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“I look forward to it, cuz.” Rake glanced around. “Excuse me, I’m going to get some more champagne and mingle.” He paused and leaned closer to Lex. “Any single ladies here?”
“Sorry, no,” Lex said, voice laced in amusement.
Rake sighed, slipping his cowboy hat on as he moseyed away.
“Well, I don’t want to keep you from your friends, but I do hope you’ll come visit us in Blossom. The invitation is always open.” Aunt Maribel planted a kiss on both their cheeks, her bright red lips not leaving a single smudge.
“That’s some good lipstick,” Summer murmured, touching her face and finding not even a trace. “Blossom?”
“Blossom, Texas,” he explained.
“Sounds quaint. I’d love to visit.”
“I’m glad. My dad’s side of the family is a wild bunch, but that makes them a lot of fun.”
“Well, you did it,” Brand said, walking over. “You got married before me.”
“Sorry not sorry.” Lex grinned from ear to ear.
“I can’t believe Julia and I met first, and we’re going to be the last ones to get married,” Brand lamented. He looked over to where his fiancée was laughing with his friends’ wives.
“My daughter is worth the wait, Ward,” Mitch Evans stated, stalking over. “And if she decided she wants a September wedding then that’s what you’ll get.”
“Yessir,” Brand replied, straightening up. “Whatever makes Julia happy, Chief.”
“Damn straight.” A soft buzzing sounded and Mitch reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone and checked the screen. Summer noticed all the color drain from his normally stoic face, and his jaw dropped. Closing his mouth, he swallowed hard. “Um, excuse me. I-I have to take this.”
Brand frowned, watching his soon-to-be father-in-law and mentor walk away. “I’ve never heard that man stutter in my life.”
“Or say ‘um’,” Lex added. The men exchanged concerned looks. “Damn, I hope he’s not going to have a new mission for us. We have a honeymoon to go on.”
“If something messes up my wedding to Julia…” Brand’s voice trailed off, and he didn’t look happy.
“Don’t worry.” Lex thumped a hand on his buddy’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out.”
With a terse nod, Brand headed over to his fiancée, and Lex turned to Summer.
“I won’t let anything mess up our honeymoon,” he promised.
“If it’s important, we can always push it back,” she offered, although she’d been really looking forward to their trip to Maui. A tropical island getaway was on their agenda, and she was more than ready to drink Mai Tais on the beach and make love with her husband under the stars at the secluded, very private villa they’d reserved.
“Nope.” He turned her around to face him and pulled her close. “Whatever’s going on will have to wait until we return. Because you are my first priority. My wife...” He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. “My love…” Another kiss to the tip of her nose. “My forever Summer.”
They gazed into each other’s eyes, and Summer finally knew what it meant when people said a person felt like home. Lex was her home.
All around them, the sound of silverware tinkling on glass filled the air, and Flossie came scampering over to add in her high-pitched bark.
“I think they want us to kiss,” she murmured, staring into her husband’s bright blue eyes, seeing everything she needed. Everything she’d always wanted. My home, my happiness, my future. “Will you kiss me, my love?”
“You’ll never have to ask me twice, sweetheart.” Then he leaned down and captured her lips, giving the guests quite a show.
As Summer wrapped her arms around Lex’s neck and kissed him back with all the love in her heart, she knew their parents were watching from somewhere, and they approved. Lex had taught her to let go of the past and live again. And that it’s never too late to find your forever love.
And that’s exactly how long she planned to love her sweet man. Forever and ever and ever.
Because she was his Forever Summer.
General Mitchell Evans
