Page 30 of Claiming Bennett (Montgomery Dreams #3)

BENNETT

I would say my entire world narrows down to Maggie when I get the first glimpse of her walking through the chapel doors, but it would be a lie. She filled my entire world the second we first met, and I haven’t been able to look away from her since.

This is the first time I’ve genuinely been scared my heart will beat right out of my chest, though.

The word beautiful pales in comparison to the sight she makes right now.

She’s radiant, glowing with excitement, and those pretty eyes never leave mine.

The entire chapel could be fucking leveled to the ground, and I wouldn’t even notice.

Looking at her feels like the first time I heard Sean cry.

My entire being floods with love, making me feel like I’m going to explode at any moment.

It came out in laughter when Sean was born, but this time, it comes in tears.

They linger at my lash line as I watch my soon to be wife walk down the aisle toward me, flanked by our fathers. I blink them away, refusing to miss so much as a second of the sight.

Her hair looks like spun gold, her eyes bright and full of love, that dress clinging to every perfect curve of her body.

The creamy silk shines under the warm lights of the chapel, the back flaring out over the aisle and making her look like an angel.

If we weren’t in public, I’d be fucking drooling. Hell, I still might be.

I will be later, that’s for damn sure.

She stops just a step below the altar, Pa and David each pressing a kiss to her cheeks before leveling me with a look.

“You take good care of my girl, son,” David says sharply, but the twinkle in his eye takes the bite out of his words.

“Or you’ll be dealing with us both, mijo ,” Pa adds.

“Yes, sirs,” I say as solemnly as I can without taking my eyes off Maggie for a single second.

It’s enough to appease them, as they filter off to stand with Benji and Bo behind me.

Maggie steps up to join me, and the rest of the chapel fades away again. She decided against a veil, and I’ve never been more grateful for anything in my life. I’d go insane if there was anything but air between us right now. The foot and a half of space separating us is already on thin ice.

“Hi,” she whispers, a wide, thrilled smile on her perfect face.

“Hi, baby,” I whisper back, smiling just as wide as I grasp her hands in my own. “You look so perfect. How’d I get so lucky?”

Her eyes crinkle at the corners, and I’m so tempted to kiss her here and now. The thought of waiting through an entire ceremony is torturous, but I lose myself in her eyes until I’m prompted by the minister to give my vows.

We told each other private vows last night, curled up in bed with each other, promises for our ears only. These ones will be short and sweet, just like we decided.

Maggie doesn’t want to bawl like a baby in front of everyone.

“To hold and to cherish, from now until the world ends,” I promise, my voice choked with emotion as I slide the ring we picked out together onto her finger. It sparkles just as prettily as the other one. “You have me. I’ll give you everything, and all I ask in return is you, my sweet Magnolia.”

She holds her tears at bay as she looks between the ring and my face, and I can see the love mirrored in her eyes.

“To hold and to cherish, from now until the world ends,” she repeats. “You have me. I’ll give you everything, and all I ask in return is you, Bennett.”

My heart flips in my chest as she slides the simple gold band with her name engraved inside of it over my finger.

I don’t wait for the officiant to give me permission to kiss her, tugging her close the second the ring is in place. It feels the same as every other kiss she gives me—like the greatest gift I could ever ask for, something I could never deserve.

It’s perfect.

She’s perfect.

“I love you,” I mumble against her lips.

She laughs, bright and bubbly, and tugs me in closer with a hand around my shoulders. “I love you .”

The racket of our families slowly filters back in, cheers and shouts of congratulations, and I grin at the thought that this is all real . I get to have this forever.

I get to have my sweet Magnolia forever.

Cameras flash as Hailey passes Sean over to us, and I look down at my son and my fucking wife , and I can’t imagine anything better. Every day we spend together will be even more perfect, even when Maggie is grumpy and Sean breaks rules when he’s older. This is all I’ve ever wanted.

“My wife,” I whisper softly, kissing her forehead before bending to kiss Sean’s chubby cheek. “My boy. You’re perfect. I love you.”

Maggie shifts Sean in her arms, and they both look up at me at the same time, twin grins spreading across their faces.

“We love you, handsome. You ready to go do this?”

“For the rest of my life?” I ask, beaming. “I sure fucking am, baby.”

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