Novak Raven (Harper's Mountains #4)(70)

Love had won.

Weston leaned back and cupped her cheeks, wiped away her tears. “You’re not through.”

“What?” she squeaked out.

He laid another peck on her lips and pulled something out of his back pocket. It was another letter. She unfolded it and read it aloud as best as her shaking voice would allow.

“Ave, I love you. I wanted to say that first before anything else because you should hear it all the time. You deserve to know how I feel about you, and never have to question it.” Her voice hitched, and she had to clear her throat before she continued. “This is the second clue to your scavenger hunt. This is going to be one of the biggest days of our lives, so enjoy this. Take stock of every moment. I want you to go to the lair of the dragon. And no questions. I know you’ll have a million. I won’t answer them. Just play the game. Later gator.” She looked up at him. “I have to go now?” she asked, wanting to spend more time with her newly betrothed.

Weston chuckled and said, “Trust me. You’ll want to do it now.”

“Okay,” she said, wiping her damp cheeks. It was then that she saw Ryder. He was holding a big camera and taking pictures of them. Ryder was giving them a gift—pictures of their engagement that she could treasure for always.

Avery kissed Weston once more, and when she disengaged, he held her hand, admired the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly. With a boyish grin, he helped her up and swatted her firmly on the ass. “Go on now, or you’ll be late.”

“Late for what?”

Weston shook his head, denying her answers just like his letter promised. With a giddy laugh, she bolted down the steps, the clue clutched in her hand. She wrapped Ryder up in a big hug.

“Selfie proof that I was here for my first best friend’s big moment,” he said and turned the camera on them.

Avery cheesed so big. She’d taken a dozen selfies with Ryder for his social media over the weeks, but this was the best one.

“Oh!” he said as she ran off. “I got you something!”

She ran back as he dug in his pocket. Ryder pulled out a purple bear paw beer bottle opener, just like his and Weston’s. And now as Avery held out her hand for it, the tears were back.

“It felt right that all three of us have matching ones. You make my best friend happier than I’ve ever seen him. You’re all right, Avery Foley.” The jokester ruffled her hair as she blew out a steadying breath and tried to hold herself together.

Ryder sent her on her way, and she jogged to her car, her hands full of some of the most important trinkets of her life. The keychain that said Weston’s best friend accepted her, the letter with the next scavenger hunt clue, and the most important thing she possessed—a ring that said Weston wanted her to be his everything.

Avery sped through the backroads of Harper’s Mountains, her heart soaring as she raced for the cabins. She drove past 1010, then past Aaron’s cabin and the double cabin Weston and Ryder shared. At the top of the hill near the cliffs, she parked her car and made her way onto the sprawling porch of Harper and Wyatt’s cabin. She’d never been inside the lair of the dragon before, but Lexi, Harper, and Alana were waiting for her at the open front door.

Lexi was crying, and for a moment, Avery hesitated, uncertain. “Are you okay?” she asked.

Lexi nodded and pulled her inside where a beautiful white dress adorned with sparkling beadwork hung against the log wall.

“It’s for you,” Alana said softly.

“What?” Avery asked, fingering the gorgeous material.

“Weston bought it from me this morning. It’s the extra dress I had for my wedding. He said you didn’t want much fuss for your big day. He told us you said you wanted a wedding that didn’t take away from my big day.” Alana’s dark cheeks turned rosy, and she ducked her gaze. A tear splatted against the wooden floor. “I can’t tell you how sweet that is, but you deserve a big day, too.”

“I-I don’t understand,” Avery stammered, looking from face to face. The women all had their make-up done and their hair in beautiful cascading curls. They wore sundresses in different pastel colors.

“If you want it to be,” Harper said, “today is your wedding day. Weston has planned everything.”

Avery put her hands over her mouth to control her sobbing. Her shoulders heaved as she took a few steps back and shook her head. This couldn’t be happening. Something this incredible didn’t happen to people like her. But it was, and now all the girls were tearing up. Harper hugged her up tight, and then others wrapped their arms around her, too.

Sniffling, Avery asked, “Will you be my bridesmaids? I want all of you to be up there with me.”

“Of course,” Harper answered. “We’re your crew. There is nowhere else we’d rather be. Now,” she murmured, easing away. “No more tears because your make-up will be shot to hell. Are we doing this?”

Avery laughed thickly and nodded her head. “Yeah, we’re doing this. Today is my wedding day.”





Chapter Twenty-Seven


Avery’s hands were shaking so bad the bouquet of wild flowers in her hands made a rustling sound. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window of the Bryson City Town Hall. The final scavenger hunt clue had led her here.

The dress fit snugly, emphasizing her figure, and Harper had done a quick, temporary hem of the bottom so it wasn’t too long. It was fitted and flared out just below her thighs. Alana had done her hair in curls, pinned shining tresses with pearl clips, and Lexi had re-done her make-up.