Reckless Love (Cowboys & Angels 7)

“My little girl is getting married.”

I smiled. “I’m sorry I’m doing it backwards.”

He frowned. “Don’t you dare apologize. Everything happens for a reason. I spoke with Trevor earlier. The boy is over the moon. I have to admit, I had my doubts in the beginning and thought you were moving too fast, but he’s proven me wrong.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head while letting out a soft chuckle. Focusing back on me, he went on.

“Any fool can see how much that man loves you. The way he looks at you is proof enough. I’m happy if you’re happy.”

Blinking rapidly to keep from crying, I pressed my lips together before getting myself in check.

“I’m so happy, Daddy. I’ve never been this happy before in my life.”

He chuckled. “You’re fixin’ to prove yourself wrong when you say I do. And then in about nine or ten weeks, you’ll prove yourself wrong again when you hold your child in your arms.”

“Dalton Littlefield, you better not be making her cry! Her makeup!”

Glancing over my father’s shoulder, I smiled at my mother. A look passed between the two of them. When my father looked back at me, I could see it in his eyes. He was keeping something from me.

“Dalton, please.” My mother implored. With a nod of his head, the look vanished and was replaced by pure happiness.

“After the wedding, Scarlett, I’d love to have lunch together. Just the two of us.”

I smiled, an uneasy feeling settling in my chest. “Okay. I’d love that.”

When my gaze caught my mother’s, she smiled. “It’s time, sweetheart.”

“Oh, gosh,” I replied, pulling in a long deep breath and shaking off the last minute of weirdness. “I’m ready. Daddy, you ready?”

He paused and looked back at my mother. She seemed to give him a look. Turning back to me, he smiled. “I’m ready, baby girl.”

As we walked through the Parker house, I couldn’t contain my excitement. My nerves had been replaced by a bubbling of happiness deep in my chest. I couldn’t wait to see Trevor. Couldn’t wait to become Mrs. Trevor Parker. Couldn’t wait to finally be his completely.

The drive to the pasture felt like it took forever. When we pulled up, Daddy jumped out of the truck and around to help me down. The event planner Melanie had hired for the benefit dinner was also helping with the wedding. It was perfect since we were combining the dinner with our reception. We ended up only having family and our closest of friends at the wedding ceremony. It was small and intimate, exactly how I wanted it. Of course, it also reduced the risk of some crazy woman running into the ceremony and crying out, “I object!”, which really would have sucked.

The wedding party was also small. Since Trevor didn’t want to have to pick one of his brothers and hurt the other’s feelings, he ended up asking Wade to be his best man. It made sense in the end. They were best friends, after all. I had asked Maebh to be my maid of honor. She cried and started talking in Irish the afternoon I asked her over for coffee and donuts.

“Ready?” Daddy asked, extending his arm to mine.

The violinist we’d hired began playing the music and Daddy and I stepped out from around a giant oak tree. Trevor’s back was facing me, but then he turned and our eyes met. He smiled the most breathtaking smile I’d ever seen. My chin trembled as I took him in. He was dressed in Wrangler jeans, a white button-down shirt and a pink tie. I chuckled when I saw the tie. We were going for an ultrasound this week, and I couldn’t wait to find out the sex of the baby. Trevor was still insisting it was a girl. I thought it was a boy, but it was only a matter of time before we knew.

When I finished checking out my future husband’s amazing body, my gaze pierced his and we couldn’t take our eyes off one another. His eyes were like an ocean that always knew how to draw me into their waves and not let go. I was captivated.

Daddy brought us to a stop, and I didn’t even hear the preacher speaking. I was focused on Trevor, who was smiling at me like he hadn’t seen me in years. I could practically feel the love pouring from every inch of his body.

My father lifted my veil and stepped to the side, allowing Trevor to stand in front of me.

He swallowed hard and bit down on his lip before speaking. “You look absolutely beautiful. I’ve never seen such a sight.”

Smiling, I turned to the preacher. Then it happened. A sharp pain hit me so hard, I actually felt like I was going to drop to my knees. It started in my back and radiated around to my stomach.