“Thanks, Dad.” Jill laughed and tried her best not to cry. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Jelly Bean.” He hooked her arm into his and followed the line. “Be careful. Your heels might sink in the dirt.”
“I’m good.” She reached down and lifted her dress, showing her bare feet.
Her dad leaned his head back, releasing a loud laugh. “I taught you well.”
Jill smiled with a nod as they continued. They made it to the bend where everyone stopped. Jill and her dad walked past the other couples so Jill could watch everything. Caroline was handing each woman a bouquet of beautiful red roses.
Sloan led Nicole around the bend where Damon was waiting looking handsome in his tux. Sloan stopped, letting go of Nicole as Damon kneeled in front of her. Bowing his head, he thumped his fist against his heart before looking up at her. “Nicole DeMasters, will you do me the honor of renewing our love?”
“Oh, my God,” Nicole replied, her voice cracking with emotion. “Yes!” He stood leading her away.
Jill peeked at the rest of the ladies who had positioned themselves so they could see. Every single one of them were staring in wide-eyed shock.
Next, Blaze led Tessa to Jared, who also kneeled repeating the motion of bowing his head, thumping his heart with his fist before looking up. “Tessa Pride, I love you more than my own life. Please say you will be my wife.”
Tessa was crying so hard from watching Nicole and Damon, she could hardly say yes. When she nodded enthusiastically, everyone chuckled. Jared slipped a ring on her finger as he stood, leading her away.
Jax led Pam to Duncan who was holding Daniel. Duncan kneeled with Daniel in his arms, still able to pound his chest with his fist, his head bowed. Daniel, who was watching Duncan, repeated his moves making everyone sigh loudly. “My heart, will you make me the happiest man in the world and become my wife as you are already my mate?”
“Yes.” Pam smiled, her golden eyes shining as she looked at the two men in her life.
Duncan held out his hand as Daniel’s small fist opened up dropping a ring into his hand which Duncan proceeded to put on her finger. He stood, guiding her away.
Sid walked up next with the biggest grin on his face as Lana and Caroline’s father led Lana to him. Kneeling, he bowed his head, pounding his fist over his heart before looking up. “Lana Banana, my sexy cop. Will you please marry me so I can call you mine?”
Lana laughed with a nod. “I’m already yours, Sidilicious.” Everyone snickered at the nickname. “But yes, I will marry you.”
He grinned proudly as he placed the ring on her finger.
A beaming Steve led a crying Angelina to Adam. Adam kneeled, bowed his head and thumped his heart as the others before him. “My Angel.” Adam looked up, his face pale as he stared at Angelina. “I would be honored for you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”
Angelina put her face in her hands as she nodded, trying to get control of her emotions. Removing her hands, she smiled through her tears. “Yes!” she cried. “I can’t believe this.” Adam placed the ring on her finger and led her away.
Jill attempted to keep herself together, but was failing miserably. Her father started walking, holding onto her hand to keep her steady. Her eyes looked around as everyone stood up. Some faces she knew, others she didn’t, and yet it didn’t matter. She looked around and sighed. This was exactly how she had envisioned her wedding when she was a little girl. Her eyes landed on Slade who had stepped forward and waited for her, giving her father the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle, and how sweet was that. She couldn’t look away from him. He was so handsome in his tux as he waited for her. His eyes roamed her body before searching her eyes. She always shivered when he gave her that look, the look of ownership. Some women would balk at such a look, but she thrived knowing that she was his, because the truth was she did belong to him, heart, body and soul.
Once they reached him, her father gave her a kiss on the cheek then placed her hand in Slade’s. “Take care of my girl,” Chuck ordered with a fatherly nod before turning and sitting down.
“Yes, sir,” Slade answered and never sounded more serious in his life.
Jill stared up in Slade’s eyes and everything but him disappeared. The people, their friends, her sickness...it all disappeared for a split second.
“I have never seen anything more beautiful than you.” Slade’s deep voice rang out through the woods. “I love you now more than I have ever thought possible and I thank you for agreeing to be my mate...my wife.”
Jill’s head dropped slightly, her eyes closed for a brief second only to open them to make sure this wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t. Slade was still there staring at her as if she were the most important person in his life.