“Do you now?” she asks, looking up at me.
I don’t answer her. Instead, I press my lips to hers. It’s just a quick kiss, but it’s more than that in meaning. She’s right, all eyes are on us, as the only three couples on the dance floor, and I don’t want to leave any room for questions. My actions are telling the entire room all that they need to know. McKenna and I are together, and nothing is coming between us. Well, maybe not that last part, but they’ll learn quickly enough. McKenna is my number one.
Over the next few hours, we tear up the dance floor. McKenna dances with my dad, her gramps, and I think every other man in attendance at the wedding. I hate it and love it at the same time. We’re all glad to have her home, but I want her all to myself. That’s fine. She’s already agreed to come home with me. So, while she’s dancing with them, I’m the one she’s sleeping next to. It’s not until after Colby slips my sister's garter off her that I’m able to get her back on the dance floor.
“We need all the single ladies,” the deejay announces when I just finally got my arms back around my girl.
She tries to pull away from me. “Where are you going? You’re not single,” I remind her.
She throws her head back and laughs. “Rip, by single, he means those who aren’t married.”
“Fine, is the minister still here?” I ask, making her laugh harder. She thinks I’m kidding, but I’d marry her this minute without a second thought.
“Mac!” Laramie calls out for her. “Get out there.”
“I’m trying,” she calls back, still laughing.
“She’s not single!” I yell out for my sister, and everyone in the room erupts with laughter.
“Let her go, brother,” Laramie tells me.
“Fine,” I grumble, fighting a grin. “Come back to me,” I say, kissing McKenna quickly.
“Always,” she assures me.
I watch as McKenna, Sara, and about a half dozen other single ladies, correction, unmarried women, gather in the center of the floor.
“Ready, ladies?” Laramie asks. She turns her back to them and counts to three. On three, she tosses her bouquet in the air.
I watch McKenna as she moves to the back of the pack. It doesn’t matter, though. My sister tosses the bouquet with all of her might, and it lands right in my girl’s hands. Everyone crowds around her, laughing and smiling while I stand here thinking about dropping to one knee right here and now and asking her to marry me.
“All right, fellas, your turn,” the deejay announces.
I head straight for McKenna and intercept her as she’s walking off the floor. “So, you caught the bouquet.”
She holds it up. “Looks like it.”
“Does that mean if I catch the garter, we’re destined to be together?”
“It means that you catch the garter.” She stands on her toes and presses a kiss to my lips. “Good luck, cowboy.”
“Wait.” I reach out for her arms, stopping her from walking away. “If I catch it, what do I get?”
“What do you want?”
“You.”
She smiles. “I’m already yours, Rip Callahan.”
I nod. That’s not what I meant, but it will do for now. Making my way out to the floor, I follow McKenna’s lead and situate myself in the back of the pack.
“Ready or not, here it comes,” Colby says, tossing the garter into the air.
All I have to do is raise my hand over my head, and it falls into my palm. I couldn’t have coordinated it better if I tried. Twirling the garter around my finger, I ignore the fact that it was just on my sister’s thigh and that Colby stuck his head under her dress and removed it with his teeth. Instead, I make a motion for McKenna to come my way. Bouquet in hand, she comes to me, wearing a shy smile.
“Look what I found,” I say, nodding toward the garter.
“Lucky you.”
“Lucky me,” I say, pulling her into my arms. I don’t let her go the rest of the night. I keep my arms around her, and I must give off the “she’s mine don’t touch” vibe because no one else asks her to dance.
When the crowd finally dies down and the newlyweds disappear, I lead my girl to my house and spend the rest of the night making love to her, all while thinking about what it’s going to be like when she’s walking toward me in a white dress.
Chapter 24
McKenna
It’s hard to believe Colby and Laramie have been married for two weeks today. They spent a week at the beach, celebrating their nuptials, and now the happy couple wants everyone at their place to celebrate. Never mind we were all at the wedding. It’s an excuse for them to have us over, now that Laramie is actually living there.