Page 45

July

M y gaze hasn’t strayed from my beautiful bride since she walked down the aisle to me in her stunning dress several minutes ago.

Scarlett’s dress falls off her shoulders and clings to her chest and torso before falling into a long satin train at her waist. My favorite detail is the thigh-high slit that allowed her leg to peek out as she walked, showcasing the light blue heels with a satin bow she’s wearing.

And now, as I’ve just recited my vows to her and reach in my pocket for the tissues I’ve stored there, I can’t help but feel like the luckiest man in the world to call this enigmatic woman mine for the rest of our lives.

Scarlett blushes before saying, “I’m not sure why I decided to go second.”

That earns her a chuckle from me and the guests.

Taking a deep breath, she begins, “Bennett James, my god you look dashing.” I squeeze her hands in mine and resist pulling her in for another kiss as she continues.

“I can’t begin to put into words what you mean to me.

Before you came into my life, I was struggling to find purpose outside of being a young, single guardian to my two younger siblings.

Never did I think I’d find someone as amazing as you.

Thank you for showing me what unyielding love and devotion look like.

There are too many times to count when you’ve simply shown up for me, Gunner, and Gemma without anyone asking you to.

You’ve gone above and beyond what I had hoped for in a life partner. ”

She pauses as her chin begins to wobble and her eyes glass over with unshed tears. “I love you so much, baby girl,” I whisper to her.

“I love you too,” she mouths and takes a deep, settling breath.

“My vows to you may seem ordinary, but I’d argue that nothing between us has been ordinary from the day we met.

So as simple as they may be, I vow to love, honor, cherish, and respect you.

Vowing my undying love to you for the rest of our lives is as simple as breathing air.

Vowing to honor our marriage above anything else is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other.

Vowing to cherish you is a privilege I don’t feel worthy of.

Vowing to respect you until my last breath gives me the same amount of joy as picking out my new favorite pair of shoes. ”

She bites down on her quivering lip. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough for stepping into our lives and filling pieces of our puzzle I didn’t even realize were missing.

I love your patience, your kindness, your thoughtfulness, and even the way you’re grumpy around anyone else but me, Gunner, and Gemma.

I love the way you manage to bring me back down to earth and calm the storms you may not even realize are brewing beneath the surface.

You are my stabilizing force that keeps me pointed in the right direction.

Your arms are my safe place and your heart is my home.

Today we celebrate with our friends and family the start to our eternity.

I will love you until the end of time, Benny Boy. ”

I blow out a deep breath to try to fight back the sob that wants to escape before Griffin says it’s time to exchange rings. I turn toward where Jax is standing with his hands on Gunner’s shoulders as my two best men.

“Alright, it’s your time to shine,” Jax says to Gunner.

“Here you go, Benny. Love you so big!” Gunner exclaims as he places the rings in my palm .

“You did perfect, Champ. Love you even bigger,” I tell him as I kneel down and wrap him in a hug.

After we exchange rings, Griffin grabs the mic and stands off to the side. “I now pronounce you husband and wife . . . once again. You may now kiss the bride . . . again.”

I don’t hesitate a moment as I cup Scarlett’s face with one hand and grasp her waist with the other. The moment our lips crash against each other, I silence her sweet moan as I bend her back into a dip. When we break the kiss, I take her hand in mine and bring it to my lips.

“Bennett and Scarlett want to thank you all for joining them to celebrate this most joyous day. It is my absolute pleasure to present to you, for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle,” Griffin announces, taking the guests by surprise.

There are looks of confusion and shock, but all I can do is smile down at my wife’s blissed-out expression.

Damn right I decided to change my last name so my wife and I could have the same last name as Gemma and Gunner.

We just told them last month that we’ve been approved to adopt them and we’re planning on making things official when we get back home after our honeymoon.

But first thing’s first, we wanted to all share the same last name, and I would never ask them to make that change for me.

I was more than happy to do that and can’t wait to wear CARLISLE on my back next season.

Holding up our joined hands, we start to make our way back between the rows of family and friends here to celebrate us, but I’m unable to resist the urge to kiss her again.

So midway back up the aisle, I pull her in and dip her across my body for a kiss that feels like it displays every emotion I’m feeling right now.

Euphoric happiness swells my chest and clogs my throat as I walk hand in hand with my bride.

Our first dance is announced as we make our way onto the dance floor.

With Scarlett’s hand in mine, the opening chords of our first dance song “Feels Like Home” play.

But instead of Chantal Kreviazuk’s voice playing over the speakers, there is an all too familiar voice singing the opening lines as she sits at the piano on stage.

“Bennett, what did you do?” Scarlett asks incredulously, eyes wide as she takes in the singer.

Smiling to myself, I rasp, “I had a surprise up my sleeve. It turns out you and Gemma made quite the impression with Taevin Gray at her concert, and her cousin just so happens to be a buddy of mine.”

“What? Since when?” she squeaks, and I don’t think I’m imagining Gemma’s gasp and excited squeal over the sound of the music.

“Since he and I were neighbors in our condo building for a few years. Anyways, I called him and cashed in on a favor he owed me,” I explain as if it’s no big deal, when I know the possible repercussions my scheming may cause a major fallout for my little brother.

