The Running Series Complete Collection: 3-Book Set plus Bonus Novella (172 page)

Everyone is here:  Adam, Marcus, Derek, Dean, Auggie, and my father.  Even my cousin Cole flew out to be here today.  I knew Juliette wouldn’t marry me unless they were all here, and I plan on spending the rest of my life making all her dreams come true.

My father asks all of us to lift our glasses for a toast.  “It is said that when children find true love, parents find true joy. Here's to your joy and ours, from this day forward.”

We all toss back the shots and Marcus quickly refills everyone’s glass.  When he gets to Adam’s glass, he asks, “How about a word from the best man?”

Adam walks over and shakes my hand.  “Well, I have a few words I’m saving for the big toast later, but I suppose I could say something now.”  He pats me on the back and clears his throat, holding up his glass.  “To Juliette.  May she always share everything with her husband, including the housework.”

He’s such a smartass.

I can’t stand still, I need to keep moving.  So I open the sliding glass door and step outside, trying to catch a glimpse of the ceremony site.  I look across the grounds, and from where I’m standing, I can see the lagoon lawn is ready with chairs, an altar, and an aisle, all overlooking the sun setting on the Pacific Ocean. It’s almost time to go.

“Nervous?” Derek asks as he joins me on the terrace.

Why does everyone keep asking me that?  “Nah, I just want to get this over with already.”

“Listen, Mac.  I know we’ve had our ups and downs over the last year.  All I’ve ever wanted was for Jette to be happy.  You make her happy.  I see that now.  Whatever you do, just don’t fuck it up.” 

I smile and nod, offering Derek a handshake.  “Understood.” 

There was a time when I resented Derek’s place in Juliette’s life.  I saw him as a nuisance and a cause of confusion for her.  But now, as I look back, I have to admit that I’m glad he was there for her when I wasn’t.  He’s a good friend, and I know he’ll be a good role model for Kai as he grows up.

My father quietly joins us.  “Evan, I don’t mean to interrupt, but I have to go collect your mother and Genevieve.”  He smiles and pats my back.  “I just want to tell you how proud we are of you and how happy we are to be bringing Juliette into the family.”  I thank my father for everything and watch as he leaves.

Marcus jumps up when his cell phone pings with a message.  “It’s Camilla.  The girls are almost ready.  Time to go.”

Cole interrupts my thoughts.  “Hey, lover boy, if it’s not too much trouble, what do you say we go and get you married?”

Together with my closest friends, I make the short walk across the pavilion over to the site where the ceremony will take place.  Auggie and the event manager have done an amazing job.  They were able to do everything I asked, and in only two short days.  It’s amazing what you can make happen with the right amount of money.

White wooden chairs line each side of the aisle and a small arbor stands at the end.  The sun is setting, reflecting intense orange and red colors of the sun on the water.  But more important to me are the flowers.  The place is covered with them.

The aisle is covered in gardenia buds – thousands of them.  They are meticulously arranged in a swirling pattern that perfectly mirrors the water behind us.

Garlands of white tropical flowers wrap around the magnificent and enormous Banyon trees that create a natural arch over the arbor.  Hanging from its limbs are nearly a hundred round bouquets of gardenias in all varieties, tied with white ribbons and swaying lightly in the wind.

Marcus catches me checking out all the flowers.  “Man, I have to ask.  What is it with you and flowers?  I know your sister’s a florist and all, but you’re really making the rest of us look bad.”

“Most of what I know about women I learned from how my dad treated my mother. My whole life, dad always bought my mom flowers, chocolates, and trinkets. I grew up watching my mother’s face light up every time flowers arrived, especially when they came for no reason at all.  That happened a lot. And that's what flowers are – just a simple, easy way of letting someone know they’re in your thoughts. That's it. It's not complicated.”

As the boys and I make our way toward the arbor, I stop to mingle with some of our guests.  There are a little over fifty guests here.  I only invited a few of the guys from the team along with their wives and girlfriends.  Carlo is here with his wife Willow, along with Anthony and Brianna Rivera, Troy and Delaney Duffy, Xander Parish and his fiancée Jocelyn, and Shaun Marise, who’s here without a guest tonight.  As a special surprise treat for my bride, Joey Griffin flew out to be here with us, along with his wife Maggie. 

There are a few faces I don’t recognize, so I assume they are Juliette’s friends from college –  Ben, Sara, and Simon.

Once the boys and I get to the arbor, our mothers are escorted to their seats in the front row by Carlo and Anthony.  Auggie thought it would be a good idea for a few teammates to seat our guests, and luckily for me, these guys were more than happy to help.

“Get your hands out of your hair,” Adam warns through gritted teeth.  I yank my hands down.  I guess Juliette was right – I do run my fingers through my hair when I’m nervous.  If I don’t see her soon, I swear I’m going to explode.

What the fuck are they doing?

Finally, I see the hotel doors open as the music queues.  I selected Justin Timberlake’s “Mirrors” as the processional, and the first to emerge is Emmy.  I give Adam a little jab with my elbow as she makes her way down the aisle.  He’s so captivated, I don’t think he even notices.

One by one, Camilla, Callie, and Reese follow, taking their place on my right.  As my bride steps through the doors, the music changes to the traditional Wagner Bridal Chorus and everyone rises. 

The moment I see her, my heart leaps in my chest.  Everything around me fades away and all I see is her.  I can’t take my eyes off of her.  She’s mesmerizing ... hypnotic. 

She holds tightly to Auggie’s arm as she slowly makes her way down the aisle.  I don’t think there has ever been a more beautiful bride or a luckier man on the planet.

Her hair frames her face exquisitely in loose curls. For a second I imagine what it would feel like tickling my chest, draping across my thighs. I shake my head. Focus, McGuire, focus. 

