Beloved by Brothers (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 6)

Kaylyn stood by a microphone. “Test. Test. Test.”

Phoebe couldn’t wait to hear the band play Mitchell’s sound. She was so proud of him.

Being an hour before the ceremony and seeing no ushers around, Lucas led her up the aisle. They took their seats.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Mitchell said after spotting her. “That’s my girl,” he told the band.

“Phoebe, you look so happy,” Kaylyn said with a grin. “I love that you’re wearing your hair down.”

“Where’s your mom?” She knew that Betty had to be close, being the town’s most sought after stylist, especially when it came to weddings.

“With Jena in the bridal room, doing touch ups. Mom is going to be thrilled when she sees you.”

“She’s been begging me to style it down all the time, but for the courtroom, I prefer wearing it up.”

“I wouldn’t fight with Betty, if I were you,” Mitchell said. “Besides, you look amazing letting it fall to your shoulders.”

“I have to agree,” Lucas said. He turned his attention to Mitchell. “By the way, didn’t you mean our girl, bro?” He smiled and put his arm around her.

Mitchell nodded. “I stand corrected. Our girl.”

“Better, Mitch. Much better.”

If only Jason was here, too—on the same page.

Doubts swarmed in her head. Mitchell and Lucas had come around quickly enough, letting go of the past and grabbing onto the possibility of a future. Making love to each of them had been so freeing, so right. But Jason was all about the rules. He’d proven that again and again. Would he be able to move on from the hurt she’d inflicted on all of them?

“For our warm-up, let’s play number five from the set list for the reception. I want Phoebe to hear it.”

Though she didn’t know what song he’d chosen, it was clearly the one that would showcase the sound he’d finally found. Our sound.

When the band started, she immediately heard the difference. Kaylyn’s voice blended to perfection with the rest of the band. Not to even mention the beautiful words Mitchell had written. Her heart soared with every beat, every syllable, every note.

“…you belong with me, my love, in my arms under the stars of Destiny,” Kaylyn’s final note reverberated through the chapel.

The hairs of her arms stood up from the sound she’d just enjoyed. She ran up to Mitchell, unable to contain herself.

“I love our sound.” She grabbed him and kissed him.

The band applauded their approval.

She gazed into Mitchell’s eyes. He bent down and kissed her again.

“Whose wedding is this anyway?” Hank’s teasing tone brought her back to her senses.

She broke free of the kiss. As she turned to go to her seat, she saw Jason standing in the back in his sheriff’s uniform, looking confused and angry.

He saw the whole thing. Before she had a chance to go to him and explain, Jason turned and walked out. What am I to do?

* * * *

Exiting the chapel, Jason’s heart shattered. Phoebe wants my brothers but not me. Why am I being left out?

Several cars pulled into the tiny parking lot, so he walked to the side of the building. He needed time to think, to be alone.

He hadn’t been sure he would make the wedding at all since he’d been swamped with his regular duties and Brown’s mission to find Lunceford.

Kaylyn had called him, making him promise to show up no matter what. She wanted him to hear her sing with Mitchell’s band. Here he was in his uniform, but now he wished he hadn’t come at all.