Page 44 of Luck Be Mine (The Defenders #3)

Cait’s eyes misted. Jackie had been close to her grandmother. “I’d like that.”

Adele sniffed. “What a wonderful idea. You girls do your families proud.”

Bets fanned her eyes. “Stop it, everybody. My makeup is done.” She wore an olive sheath with a leaf pattern embroidered in the fabric and killer black heels. “We need to get upstairs. What’s blue?”

Cait hesitated, blushing. “My blue lace undergarments.”

All three women grinned.

“Stop. Don’t say it.”

“What?” Bets scolded. “It’s perfect.”

“Thank you. Can we go?” She rubbed her hands together, her ring finger feeling off without the weight.

“Going to change your mind?” Bets giggled. She had a way of bleeding off the tension.

Jackie took her head. “No, she’s not backing out. We’re ready. Let’s go seize the sunset.”

“Indeed.” Adele stood.

The big debate had been between climbing or riding. Elevator won over the stairs. Bets went up with a couple of late-arriving guests and brought it back to her floor. The dayroom was clear. It was as if the whole building held its breath.

Riding up, she stayed quiet. She’d known from the first touch he was her destiny. Might be overly sentimental, but the truth, nonetheless. She loved the crazy man whether stitching his ass or fighting with him in the ocean.

Whatever happened would be a sweet memory.

One she could remember this time and keep.

When the door opened, a somber Mackey waited. He gazed at her from head to toe, then leaned in to kiss her cheek. “You look stunning. The man is lucky. Shall we do this without the wheelchair this time?”

Cait’s smile turned tearful. “Let’s do.”

Mackey offered her his arm, and she took it. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Chosen sister, it’s my pleasure always.” He handed her one white rose.

The doors to the rooftop had been opened, letting breeze and light enhance the space.

The last ray of sun filtered through the high windows, turning the concrete floor into a watercolor wash of amber and rose.

Candles flickered in hurricane glasses along the aisle with white rose petals scattered in their wake.

Low vases of winter green and glass bowls of glowing blue ornaments decorated the tables.

The guests rose in a beautiful patchwork of formal attire that flashed with color.

Remy appeared to walk Adele down the aisle to a place of honor in the front row.

Jackie started her walk up the aisle to meet Quaid, a white lily in her hand. At her request, Bets stayed at the back of the church to splay out her dress, sit near Elizabeth, and help her with any problems.

Calum Scott’s “ You Are the Reason” filled the room in a quiet, romantic rhythm.

Mackey waited until the opening lyrics to step out.

Joy surged through her and she smiled. She’d chosen the song because its words echoed their journey – from the Afghanistan mountains to the San Diego shores. And now, they stood together.

A sea of warm smiles and soft murmurs followed her along the aisle.

Every face here was proof of the life they’d made together.

She smiled at everyone she could. Every seat was full and then some.

So many friends here to not only stand with them, but for them, too.

Composure shaky, she dared to look at Hunt.

Her breath flew away. He wore his whites. She’d never seen him in his white dress uniform. They weren’t the blues he’d worn to bury Baxter, but the color of ceremony, of honor, of hope.

She met his green eyes and saw nothing else. A flash of memory of their first moment in the emergency room at Bagram came back to her. Her thoughts had been clear – no one else would work on him. Just me.

The team stood with him, all in white uniforms. Quaid was at his side, the dark tuxedo a great contrast in the sea of white. Doogie was all smiles.

She stepped to Hunt’s side. Mackey leaned to kiss her cheek. “Go get him, sister.”

Cait smiled, and kissed his cheek, too. “You’re the best, Mac.”

Hunt settled at her side. Suddenly, she wanted his hand in hers with an urgency that stole her breath.

This time, she wasn’t marrying for protection or survival.

She was marrying because she couldn’t imagine life without him.

She reached with her left hand to take his because it mattered. She shut her eyes to quell the emotion.

He slipped his arm behind her back. His lips at her ear brought her back. “I’m right here.”

“I know.” She opened her eyes, even though she wasn’t sure if she could banish the hard memories and not cry.

He coaxed her forward to Doogie.

“Are you both ready?” His soft voice was totally at odds with his persona.

Hunt’s calm demeanor fueled hers. She took a settling breath and nodded at their friend.

Doogie took his time and eased into the moment.

“Friends, family, and loved ones, we are gathered here to celebrate a union, the anniversary of one and now the renewal of one. While the ‘I dos’ were said five years ago, life stays the same for no one. Cait and Hunt wanted to add to the vows of years ago, not repeat them. So, we’ll begin with Cait and let her speak her truth.

