Page 96 of The Agent

“And you look like Grace Kelly,” Alice said. “Elegant and beautiful as always.”

“You’d think we planned it,” Dawn agreed. She pulled her phone out of her purse. “We need to record this historic moment!”

A knock sounded on the door before it opened and Gino leaned in. “Showtime!” After he’d been pressed into taking the photo, they all proceeded to the back of the church.

The organ was playing a soaring classical piece as Alice began her walk down the aisle, followed by Dawn about ten steps later.

Natalie looked past them at the three men standing so straight and tall at the altar—very different people who had been brought together by recognizing each other’s brilliance. From that they had forged a deep friendship that had carried them here. A bright happiness glowed on their faces as the women they loved walked toward them. As Tully’s gaze met hers, Natalie knew she would carry this memory with her forever.

When she stepped through the doorway, Gino joined her. “I’ve been deputized to give you away,” he said, offering her his arm. “Except you’d better not leave the salon, or we’ll all be pissed at Tully.”

Natalie laughed as the music changed and the guests stood and turned.

It was not the wedding march. It was the country-western song she and Tully had danced to at Alice and Derek’s wedding.

She looked up the aisle to see Tully looking pleased with himself. “Do you know how to do the two-step?” she asked Gino in a murmur.

“I am a dancing machine,” he said.

“Then let’s make this a memorable entrance.” Natalie shifted her bouquet to one hand so she and Gino could intertwine their arms at waist level in the side-by-side position. “One, two, three, go!”

So she two-stepped down the aisle in country time to meet her groom at the foot of the altar, with all the guests bobbing in rhythm as she passed. When Gino relinquished her hands, Tully took the free one and twirled her twice around before he bent her into a dip, his gray eyes alight with adoration and mischief as he gazed at her from a few inches away. “You are my kind of woman.”

His arms supported her with a tensile strength that made her feel safe and secure. When he stole a quick kiss, his warm lips made her feel loved.

As he effortlessly lifted her back onto her feet, steadying her with care, she looked into his eyes and said, “I’ll never dance with anyone but you for the rest of my life.”