Braced, p.23
Braced, page 23
Unfortunately, they’d found out a week ago that Des wasn’t a match for any of his half brothers. His future began to look grim until Killian remembered Des had an older half sister. It had taken longer than they’d hoped to track Dallas Faircloth down, but in the end Killian had prevailed. Lilah still didn’t know what Des’s outcome would be, and the stress his injury was putting on the brothers was palpable. All she knew was that Killian had somehow managed to force this young woman to South Texas, ensconced her in Green Rock’s main house, and had been very plainspoken about using her for spare parts for their danger-loving brother.
As worried as she was for Des, Lilah couldn’t blame the woman for the hostility that poured off her in waves.
But why Killian had brought Dallas Faircloth along to a boring graduation ceremony for someone she barely knew was a mystery to her. A mystery she wouldn’t soon be solving, because—
“Lilah Ledbetter.”
“Showtime,” Casey said in her ear, this time almost knocking her eight-sided doctorate cap to the floor.
How many times had she dreamed of this moment, the moment that her life would change forever? Walking the stage to her very own hooding ceremony and receiving her doctorate in veterinary sciences had sometimes seemed impossibly out of reach, but she’d pushed through. She’d done it.
She’d made her dream a reality.
She tried to regulate her breathing as she walked across the stage. Whenever she’d imagined herself graduating, her mother had been there, for once showing pride and joy in her daughter’s accomplishments. But being happy for her daughter’s hard-won achievements had never been Dottie’s thing, and deep down Lilah understood that. As much as it made her heart hurt, she’d told Fin when he’d asked that she didn’t want her mother to be there to spoil the moment. Later, she would send an email to let her mother know she’d finally gotten her doctorate, but that would be it.
Her painful decision had thrilled Fin, of course. Dottie Ledbetter had proven to be as consistent as the sunrise when it came to trying to undermine her happiness. In the three months since she’d been fired from Green Rock Ranch, she’d twice gotten in touch with Lilah and invariably tried rattling Lilah’s belief in Fin. It hadn’t worked; by now Lilah knew without any doubt that Fin saw her as more than “good enough” for him. As far as he was concerned she was his greatest treasure, and every day he found ways to make sure she knew it. That was why the second time Dottie had descended on Lilah, Fin hadn’t hesitated on getting a restraining order out on her, then proceeded to tell the entire town about it by making sure it made the weekly paper’s police blotter.
Shortly thereafter, Dottie Ledbetter packed up and moved to Florida to enjoy her retirement years in peace, while Fin insisted on Lilah moving in with him so he could make sure she was beyond the reach of any more harassment.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was the best outcome Lilah could have hoped for.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she handed over her hood to her smiling professor, then turned to face the audience as the heavy, cowl-like doctoral hood was placed around her neck to drape all the way down her back. Her people were on their feet applauding and calling out, while Fin rose and headed toward the far side of the stage where students were exiting, no doubt to wait for her. She turned back to shake her professor’s hand as well as the vice president of the university and the chairwoman who oversaw the university’s night school program. By the time she finally headed toward the president of the university who was handing out the diplomas, she was shocked to see Fin was standing next to him onstage.
What the hell...?
Geez, these Brodys. They simply didn’t understand they couldn’t always do whatever the hell they wanted.
“Congratulations on graduating with honors, Dr. Ledbetter.” The president beamed, handing over the diploma with one hand and shaking hers with the other, then pausing for the photographer to get the money shot. “Now, I believe this young man has something for you as well, so I’ll just step aside...”
“I’ll take that, Doctor.” Again she was shocked to discover Casey had followed her, and he slipped the diploma from her suddenly shaking hands. “I guess I’m here to hijack your diploma after all.”
“Casey, what...?”
“I told you once that when it came to your cowboy, you needed to figure it out, remember? Now would be the perfect time for you to do just that.” He nodded in Fin’s direction, and that brought her gaze swinging back to Fin. He wasted no time in stepping forward, his hand going into his pocket to fish out...
Oh, God.
A Tiffany-blue jeweler’s box.
Oh, God.
“Doctor Lilah Ledbetter has a nice ring to it, I’ll give you that.” Smiling, Fin took her left hand in his and raised it to his lips while Lilah felt the weight of all eyes in the auditorium crush down on them. “But you know what would sound even better? Doctor Lilah Brody.”
She tried to push air into lungs that had somehow shriveled up to the size of raisins. “Fin...”
“You said to wait until after you graduated to talk about marriage. I waited. I didn’t like it, but I waited. Done with that, so whether you’re ready or not, we’re doing this.” With that amazing statement, he went to one knee.
In front of everyone.
But he didn’t seem to notice. Or more likely, he didn’t give a fuck what people thought. Only one person mattered to him. With his eyes locked on her as if he feared she’d vanish if he looked away, she knew with a stunning and absolute certainty that she was the only one who mattered to him.
She was his woman, just as he was her man. They belonged together. She’d known that her whole life.
Now he knew it too. She could see it.
She could feel it.
