His Marriage to Remember

Epilogue



Sam stood with his brothers, watching Bria and some of their other guests at the vow-renewal party form a line as the band struck up a Brooks and Dunn tune about boot scootin’. He loved watching her dance, loved to watch her body move in time to the music. Hell, he just plain loved everything about her.

“Sam, I swear you’ve been wearing that same sappy grin for the past few months,” T.J. said, taking a swig from the beer bottle in his hand.

“Yeah, the way you’re acting, anyone would think you had just drawn an inside straight,” Lane added, laughing.

“I can’t help it,” Sam said, shrugging. He winked at Bria. “I’m a happy man these days.”

“You don’t miss being out on the road?” Jaron asked, sounding skeptical.

“Nope. I’ve got everything I want right here at home,” Sam assured him.

When the song ended, Bria and Mariah walked over to join the group. “Do you think we should tell everyone our news, sweetheart?” he whispered, putting his arm around her shoulders and drawing her to his side.

They had agreed to wait until Bria was past the first trimester in her pregnancy to tell anyone about the baby, and Sam was itching to let his brothers know that he was going to be a daddy.

“Go right ahead,” she said, smiling up at him.

“Do y’all think you’re up to babysitting in about six months?” Sam asked, giving them a meaningful look.

“Hot damn!” Nate exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m going to be an uncle.”

“Congratulations,” Ryder said, hugging Bria. “But you do realize you’ll have two kids to tend to when the baby is born, instead of just this big lug, don’t you?”

Sam didn’t think he had ever seen her look more radiant when she said, “If I have any problems with Sam or the baby, I’ll let you know, Ryder.”

“No wonder you’ve been so damn smug.” Grinning, Lane slapped Sam on the back. “You’ve been working on a full house.”

“I reserve the right to spoil my nephew,” Jaron announced.

“My niece is going to be a little princess,” Mariah said, shaking her head.

“Nope, it’s going to be a boy,” Jaron insisted. “I’m sure of it.”

Mariah glared at him. “You couldn’t be more wrong, Mr. Lambert. Besides, you don’t know diddly-squat about pregnancy and babies.”

As Mariah and Jaron continued to argue over the baby’s sex, T.J. added his congratulations. “Boy or girl, I’m betting we all turn out to be absolute fools over him or her.”

“So who’s going to be next to jump into the pool of the blissfully hitched?” Sam asked.

“Don’t look at me,” Nate said, shaking his head. “I’m having too much fun playing the field.”

“Well, it isn’t going to be me,” Lane announced. “I don’t have time for a woman in my life right now.” He looked at T.J. “Is that neighbor lady still letting her stud jump the fence?”

T.J.’s face turned beet red. “Yes, but don’t think I’m looking to hook up with the likes of her. I’d rather run naked through a briar patch.”

They all looked at Jaron still arguing with Mariah, shook their heads, then turned their attention to Ryder.

“Oh, no. Don’t think I’m looking to take a dip in that pool,” Ryder said, shaking his head.

“You’re the only one of us who brought a date this evening,” Nate pointed out.

Ryder looked fit to be tied. “She’s not a date.”

Lane cocked one dark eyebrow. “And if you believe that, boys, I’ve got some prime real estate in Death Valley I’d like to sell you.”

“Summer is just a friend,” Ryder insisted.

“Then you won’t mind if I ask her out?” Nate asked.

“She won’t go,” Ryder retorted.

“This could go on awhile,” Sam said, grinning at Bria. “Would you like me to bribe the band to play a slow tune so I can hold you?”

“That sounds good to me,” she said as they turned toward the dance floor.

As they began moving in time to a slow, romantic song, Sam gazed down at Bria. She was his world, his reason for living and he thanked the good Lord above that she knew all his faults and loved him anyway.

“I love you, Mrs. Rafferty.”

“And I love you, Mr. Rafferty,” she said. “For the rest of our lives.”

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