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She blinked at hiious because she couldn’t ht I lost you once and that’s never happening again Never I don’t even need five seconds to ether Not just while you’re killin’ ti to heaven that you’ll fall in love with me We are forever" Dalton curled his hands around her face "So yes, I’ll run aith you to Missoula But e go, you’ll be wearingyou that ill beto wait until you’re settled in your new job, but I want you as my wife, Rory I want everyone to know that you’re ether"

Over the past few months when Dalton looked at her a certain way, or placed a kiss below her ear, or ran his finger down the inside of her arm, she sensed his satisfaction His possession She’d chalked it up to sex Now she saw it for what it really was Love that went beyond anything she’d ever thought any man could feel for her, let alone this man ned her heart, body and soul

It was past time she let hih his hair "I love you"

He quit breathing entirely Then he said, "Say it again"

"I love you" Before she could repeat it for a third time, because she knew that’s what he’d ask for, hisher with a fierce kiss, but leveling her with tenderness and gratitude And hope There was so reet

The kiss went on and on Gentle and hot, packed with the type of sweet need that caused her to cling to hihter

When he finally released her mouth, he murmured, "You really mean it?"

"Yes, I do I love you, McKay"

"This is the best day of ht now, in this ue

Six months later

"Do you, Dalton Patrick McKay, take Aurora Rose Wetzler to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?"

Dalton froze

This was it The next step would tie hie’s final words would pronounce them husband and wife

Dalton McKay, husband

That sounded…perfect Really fucking perfect actually

"I do" He lifted Rory’s hand to his mouth for a kiss "I do, I do, I do I cannot wait for this woman to be my wife"

"You sorta went off-script," Rory whispered

"I’e cleared his throat "May I continue?"

"Ah, yeah, sure, go for it"

"Do you, Aurora Rose Wetzler, take Dalton Patrick McKay to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, until death do you part?"

"I do"

They exchanged rings

Then the judge said the ic words "By the power vested in , I now pronounce you husband and wife Kiss your bride Kiss your groom This union is official"

Dalton curled his hands around her face, the beautiful face of this wo with love for him "I love you" He kissed her with sweetness and devotion And he had to laugh softly when he finally pulled back "Sugarplu behind theether and faced their fas were exchanged Then everyone backed off, giving them time alone

They’d kept the ceremony for immediate family only His brothers had stood up for him Rory’s mom and Sierra had stood up for her

Now they stood before each other, husband and wife, in the exact same place where they’dabout?" she asked

"Us How perfect this is But also in all those years we hung out here and all the gaain "Why?"

"Because playing house isn’t a game for us It’s for real For keeps"

And she swore she didn’t have a roet married here and she carried a bouquet of plunize that look, McKay You were thinking of a way to get me up onto that rock just so you could push me off"

"No way It wouldn’t be the saht dead wearing a princess dress She would’ve jumped into the creek before I could shove her off, just to save face"