Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas 3)

The couple smiled and both said, “Congratulations.”

Smiling, I said, “Thank you.”

The couple got off one floor below ours. Trying to get the door open and hold Lauren proved to be difficult, but I somehow managed to do it.

Walking into the bedroom, I gently put Lauren down on the bed and brushed her blonde hair from her face. After carefully undressing her, I picked up one of the chairs and carried it over to the side of the bed and sat down. Smiling, I watched Lauren sleep. It was the first time since she’d been out of the hospital I could watch her sleep and not have this ache in my chest that she was going to leave me.

Tucking her hand up under her face, Lauren let out a soft moan that moved through my entire body, lighting it up until I felt nothing but pure love coursing through my veins.

“You will forever be mine, Lauren Reynolds. No one or nothing will ever come between the love that we share.”

Moving slightly, Lauren opened her eyes and smiled as she gazed upon me with a loving look. “Colt,” she whispered. “Please hold me.”

Stripping out of my clothes, I crawled into the bed and pulled Lauren closer to me. It didn’t take long for me to drift off to sleep. My dreams consisted of nothing but Lauren.

STANDING IN FRONT of the mirror, I stared back at myself. I wasn’t sure why I had tears in my eyes. There was nothing more I wanted to do than marry Colt. But now, standing here all alone, I felt so lonely. I wanted my mother here with me. I wanted her to fix my hair and do my makeup. Gush over me in my dress. I wanted Ellie to tell me how happy Colt was to be marr

ying me.

Turning around, I walked out of the bathroom and sat on the bed. Colt had gone down to check on a few things and hadn’t been back yet. How were we both going to get ready in the same room? I wanted Colt to at least not see me until we got down to the wedding spot, which I still wasn’t even sure where that was at. What if he sees me before the wedding? Isn’t that bad luck? Closing my eyes I wiped the tear away.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Running off without our parents here. Even Colt seemed to be off this morning when he mentioned something about his parents. He’d been texting with them all morning. Was it really fair we didn’t include them in this? Colt seemed distracted all morning as he kept checking his phone over and over again. Maybe this was a rushed decision on our part.

Oh my glitter. What in the hell is wrong with me? I’m getting married today and being a Debbie Downer. Stop this Lauren.

Sitting up, I pulled myself together and was about to start putting my hair up when the there was a knock at the door. Smiling, I shook my head and let out a giggle. Colt must have forgotten his key. Opening the door, my mouth dropped open and I couldn’t believe who was standing in front of me. I immediately broke down into tears at the sight of my mother and Ellie standing there. My heart felt as if it was going to jump from my chest.

“Mom! Ellie!”

Both of them quickly wrapped me up in their arms as we all stood there and cried. When I finally took a step back, Colt was standing behind them with the most breathtaking smile I’d ever seen. The ground literally felt as if it shifted under my feet.

“Colt? Did you know?”

My mother stepped off to the side as Colt walked up to me. “There was no way I could let us get married and not have at least our parents with us, Lauren. The moment I hung up with you yesterday, I called your parents and told them our plan. Then I told my parents and they all made plans to be here early this morning.”

Turning to my mother, my mouth dropped open. “You knew the whole time you would be here?”

Nodding her head she placed her hand on the side of my face. “Colt wanted to surprise you, baby girl. While y’all flew here last night, we took care of arranging the wedding plans and the flights here this morning.”

Standing there I was stunned into silence. Colt Mathews truly was a Godsend. An angel sent straight from heaven, who would always protect me and take care of me. He seemed to know my feelings and emotions before I did. He knew my wants before I even expressed them to him.

The only thing that would come out of my mouth was, “Mr. Snuggles.”

Colt tilted his head and looked at me with a questioning look. “Huh?”

“You’re my . . . my Mr. Snuggles.”

Colt chuckled and said, “Okay. I’ll take it.”

Ellie and my mother both laughed. Ellie walked up to Colt and said, “Colt, honey, don’t you remember Mr. Snuggles. You gave him to Lauren on what . . . your seventh birthday I think?”

Nodding my head, I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Colt. His smile seemed to light up the entire room when it finally hit him who Mr. Snuggles was. Leaning down he gently kissed me on my lips and spoke softly against them. “Baby, I’ll be your Mr. Snuggles for the rest of our lives.”

Wrapping my arms around him I held onto him tightly. “I’m scared, Colt.”

His arms wrapped around my body tighter as he picked me up and carried me into the bedroom. Setting me down he placed his hands on my face and looked deep into my eyes.

“Do you love me?”