Catching Him (How to Catch an Alpha 1)

“Yep.” I laugh, not even trying to deny it.

“Great,” she sighs, dropping her forehead to my chest. “I’m screwed.”

“We can give our mothers one day,” I say, running my fingers through her hair and down her back.

“One day.” Her head flies up so quickly it almost clips me in the jaw. “Are you insane? Next thing, they’ll be dressing in all black, acting like ninjas, and confiscating my birth control so they can have another grandbaby to dote on.” The image is too comical, so I throw my head back and start to laugh. “I’m not being funny,” she cries, and I laugh louder. “Tyler!” Both her hands hit my chest, and I sober instantly and look into her beautiful eyes. Eyes I know I will love looking at today, tomorrow, and fifty years from now.

“I want a boy before a girl,” I say. “That way, he can look out for his sister.” Her expression gentles, and her body melts into mine. “I’ve told you before—I’d be happy if we had babies, and that hasn’t changed. Really, I’m thinking the sooner the better.”

“The sooner the better,” she parrots, looking a little stunned, like we haven’t had this exact conversation before.

“I’m not getting any younger, and neither are you. I figure we should start having babies soon.”

“Babies,” she whispers dreamily.

I smile while touching my mouth to her stunned lips. “You want kids, baby.”

“I know, but only with you.” Her assurance makes my chest warm.

“I want babies. Boys who are protective like me, and girls who look just like you.”

Her eyes water, and it takes a moment for her to pull herself together. “You know,” she says, smiling up at me, “it really sucks that you’re better at changing the subject than I am.”

“It wasn’t really me who changed the subject,” I point out.

She lets out a big breath before adding, “You’re right, so we should go back to our previous conversation.”

“Or we could move on,” I say with a sigh.

“Just one more thing.”

“All right, one more thing.” I give her a squeeze.

“If our moms release doves tomorrow or have reindeer wandering around during the wedding, I reserve the right to say I told you so.”

“Not sure there’s any reindeer in Tennessee, baby.”

“Oh, like that would stop those two. If they want reindeer at the wedding, I’m sure they’ll have them flown in from wherever reindeer live.”

I laugh and pull her tightly against me, then kiss the side of her neck. “How about this.” I pull away to look at her. “If there are doves or reindeer tomorrow, I’ll call everything off and take you to the courthouse in town.”

“Deal,” she agrees instantly, smiling.

I grin. “Now, with everyone occupied, how about you and I go upstairs?” I trail my hands down to her ass and press her hips against mine. “The reservation said that there’s a sauna in the master bathroom. I figure we can disappear for a couple hours, and no one will notice.”

Her voice is raspy when she whispers, “Lead the way.”

I pick her up and carry her upstairs to the master bedroom and lock the door. I then proceed to take her mind off everything happening outside for a lot longer than two hours.

The next evening, with Scott at my side, I wait, like everyone else, for Leah to walk out the back door of the cabin. The sun has set, but the Christmas lights are glittering, so the space is filled with light—light that seems almost magical, like something from a fairy tale.

“It’s time,” our family pastor says, wrapping his hand around my shoulder, and I nod at him.

“Are you ready?” Scott asks, and I meet his gaze.

“Been ready.” He smiles at me, then moves into place. I do the same, while the music starts up.

The back door of the cabin opens, and Chrissie steps outside, holding a bouquet of flowers close to her simple light-pink dress; then Leah’s dad follows in a tux similar to mine. Leah appears in the open doorway, and my throat closes up at the sight of her in a formfitting white wedding dress. The top half is covered in lace from her chest down to her waist, and a fur shawl is tied around her shoulders with a silk ribbon at her throat. Her face is hidden by a veil, and her hair is down around her shoulders.

“Lucky bastard,” Scott mutters under his breath, and I smile. He’s right. I’m one lucky bastard. I found something rare. I found the love of a good woman—a woman I look forward to spending the rest of my life with. Best of all, I wasn’t even looking . . . she literally fell through my window.

When Leah and her father reach the podium, I move forward to shake his hand.

“I don’t need to tell you to take care of her. I already know you will.” Her dad claps me on the shoulder before he kisses Leah’s cheek over her veil and whispers something to her. When he pulls back and looks at me, his eyes are teary.