Page 159 of Tempting Wyatt

“Angel? You ready to do this? Or you thinking about calling for a getaway car?”

She turns and smiles up at me. “Are you telling me this is my last chance to run?” The sight of her in a form fitting white satin dress, illuminating her hourglass shape, takes my breath away.

I want to make a joke, tell her Lucifer and I would just track her down if she tried to escape. But I can’t. Not with her looking like this and looking at me like I’m every dream she ever had come true.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” I breathe, unable to comprehend that this gorgeous creature is mine and wants me.Forever.

“You clean up nice too.” Her smile widens, but there’s still something sad in those gorgeous eyes. “I’m more than ready.” She glances down at her phone. “My mom isn’t going to make it to the ceremony after all.” She lifts one shoulder in a shrug, but her pain weighs her down.

Ah.The source of the sad eyes.

“Everything okay?”

I’ve never met Ivy’s mom, and, damn, I hope I never do. The hurt she’s caused my sweet girl seems never-ending. We sent her a pair of first-class plane tickets, and she RSVP’d. But apparently, she couldn’t be bothered. And she waited until the last minute to let Ivy know.Real nice.

Ivy lifts one shoulder and drops her gaze. “Bruce—that’s her husband—couldn’t get the time off work. She didn’t want to come without him, I guess.”

I lean down until her eyes meet mine. “I’m sorry, baby. There are so many people out there who love you. And I?—”

“Ivy, sweetheart,” a voice calls as the door opens.

My mom steps inside, and the sadness clears from Ivy’s eyes.

“Hey, Laurel. I’m in here.”

My mom gapes at me. “Wyatt, you know you’re not supposed to see the bride before the ceremony.” She swats my chest playfully. “Go on now. Let us girls have a chat.”

I step aside and watch her take Ivy in her arms, gushing over her dress, and see both of their eyes fill as my mom tells my future wife that she’s her daughter now.

There’s hugging and sniffling, and I have to get out of here before my own eyes get watery.

As much as my greedy ass wants to stay in here and kissthe hell out of her before sharing her with our wedding guests, I know Ivy needs this as much as she needs me.

She belongs to this family and this ranch as much as I do.

I kiss her forehead and tell her I’ll see her soon.

“I’ll be the one in the white dress,” she teases.

I give her ass a squeeze. “You’ll be the one that’smine,angel.” Another forehead kiss because I’m struggling to tear myself away.

“Go on, son.” My mom shoos me toward the door. “Get to the altar already.”

With one last grin at Ivy, I nod at my mom, so fucking grateful she loves my girl as much as I do. That we’re able to give her the family and the home she’s always deserved.

Then I make my way toward the altar, where Isaac should be meeting me if he’s not hooking up with a wedding guest somewhere.

As I make my way to the barn beside the private stables where the ceremony is taking place, the wind kicks up suddenly, and some of the pink and white decorations threaten to blow off the chairs.

A loud whirring sound comes closer.

Isaac jogs over, and there is indeed lipstick on his neck and near his mouth. Shiny, glossy. Pink, like the shade the bridesmaids are wearing. There’s only one who isn’t our sister, so my brother has already hooked up with Ivy’s agent.Of course he has.

“Dude, wipe off the lipstick.”

“What? You don’t think it’s my color?” He grins. “Just enjoying the perks of being the best man.”

I’m about to comment when he points to the approaching helicopter.