And it felt like joy.
Looking into the vivid green eyes of the man she adored, the last of those hurtful, stubborn self-doubts faded into nothing.
“Marry me, Lilah. Bring your sunshine into my world, and I swear I’ll do the same for you. We’ll shine for each other for the rest of our days, and for the children we’ll one day have. We’ll light up the world because we’ll be together, so say yes, and make me the happiest man on earth.”
“Yes,” she whispered, and the joy inside swelled so much it spilled from her eyes even as she smiled. “God, yes.”
Then she was in his arms. She never heard the applause, because she was too busy being staggered by the feel of Fin sliding the ring in place. Dumbfounded, she could only look at it, a massive white diamond that felt like it belonged on her finger, just as she belonged in his arms.
She’d never known life could be so perfect.
“I’d always dreamed my graduation day would be the day my life changed forever.” Her voice shook as more happy tears fell, and she leaned into his touch as he gently brushed them away. “I was right, but graduating had nothing to do with it. You’re the force that’s changed every part of my life, and you’ve changed it for the better. Thank you, Fin.”
“Thank you for giving me another shot at getting things right.” His arms came around her with gentle ferocity, as if he feared he would crush her with the strength of the emotion she could see in his stormy eyes. “It’s going to be my honor, and my privilege, to make sure that from this day forward, you’ll never have a moment’s regret giving me that chance, sunshine.” Then he lowered his head and kissed her with a passion so hot it rivaled the sun.
Epilogue
Five months later
“I have to admit, I didn’t think much about it when I presided over Fin’s and Lilah’s first marriage.” Standing to the right of a seated Fin and decked out in a tailored gray three-piece suit and matching gambler-style cowboy hat, Killian had a champagne flute in hand as he addressed the three hundred or so guests decked out in their wedding finery. “I had no idea that when they were kids promising to love and honor each other forever, they frigging meant it. Though, when Lilah swore with six-year-old indignation that while she’d love and honor Fin but never obey him, I should’ve known then that she was a perfect match for my brother.”
Laughter rang around Green Rock Ranch’s historic Small Barn, which had been cleaned out and professionally decorated for the reception. Its charming, rustic wood interior was draped in white tulle, green satin and every flower Lilah could find in a hundred-mile radius. The picnic tables, dance floor and festive lighting were usually stored in the Small Barn for the ranch’s many outdoor events, but today those tables and lights served their function indoors, and Lilah couldn’t have been happier with her country-style wedding and reception.
It reflected her personal tastes, but even more important, it reflected who she and Fin were. When it came right down to it, they were both country at heart, and she loved that all the way to her soul.
“Today’s ceremony proves that Lilah and Fin are a perfect match,” Killian went on, glancing at his brother. “But it also proves something else—there really is such a thing as love everlasting. Oh, and that it’s probably a good thing that the whole obey issue’s been dropped out of the average wedding ceremony, because obviously that was never going to happen. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glass to the happy couple. To Fin and Lilah, and their lifelong devotion to love and honor each other.”
Seated beside Fin, Lilah leaned against his shoulder to lift her mouth to his ear. “I don’t remember that part. Did I refuse to obey you even back then?”
“What matters is that you obeyed me last night.” Turning his head, Fin pressed his mouth to her brow. The touch was enough to melt her muscles, and with a sigh she leaned against him more heavily. “If you weren’t already pregnant, I swear we would’ve made a baby. How’re you holding up?”
“Mm. I feel wonderful.” The memory of how Fin had taken her from behind, with her knees sinking into the mattress, her fingers guided by his to massage her clit while she moaned into the pillows, made her tingle in all the right places. That had been Fin’s way of celebrating what he’d figured out before she had—that skipping her period had nothing to do with the stress of putting together a Brody-sized wedding. He’d been so convinced she was knocked up that he’d come home with a pregnancy test, and badgered her until she stopped putting together the three hundred wedding favors, and headed for the bathroom.
When the test came back positive, all thought of wedding favors went right out of her head. Giddily celebrating the start of their family was suddenly all that mattered. Fin’s ring was on her finger, she was carrying their first child, and she had his love without condition.
Sometimes dreams really did come true.
The food came in wave after wave—arugula salad or creamy portabella mushroom soup, Green Rock Ranch prime rib, and the chocolate wedding cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert. Other than the traditional first bite of cake that they’d fed to each other, Lilah had barely been able to eat a thing. When a person was this happy, all she needed was the man who’d shown her what true happiness was.
The reception was getting into full swing with live music and a packed dance floor when Lilah spotted a face she hadn’t been expecting to see.
Mom.
Breaking away from Casey—her slightly terrifying dance partner and her official man of honor—she skirted around the edge of the dance floor. Her destination was a small alcove that led to the Small Barn’s side entrance, where her mother hovered with an air of uncertainty.
“Mom.” Raising her voice over the music and crowd chatter, Lilah guided her mother deeper into the alcove. “You came. I’m so glad.”
