He’s in black slacks and a white button-down, tucked in, with a blue tie that belonged to his father. But it’s his eyes, holding mine, that I can’t look away from. He’s saying everything with those eyes: I love you. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Thank you for being mine.

I can’t wait to marry him.

Finally, we approach, and Adam passes my hand to Declan’s, kisses my cheek, and takes a seat.

“Dearly beloved,” the justice of the peace begins. “We are gathered here, on this beautiful spring day, to join Declan and Callie in matrimony. It was their wish that only those who are closest to them be here to witness this sacred day, and it’s also their wish that they take over from here, reciting their vows and exchanging rings. So I’m going to let them get to it.” He winks at Declan and takes a step back.

“Calliope,” Declan begins, earning a mock-glare from me, but he simply smiles and squeezes my hand. “I love you. Nothing, not even time, will ever change that. You don’t complete me, because we’re both complete on our own, but you compliment me in ways that I didn’t even know I needed.

“Your love is like a song, and our song is an easy melody that plays, over and over, in my heart. Some days it’s slow and sweet, and other days it’s fast and loud, but it’s always love. It’s my favorite song.”

And, cue the tears, damn him.

“I promise you today to always be your partner. To never forsake you, or be unfaithful. I will respect you and I promise to do my best to listen and have your best interests at heart, even in times of anger. I’m going to screw up, Callie, but I will always be here, ready to fight for us.” He swallows and squeezes my hands, three times. “Our family will always be my only priority, for as long as I live.”

He kisses my forehead, then steps back and gives me a moment to catch my breath and wipe the tears from my cheek, not even caring that I’ve already ruined my makeup.

“I wasn’t expecting you, Declan Boudreaux,” I begin and grin at him. “You were not a part of any of my plans, but you were the best surprise I’ve ever been given, the piece of my puzzle that I didn’t know was missing.” I sniff and nod a thank you at Beau as he passes me a handkerchief. “I thought that I’d walk through life taking care of myself, and I’d done a pretty good job of it. But, then I met you and you taught me a few things.

“First, I learned that it’s okay to lean on someone who loves you. You are my greatest supporter, my fiercest advocate, and I know that when I can’t speak for myself, you are there to help me.” He nods, his beautiful hazel eyes smiling down at me.

“Second, I learned what true unconditional love is. It’s saying, I don’t care what happened yesterday, I’m going to love you today, and every day. No matter what.

“You’ve shown me patience, and loyalty, and you’ve shown me what it means to be truly safe with another person. Loving me isn’t always easy, but then, I guess the best loves aren’t. And ours is the best love I’ve ever been in.”

Declan’s eyes fill as he watches me, listening intently to every word.

“I promise to always value our love, and hold it in the highest regard. I promise to respect you, be faithful to you, and support you in every endeavor, at your side, for as long as we both live.”

He smiles, wipes a tear off his cheek, and pulls my rings, the engagement ring and a matching wedding band that he had made for me, out of his pocket, slipping them on my finger. “These rings represent my love for you.”

I’ve been wearing his band on my thumb, and I slide it onto his finger, repeating the same words back to him.

“I now pronounce you man and wife. And now, ladies and gentlemen,” the justice of the peace says happily, “it is my pleasure to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Declan Boudreaux.”

***

“It was such a pretty wedding,” Gabby says with a wistful sigh and leans on the table, resting her chin in her palm.

“Did you write your vows ahead of time?” Charly asks. The sisters and I are all sitting at a table, enjoying some girl talk, while the boys are standing nearby, laughing and giving each other shit about something.

“No, they were spur of the moment,” I reply. “That’s one of the reasons that I didn’t want a lot of people here. I knew I’d get stage fright.”

“Well, they were perfect,” Van says. “You and Dec had us all blubbering.”

“Are you leaving on your honeymoon right away?” Kate asks, taking a bite of cake.

“No, we leave in a couple of weeks,” I reply. “We have some work to do on the house still, and it just worked with our schedules that way. But don’t you leave tomorrow, Charly?”

She rolls her eyes and nods. “Yes. Van talked me into going to this retreat.”

“All I’m saying is, Simon is one hot man. There are worse things than having to look at him all day for two weeks.”

“Two weeks?” Kate asks. “That’s quite a retreat.”

“It’s in Montana,” Charly agrees with a nod. “I’ve never been up there, so it should be interesting.”

“I’m sorry, ladies,” Declan says, reaching over my shoulder from behind me to grab my hand. “I’d like to dance with my bride.”

“Take her,” Gabby says with a wide smile.

“I plan to,” Dec says, a mischievous grin on his handsome face as he guides me onto the brick path so my heels don’t sink into the ground.

“We don’t have dancing at this wedding,” I remind him.

“Is there music?” he asks, cocking a brow and leading me into a simple slow dance.

“You know there is,” I reply.

“Then, my lovely wife, there is dancing.” He pulls me against him and tips his forehead down to rest on mine. “How are you, Mrs. Boudreaux?”

“I’m great,” I reply with a laugh. “How are you?”

“Couldn’t be better. This dress is a work of art. Of course, so are you.”

“A work of art?” I reply with a smile.

“Yes. You never just look good, you look like art, and just like a piece of art, you make me feel things, Callie.”

I sigh. The words that come out of this man’s mouth never fail to surprise me.

“That’s a lovely thing to say.”

He spins me around and dips me deep, kissing me soundly as our family claps and laughs around us.

“When are we going to start filling that nursery we finished last month?” he asks.

“As soon as possible.”

“How do you feel about getting out of here and getting a head start on it?” He leans in to whisper in my ear. “I need to get you out of this dress, and my hands on you.”

“I think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”

“Oh no, darlin’, my best idea was telling you to go to dinner with me.”

“I’m so glad you’re bossy.”

He grins. “I know.”

Epilogue

~Simon Danbury~

“This is going to be an amazing two weeks,” I tell my staff, getting us pumped up for the first day of the Know Your Worth Women’s Retreat. I only put one of these in-depth retreats on each year, fitting it in between weeks of touring all over the UK and the United States, speaking to women about how to make themselves a priority, and to get what they want out of life.

I can hear the roar of the one hundred women filling the ballroom of the host resort here in Montana, along with the music we have pumping through the room, getting the women ready for a fast-paced day.

“Let’s make a difference in these women’s lives, friends.”

“Let’s do this!” my best friend and business partner Todd exclaims as my staff of ten hurry out of the room and into the ballroom to mingle with the girls.

I stay behind and take a few deep breaths, preparing my body for being on my feet all day, speaking to a room full of women of all ages and ethnicities, all here for their own very personal reasons. It’s going to be a fun, and sometimes difficult, journey for all of us.