Page 45 of Luck Be Mine (The Defenders #3)

“No, catered, but he threatened a few lives making sure it was right.” Cait giggled.

The music started immediately after the ceremony. While she and Hunt posed for photographs, the serving line opened. Hunt took a last bite, then one more for good measure, before grabbing Cait’s hand.

“Let’s circulate together. I had no idea your friend circle was this big.”

“I work two places and live in a great neighborhood. You work one place, stay contained for security, and fly everywhere in the world. If you’d stay home more, you’d have friends, too.”

“A hint, Mrs. Hunter?”

“God, no.” She went on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Later, I’ll break the no PDA rule.

“We are together from this day forward, wife. There’s time for every moment. Come with me.” He wouldn’t admit he was still unsteady from being so honest with his vows. He needed her hand in his. “Let’s get the command level out of the way first. This way to Commander Gregg and Captain Lueks.”

Cait laced her fingers with his and stayed in step, but the mayhem on the dance floor finally stopped them.

Jackie shimmied with Carter to Shut Up and Dance .

The Hernandez family, all six of them, had one corner of the dance floor staked out, and Marnie Ellsworth joined them.

Tommy and K-Rock danced with their spouses.

The DJ booth had a long request line. Bets sat tucked at a corner table beside Doogie, a plate of tiramisu and a bowl of pistachio gelato between them.

Adele was beside Bets, her foot tapping to the music.

Mackey leaned on a barstool with a glass in his hand and an untouched s’more in front of him.

Elizabeth and Quaid joined him. Harrison sprawled with another retired SEAL, already deep into sea stories.

Hunt navigated to the table with the Command staff and kept Cait’s hand in his.

“Commander, Captain.” Both men had brought their wives. Suzanna Gregg’s laugh drew people in. Darlene Lueks’s quiet demeanor suited her husband’s formality.

“Good wedding, Hunt.” Gregg shook his hand.

“It was, wasn’t it? I didn’t expect it. Doogie might have a profession when he retires.”

Captain Lueks shook his hand and bobbed his head to Cait. “He did justice to the solemn moment.”

“Thank you all for coming. We appreciate it.” Cait squeezed her husband’s hand. “Hunt? There’s Frank Walker. We should talk with him.”

Hunt thanked the two men and took Cait’s cue. A few steps away, he leaned to her ear. “Not a fan of the Command staff?”

“Oh, I could talk to Suzanna Gregg all day. The Lueks, not so much. Besides, we have tons of people to greet and thank. Let’s not get tied down any one place.”

“Agreed.”

Cait navigated briefly through guests with plates and party favors from the guest tables.

Hunt finally took the lead. Too many people wanted to stop Cait and talk. He cut through the crowd in front of them, many who were QM’s people, and twirled her with a flourish before stopping at the intended table.

Frank sat with his suit jacket unbuttoned and held a glass with something amber. “You look beautiful, neighbor. Touching ceremony. Congratulations.” He took a sip from his drink. “You clean up good, too, Hunter.”

“Thanks, Frank.” Hunt’s friend circle got a bit larger when he’d added the cop.

Frank leaned in. “But next time you two get married, you might invite fewer people with guns.”

Hunt stifled a laugh. “Not my call, Frank. Talk to Mackey. Glad you’re here, though. Thanks for coming.”

“Wouldn’t miss it. You know how to do food.”

Cait agreed. “Niles and Elizabeth make a good team.”

“Is that Mackey over there at the bar? He looks like a hitman.”

“Yep. Go get him.” Hunt grabbed Cait’s hand. “Doogie is calling us.”

“Oh god, what now?” Early on, she’d squirmed at the kiss cam before getting in the spirit.

Hunt schooled himself to patience. He could honor the PDA requirement with command in the house, but man did he want to kiss his wife.

Currently, the bench with the ‘Better Together’ sign was getting a workout with people wanting pictures in groups.

The rooftop was dark, the sunset gone, but the twinkling lights encouraged quiet moments, and the fire pit had a constant stream of guests.

So far, the tiramisu cutting was the most sedate moment of the evening.

Doogie took over the mic from the DJ and turned off an old Michael Jackson song. “Okay folks, we have a surprise for Cait and Hunt so if they could get over here, that would be great.”

“We’re coming! Hold your horses.” Cait’s yell surprised the hell out of him. “I get a s’more after this.”

Brennan stopped him. “Captain and Commander out the door with wives.”

“Copy. We said our goodbyes. Change if you so choose.”

“Nope. Won’t until you do.”

“Get some dessert then. Doogie wants us. We might be a minute.” Leaving was on his mind. His honeymoon surprise was eating him to pieces.

In front of the DJ stand, Doogie had arranged a table with a pen. Hunt put an arm around Cait. “Be ready for anything.” This time he kissed her.

“Stop all the kissing and stuff,” Doogie shouted.

“You started it with the kiss cam,” Cait complained.

“Shush, please be seated Mrs. Hunter.”

Cait widened her eyes and put the what-the-heck question to Hunt. He shook his head. “No idea what’s happening. They don’t talk to me anymore, honey.”

Doogie barked. “Right, LC.”

