I Knew You Were Trouble: A Texas Kings Novel (31 page)

The minister appeared then, walking in with a big smile on his face and holding out his hands to Nate. The last time he’d held a service for the King family it had been for Clay’s funeral, and Nate was pleased to be seeing the minister for something happier this time, even if he was wishing his granddad was there to see him get married.

“I think it’s time,” the minister said. “Your bride is ready and waiting for you.”

Nate sucked back a breath and followed the minister, his brothers, and Sam, moving to stand alongside him.

“This is it, big bro,” Ryder said.

“And just like that, all three King bachelors are off the market,” Sam joked, making them all laugh.

Nate was about to say something back when the words died in his mouth. He couldn’t even remember what had seemed so funny at the time. The string quartet had started to play, a soft rendition of Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major; goose pimples trailed across every inch of Nate’s skin, a chill that he’d never felt before. The last time he’d set foot in a church had been to say good-bye to his mother, a fact that he hadn’t shared with Faith because he hadn’t wanted to ruin their special day when she was so excited about marrying in her local church. His brothers had known, he’d refused every Easter and Christmas to join them even as a boy ever again, and he’d seen the surprise on their faces when he’d told them where their ceremony was taking place today. But now that he was standing there, it felt right. Like his mom could be looking down over them, all the awful memories of saying good-bye to her replaced with waiting for his bride.

And there she was
. Nate suddenly couldn’t hear anything else, couldn’t see anything else except the woman standing at the back of the church. Chloe walked first with Rose, the little girl giggling as she threw tiny pink rose petals, Hope followed and then Faith’s friend Cara, but he only managed a quick smile to her bridesmaids. Today was all about Faith, and damn, was she incredible. Her smile took his breath away, emotion catching in his throat as she slowly made her way to him. Her father was seated in the church, she’d invited him, but she hadn’t wanted him to walk her down the aisle, and Sam ran forward. He crossed past Nate, did what they hadn’t planned but what sure as hell seemed right, and took Faith’s arm so she didn’t have to walk alone.

When they finally reached him, Nate was brushing away a tear from his cheek and clearing his throat, holding out both hands to Faith. She was dressed in a simple gown; it hugged her body, white and covered in tiny beads that caught the light, her shoulders bare in the strapless dress. She wore no veil, just a white flower in her long dark hair that was out and tumbling down over one shoulder.

“You look incredible,” he whispered, unable to stop grinning like an idiot. “Faith, you are so beautiful.”

Her smile was wide as she stared up at him, eyes filled with tears that mirrored his own.

“You scrubbed up pretty well yourself, Mr. King.”

Sam cleared his throat then, getting their attention. The music was still playing, which meant no one else heard the low words leveled at Nate.

“Don’t you ever hurt her, Nate. You keep your promise,” Sam cautioned. “You love her and look after her until your dying breath, you hear me?”

Nate held out his hand to shake Sam’s. “I promise you, Sam. On my mother’s grave, I promise that I won’t so much as harm a hair on her head.”

Sam smiled and paused to kiss Faith’s cheek. “I wish you two all the happiness in the world. I never planned on getting this douche bag as a brother-in-law, but it could have been worse.”

Nate laughed, but his eyes were only for Faith. The church was silent, the music gone and everyone waiting for them, but he didn’t care. He held both of Faith’s hands and stared down at her, amazed that somehow he’d met a woman like her who’d completely changed his life.

“I never picked you for a man who’d cry,” Faith whispered, touching her forehead to his when he bent down.

“Hey, I never picked myself for a guy who’d marry,” he murmured, pressing his lips softly to hers to make sure he didn’t ruin her makeup.

“I don’t mean to interrupt you two lovebirds, but there’s some folks here waiting to witness a wedding.”

Their friends all laughed at Sam’s loud words, but Nate took his time, not intending on rushing anything about his big day.

“I love you, Faith,” he whispered in her ear.