The music wasn’t loud enough to drown out her mother’s scoff. “I came to the reception. Fin made it clear that my presence wouldn’t be welcome at the actual ceremony. But as the mother of the bride, I suppose I should be grateful that I was afforded this as some sort of consolation prize.”
If this was Dottie’s idea of being grateful, it was going to be a long, long day. “What matters is that you’re here. I’m so happy you came to help us celebrate this day.”
“I’m your mother, Lilah. There’s no place in the world I’d rather be than with you on your wedding day.” Then, as if the words she’d spoken made her realize where she was, Dottie took a step back to look her over from head to toe. “My goodness, look at you, Lilah Jane. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Lilah beamed, delighted that not only had Dottie not found some minuscule fault with her appearance, but that deep down she wouldn’t have cared if she had. Somewhere along the way, Lilah had truly grown up. “I’ll never forget the amazed look on Fin’s face as he watched me walk up the aisle to him. Apparently I clean up pretty well.”
Her mother’s mouth curled. “I’ll never forget when I made that same walk to your father. I was so nervous I almost fell off my heels.”
“Funny you should mention that.” Lilah lifted the acres of white silk and lace to show off her white boots with fancy blue stitching. “Fin’s idea. For weeks I tried getting my high-heeled model walk on, but I was a total bust. Cowgirl boots are more my speed.”
“I’m not sure that’s the choice I would have gone with. But it’s a good choice,” her mother hastened to say, as if realizing that criticizing the bride’s fashion decisions on her wedding day wasn’t the coolest thing she’d ever done. “It’s very original, and very you. I love it.”
Wow. Would wonders never cease. “Thanks, Mom.”
“And I approve of the way you chose to wear your hair. Gathered back at the nape like that makes you look like Grace Kelly—a princess who’s found her Prince Charming.”
At that, Lilah had to laugh. “I don’t know if I could ever be compared to a princess, but Fin has always been my Prince Charming. And sometimes not so charming, but that’s who he is, and I love even his not-so-charming moments.”
“That’s as it should be.” For a moment, Dottie seemed to want to say more before she reached into her clutch purse. “I wanted to give this to you on your wedding day. It was my mother’s, and my grandmother’s. And now it’s yours.”
With her heart squeezing in her chest, Lilah took the white gold locket that her mother had often worn ever since Lilah could remember. “Oh, Mom...”
“The perfect way to do it is to put Fin’s picture in it, of course. The other side will remain blank until your firstborn arrives.” Her mother’s casual bossiness was all too familiar, but this time it didn’t get under Lilah’s skin. Her mother would always be a control freak, plain and simple. Luckily Lilah had finally learned that it didn’t have to control her.
“I see.” Smiling at how much she had managed to evolve, Lilah bent her head and fastened the locket around her neck. “So you’re saying that this locket will be filled at some point in July of next year?”
For a heartbeat, her mother didn’t move. Then she gasped, her eyes rounding dramatically. “Lilah Jane Ledbetter, are you saying...are you saying you’re expecting?”
“That’s Lilah Brody now, and that’s exactly what I’m saying.” And if she kept saying it, then maybe she’d actually start believing that she wasn’t somehow dreaming, and all her secretly held fantasies were at last coming true.
Who knew that life could be even better than dreams?
“Oh, my sweet girl.” Dottie threw her arms around her for a hug that ended almost immediately as her mother began to count on her fingers. “July, and it’s November...so early days yet in your pregnancy, but still when the baby comes there will be gossips and busybodies who—”
“Mom, it’s okay. I don’t care.” Pressing gentle fingers to her mother’s mouth, Lilah smiled into her eyes. “My life isn’t textbook-perfect. No one’s is. Sometimes babies come before weddings, but that’s more than okay. It’s wonderful, because I know what really matters—love, devotion and happiness. I’ll take all of that over someone else’s idea of perfection any day.”
“Of course,” her mother whispered, her eyes filling as she grabbed Lilah’s hands. “My darling girl, of course you would. And you should. I did raise you, after all, so of course you’d make the right decisions.”
God love her, Dottie Ledbetter would never change. “I’m glad you approve.”
“You’re living out your dreams with the man you’ve always loved. How could I not approve?” With a laugh, Dottie gave her another hug. “I couldn’t attain my own dream, so I thought it would be impossible for you to do it as well. I tried to shield you from that pain, but I...” She took in a deep breath. “I was wrong. You were right, and I was wrong.”
“Mom.” Tears sprang to Lilah’s eyes, and she tightened her hold on her mother. Just when she thought things couldn’t get any sweeter. “Thank you.”
“This looks promising.” Dressed similarly to Killian in a tailored three-piece suit and gray cowboy hat, Fin appeared with a longneck in one hand and a ginger ale in the other. He looked from one to the other while Lilah eased out of her mother’s arms to slide into his, taking the soda from him as she did so. “Is it promising, Dottie?”
“It is.” Wiping delicately at her eyes, Dottie offered him a tentative smile. “Thank you for making my daughter so happy, Fin. Thank you for being her Prince Charming.”
