Beautiful Dreams (The Beautiful Series) (41 page)

Aunt Lucie’s hand rose to cup my cheek affectionately. “Lily, I have always thought of you and Annie as my daughters. The love I have for you will never change, even with you being a thousand miles away.”

Unable to contain the emotions coursing through me, I hugged her, pulling her in tightly. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I love you with all of my heart. I’m so grateful to have you here with me today.”

I leaned back, wiping the moisture from my cheeks.

“I love you, too, and I always will.” She let out a long breath as she waved her hands rapidly in front of her eyes. “Okay. We can’t ruin our makeup. No more crying,” she promised with delight before smiling fondly. “Just don’t look at me during the ceremony because I might be balling like a baby,” she added good-humoredly.

There was that word again—
baby
. I could not refrain from smiling. It was going to be extremely hard to hold back for the next several long weeks, considering I did not even know how far along I was.

Aunt Lucie left the room after one last embrace. Uncle Dan and Damon came into the room next. They wished me well and told me how much they loved me and how happy they were that I’d picked such a great man.

The truth was Kyle had chosen me. He’d pulled me out of my darkness while healing my shattered heart, one piece at a time. I could hardly stand the minutes before making him my husband.

Jason entered next. The adoration in his eyes had me running into his arms, one hundred percent ready for his bear hug.

“How’s my favorite girl today?” he asked, his familiar squeeze sucking the air out of me.

I was having enough of a time taking in breaths. My dress was already tight enough, thanks to the baby blimp that was broadening my hips.

“I’m so ready to go and get my man,” I said with excitement.

Jason’s deep chuckle filled the room as he drew back. “That’s exactly what Kyle said about his woman.” He smirked.

I beamed brightly. “Our minds do think alike.”

Jason’s eyes reflected back at me with happiness. “I’m so happy for you, Lily, and I’m honored to walk you down the aisle. You could not have chosen a more worthy man than Kyle.”

“Thank you, Jason, for being here with me today, for being a wonderful friend to Kyle, for everything.” I smiled affectionately. “I love you.”

“You’re welcome, Lily,” he replied, shaking his head. “There is nowhere else I’d rather be. I will always be here for you, no matter what.” He paused, letting out a grin. “So, are you ready for me to finally take you to your man?” he asked.

My face lit up. “Yes,” I responded with utter certainty.

Jason led me outside the building where we had all spent the last few hours getting ready in. The bridal party was already formed in a line just outside the building entrance. Brooke was my maid of honor, so she was paired with Ryan, the best man. Kate and Abbey were both being escorted by Damon since Jason was giving me away. Then, after the ceremony, Jason was going to walk Abbey out during the recessional.

The wedding party wished me luck, embracing me, before turning back to his or her formation in line.

“Here are your flowers, Lily,” Brooke said, being the last one to approach me. “I’m so happy you found someone who truly loves you more than life itself, girl. He has brought this light into your eyes, and I will be forever grateful to him for that.” She sniffed while pulling back from our embrace. Then, she let out a deep sigh. “Now, remember to breathe, sweetie, and I love you.” She kissed me softly on the cheek.

“Thank you, and I love you, too.” I smiled back at her, stifling my emotions that seemed to consume me today. “It means so much to me that you’re here.”

“Lily, I wouldn’t miss this day for the world.” Brooke snorted playfully. “I seriously better get back in line before I ruin my makeup,” she added, wiping the corner of her eyes. She hugged me once more before going to stand next to Ryan.

The wedding coordinator, Caroline, arrived outside. I had hired her to help out for today. She started going over the instructions with the wedding party since we hadn’t had a rehearsal. My gaze did a double take, observing the way Jason’s eyes were lingering on Abbey while Caroline was speaking. I didn’t think Jason even caught a single word of Caroline’s speech.

I shifted my eyes back in the other direction, wanting to take a moment to myself before the ceremony. Now was a good time since Caroline was still doing a recap. I wandered a few feet around to the other side of the lake. The only things in my view were grass leading up to the water, a narrow wooden dock with two small sailboats anchored to it, and trees outlining the opposing side on the north.

Kyle had rented out the entire banquet building for our ceremony, so there would be no interruptions. At this moment, I was very thankful for the quiet peacefulness.

My thoughts shifted to my family—my sweet loving mom and dad, knowing how much they would have wanted to be here today, and my sister, Annie, who would have been laughing while chasing around a two-year-old now.

I looked up to see the clear blue sky beaming down on me from above. I knew I would miss them all dearly at times. I’d lost a mother, father, sister, and a baby niece or nephew all in one day. I would always ache over the profound loss of them, but in my heart, I understood without a doubt in my mind that they would want me to be happy and live my life to the fullest while they watched over me.

Today was one of those days that I felt they were looking down on me with nothing but tears of joy and love in their eyes.

“I love you,” I whispered into the sky to my family while feeling the light wind blowing around me.

I turned my head at the sound of footsteps behind me to see Jason staring at me with a sad expression. He stopped next to me and wrapped his hand around my shoulder as we looked out into the sky together.

After a moment of silence, he turned his head to me. “Your family would be so proud of you, Lily…and they are all here with you today. You know that, right?” he asked gently while squeezing my shoulder slightly.

I tipped my head up to see his eyes. “Yes, it took me a while to figure that part out, but now, I know that without a doubt in my mind.” Reining in the sorrow I felt, I let the positive feelings flow freely again.

“Okay,” Jason answered. After a few seconds, he grinned. “We better make our way to that altar before your man comes to get you,” he said, lightening the mood.

I laughed as I envisioned Kyle throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me down the aisle. “With his overbearing ways, it’s totally possible,” I chortled.

“Oh, I can see that, so we better get a move on.” Jason winked while leading me back to my position in the walking line.

