He smiles, wipes a tear off his cheek, and pulls my rings, the engagement ring and a matching wedding band that he had made for me, out of his pocket, slipping them on my finger. “These rings represent my love for you.”
I’ve been wearing his band on my thumb, and I slide it onto his finger, repeating the same words back to him.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. And now, ladies and gentlemen,” the justice of the peace says happily, “it is my pleasure to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Declan Boudreaux.”
***
“It was such a pretty wedding,” Gabby says with a wistful sigh and leans on the table, resting her chin in her palm.
“Did you write your vows ahead of time?” Charly asks. The sisters and I are all sitting at a table, enjoying some girl talk, while the boys are standing nearby, laughing and giving each other shit about something.
“No, they were spur of the moment,” I reply. “That’s one of the reasons that I didn’t want a lot of people here. I knew I’d get stage fright.”
“Well, they were perfect,” Van says. “You and Dec had us all blubbering.”
“Are you leaving on your honeymoon right away?” Kate asks, taking a bite of cake.
“No, we leave in a couple of weeks,” I reply. “We have some work to do on the house still, and it just worked with our schedules that way. But don’t you leave tomorrow, Charly?”
She rolls her eyes and nods. “Yes. Van talked me into going to this retreat.”
“All I’m saying is, Simon is one hot man. There are worse things than having to look at him all day for two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” Kate asks. “That’s quite a retreat.”
“It’s in Montana,” Charly agrees with a nod. “I’ve never been up there, so it should be interesting.”
“I’m sorry, ladies,” Declan says, reaching over my shoulder from behind me to grab my hand. “I’d like to dance with my bride.”
“Take her,” Gabby says with a wide smile.
“I plan to,” Dec says, a mischievous grin on his handsome face as he guides me onto the brick path so my heels don’t sink into the ground.
“We don’t have dancing at this wedding,” I remind him.
“Is there music?” he asks, cocking a brow and leading me into a simple slow dance.
“You know there is,” I reply.
“Then, my lovely wife, there is dancing.” He pulls me against him and tips his forehead down to rest on mine. “How are you, Mrs. Boudreaux?”
“I’m great,” I reply with a laugh. “How are you?”
“Couldn’t be better. This dress is a work of art. Of course, so are you.”
“A work of art?” I reply with a smile.
“Yes. You never just look good, you look like art, and just like a piece of art, you make me feel things, Callie.”
I sigh. The words that come out of this man’s mouth never fail to surprise me.
“That’s a lovely thing to say.”
He spins me around and dips me deep, kissing me soundly as our family claps and laughs around us.
“When are we going to start filling that nursery we finished last month?” he asks.
“As soon as possible.”
“How do you feel about getting out of here and getting a head start on it?” He leans in to whisper in my ear. “I need to get you out of this dress, and my hands on you.”
“I think that’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”
“Oh no, darlin’, my best idea was telling you to go to dinner with me.”
“I’m so glad you’re bossy.”
He grins. “I know.”
Epilogue
~Simon Danbury~
“This is going to be an amazing two weeks,” I tell my staff, getting us pumped up for the first day of the Know Your Worth Women’s Retreat. I only put one of these in-depth retreats on each year, fitting it in between weeks of touring all over the UK and the United States, speaking to women about how to make themselves a priority, and to get what they want out of life.
I can hear the roar of the one hundred women filling the ballroom of the host resort here in Montana, along with the music we have pumping through the room, getting the women ready for a fast-paced day.
“Let’s make a difference in these women’s lives, friends.”
“Let’s do this!” my best friend and business partner Todd exclaims as my staff of ten hurry out of the room and into the ballroom to mingle with the girls.
I stay behind and take a few deep breaths, preparing my body for being on my feet all day, speaking to a room full of women of all ages and ethnicities, all here for their own very personal reasons. It’s going to be a fun, and sometimes difficult, journey for all of us.
I jump in place, shake my hands, and join the others, walking out on stage. The room breaks out in applause, and I smile and wave, checking to make sure the mic attached to my ear is securely in place.
“Hello, ladies!” More applause. “Are you ready for the best experience of your life?”
Applause.
“I can’t hear you! Stand up and tell me that you’re ready for your life to change!”
I watch a sea of women all stand, clap, whoop and holler, and smile.
“I’m so ready for this week with you! We are going to laugh and cry, and I’m going to give you the tools to make your life everything you’ve ever wanted. Are you ready, you beautiful women?”
I crank the music, and to their surprise, I begin to dance. I want the energy in this room to be electric. I want the women to be excited to make changes in their lives.
And, just as they always do, most of them start to dance with me. My staff, out in the audience, engage each of the women, dancing and laughing, and as I watch, one woman in particular catches my eye.
I glance at the name on her seat. Charly.
Charly is a beautiful woman, with her long dark hair, and almost golden hazel eyes. She’s thin, and her lips are full.
And she’s standing, but not dancing. And her eyes are saying, I don’t buy it.
Challenge accepted, darling.
THE END
Don’t miss Simon and Charly’s story in EASY KISSES, releasing in the Spring of 2016!
Other Books by Kristen Proby:
The Boudreaux Series:
Easy Love and on audio
Easy Kisses (preorder)
The With Me In Seattle Series:
Come Away With Me and on audio
Under the Mistletoe With Me and on audio
Fight With Me and on audio
Play With Me and on audio
Rock With Me and on audio
Safe With Me and on audio
Tied With Me and on audio
Breathe With Me and on audio
Forever With Me and on audio
Easy With You
The Love Under the Big Sky Series, available through Pocket Books:
Loving Cara and on audio
Seducing Lauren and on audio
Falling for Jillian and on audio
Baby, It’s Cold Outside and on audio
An Anthology with Jennifer Probst, Emma Chase, Kristen Proby, Melody Anne and Kate Meader
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Epilogue