Suddenly the light catches her earrings in just the right light, and I’m fucking blown away.  She’s wearing
my
earrings.  I thought I would never see her wearing them again.  I don’t know how she did it, but even today, she continues to amaze me.

Visions of a magical night when she stood before me wearing nothing but those earrings and a pair of high heels nearly knock me off my feet.  We will definitely be reliving that evening tonight.

I’m grinning like the village idiot as I take in her dark hair, her tiny, petite frame.  The smile on her face broadens as her eyes connect with mine. Endless, shining green eyes that look right at me. And it makes me feel like a god. 

Her wedding gown is simple yet elegant, and it looks like it was made just for her.  All I can think about is how it will look lying in a pile at the foot of our bed and how long it will take me to get her out of it.  I want to kiss her. More than I want to fucking breathe. 

Is it wrong for me to have thoughts like that here and now?  Probably, but I can’t help it.  This is what she does to me, and I hope this feeling never goes away.

I watch as she gets closer and closer.  Finally she’s standing right in front of me.  Auggie kisses her and whispers something in her ear that makes her smile.  And I melt.  God, she’s beautiful. I mean, look at her. She’s like an exploding volcano – hot, powerful, and magnificent. 

Auggie takes her hand and places it in mine.  He looks me square in the eye and says, “Take good care of my baby girl.”  Having heard his words, Juliette looks up at me all misty-eyed. 

I place my hand on her back as we turn and face the officiant.  I’m surprised when my hand contacts bare skin through the opening in the back of her gown.  A powerful jolt of electricity shoots through me, straight to my heart.  It was there the first time we touched and it’s still there today.  I know she feels it too. 

With a mind of its own, my thumb draws slow circles on her lower back.  She looks up at me, biting her bottom lip.  No one has ever looked at me with that much love. The corners of her mouth turn up, so I must be wearing the same expression. 

As the music quiets, Juliette knots our fingers together.  She whispers to me, “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Normally I wouldn’t take kindly to being called beautiful, but today she can call me anything she wants.  I tell her, “I’m staring at true beauty.”  And I mean it.

The officiant smiles and begins the ceremony.

“Evan and Juliette, today you are surrounded by your friends and family, all of whom have gathered here to witness your marriage and to share in the joy of this special occasion. Today, as you join yourselves in marriage, there is a vast and unknown future stretching out before you. The possibilities and potentials of your married life are great; and now falls upon your shoulders the task of making real your dreams. Through your commitment to each other, may you grow and nurture a love that makes both of you better people, a love that continues to give you great joy, and also a passion for living that provides you with energy and patience to face the responsibilities of life.”

The officiant asks me first.  “Evan, have you prepared your vows?”

“I have,” I tell him.

“I Evan Thomas McGuire, take you, Juliette Evangeline Fletcher, to be my wife, my partner in life and my one true love.  You know me better than anyone else in this world and somehow still you manage to love me.  I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."

Now he turns to Juliette.  “Juliette, have you prepared your vows?”

She smiles and my heart sings.  “I have.”

“I, Juliette Evangeline Fletcher, take you, Evan Thomas McGuire, to be my husband.  I promise to always be your biggest fan and your soft place to fall.  Although our lives may change with the seasons, I will love you.  As our love grows as a seed to a beautiful flower, I will love you.  When the winds of doubt blow through, I will love you.  I promise to love you with all I have to give, and all that I am, in the only way I know how — completely and forever.”

The officiant turns to Adam who hands him the rings.  Holding them up, he explains.  "Wedding rings are made precious by our wearing them. Your rings say that even in your uniqueness you have chosen to be bound together. Let these rings also be a sign that love has substance as well as soul, a present as well as a past, and that, despite its occasional sorrows, love is a circle of happiness, wonder, and delight. May these rings remind you always of the vows you have given here today." 

“Evan, as you place the ring on Juliette’s finger, please repeat after me:
I give this ring to you, my beloved, my friend, my wife. Whenever I see this ring, I will remember the cherished bond we have created here tonight.
”

I slide the ring onto her finger right beside the engagement ring.  It was made for her.

“Juliette, as you place the ring on Evan’s finger, please repeat after me:
I give this ring to you, my beloved, my friend, my husband. Whenever I see this ring, I will remember the cherished bond we have created here tonight
.”

Staring at this beautiful woman standing beside me, I feel my hands get sweaty.  I don’t know if it’s stress, heat, or nerves, but try as she might, Juliette just can’t get that ring onto my finger.  The ring that fit just fine this morning won't fit without a little help.

And now for the part I’ve been waiting for. 

“Because you two came here today intending to marry, because you joined hands, made solemn vows, and exchanged rings to remind you of those vows, you are now joined as partners in mutual love and respect. 

According to the powers vested in me, I pronounce that your wedding vows are sealed and you may henceforth be known to all as husband and wife.  It is my absolute pleasure to present Mr. and Mrs. Evan McGuire.  You may now kiss your bride.”

I want to do much more than kiss her, but that will have to wait a little while. I dip her back in my arms, and I go straight for the kill. I go all in. I kiss her with everything I have. I want her to remember her first kiss as my wife for the rest of her life. God, what a beautiful sound the word “wife” makes in my head. Juliette Fletcher is my wife. Mine. Forever. 

I
fucking love watching her sleep.  I look down at the ring on my finger just to make sure it wasn’t a dream.  It’s still there, which means this beautiful woman lying naked beside me is my wife.  At the moment, I can’t think of anything quite as beautiful as the woman who’s just taken my name. 

She’s slept long enough.  I can’t hold back another minute.  I begin with soft and gentle kisses on the inside of her neck.  I let the stubble on my chin graze her shoulder.  She rewards me with a smile and a giggle.