Forever Bound (15 page)

“He
said you were a team,” Christine confided.

Jess
looked down the aisle at the man she loved. “He said there’d be good times and
bad times, and that we had to have each other’s back. Be partners.”

“He’s
right,” Arlene said. “Good marriages don’t happen for free, Jessica.”

“He
knew this ceremony was important to you,” Christine said. “He was trying so
hard to make it right.”

But
what was really important was that Jess would leave this ceremony married to
the man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

Another
woman came toward them, her excitement obvious in her sparkling eyes. It was
Ryan’s sister Sheila, who was only a year or two younger than Jess. “Are you
ready?” she asked, then concern lit her eyes. “Or is there a problem?”

“No
problem,” Jess assured her. “I’m just overwhelmed.”

Sheila
smiled. “Yes, my big brother can have that effect on people, especially when he
puts his mind to something.”

“But
what’s borrowed?” Jess asked.

The
women exchanged a secretive smile, then Sheila leaned closer to whisper. “My
parents are lending you both their rings for the ceremony. Jake has them.”

“They’ve
got almost a hundred years experience in blessing happy weddings,” Christine
said. “Ryan thought they’d make a perfect start to yours.”

“It’s
perfect,” Jess whispered. “I wish I’d thought of that.”

“That’s
why you’re a team,” Christine whispered and Jess smiled.

One
more time, Ryan had ensured that she felt lucky.

In
fact, Jess felt like the luckiest woman in the world.

She
linked arms with her mom, and found herself just as excited as she’d always
dreamed she’d be on her wedding day.

Sheila
went back to the group and gave some signal. A man with a beautiful deep voice
began to sing, several other men raising their voices to the melody. It was a
rich and romantic sound, even though Jess didn’t know the song. She wasn’t even
sure she understood the words, but it was perfect. Ryan’s younger sisters
spread more petals leading the way down the makeshift aisle. Fiona followed
them, moving to stand at the left side, opposite Ryan and Jake and Quinn.
Christine followed Fiona, then turned at the front to watch Jess.

The
man’s voice soared, half a dozen other voices joining in, and Jess felt she
floated down the aisle to a symphony. When she reached the front, Ryan reached
for her hand. He kissed her fingers, then put her hand in the crook of his
elbow, giving her a sidelong glance. His eyes were twinkling and he was almost
smiling.

“Okay?”

Jess
nodded. “A wonderful man just reminded me that I’m the luckiest woman in the
world.”

Ryan
smiled. “Then we’re perfectly matched, since I’m the luckiest guy in the
world.” He inclined his head toward the waiting minister. “Want to do something
about it?”

“I
do,” Jess said with such force that everyone laughed.

* * *

It
was after dinner when the music was playing and the guests were dancing that
the journalist slid into the vacant seat beside Jessica. “You really pulled
that off,” she said, her surprise clear.

Ryan
returned with glasses of champagne then, and sat down beside Jess. He gave her
one glass and saluted her with his own. “That’s because Jess is the best
wedding organizer in town.”

“I’ve
never seen a wedding come off so well after so many things went wrong,” the
journalist said with a shake of her head. “Congratulations.” She stood up as
Jess thanked her. “This is a helluva story, you know. I hope you’re ready to be
really busy when you get home.”

Jess
gasped. “Thank you!”

“Thank
you.” The journalist smiled at the two of them. “It’s heartening to see love
conquer all, at least once in a while.”

Jess
couldn’t believe her luck. “Ryan, this is wonderful!”

Ryan
touched his glass to hers. “To you,” he murmured in her ear. “Save some time
for your new husband, or I’ll have to come down to the shop and have my way
with you.”

Jess
smiled at him. “What a naughty thing to say to a bride at her wedding. We’d
better go back to the room and give that paddle a workout.”

“I’m
all yours.”

“And
I’m yours.” Jess smiled as she lifted her glass and they sipped the champagne
in unison, their gazes locked. She felt that familiar heat rising between them,
a passion that was rooted in love, and knew she’d never been so happy before in
her life.

“So,
how long do we actually have to stay at the reception?” Ryan whispered and Jess
laughed.

She
stood up and took his hand in hers. “Leaving now sounds good to me.”

* * *

Watch for

THE WEDDING ANTHOLOGY

All three novellas in Ella’s Wedding Trilogy in one
volume,

available both digitally and in print.

Coming Soon!

Watch for

SWITCH

Eighth in the Plume Series

Coming Soon!

For more information about Ella’s books,

please visit her website at

http://ellaardent.com

* * *