Cait wet her lips and took Hunt’s hands again. “I thought I wanted to write my vows to get them perfect.” She shook her head. “But nothing about us has ever been perfect. It’s been real, and real is better.

Her pulse steadied when he smiled, quiet and sure, his eyes already glistening. The soft chuckle from the gathering carried her forward.

She glanced at their joined hands. “You married me the first time when I was broken. When no one knew if I would ever walk again or feel my hand enough to hold a scalpel. I didn’t even know who I was.

And you ―” Her voice hitched, “―you gave me more than vows. You gave me a reason to keep fighting. You gave me your name, your strength, and your stubborn faith in me.”

Her fingers tightened on his. “I stand here today because of you. Not because you carried me, but because you never stopped showing up. It’s what love does.”

Her voice deepened with conviction. “So this is me choosing you again. Not because we said vows once, but because every day since, you’ve been the man who holds me steady. I don’t need you, Travis. I want you. Always.”

Doogie spoke softly. “Your turn, brother.”

Hunt didn’t speak right away.

He took her hand and moved it to his chest, laying her fingers over his medals, his trident, and his heart. Keeping his fingers laced on top of hers, his voice came in low.

“I didn’t write anything either. I decided to wait until the moment and speak what came from my heart, not what I made work on a piece of paper.”

Seconds passed. His jaw flexed. “I’ve had five years of loving you. Five years of screwing up and trying again. Five years of figuring out us and holding on ― even when I didn’t think I deserved this.”

Cait swallowed. His eyes stayed steady and raw on hers, and she pushed back tears.

“I used to believe you’d be better off without me. Hell, sometimes I still do. But you keep proving me wrong. I need to be the man that proves you right.”

She tightened her fingers on him and nodded, mouthing ‘you do.’

His eyes swept over her face. “I’d marry you a hundred times, Cait. I will walk through every fire with you if it means I get to walk out with you. I love you. Forever.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers.

Quaid stepped forward and eased around Hunt, handing a ring to Doogie. The two men carefully hid it from her eyes.

Doogie gazed out at the guests. “Wedding rings symbolize eternal love and fidelity between a couple. As a friend of both, I can verify this commitment exists between Hunt and Cait, and I am happy to bless this ring for Cait’s hand.

When you retire, my friend, there is a wedding ring waiting for your hand as well.

May this ring be a symbol of all you wish to keep in your life.

” He passed the ring to Hunt. Cait still couldn’t see it.

Cait handed her rose to Jackie and lifted her left hand to Hunt. He took her fingers and gazed at her. “You frequently take your ring off and put it on a necklace when surgeries come your way, so I continued our tradition of simple is best. Everything we are together is bound in this ring.”

A full circle platinum diamond wedding band slid easily on her finger, the brilliance of the diamonds stunning in their sparkle. She gasped and met his eyes, surprised beyond words. “Simple?” she mouthed at him.

“Serious marriage, serious ring.”

He was pleased with her reaction.

Doogie eased closer. “For luck and good fortune, we’ll conclude the same way your first ceremony ended. May your happiness be endless, your love grow strong, and may what has been renewed here today be everlasting. Amen.”

Cait’s eyes flooded and a sharp gasp escaped. “I remember that.”

Hunt cupped her face. “Actual memory?”

“Yes, it’s crystal clear.”

He pulled her close and kissed her, the deal done. Forevermore.

§§§§§§§§§§

? A Party to End All Parties ?

Hunt wasn’t sure where he’d left his first two plates, maybe somewhere between the antipasto table and the firepit? No matter. He’d grabbed a third, piled it high, and didn’t care if anyone was counting. He’d feed Cait off this one also.

The food was too good to pretend he wasn’t starving.

Roasted rosemary potatoes shared space with a slab of vegetarian lasagna so rich even Doogie hadn’t noticed it lacked meat.

Grilled zucchini and charred bell peppers had the smoky edge Cait liked, and the Chicken Marsala – holy hell – melted in his mouth.

Cait came to his side, and he fed her a bite.

“You aren’t eating.”

“You are. I can share with you.” She quickly kissed him. “No ditching the Navy whites, is there?”

“Not with the Captain still in the house.”

“How do you not get food on those? White attracts disaster.”

“Not if you’ve practiced for seventeen years.”

He scooped another bite, savoring the wine-soaked mushrooms. “Niles didn’t cook this himself, did he?”