

“I’m just worried about Corey. When we were dancing…” She shook her head. “He just seems so sad and lost.”

“I know.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “But Cor has to deal with his demons. No one else can do it for him.”

She nodded, knowing he was right. When Reya’s giggles filled the air, she turned to see her daughter in Xander’s arms. He was pretending to eat her fingers and she couldn’t stop laughing. He bounced her a couple of times and then she grabbed onto the gold cross hanging around his neck, playing with it, looking up at him with a huge smile. If she didn’t know better, she would’ve sworn Reya was flirting with the very attractive former CIA agent.

Guess she couldn’t blame her. Xander Hawke was all kinds of hotness. But not as delicious as her man.

Turning her attention back to Chaz, she cupped his beloved face. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“No, Lottie, thank you .”

A happiness like she’d never known filled her. Grateful beyond measure, she knew Chaz and Reya were the greatest happily-ever-after she could ever receive. Ironically, it was with the man who’d once vehemently claimed love was for suckers.

“Do you still believe not everyone finds their soulmate?” she asked.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything, most likely pondering over what he’d told her a few weeks ago. “I don’t know about everyone, Sunshine, but I know I sure as hell did.”

“Does this mean I can’t call you Grumpypants any longer?” she teased.

He grunted, gave her a fierce scowl, then caught her mouth in a toe-curling kiss that left her weak in his arms. When the kiss finally ended, he lightly rubbed the tip of his nose against hers.

“You can call me whatever you want—as long as you love me forever,” he murmured.

“Forever has a nice ring to it,” she said softly, lost in his green eyes. “But I’ll love you even longer. How about until infinity?”

“Until infinity,” he echoed, kissing her again.

I hope you enjoyed Chaz and Lottie’s story! Our broken Corey is next in the All Guts, No Glory series and, not going to lie, I’m already in love with him!