“Does Taevin know you? She looks like she’s seen a ghost,” she says, nodding over my shoulder as I spin us around to get a glimpse of Taevin’s face that has gone a ghastly shade of white as realization and recognition sinks in.

“She may or may not have dated Jackson in high school. They were each other’s first loves.” I shrug, feigning indifference, but Scarlett stares back at me, jaw open as if what I just admitted was a total bombshell, which I guess to her it kind of is.

“You’ve been keeping secrets?” she asks, sounding bewildered by this new development .

I’m so entranced in this moment with my wife, that I hardly register Jackson making his way across the room toward the side of the stage.

“I’ll explain later, Red. For now, let me put those dance lessons my sister gave us to good use.

” I put some space between Scarlett and I before spinning her back into my arms.

As Taevin sings the last lines of the song, I dip my bride and watch as her copper curls nearly touch the floor before slowly lifting her head to brush her lips against mine. The kiss is short and sweet, yet it evokes every feeling inside my chest.

“Are you ready to take that walk together, Scar?” I whisper the question against her lips as she crashes her lips back against mine.

Moments later, Scarlett playfully drags me out of the venue and across the street, my hand in hers, as she smiles back at me with nothing but sheer bliss.

Her smile hits me straight in the chest, and I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight than the look of the setting sun illuminating her silhouette.

The golden glow of the fading sun causes her hair to look like a fiery blaze.

“So, what was your favorite part?” Scarlett asks me as we settle onto a bench beneath the Eiffel Tower.

“Well, a few of my favorite parts were what led to this pocketful of polaroid pictures of my bride dressed in very sexy lingerie posed in positions I’d love to have her in later this evening,” I admit with nonchalance, though I nearly keeled over from lust and need for my wife each time one of the bridesmaids brought me another polaroid.

“Is that so? Who gave those to you?” she questions in a sugary sweet voice.

“McKenna, Alexa, and Dakota came around almost every hour, on the hour to hand them to me. You wouldn’t know who put them up to that, would you? ”

She mock-gasps and feigns innocence. My Little Red is such a little liar.

“Well, whoever it was that put them up to it, I should thank them. And I’d also like to thank you for the gift you gave me with your letter earlier.

I especially liked the engraving on the whiskey glass.

What was it again? I believe you promised to always be by my side.

Or on top of me. Or under me. Or on your knees in front of me.

Apparently, wherever I need you to be,” I tease her as I pull her against my chest and cradle her head in my hands.

“All teasing aside, can you believe today? It was perfect,” I tell her as I stare down into her whiskey-flecked eyes that never fail to captivate me.

“It’s been everything and more than I could’ve ever dreamed growing up.

And you’re the main reason why. Thank you for giving this to me.

I’m not referring to the wedding in Paris, I mean this life we’ve started together.

You’ve shown me that while it may be a risk to open my heart and love someone, it is more lonely and heartbreaking to close myself off and never have loved at all.

You are my best friend, Bennett, and I can’t wait to live out our dreams together for the rest of our lives.

” Scarlett’s words sink in and sear my soul like a hot brand I’ll proudly wear forever.

“What was your favorite part of the day today, my beautiful bride?” I ask her as I pull her closer to me.

A wide smile eclipses her face. “Besides seeing you at the end of the aisle, probably that as I walked down I saw Gunner standing beside you and heard Gemma’s voice guiding me to you.”

At the mention of that, a wide smile of my own mirrors hers. “She did so amazing and her rendition was so beautiful. Did you know she came up with that all on her own? ”

Scar shakes her head. “I didn’t. She’s amazing. They both are. I can’t believe we get to officially adopt them when we get back.”

My chest expands just thinking about it. “I know. The only thing that would’ve made today better would’ve been to be able to celebrate them officially being ours. But that momentous occasion deserves a celebration all on its own.”

Nodding her head in agreement, Scar nudges her shoulder against my chest. “That, and perhaps if we would’ve had the Stanley Cup table instead of the cake table like you originally wanted.”

Throwing my head back, I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Ah, yes. But you know what, we made it to the third round which is the farthest our team has ever made it in franchise history. Next year we’ve got a few more pieces to move around and then the cup is ours. I can feel it.”

Scarlett hums in agreement and turns to look at me. “Well study up this season, Cap. Your apprenticeship starts next summer.”

“I can’t wait. That just means I’m one step closer to watching you live out your dreams, Red.”

“I’ve told you this before, but in case you forgot I’ll tell you again. This life we’re building together is my dream. I love you,” she tells me.

“I love you too. We went from temporary to eternal in less than a year’s time. Where do we go from here, my love?” I ask her as I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, rubbing the freckles on the lobe of her ear as I do.

Scarlett hums in contentment, her gaze locked with mine. “I don’t know, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that we’ve yet to even scratch the surface.”

I know she’s right. Each day feels exciting and new with Scarlett. I’m hopeful for our future and for the life we’ll continue to build beside each other .

“I love you forever and always, Little Red.” My voice is thick with emotion as I think of what our future has in store for us.

“Watch yourself, Benny Boy, I just might hold you to that.” Scarlett winks at me and a dazzling smile lights up her face.

I thank my lucky stars that I met this woman seven years ago. Call it fate, call it divine intervention, I’m just glad to call her mine for the rest of my life.