For His Brother's Wife

“I know that having a baby on the way was the reason behind your marriage to Craig,” Cole said, his expression turning serious. “And don’t get me wrong, I’m happy about starting a family with you. But how do you feel about it?”

“Cole, I couldn’t be happier about it,” she said, touching his cheek. “I’m finally going to have a baby with the man I’ve loved for almost half of my life.”

His wide grin thrilled her and she knew in her heart that her dreams were going to come true. She was going to marry the love of her life and finally have the family she’d always wanted. And he was as happy about all of it as she was.

* * *

A week later, standing in front of the fireplace in the family room, Cole handed Aaron the wedding band he would be slipping on Paige’s finger. “Lose it and you’re a dead man.”

Aaron laughed as he slipped the ring into the pocket of his suit coat. “If I lose it, you’ll have to be content with finishing off what’s left of me after Stella gets done.”

The pastor from one of the churches in Royal walked over to stand on the other side of him, then Cole watched Stella enter the room and take her place on the other side of the minister. Looking toward the door leading out into the foyer, Paige stood there in a champagne-colored satin dress holding a bouquet of bright red roses and white daisies. Just the sight of her robbed him of breath and he knew it always would.

After they’d finally put the past to rest where it belonged, Cole had kept his word and spent every day since making sure that Paige knew just how much he cherished her. He had been given a second chance with the only woman he would ever love and he wasn’t going to take that for granted.

As she walked across the room toward him, her loving smile sent a shaft of longing straight through him. “You’re beautiful,” he said when she stopped in front of him.

“And you, Mr. Richardson, are the most handsome man I’ve ever met,” she said, her eyes reflecting a love that would last forever.

As they turned to face Reverend Holloway, Cole was glad that he and Paige had decided on a very small, intimate wedding with just Aaron and Stella for witnesses. A larger wedding would have taken a lot more planning and neither of them wanted to wait any longer than necessary to finally start their lives together.

In the week since he’d proposed, they had put a lot of plans into motion that both of them agreed would be the fresh start they wanted to get their marriage off on the right foot. The day he had taken Paige for a drive around the ranch, Cole had been scouting out the best place to build a new house—one that was free of ghosts from the past and unhappy memories. They’d met with an architect yesterday, and they already had the man drawing up plans for a new six-bedroom house that included an in-home office for Cole to take care of R&N business, as well as an art studio for Paige.

He and Aaron had also managed to hire several more men, adding a couple of new work crews to the new Royal office. With the additional help, they would be able to keep up with the demands of their existing contracts to rebuild the town, as well as build his and Paige’s new house. But the real winner was the Royal economy. R&N Builders were helping to put people back to work who had lost their jobs when the tornado tore through the town.

The minister directed him to repeat his wedding vows, and Cole turned to face his bride. “Paige, from the moment I first saw you, I knew that we were meant to be together—to share our lives and always be there for each other. Your love makes me want to be a better man and I give you my word that whatever life brings our way, I will always love, honor and protect you.” He took the ring he’d handed Aaron earlier and gazing into her eyes, slipped it on her finger. “With this ring, I pledge myself to you for the rest of my life.”

Tears filled her pretty gray eyes as she smiled up at him. “Cole, you are my everything—my love, my best friend and my partner in life. You have given me more than I ever dreamed would be mine. In your eyes I’ve finally found my home.” Taking his wedding band from Stella, Paige slid it onto his finger. “This ring is a symbol of my never-ending love for you and I promise to honor and take care of you for all the days of my life.”

He’d waited for years to hear her say those words. He knew this day and the days their children were born would be the happiest of his entire life.

“By the power vested in me by the great state of Texas, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Reverend Holloway said. The man smiled at Cole expectantly. “You can kiss your bride now, son.”