But I’d worry about that later. Right now, my focus was on Mo and sharing our love with our friends and family. This time getting married was infinitely better than the first. All the vows, all the promises…this time they were real. And when Mo kissed me after us being pronounced husband and wife, I felt the power of his love and commitment, as I had from the moment that he asked me to marry him again four months ago.
After that night, there was no more hiding. He announced his engagement and marriage to me officially, not just at the office, but to the media as well. There were a few comments about our age difference and that I’d been his assistant, but it was mostly entertaining gossip and not a scandal. No one even seemed to care that I was still working at the office. In fact, Trina told off the reporter who tried to ask questions about the legitimacy of our marriage. By then, Trina knew the truth, and she’d put Erika in her place in the way only Trina could. I couldn’t help myself, and I gave her a hug, and surprisingly, Trina hugged me back.
“The women in the mayor’s office have to stick together,” she’d said.
As Mo’s term was coming to an end, the election was around the corner, and Sinclair was kicking butt over Stark’s guy, Jay Wallace. Not that she had the election in the bag, but she was leading, and Mo felt certain she’d win.
“Once I’m out, I’ll just be a lowly rancher,” he said as we watched Sinclair make a campaign speech at Oktoberfest.
“And I’ll be a rancher’s wife. I can’t wait.”
“I thought you were going to keep working your way up through City Hall,” he said.
“For now. But I want to be your wife, for us to be a family first.”
“I’ve always wanted a family,” he said softly.
“So, let’s start,” I said as I pulled him out of the event and home to bed.
Now, four months later, I married the most wonderful man again, as he led me through the snow-covered wonderland toward the decked-out barn where we had our reception.
“It’s gorgeous, Mo. It’s like a dream,” I said as I admired the décor.
“A dream come true,” he said, pulling me into his arms for a dance.
“Can I cut in one last time?” my father asked, coming up to us.
Mo graciously stepped back but waited for me to give the okay. I held my arms out for my father, and we had our father-daughter dance.
“You look happy,” my dad said, and I could tell while he liked that I was happy, it still made him a little grumpy.
“I’m ecstatic, Dad. Thank you for being a part of this day. It wouldn’t have been right without you.”
He grunted. “If he hurts you—”
“You’ll shoot his dick off, yes, I know.”
He looked at me in surprise. “He told you that?”
“Yes. He won’t hurt me, though. He loves me. He loves you, Dad.”
He glanced over to where Mo was talking to Trina. She motioned to her belly like she was inviting him to touch her, which he did. He jerked and smiled like he’d felt something. My heart swelled, wanting to give him that.
“It’s still weird for me, Brooke.”
“I know. But you always wished for him to find happiness and a good woman. And he has. I mean, who’s better than me?”
He pursed his lips. “When you put it that way.”
After the dance, Mo was back in my arms, and we floated around the dance floor like we were in a dream. I knew our loved ones were around us, but looking up into my man’s eyes, it was like we were the only two there.
“I saw you with Trina,” I said.
“She let me feel the baby move. Amazing.” His eyes filled with awe.
I took his hand and pressed it over my belly. He looked at me.
“You can’t feel it yet, but soon…”