Love & Rodeo (28 page)
Epilogue
Six Months Later...
Levi stood at the end of the aisle and looked over the crowd that had gathered at his parents’ house to witness he and Kallie exchanging vows. It was early spring, and the grass was a luscious green and the trees were full of buds. Kallie couldn’t have picked a better time to be married. He smiled to himself as he remembered what she’d told him when he asked why they had to marry in April. She told him, “Spring marks the end of the cold bitter winter. Our marriage marks the end of a cold and bitter three years without one another. Only good, beautiful things will come from our marriage together.” It was all history after that. His fight for a Vegas wedding dissipated and he was all-in on a spring wedding, and looking around today, it had been a good call.
“
I can’t believe you two are finally tying the knot,” Mark, Levi’s older brother told him.
“
I know. It’s about damn time,” Luke chimed in just before he left to be with Kallie.
“
You guys are supposed to be my groomsmen and helping me stay calm. Not up here giving me a hard time.”
They laughed and Levi saw Travis walking up the aisle toward him with a grin on his face. When he reached Levi he shook his hand.
“
What’s with the smile?” Levi asked.
“
Nothing, I love weddings.”
Levi looked behind Travis to see one of the barrel racers from the circuit finding her seat, looking flushed and thoroughly taken advantage of.
Levi turned to see Mark wearing a smirk.
“
I swear, Travis, when you finally settle down we’ll all be old men.”
About that time the preacher approached Levi signaling the beginning of the ceremony. He glanced over his shoulder at his groomsmen one last time and they both grinned at him. Levi shook his head and focused on the aisle in front of him as Mark’s band played the acoustic song Kallie had picked out.
A moment later, Nora started down the aisle and it was hard to believe she was going to be entering her senior year of high school in just a few months. Over the last couple of months, Nora had accepted his presence with open arms and his affection for her grew into something he didn’t know he was capable of, the need to protect her strong.
Shortly after Levi and Kallie got engaged, Nora had begun to show an interest in barrel racing and even started training with Kallie. Her first rodeo was in just a few short weeks. Pride beamed from him as he looked at her and he knew that Kallie was over the moon with Nora’s decision to try her hand at barrel racing. She was turning into a beautiful young woman he was proud to call his sister.
As Nora approached him, she smiled and stuck out her tongue. He stifled a laugh as Nora took her place beside him, and Sophie started toward him. Since Levi had made the move to Tonkawa to be with Kallie and Nora, he’d really gotten to know Sophie, and had fallen in love with little Caleb. He was just over six months old now and had both his parents wrapped, as well as Kallie, Nora, and himself. As Luke and Levi were getting ready, Luke had let on that he and Sophie were already trying for another. Levi was truly happy for them, but couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. The thought of his baby growing inside Kallie did weird things to his insides and killed him with anticipation.
Once Sophie took her place beside Nora, the band began to play the wedding march and a moment later the love of his life started toward him with Luke at her side. He listened as everyone gasped and talked about how beautiful she looked in the floor-length lace gown, but he couldn’t take his eyes from hers. With the setting sun on her skin and the love he saw in her eyes, she looked as if she could be glowing.
I am one lucky bastard.
Levi watched as Luke and Kallie stopped in front of him.
“
Who gives this young woman away?”
“
Luke Abbot, long time best friend.”
And so much more.
Levi shook Luke’s hand. No action on Levi’s part could tell Luke how grateful he was that Kallie had him to lean on in his absence the last three years. Instead, he shook his hand firmly and decided that he’d always be the friend Luke had been to Kallie. Levi offered a smile to Luke before he turned his attention to Kallie and reached out his hand to help her forward. When her hand rested in his, the familiar tingle he always felt at her touch settled in, and the urge to kiss her became too much. He leaned forward, his lips pressing lightly against hers.
“
Easy there, son. You haven’t even exchanged vows yet.”
Everyone laughed and he watched as Kallie’s cheeks flushed. Lord, she was beautiful, and the thought of making her officially his had his heart dancing in his chest.
Levi listened as the preacher spoke about their journey to one another, and the love that had blossomed between them into something so beautiful and so tremendous nothing could confine it. His thoughts wandered to their first Christmas together when he surprised her with a sleeping basset hound she insisted on calling Louie. The glee on her face had warmed and filled his heart to the point he was sure it was overflowing.
Levi looked into Kallie’s eyes and was taken back to a few weeks ago when they were mucking stalls together. Kallie had pushed her wheelbarrow out into the mud and got stuck. When Levi came to save her, they both lost their balance and fell into the muddy mess. Kallie squealed, and when Levi started laughing, she flung a handful of mud at him. That was what he loved most about her. She challenged him, and when he was out of line she put him in his place. The scene ended with a trail of muddy clothes through the house and the two of them making love in their shower.
