Page 115 of Rescuing Mary

“Hell no,” Sadie said, entering behind Kassie. “There’s no way I’m letting anyone free until this thing is done. With all those hot, single and not-so-single men in attendance, I’d never get them all back in before the single women jumped their bones.”

The four women chuckled.

“Was it too much to invite the SEALs and their wives from California?” Rayne asked, obviously not catching the teasing note in Sadie’s voice.

“No,” Mary told her.

“Maybe we shouldn’t have included the other Delta team,” Rayne mused, still obviously worried about Sadie’s comment.

“Rayne,” Mary said, taking her friend’s shoulders in her hands. “Trigger and the others are fine. They’re making sure Truck’s sister is okay. She looks like she’d rather be eating snakes in Borneo than sitting out there. And I’ve noticed the commander is taking particular interest in her. The SEALs and their wives are also fine. So are the Taggarts from Dallas. And the cops and firefighters who came too. No one is gonna have a sexual orgy in the pews.”

“Yeah, they’ll wait until the reception,” Sadie muttered.

Mary mock glared at their friend and continued talking Rayne off the ledge. “The only thing you have to concentrate on is becoming Mrs. Keane Bryson.”

“Why is that a thing?” Rayne asked.

“Why is what a thing?” Kassie asked.

“Why would I be Mrs. Keane Bryson? I mean, that’s not my name. That’s Ghost’s name. I’m going to be Mrs. Rayne Bryson. That’s never made sense to me.”

Mary chuckled. “Right. Okay, enough talk. It’s time.”

“We’re walking down the aisle together, right?” Rayne asked nervously.

For some reason, Rayne was completely freaked out. Mary had thought it humorous at first, but she knew she needed to comfort her friend. “Of course. Arm in arm. Just like we planned.”

“Good.”

“Good,” Kassie echoed. “I’ll make sure everyone is ready.”

“I’ll help,” Sadie said, and followed Kassie out.

Rayne took Mary’s hand in hers and the two best friends stared at each other. “Remember how this all started?” Rayne asked.

Mary nodded. “Yup. You sent me a text from London and told me you were hooking up with a hot guy and if you were never heard from again, you gave me the deets you had on him.”

“Of course, they were all lies, so you never would’ve found him or my dead body.”

Mary chuckled. “You’re beautiful, Raynie. Ghost is the luckiest man alive.”

Her best friend smiled back. “I think Truck might have something to say about that.”

“What do you think?” Mary asked. “Want to go get married?”

“Absolutely.”

And with that, the two women linked elbows and walked arm in arm out of the small room, and to the beginning of the aisle of the church.

The music started, and all the guests stood and turned to face them.

Mary saw Truck smiling huge at the end of the aisle, waiting for her. His smile was lopsided, but she’d never seen anything more beautiful in her life.

She fingered her beautiful engagement ring he’d given to her not long after leaving the hospital after the bank incident. It was elegant, and not too flashy, and absolutely perfect for her...just like Truck was.

All their friends were there. Annie was already standing at the altar. She didn’t want to wear a dress and no one had the heart to make her. She had on her favorite combat boots and a pair of jeans with a white frilly shirt…the only concession she’d made to the occasion. She didn’t have her basket of flowers mixed with small plastic Army men this time, like she had for her parents’ wedding, but Emily had warned them that the wedding cake at the reception may or may not have an Army theme.

“Ready?” Rayne asked.