Page 17

Then John’s twins took center stage. They carried a two-handled basket, with a pale blue cushion inside. The wedding rings were tied to that cushion, and Zeke hoped they’d been tied well, because the boys started swinging their arms as they walked toward the front. By the time they reached him, they were giggling and cracking up playing tug of war with the basket. Zeke rescued the rings and let John herd them to the side.

Then the music changed. Zeke had agonized over this because he wanted some tradition, but the standard wedding march was so stale. Instead he chose Ellie Goulding’s How Long Will I Love You as the song for Ember to walk down the aisle to. It was their song, the one that made the most sense to them as a couple and resonated the most deeply. They danced to it in the bar every time it came over the station. And as he caught sight of Ember standing in the foyer, tears welling in her eyes, he knew he’d chosen correctly. Their gazes connected, and honestly, the wedding could have been over for him then. He loved her with all his heart, and he could almost see the connection between their two hearts. In his mind, they were already husband and wife. This was just the party to prove it.

Then he caught sight of what she was wearing, and his mouth went dry. He had seen the dresses that the designer had brought in, and he thought he’d known which one she would pick. And he was right. It looked so much better on her curvy body than the hanger, though. Her thick hair had been curled and some of it was up under the crown he’d given her.

She carried a jeweled brooch bouquet. At least, that’s how Cat had described it when she’d approached him about making it. On it were new and old brooches interspersed with satin flowers which matched the bridesmaids colors, as well as several borrowed items from the bridesmaids. Hank had given them one of her mother’s diamond brooches, which sat directly in the center of the bouquet. A chain of blue sapphires looped from one side to the other, and strings of jewels and pearls cascaded down the front. Zeke had honestly never seen anything like it before. It matched her dress perfectly, though, and it satisfied the old homage, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…

Ember looked stunning, and she thoroughly took his breath away. Zeke felt his throat tighten, and he wondered if he was going to end up being a blubbering mess in front of his friends and family. Tears filled his eyes, but he couldn’t look away from her. She was as important to him as breathing, and he was honored that she’d chosen him.

Hank and Drew each gave her a kiss at the bottom of the dais, then they took their places. Hank sat with Karen in the front row, and Drew merged into his line of groomsmen. Ember took Zeke’s hand and let him support her on the last step. Then she just stood there, looking up at him. For a moment they glanced out at the sea of faces, and it was perfect. The venue was softly lit, almost like it was twilight on a winter evening. Exactly what he’d asked for.

“I love you so much,” she whispered, turning back to him. “You did everything right.”

Zeke grinned, and he gave a nod to Judge Miller.

Ember just wanted to cry, for so many reasons. There were too many to pick from.

Her teary father had gotten her first, and just as she recovered from that she stood at the head of the room and looked at all of the people assembled there to celebrate with them. Then someone had moved, and she could see Zeke clearly, standing on the dais, looking big and strong.

She’d heard the whispers in the bar, and sometimes the outright taunts, but she would never see him as anything other than handsome. Yes, his face was terribly scarred, but it was so dear to her. Then she let out a little gasp. His beard was gone, and he’d trimmed inches off his hair, combing it into place. This was the most bare she thought she’d ever seen him.

His ice blue gaze was the same though, full of love and appreciation as she stood before him. Everything else faded away.

Ember listened with half an ear to what the judge was saying. She was lost in Zeke’s gaze, in the half-smile on his mouth. His quaking hands held hers a little too tight, but she could tell it was nerves. Maybe it was her hands shaking. Either way, she would never tell him to let her go. She had seen his tears when she walked toward him, and it humbled her, to see his obvious love.

Then his hands tightened on hers even more, and his expression tensed. Had the judge asked him for his vows? For a moment she panicked. She hadn’t prepared anything. She hadn’t had time. But as she looked at him, she knew she could come up with five hundred different things if she needed to.

“I, Zeke,” he said, voice strong. “take you Ember, to be my best friend, my wife, my life partner in all things. Three years ago when I came in the Frog D-dog, I wasn’t there for the beer. I was there for the smile. I was like a man lost in the desert, dying of thirst, and your smile filled me up. I didn’t think a-anyone would be able to look at this mug and give a true response, but you did. That’s when I fell in love with you.”

Ember blinked, and wondered if he even realized how little he had stuttered.

“But I knew I would be a challenge to take on, so I w-watched. And waited. But your determination never faltered, and your love grew, even when I gave you reason not to love me. I’ve never known anything like it, but I will strive to make it grow. You’ve given me more purpose than the Marines ever did. I swear to you I will be the best husband and father I possibly can be.”

At the end, his voice broke, and she knew what he said came from the heart. It was also why he hadn’t stuttered. When things affected him strongly, the words lined up and worked for him. Ember swiped beneath her eyes, wishing she had another tissue.

The judge gave her an encouraging nod.

Ember took a deep breath, and looked into Zeke’s beautiful face. “I, Ember, take you Zeke, as my husband, my lover, my confidant, and the father of my child.” She gave him a smile. “I knew why you came in every Saturday, and truth be told, I looked for you as well. Actually, that first time I saw you I was covering someone else’s shift. But I went to Dad to make it permanent just so that I could see you again.”

Zeke chuckled, and she was glad she could still surprise him. A ripple of laughter went through the crowd.

“You are the beat of my heart,” she continued. “I didn’t realize what a hole I was in until I looked into your bright blue eyes and saw what was possible. You’ve seen me at my lowest and not been scared away. Instead you’ve lifted me up and given me every dream I could ever imagine.” She waved a hand at the venue, then looked back at him. “I look forward to every minute of my life with you, and the family we’ve created. And the family we will create,” she said, looking at him pointedly.

Zeke grinned and wiggled his brows at her.

“Do you have the rings,” Judge Miller asked.

Ember gasped, because she hadn’t even thought about a ring for Zeke. Had he picked something out?

Flynn handed him the rings. Zeke put one in her hand. She saw a big, thick platinum band before she folded her fingers over it. Then she held out her left hand. She wasn’t surprised to see it quivering.

Zeke repeated the vows the judge gave him, and slipped the ring on her finger. It nestled perfectly against her engagement ring.

Then it was her turn. She repeated exactly what the judge had said, but the words didn’t mean anything. Her heart was racing, and she almost dropped his ring as she slipped it on his finger.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Zeke and Ember Foster. You may kiss your bride.”

Then she was in Zeke’s arms, and he was kissing her like there was no tomorrow. Ember cried and clutched at his suit, praying he wouldn’t let her go because she wasn’t sure her legs would hold her. He did finally pull back, though, and looked down into her face. “I love you, Ember Foster.”