“
Levi.” He turned his attention back to the preacher. “Are you ready with your vows?”
Levi nodded and felt Kallie squeeze his hands. He took a deep breath and smiled at her.
“
I know I’ve said it before, but I’m gonna say it again. I fell in love with you the moment I first laid eyes on you. You were rocking away in that saddle and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from you. All I wanted was a chance, and then you went and gave me one. Falling in love with you was easy, and loving you is like breathing to me. It’s essential, and I need it to make it through each day.” He paused, taking in her smile and the warmth she portrayed in her eyes. “Now, I guess I’m supposed to promise you something. So, Kallie, I promise to love you thoroughly every day for the rest of our lives. I promise to tell you you’re right even when I think you’re wrong, and I promise to always give you the last bite. Most of all, I promise to give you and this marriage all of me.”
Her eyes were glistening with tears when he finished. His gaze moving to her lips as she mouthed “I love you.”
“
Kallie.” The preacher signaled her turn.
“
Levi Cavanaugh. When I think of a cowboy I see your picture beside the word because you came riding into my life when I needed saving the most. You chased away my nightmares and fought off the darkness that threatened to overpower me. You found my smile and thawed the ice around my heart. I will forever be thankful for that.” Tears were falling freely down her face now, and she took a moment to wipe them away and gather herself.
“
Levi, I promise to love you hard and play with you harder. I promise to laugh at you and always tell you what’s on my mind. I promise to kiss you whenever the urge strikes me, but most of all, I promise to give
you
all of me.”
Her words found their way down inside him and wrapped around his heart and in that moment the sky was the limit. Their love had no boundaries, and it would take them places he’d only dreamed of.
They exchanged vows, and when the preacher told him that he could kiss the bride, he pulled her to him and kissed her long and hard. When he finally pulled away, her cheeks were flushed and the crowd was cheering. He took her hand and they started down the aisle as the preacher announced them as Mr. and Mrs. Levi Cavanaugh.
He pulled Kallie inside his parents’ home and it took all the strength he could muster not to take her upstairs and claim her body as his. Instead, he settled for kissing her thoroughly. He trailed kisses to her neck.
“
Mr. Cavanaugh?” she asked playfully.
“
Yes, Mrs. Cavanaugh?”
“
Remember a couple weeks ago when we had that mud fight?” she asked as he kissed her collarbone.
“
Yes,” he said between placing soft kisses along her shoulder.
“
Do you remember what we did after?”
He pulled away and looked down into her green eyes. Of course he remembered. It was one of his favorite memories since they’d been back together. He offered her a mischievous smile.
“
You want to do that again? Now?”
She laughed and his heart warmed.
“
Of course, but when we look back on that day, we’re not going to remember it because of how great the sex was.”
He looked at her confused.
“
What?”
“
I’m pregnant, Levi.”
“
You’re sure?”
She nodded.
“
I went to the doctor yesterday and he confirmed it. I’m six weeks along.”
He stared down at her, stunned before he fell to his knees in front of her, his lips finding the small bump on her stomach. He looked up at her and she smiled at him with a softness only a truly happy woman possessed. A tear fell down her cheek.
“
What’s wrong, Kallie?”
“
It’s a good tear.” She smiled to reassure him. “I’m happy. I’m so happy.”
He wrapped his arms around Kallie’s waist and pressed his lips to the lace on her stomach.
“
I love you, Levi.” Kallie told him as she ran her fingers through his hair.
“
I love you so much it hurts sometimes, Kallie.”
They stayed like that for a while longer, with Levi on his knees in front of her caressing and kissing her stomach. The thought of becoming a parent scared him a little, but he knew that with Kallie by his side, he could do anything. He also knew he would be there every step of this pregnancy, and there after. From here on out, he wasn’t missing anything that involved Kallie, and judging by the way she held onto his body now, she wasn’t going to let him.
THE END
Author Biography
Paisley Cruz grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ever since she could remember, her imagination has taken her on amazing adventures. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine she’d end up an author.
As a teen, Paisley began writing love stories and hasn’t really stopped over the years. Writing has been the only consistent activity in her life. As a young adult, Paisley’s dreams wavered from becoming a nurse to pursuing a music career. Instead, she settled on being a stay at home mom and an awesome wife.
Paisley is married to the love of her life and best friend, Mr. Cruz. Together they have two amazing little boys, three rescue cats, and a rescue beagle named BoBo.
When Paisley isn’t running her boys to and from sports, she is either writing or taking in a Cincinnati Reds game.
Connect with Paisley
PAISLEY CRUZ