“Exactly the type of woman you need, Colter. You need somebody who won’t put up with too much of your bullshit.”
“She doesn’t. But I like that about her.” He paused before he added, “Most of the time.”
Travis laughed.
Tate looked at his friend, a man who had been so serious, so stressed and anal not so long ago. Now he looked relaxed…and content. “Are you really happy now, Trav?” Tate asked him seriously.
“More than I ever thought I would be, buddy. And you will be, too. Lara is a fantastic woman, and she’s perfect for you. She wants to meet Asha now so she can see if there’s anything she can do even before she goes back to school. She wants to help. Your woman has a good heart,” Travis told Tate sincerely.
Tate nodded. He knew the extent of her heart, and it was as big as the ocean. “I know. I just wish she’d stop hugging on you for saving her life.” One time Tate had tolerated okay, but it seemed as if Lara was always grateful to Travis every time she saw him. And he didn’t care whether Travis was his best friend; he still didn’t want to see his fiancée hug another man under the age of eighty.
Travis raised a questioning brow. “Possessive much? I remember not so long ago that you really enjoyed jerking my chain with Ally.”
Tate flinched, remembering how he’d flirted with Ally just to piss Travis off because he thought it was funny. He wasn’t laughing anymore. “I regret that now,” he grumbled.
Travis smirked. “Good. Then I’ll stop telling Lara how much I appreciate hugs of gratitude.”
Tate glared at Travis. “You didn’t.”
Travis shrugged. “I might have mentioned it.”
Bastard! Travis had intentionally made sure Lara threw herself into his arms in gratitude every time she saw him. “Do it again and I’ll make sure I hug Ally for a very long time every time I see her,” he warned Travis.
“I’ll stop,” Travis said hastily.
He’s still crazy about Ally.
Tate smiled because he knew Travis would love Ally until he took his last breath. As much as he loved to tease Travis, the guy deserved that kind of love and Tate couldn’t be happier for him. Especially since he was lucky enough to find the same kind of love himself.
Uneasy, Tate glanced at his watch again only to realize that it was only five minutes after noon.
Dammit!
Travis elbowed him in the side. “Take a breath, buddy. Your bride has arrived.”
Tate looked at the entrance eagerly, disappointed when he saw only Ally. But Travis’s wife looked ravishing in a very light lavender dress that floated around her calves. Her blonde hair was piled on top of her head; little ringlets curled around her temples.
Tate watched as Travis moved down the aisle, kissed his wife, and whispered something into her ear that made Ally blush. He offered his arm. Ally took it and let Travis bring her to the front of the chapel.
Ally squeezed Tate’s arm as she passed and smiled at him as she took her place across from where Travis had stood a moment ago. Because Travis and Ally were their only witnesses, Trav was doing double duty. He was not only the best man, but he was also escorting the bride.
Travis walked back down the aisle and offered his arm again, and Tate’s breath expelled hard from his lungs as Lara stepped up to his side. He sucked in another breath, feeling as if he’d been sucker-punched as he got his first glimpse at Lara, beautiful in a white and lace dress with three-quarter length tight sleeves and a fitted bodice. She held a bouquet of red and pink roses, and her hair was up. She had a small circlet of silver on her head that had a small, old-fashioned veil down the back.
She looks like an angel.
Her smile was radiant as she walked down the aisle toward him, her gaze focused on his face.
Mine.
He took her hand as she arrived with Travis and clasped it possessively, twining their fingers together as he took a deep breath.
She’s here. She’s mine.
The service was short, just the way they both wanted it. Tate spoke his vows reverently, and meant every one of them. Lara repeated those vows, her eyes on him as she promised him forever.
It seemed as though it was over so quickly, but Tate let out a breath of relief as they were pronounced man and wife. He definitely kissed the bride longer than necessary, and all four of them left the small chapel and got into a waiting limo.
“That was lovely,” Ally said enthusiastically from her seat next to Travis.
Lara beamed. “It was. It was exactly what Tate and I wanted. I’m so happy that you could both come for the ceremony.”
Travis popped the cork on a bottle of champagne and they all laughed as they jumped from the sudden burst of sound.
He poured and passed the glasses around.
Tate looked at his bride, thinking what a lucky bastard he really was. Lara had blasted into his life when he least expected it. He’d been so damn lonely, and he’d never really known it…until her.
He leaned over and gently kissed her temple. “You look incredibly beautiful, and I love you so damn much it’s killing me.”
She threaded her fingers through his. “Is this going to require revival then?”
“Hell, no. I’m plenty…alive. Every bit of me,” he told her mischievously. “But I’ll pretend I’m fading if you want.”
She giggled like a young girl. “I love you, too.” More seriously she said, “You make me so happy that it’s scary.”
Tate knew exactly what she was feeling. But he’d calm her fears. It wouldn’t be long before that happiness was a constant state of mind for both of them.
“A toast,” Travis announced. “Here’s to marriage, love, and finding the person of your dreams.”
The clink of glasses was loud as they all heartily agreed and took a sip of the fine Cristal.
“I guess we’ll all be doing this again soon for Chloe’s wedding.” Ally leaned back in her plush seat.
“Are you guys coming?” Lara asked excitedly.
Ally nodded. “Yep. Chloe is very fond of Travis.”
“I’m glad we won’t have to wait long to see you again,” Lara told Travis and Ally happily.
Tate’s mind drifted to Chloe and how unhappy she’d seemed lately. He reminded himself that he had some work to do to dig into her situation with James. Something about their whole relationship didn’t sit right with him. And after what Lara had said about James acting like a dick at the gym, he wasn’t exactly thrilled about Chloe marrying somebody who could possibly not treat her right. Now that Tate knew what real happiness was like, he didn’t want anything less for any of his siblings.