Cait sat with Hunt’s hand in hers. With the mic on, Doogie turned to the guests. “Folks, Mrs. Hunter has no recollection of signing her marriage license.”

Hooting followed, and Cait dropped her head to the table. She knocked her forehead multiple times and muttered something Hunt couldn’t hear.

Doogie patted her back. “Hush, you. Don’t give yourself another concussion.” He turned back to the crowd. “I made a replica of their original marriage license. We will now re-sign the document.”

He put a large piece of art paper in front of Cait. Hunt read the print over her shoulder. It was indeed a copy of their marriage license. How did Doogie have this? Etched at the top was a quote: “When I saw you I fell in love and you smiled because you knew – William Shakespeare.”

Grinning, Doogie handed her a pen. “Since I was there when you met, I know this quote to be true and correct. Happy Anniversary.”

Cait was reading, too, and she turned to whisper. “Is this real?”

Hunt muttered under his breath. “Looks like. Sign it.”

Cait picked up the pen and studied her old signature. “This writing looks like I was on drugs.”

Hunt glanced at the unsteady lines. “Accurate. You were.” He watched the flourish she added to her signature this time and stayed simple with his own.

“We’ll have this mounted on the remembrance wall in your living room,” Doogie announced. “See it even has a blue frame. Matches the décor.”

Cait sighed, but her smile broke through. “Thank you, Doogie. Thoughtful like the red sofa.”

Adele joined them and slapped Doogie’s shoulder. “Pffft.”

Doogie held up a hand to defend himself. “Hey, that’s a great sofa.”

Cait widened her eyes. “I’m not arguing, am I? It’s still in my house.”

Adele rolled her eyes and went to the dance floor, leaving Doogie to flounder by himself.

Cait grinned. This family.

Jackie scooted next to the big man. “Lord have mercy on that red sofa.” She stole the mic. “Get your drinks, folks. We’re about to do toasts.”

Cait leaned into Hunt. “Did you coach Quaid on what to say?”

Hunt grimaced. “Nope. Man did not want any pointers, so be prepared. What about Jackie?”

“Said she had it.”

“Meaning?”

“Anything goes.” A waiter went by and handed Cait and Hunt glasses of punch.”

It took a few minutes for everyone to get appropriate drinks, but then Jackie stole the moment.

“I would like to confirm I was there for the first marriage, and I remember all of it.” The DJ hit a sound bite that played drums. Da-Dum.

“Hooyah!” Doogie would never remain silent.

Jackie raised her hand to quiet everyone and continued.

“But neither of these two have ever had trouble honoring the vows and what they meant to each other, and this inspires the rest of us – us single people, too. So going forward I wish for you, my beloved family, good fortune, good times, and good memories. May your future be brilliant and shining.”

She raised her glass and drank, the champagne bubbling. Doogie started the hand clap and foot stomp, and it took on a life of its own. The DJ contributed with All the Single Ladies , and the roar left Cait laughing in his arms.

Doogie took the mic and Hunt figured he was toast. “I arm wrestled Quaid for this pleasure.”

Quaid raised a drink. “Oorah!”

“Damn Marines,” Doogie groused.

Hunt relaxed as much as he was able.

Doogie made eyes at the two of them. “I was there when you two first met. Our groom had managed to get sliced up by the Taliban and had an open gaping wound on his ass. Our intrepid doctor had her hands all over said ass to figure out his treatment.”

The room laughed so much, Doogie had to wait a few minute.

“You remember?” He widened innocent eyes at Hunt.

Hunt sighed with the humor Doogie had intended. “I have the scar to prove it. Yes, I remember.”

Somebody, maybe Tommy, hollered from the crowd. “Want to show us?”

“No, he does not,” Cait shouted back. “It’s mine. He shows nobody but me.”

“Woohoo.” Too many of the crowd were contributing to the storyline.

Doogie quieted everyone. “The thing is, she kept sparking off him – a static charge – and she had to keep stopping to rub her hands.”

Cait blushed. “He’s not wrong.”

In hopes of shortening the story, Hunt added his two cents. “It was about then I sent Doogie and Carter back to base to leave me in misery.”

“Oh, you weren’t in no misery, my friend.”

The snorts and hoots edged into raucous laughter.

“But, in closing, I’d like to say, they both were taken with each other right off. Here we are, six years later, celebrating a life and a future together. So, everyone raise your glass to that spark and the love that went with it.”

Doogie raised his glass.

“I’ll drink to that.” Hunt took a sip and kissed Cait. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Doogie wasn’t finished. “SEAL Team to the Better Together bench. LC, that means you. Bring Mrs. LC, too.

Hunt held out a hand. “Come, Doc. We might need this picture for blackmail later.”

Cait smiled, gazing around the room as if committing the moments to memory. The DJ kicked back in with a playlist of nineties party songs.

“More cake, too?”

“Sure, honey, and then let’s blow this joint so these people can really party.”

“I’m going home with you.”

“God, I hope so.”

Introductions, more memories, goodbyes, another plate of food, s’mores, a last piece of tiramisu…hugs, clothes changed, and more goodbyes.

Two hours later, sparklers lit their path as the bride and groom escaped the party to end all parties.