“Well, good,” she said with a laugh. “Because I love you, too.”

They finally turned, hand in hand, Nate almost laughing, the whole situation was so hilarious. How the hell had he ended up about to marry the one woman in the world he’d vowed never to touch?

“Friends and family, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Nathaniel King and Faith Mendes,” the minister began, facing them as he spoke. “I’ve come to know this happy couple very well over the past few months, and I’m confident that their union is one that will truly pass the test of time.”

Faith squeezed his hand and he glanced down at her. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep her by his side forever, no matter what.

*   *   *

Faith felt like she was walking on air. The entire day had been incredible. She’d never been the little girl dreaming of a white wedding growing up, but she couldn’t deny that her wedding hadn’t been the most amazing day of her life. Or at least one of them.

“Sweetheart, it’s time for speeches,” Nate drawled into her ear, making her shiver. The way he spoke to her, the depth of his voice when he addressed only her, it did something to her, made her feel content and challenged and special all at the same time.

“Do you still want to go first?” she asked, leaning back so she could look up at him.

Nate seized the moment, dropping a kiss to her lips. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”

“Mmmm,” she murmured, reaching up for him even though she was upside down. “I think you might have,
Husband
.”

“This is something that arrived for you yesterday, Nate,” Chase said. “The lawyer told me to wait until your speeches to give it to you. He said you weren’t to read it first, just to stand up and open it.”

Faith watched the exchange between the two brothers, wondering what it was all about.

“What do you think?” Nate asked her.

“I think it’s probably something from your grandfather, don’t you think?” It was the only logical explanation.

Nate shrugged, but she could tell it was troubling him.

“Just open it, darling. Take a quick look.”

Nate did as she suggested, running his thumb under the seal and pulling out a handwritten letter. She could tell from the look on his face that it was indeed from Clay.

“It’s a letter from him,” Nate said, eyes slowly meeting hers, the letter in his hand still. “He wanted me to read it on my wedding day.” He paused, a smile kicking up the corners of his mouth as he read further. “If I married you.”

“Me?” She laughed. “He must have known what we didn’t.”

Nate took her hand in his and turned it to kiss her palm before moving to stand beside her at the table and tapping his spoon to his glass.

“I’d like to say a few words!” he said loudly, his booming voice quieting the previously noisy room.

Faith looked at her husband, unable to take her eyes off him. He looked incredible in his Dolce & Gabbana suit, his tie long since discarded, white shirt open necked and showing off a whole heap of tanned skin.

“I’d like to begin by saying how grateful we are to be surrounded by our closest family and friends. We all owe thanks to Faith for the intimacy of this ceremony.” Nate winked at her and she smiled back, taking a sip of champagne as he continued with his speech. “I never believed I’d ever fall in love, yet here I am today having declared my love for this one incredible woman who managed to come along and knock the stuffing from me when I thought I’d lost her.”

There were murmurs amongst their friends and Faith reached for his hand, needing to touch him.

“I’ve known plenty of beautiful women in my lifetime,” Nate continued, scowling when a few of the guys sniggered, “but none who also possessed the brains and sass to keep me in line.” He cleared his throat. “And it seems that even my granddad knew I’d met my match, if this letter I just received is anything to go by. He’s the one person missing today who I wish could have held on long enough to see me married, but I’ll just take a moment to read this aloud for the first time, as he wished.”

Faith could see the tears glistening in Nate’s eyes, heard the catch of emotion in his throat as he spoke of his granddad, and so she rose, slipping an arm around him and dropping her head to rest on his shoulder, to stand by him and support him.

“‘To Nate and Faith, because I know that unless you’ve done something to muck it all up, son, that she’s the only one you’re ever likely to marry in this lifetime.’”

Faith laughed softly and held Nate even tighter.

