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He’d spenthiht then, for the first time ever, he’d have loved to have been included as a fauest "I want to help"

Maddie stared at hi beat, but apparently she decided to take him at his word because she put hi white tent and outside heaters to keep the guests war mistletoe at each one, assisted Tara in the kitchen, and run around town picking up more Christmas trees and decorations by demand of Chloe herself He even set up the trees with Carlos They didn’t speak much, but they didn’t brawl either, so that was a bonus Halfway through, Carlos’s girlfriend, Theresa, showed up with a basket of cookies, which Carlos reluctantly offered to share with Nick

Not a irlfriend," he asked, mouth full of delicious chocolate chip cookie, "what the hell was earlier about?"

Carlos shrugged "Still care about her"

"You have a girlfriend," Nick repeated

"Yeah, but you never really get over your first love"

Nick chewed on that state with the cookie His first love was Mia, too And since he couldn’t i her, he finally nodded his understanding

The rehearsal dinner was a blur, and afterward Mia vanished with her ht before a wedding Nick was politely shown to his room at the B&B

He got up early the next , made himself useful some more, and knew he’d won over at least half the clan when Tara ed hiuests showed up and the cerery for a peek at Mia

And then she alking down the aisle in a beautiful forest-green dress, flowers in her hands, hair flowing behind her in the slight breeze, a war at her, Nick ached She was a part of hiazes caught and held He wasn’t sure he recognized the look on her face, but he couldn’t tear his eyes off of her

Tara was next, and then Maddie, holding her son Her three-year-old daughter alking at her side, carefully and precisely du a fistful of flowers out of her basket with each step When she ran out of flowers, she stopped short, refusing to go another step "I need more flowers!"

Maddie shot her husband a desperate look where he stood with Ford and Sawyer Jax jogged down the aisle and gave Maddie a quick kiss, and then picked up his daughter

"Daddy, I need more flowers!"

"I know, baby" Jax adjusted her in one arm and slid the other around Maddie, and they walked the rest of the aisle together

Then the crowd hushed and it was Chloe’s turn to walk toward Sawyer Nick was struck by her expression as she smiled at her soon-to-be husband from brilliantly shiny eyes And then it hit him like a one-two punch--it was the same expression Mia had worn only a azes with Nick

Love

Stunned, Nick sat there and missed nearly every word of the cere because there wasn’t a dry eye in sight when it was over

Then the roo with Ford, and then Sawyer And then Carlos

Nick stood Pocketing the swig of mistletoe from the table, heto be on the top ten list of the ss he’d ever done, but he didn’t care "Can I cut in?"

Carlos looked at Mia, who nodded Nick took her hand and brought it up around his neck, pulling her in close, drinking in her familiar scent and the warm, soft feel of her curves Heinto hi inside her Unable to help hi his eyes to savor the feel of her

"Nick?"

He opened his eyes and li?" she asked

"Dancing"

"It feels like a lot more"

"Good" He held the h "You want a kiss?"

"To start," he said, and leaned in and touched his lips to hers "You are so beautiful, Mia"

"You really do have some pretty fancy words lately"

"Yeah" He put the mistletoe in his pocket and pulled her in closer "And here’s threetime to hear you say that" She stared up at him "I love you, too, Nick Sohis forehead to hers "Not tonight"

She relaxed slightly in his arms, and as the beat of thewouldn’t end As if she felt the saain she pressed her face into the curve of his throat, but this time his heart dropped in his chest when he felt the wetness of her tears against his skin

"Mia," he said, devastated "Don’t cry I’m sorry" He wasn’t exactly sure what he was sorry for, but he’d be sorry for breathing if that was the problem

"No, they’re happy tears," she said, and sniffed "It’s Christ, and it’s all been wonderful" She lifted her head and aze, her own drenched "And you’re still here"

"I’ anywhere"

Her ether for a while, laughing and sharing a few happy tears Afterward, Mia went looking for Nick, and had a moment’s panic when she couldn’t find hiain Earlier she’d actually seen theether They’d even been laughing at Jax’s brown Lab, Izzy, as napping in the center of the aisle all sprawled out, forcing everyone to literally take a flying leap to get past her

Watching Nick interact here with her family, with the people whoheart

"I know that s an ar Mia in white silk "It’s the smile of a woman in love"

"How do you tell the difference between lust and love?" Mia asked

"If you can wear your laundry panties on a date with him, you know it’s true love"