“Simple enough, even for a man like me.”
“I had to drop it down a peg or two so you wouldn’t get confused.”
◆◆◆
SIERRA
“It’s perfect!”
I spun around and looked at every angle in the mirror. Sarah had picked out a dress that was simple and elegant and would work perfectly for the outdoor wedding she and the girls had planned.
The low-cut, sleeveless bodice and skirt were nude satin and fit perfectly against my body. It flared out at mid-thigh and hung to my toes. The white lace overlay covered me from neck to wrists and flowed down to the edge of the hem in the front but stretched out behind me in a short train that would drag behind me as I walked up the makeshift aisle.
“I knew as soon as I saw it that it was perfectly you,” Sarah smiled. “I’ll do your hair up and you can wear whatever shoes you want because you can’t see them anyway.”
“Mom, you’re so beautiful,” Lexi whispered.
“It gets even better, girls,” Kari whispered. She walked to the rack and flipped through the dresses until she found what she was looking for. She pulled two hangers off the rod and held them in front of her.
Both girls gasped when they saw the dresses. They were the same satin with lace overlay, just in a younger style for the girls. The satin underneath was a pale purple and had the same lace as my dress covering it.
“I’ll help you two try them on, but I’m sure they’ll fit.” Kari told the girls and they jumped up and followed her to the dressing rooms, Carlie and Lisa close behind them.
“Did you find something for the two of you to wear?” I asked Sarah as I stared at my dress in the mirror, turning this way and that to see all angles.
“We did,” Sarah told me. “We had some backups picked to go with whichever dress you chose. To match this one, there are some simple, sheath dresses that are dark purple satin. Really elegant and they have our sizes. They have men’s dress shirts here, too, in every color you can imagine. I was thinking maybe champagne for the men. Who will be standing up with him? I’ll call them for their sizes.”
“He’s asking Jace to be his best man,” I told Sarah with a wince. “Fain will be his groomsman.”
“They’ll both look great in whatever color you choose, but I suggest that Rowdy match the girls.”
“That sounds perfect,” I agreed. “You’ll be okay with Jace around?”
“We’re friends,” Sarah smiled, but I could see that it was forced. “It’s fine.”
“You’re really a shit liar, Sarah,” I shook my head. “But it will only be for a few hours and you said there would be alcohol, didn’t you?”
“Oh, yes,” Sarah laughed. “There will definitely be alcohol. Even if we hadn’t planned for it before, it’ll be there now.”
◆◆◆
ROWDY
“So, the three of you found what you wanted for the wedding?” Rowdy asked as he lazily ran his hand up and down over my hip and ribs as we laid facing each other in our new bed.
“Yes,” Sierra nodded. “Sarah and Kari found the perfect dresses for us and shirts for you guys. Did you tell Jace that Sarah would be on my side?”
“I did.”
“I’ve never heard the whole story. What happened between the two of them?”
“No one knows, but for the longest time Jace was head over heels for her. Then a while back, they started avoiding each other like the plague. He doesn’t talk about it.”
“She doesn’t either. As long as I’ve known her, he’s been a sore subject. When he comes to the apartments, she finds somewhere else to be.”
“Kids these days, I swear,” I said dramatically. “Speaking of, I’m glad ours get along so well. At least we have that going for us.”
Sierra started laughing and after a minute or two, I reached around and pinched her ass with a growl.
“What the hell’s so funny?”
“They’re in a honeymoon period just like we are, babe,” Sierra explained. “It’s all nice and calm. We’re getting to know each other and everything the other person does is kind of cute. But in a bit - could be tomorrow, could be in two years - they’re gonna fight and hate each other, at least for a little while. Probably on and off again for the rest of their lives.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yeah,” Sierra shrugged. “We’ll do the same. It’s natural.”
“I could never hate you,” I told her.
“I saw that look you gave me when I loaded the dishwasher. I call bullshit, mister.”
“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes like I had seen my daughter do a million times. “I did a lot of thinking today and I picked out the song I want for our first dance. Sonny agreed to play guitar. I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will,” Sierra told me as she scooted closer and kissed me softly on the lips. “I like pretty much everything you do so far.”
“Everything?”
“So far,” she murmured. “Maybe we should keep trying new things so I’ll have a comparison. Make a top ten list or something.”
“In that case,” I pulled her on top of me easily and ran my hands down her sides. “We better get to work.”
14.
ROWDY
I stood up from my chair and took Sierra’s hand so I could lead her to the dance floor as Sonny strummed his guitar, getting ready to sing for us during our first dance as a married couple.
Every time I looked at Sierra I became tongue tied. I was quiet when we walked through the grass around the table and stepped up onto the wooden platform the guys had set up for us to use today. From the second she had appeared at the end of the long carpet runner and started toward me with our daughters on each side of her, my heart had been in my throat.
I