“‘You swore black and blue that you would never marry, but I always knew that one day a woman would come along that would challenge you enough to make you want to chase her. And when I saw you all bent out of sorts over Faith, I knew you’d finally met your match, because that’s exactly how I was over your grandma. She pushed all my buttons, made me fuming mad half the time trying to figure out what the hell she wanted, but she was the only one for me.’”

Nate cleared his throat, glancing at Faith before continuing.

“‘All I’ve ever wanted is for you boys to be happy, and imagine me finally letting go and knowing that your younger brothers had met wonderful women to love them. My only hope is that you and Faith can find the same kind of happiness that your grandmother and I had, to bring up your children on the ranch that has been in our family for generations, and to continue our legacy. And please tell that gorgeous new bride of yours that I wholeheartedly approve of your decision. In fact, if I was ten years younger I might have tried to give you a run for your money.’”

Everyone laughed then, even Faith as she dabbed at her eyes with her fingertips.

“‘And so I need to say my final good-bye, son. Please raise your glasses and toast to my new granddaughter-in-law, and wish her all the luck in the world at keeping a King under control.’”

The room was silent except for the shuffle of everyone reaching for their glasses to join Nate in his toast. Faith reached for her own and smiled at Nate, watching as he dropped the letter to the table.

“To my wife and to my granddad. Life wouldn’t have been the same without him, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be the same without you by my side right now.”

Glasses clinked, everyone drank, and slowly the noise level rose again.

“He knew, Nate. He knew all along,” Faith whispered into his ear as he wrapped his arms around her.

“That man knew everything,” he muttered back, hands slipping lower until they were resting on her butt. “I just didn’t expect him to realize what I hadn’t at the time.”

“We are going to have a family, right?” she asked, arms looped around his neck as she gazed up at him. “Because I think I want a whole lot of little Nates running around.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” he growled.

“Hey,” she said with a laugh, standing on tiptoe to press a kiss to his jaw. “I wished for you, didn’t I?”

Also by
Soraya Lane

The Devil Wears Spurs

Cowboy Take Me Away

PRAISE FOR THE TEXAS KINGS SERIES

Cowboy Take Me Away

“The playful banter between tough cowboy Chase and sassy veterinarian Hope is the highlight of Lane’s latest in her Texas Kings series. Lane’s strong, contemporary writing, genuine, relatable characters, and steady pacing will draw readers into the story. With Chase and Hope’s passionate connection at the center of an engaging plot, this story is a sexy, charming Southern read.”

—
Romantic Times Book Reviews

“
Cowboy Take Me Away
is recommended for any folks who love second chance stories with secret complications thrown in, stories about hardworking men and ladies who are good at their jobs, and love stories that conquer tons of miscommunications.”

—
Fresh Fiction

The Devil Wears Spurs

“It’s no gamble to bet on cowboy Ryder King.
Soraya Lane
’s
The Devil Wears Spurs
is hot as a Texas summer. It’s a wild ride you don’t want to miss.”

—
New York Times
bestselling author Jennifer Ryan

“Watch out, the Devil has met his match! Sit back with
Soraya Lane
’s
The Devil Wears Spurs
and enjoy the sparks that fly between champion bull rider Ryder and Chloe, a barmaid with a few aces up her sleeve. You won’t want their story to end!”

—Laura Moore, bestselling author of
Once Tasted

“Sassy, sexy, and so much fun,
The Devil Wears Spurs
is a cowboy fantasy come to life. With this rowdy, romantic ride from the ranches of Texas to the casinos of Las Vegas,
Soraya Lane
proves herself a bright new voice in Western romance.”

—Melissa Cutler, author of
The Trouble with Cowboys

“Captivating.”

—
Night Owl Reviews,
Top Pick!

“Hot, handsome cowboys and sharp, amusing banter make Lane’s latest a fun, sexy read. Add in Chloe’s sassiness and they make an appealing couple with their intense chemistry lighting up the pages. With down-to-earth characters in a Western setting, Lane tells a story that will keep readers engaged until the very last page.”

—
RT Book Reviews

Author Bio