Butterflies tingled as Brooke and Ryan stepped forward, arm in arm, first. The sensation increased as Damon held his arms out for Abbey and Kate, and they followed behind the maid of honor and best man.

Jason looked at me one last time. “Last time…ready?” he asked softly.

I nodded, knowing my feet could not carry me fast enough. “Ready,” I said with a smile.

I laced my right arm with Jason’s as he led me around the bend of the building. My pulse thrummed louder as I heard the bridal entrance song start to pour from the speakers. The ceremony sight came into view as everyone rose to his or her feet.

My eyes glanced to the left, watching the sun reflect off the waters of Lake Tahoe, and then I looked back at our family and friends all standing with their gazes on me.

I could only see the top of the white wooden arch of the altar. A beautiful arrangement of wildflowers, including all the different kinds that Kyle had sent to me over our time together, was intricately woven around the top of the posts. It was more beautiful and perfect than I had ever dreamed of.

With every step forward, my heart skipped a beat, and my anticipation rose beyond reason.

We neared the walkway down the center of the guests, and white and purple rose petals filled the aisle as my sandals breached the threshold of the sand.

As soon as Jason spun us to the right, facing the center of our guests, all my thoughts were of Kyle as I searched for him. He was standing tall beneath the altar with his hands crossed over one another. He was dressed in a white dress shirt and khaki slacks.

Ryan and Damon stood to his right while Brooke, Abbey, and Kate held their bouquets in front of them as they all stood to the left of the aisle.

Kyle’s eyes locked on mine. The most loving smile shined across his features as he saw me for the first time. His expression reflected the way I felt inside.

The rest of the world seemed to fade away. All that mattered was making it into his arms. I squeezed Jason’s hand, urging him to walk faster, while my eyes never left Kyle’s.

My heart skipped a beat as Jason and I finally came to a stop in front of Kyle.

“Who gives away this beautiful bride today?” the pastor, Jim, asked kindly.

“I do,” Jason said with pride in his voice as he smiled at Pastor Jim.

Jason bent forward to kiss my cheek. I reached up on my toes and hugged him tightly. As we drew back, he reached for my hand again and then he took Kyle’s. He placed them together, and Kyle and I intertwined our fingers. Jason tapped Kyle’s shoulders good-heartedly before making his way to stand in the space between Ryan and Damon.

Kyle and I stood rooted in our spots, taking in the sight of one another. He lifted his other hand and ran the backs of his knuckles down my cheek. Like a gravitational pull, our bodies closed the slight distance between us. His lips were only a mere inch from mine.

“You look breathtakingly beautiful today, Lily,” Kyle whispered quietly, so only I could hear.

I could tell the split second he decided to lean forward with the intention of kissing me.

“Not yet,” Pastor Jim cut in.

Kyle groaned and lifted his head to kiss my temple anyway. I inwardly laughed at my impatient sexy alpha.

“You’ve got ten minutes, Pastor Jim, before I’m kissing my bride, so you better make it count,” Kyle said, so only the three of us could hear.

I was pretty sure I heard Ryan chuckle from behind Kyle.

As Pastor Jim quickly recited passages from the Bible, I listened while gazing into my favorite brownish-green eyes. Kyle’s eyes reflected back at me with so much love that it was just as hard for me to resist pulling his lips against mine.

Pastor Jim motioned for me to start my vows. I took a deep breath while catching sight of Kyle’s white shirt blowing across his shoulders and chest from the slight breeze, then I glanced back up to see his eyes boring into mine.

“I, Lily, take you, Kyle, to be my loving husband from this day forward. In front of God and our families and friends, I promise to love you with all I have to give and all that I am in the only way I know how—completely and forever. I promise to laugh and cry with you through all the good and bad life brings us.” I paused, taking in more air to continue, as I told my heart to keep beating. “I promise to share myself with you for richer or poorer, in sickness and health. I promise to make our separate hopes and dreams become ours together,” I said while looking into the depths of his eyes and stroking my thumb over his to calm my nerves. “You have brought nothing but happiness and love into my life, and it is my sincerest wish to fill you with the same. I love you more than life itself,” I breathed to him.

Kyle smiled tenderly at me as Pastor Jim gestured for Kyle to say his vows.

“I, Kyle, take you, Lily, to be my wife. I solemnly swear to you before God, our families, and friends to have and to hold you from this day forward. I swear to share my life, my secrets, and dreams with you, to love and cherish you beyond eternity.” He smiled tenderly while opening his heart to me. “I promise to stand by your side through all the good and bad, health and sickness, for richer or poorer, to protect you from all darkness, and keep the beautiful ocean blues eyes of yours shining brightly. From the first moment I laid eyes on you, you stirred a yearning within my soul, and I knew I wanted to make you mine.”

He hesitated while lifting his hand to caress my cheek, making my fluttering heart nearly stop.

“You’re my forever, Lily. Your heart makes mine beat. I love you, beautiful,” Kyle finished.

Tears flowed freely down my face. I barely heard Pastor Jim tell Kyle he could kiss me because all of my thoughts were of Kyle.

His eyes burned into mine as he lifted his hand and ran his fingertips along the curve of my jaw while his other wrapped around my back, pulling me closer. I threw my hands around his nape, tugging him near. I smiled at my husband and parted my lips before his mouth captured mine.

Our first kiss as husband and wife was passionate and tender and full of love.

I nearly forgot that we were surrounded by guests until Pastor Jim discreetly cleared his throat.

“I present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Madison!” he announced.

Kyle spun me around to face our family and friends, never letting go of my waist. I could not help but reciprocate his feelings after not seeing him for nearly twenty-four hours.

Brooke hastily handed me my flowers before Kyle and I walked down the aisle as husband and wife. We were both glowing with utter happiness as our friends and family cheered while blowing bubbles into the air.