Waiting underneath the arbor with the minister, he thought back to the last months. The gunshot, while not serious, added another two weeks to his medical leave. He had placed her ring back on her finger while still in the hospital getting stitched up—at her insistence.
He moved in with Lynn, sharing her apartment and her life as husband and wife for real. They discovered an old Victorian home in a neighborhood not too far from his parents that was for sale and needed a lot of TLC. Hell, it needed a lot more than TLC! Their bid was accepted and they immediately began planning their home. Lynn and his dad had overseen ordering materials and his dad’s company began some of the work to bring the old structure up to code. New wiring. New floors. New windows. New roof. New plumbing.
Nolan had gone back to his unit for his last six months of duty, having decided to retire early. He loved the Navy, loved his SEAL team, but with constant changes, his old team was not the same as before. Lynn had flown to California twice for visits between missions, but he hated the separations and distance. Having seen Errol hold a gun to Lynn’s head and then almost getting away with kidnapping her had given Nolan a chance to think about his life, his goals, and their future. It was time. He was ready for the next adventure. Coming home a month ago, he was ready to be a full-time husband to Lynn, a business partner with his dad, and homeowner.
It was he who insisted on a vow renewal, complete with full names in front of friends and family. The music from the DJ changed, and his attention was jerked back to the present and the vision that walked through the sliding doors onto the patio.
Lynn.
She had kept her appearance secret, and his lips curved into a wide smile as he watched her walk toward him. Her hair was down, swept back from her face with a clip. Her makeup was subtle. And she was wearing a cream-colored sundress with embroidered silk butterflies. The same dress she wore when they’d married the first time. Fuckin’ beautiful. She could not have chosen anything more perfect.
I came close to never having this. The realization that Lynn was in his life because of Nancy’s ridiculous scheme hit him. And I almost threw this away. He blinked, tears threatening as she stood in front of him, her pale blue eyes shining as they held his gaze. He smiled and took her hand, turning them both toward the minister.
“We are gathered here today to witness the vow renewals between Nolan Bell and Lynn Cox Bell.” The minister nodded toward Lynn.
She faced Nolan, her hands shaking slightly in his. “I used to dream about my wedding day. I suppose that’s something most little girls dream of. But what I now realize is that it’s not the day that’s important but the person who’s holding your hand when you make your vows. And that person was you, Nolan. But now I can make the vows once again and this time they are from my heart. So, I pledge my heart, my faithfulness, and my undying love to you, for now and always.”
He squeezed her fingers, his hands now shaking as much as hers had been. Her smile speared straight through him, her words warming his heart. Swallowing deeply, he said, “When I first said ‘I do’ to you, it didn’t have the meaning that it should have. The commitment that it should. The reverence that it should. But Lynn, you are the woman of my dreams. The woman of my heart. The woman I freely choose to have as my wife. I come to you now, fully ready to take the vow to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, till death do we part.”
Lifting her hand to his lips, he placed a gentle kiss on the ring sitting at the base of her finger. Sliding his hands around her, he pulled her close, his lips now a whisper away from hers. “I love you, Mrs. Lynn Bell.” Sealing their vows, they kissed, ignoring the rousing cacophony of cheers from the others.
Leaning back, her lips were curved in a wide smile. “I love you, too.” She started to turn toward the gathering, then looked back toward him. “You know, Husband… saying our vows in front of God and everyone… you’re no longer my undercover groom!”
SEALs in Paradise: Wedding Season
Each story is completely standalone but if you'd like to know the publication order, it is listed below.
Meet the Paradise Authors
Hot SEAL, Bachelor Party by Elle James
Hot SEAL, Decoy Bride by Delilah Devlin
Hot SEAL, Runaway Bride by Cat Johnson
Hot SEAL, Cold Feet by Becca Jameson
Hot SEAL, Best Man by Parker Kincade
Hot SEAL, Confirmed Bachelor by Cynthia D'Alba
Hot SEAL, Taking the Plunge by Teresa Reasor
Hot SEAL, Undercover Groom by Maryann Jordan
Join the SEALs in Paradise Facebook Reader Group!
Also by Maryann Jordan
Don’t miss other Maryann Jordan books!
Lots more Baytown stories to enjoy and more to come!
Baytown Boys (small town, military romantic suspense)
Coming Home
Just One More Chance
Clues of the Heart
Finding Peace
Picking Up the Pieces
Sunset Flames
Waiting for Sunrise
Hear My Heart
Guarding Your Heart
Sweet Rose
Our Time
Count On Me
For all of Miss Ethel’s boys:
Heroes at Heart (Military Romance)
Zander
Rafe
Cael
Jaxon
Jayden
Asher
Zeke
Cas
Lighthouse Security Investigations
Mace
Rank
Walker
Drew
Blake
Tate
Hope City (romantic suspense series co-developed
with Kris Michaels
Hope City Duet (Brock / Sean)
Carter
Brody by Kris Michaels
Kyle
Ryker by Kris Michaels
Saints Protection & Investigations
(an elite group, assigned to the cases no one else wants…or can solve)
Serial Love
Healing Love
Revealing Love
Seeing Love
Honor Love
Sacrifice Love
Protecting Love
Remember Love
Discover Love
Surviving Love
Celebrating Love
Follow the exciting spin-off series:
Alvarez Security (military romantic suspense)
Gabe
Tony
Vinny
Jobe
SEALs
Thin Ice (Sleeper SEAL)
SEAL Together (Silver SEAL)
Letters From Home (military romance)
Class of Love
Freedom of Love
Bond of Love
The Love’s Series (detectives)
Love’s Taming
Love’s Tempting
Love’s Trusting
The Fairfield Series (small town detectives)
Emma’s Home
Laurie’s Time
Carol’s Image
Fireworks Over Fairfield
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