Josh in a hockey uniform, hell, Josh in MultiCam didn’t quite compare to Josh in a tux, waiting for me at the end of the large deck.
Gus nodded to Josh as we approached, and Josh leaned down as my little brother whispered in his ear. With raised eyebrows, he nodded then shook Gus’s hand. Only then did Gus give my hand over to Josh.
“I think Dad’s happy,” he whispered to me.
“I do, too,” I said, kissing his cheek before he walked to stand between Jagger and Grayson.
Then the world faded away as Josh looked into my eyes and said, “You…you’re perfection.”
I saw forever in those brown eyes. “You, too. What did Gus whisper?”
Josh’s eyes danced. “That if I ever hurt you, he has a BB-gun and knows where I sleep.”
I leaned around Josh and widened my eyes at Gus. He had the nerve to smile and throw me a thumbs-up.
Josh and I were both laughing as we turned to the minister.
In front of seventy-five of our closest friends and family, we pledged our love, verbalizing everything we’d known from the start—we were meant for each other.
Josh vowed to love me forever, cherish me above all, and always come home to me.
I vowed to love him for eternity, adore him when he was wrinkled, and to always be waiting for him…unless I was digging up something really old. Then he’d have to do the waiting.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the minister said. “You may kiss your bride.”
My heart sang, feeling as if it was made entirely of joy.
Josh paused, his eyes alight with wonder and love as they skimmed over my face, as if he was trying to remember every detail of this moment. Then he stepped forward, cupping one hand behind my neck and the other at my waist. My free hand came around his neck, and as he dipped me backward, my bouquet almost brushed the floor in the other.
He kissed me, filling me with promise, and hope, and so much love that I thought my heart might burst from the sheer volume of emotion pouring through me. I was vaguely aware of an uproar of applause as he deepened the kiss for the smallest of seconds before pulling me back to a standing position, my lips still clinging to his.
The claps became even louder as we drew apart, and I saw his arm lifted above us, his fist clenched in victory.
“You and me?” he whispered against my lips.
“Against the world,” I promised.
And what a beautiful world it was. Our world.
Epilogue
JOSH
Five years later
Damn it, I was going to be late. I shouldn’t have taken that last call, but the new shift wasn’t on for another twenty minutes, and they’d requested Flight For Life, so we’d gone. I’d call later and check to make sure the little boy had made it.
I parked my Jeep in the closest spot available and grabbed my bag from the back, sprinting into the practice rink at the World Arena. She’d never forgive me if I was late.
I threw open the glass doors and raced toward the locker room to see Ember coming out with Noah on her hip, her cheeks pink from the cool air in the rink. “Josh! You made it!”
Our lips met, and that same lightning ran through me, bringing every one of my nerves to attention. I kissed her again just because I could, until Noah pulled on my bag strap.
“Hey, Hulk,” I said, lifting our seven-month-old son into my arms. He had his mother’s eyes and disposition, and after the hell-raiser Quinn had been, and still was, Noah was the perfect second baby. I kissed his soft cheeks and caught his giggles while Ember adjusted the baby carrier, and then I helped her get him situated, running my hand over his little bald head before pulling his Colorado Tigers hat over it. “How was work?” I asked.
“Good! I edited that article for Archaeology Magazine, graded a stack of papers, and put in the grant paperwork for the new dig site.”
“You put me to shame, December Walker.”
“Save any lives today?”
“A few, I hope. How is our little hockey player?”
“Annoyed that Coach Dad isn’t here on time.” She smiled. “Seriously. I’m not even allowed to tie skates. Apparently I’m not cool enough, because Daddy does it better. You’ve created a monster, Josh, and you must now tame the beast. And seriously, with the fight over the number?”
“Hey, there’s nothing wrong with wanting your old man’s number.”
“Uh huh.” She smirked. “Because Quinn was definitely the one fighting, right? Or wait…that was you and Mr. Parkins.”
“Hey, Quinn was just as entitled to that number as the Parkins kid was.”
“Uh huh, you’d better get in there before the beast shreds you.”
“I will don my armor.”
“Game starts in fifteen minutes.” She smacked my ass and wiggled her eyebrows. “Looking good today, Walker.”
I shot her a look that told her this wasn’t over. “You just wait until we get home. Noah may sleep through the night, but you won’t.”
“Promises, promises,” she said with a laugh and headed toward the stands.
I came through the locker room doors and searched the benches full of squirming kids for mine.
“Thank God you’re here, because I got shot down when I offered to help Quinn,” Gus said, shaking his head, which was almost level with mine.
I’d never known anyone as particular about hockey equipment, and who put it on, as Quinn was.
“No worries, I got caught up at work, but I’m here. Thanks, Gus.”