If I Didn't Know Better (The Callaways #9)(85)

"We're great," she replied. "Ashlyn is looking forward to her very first wedding."

"This is your first wedding?" Sharon asked. "That's so exciting. Do you want to come with me? I'm going to see the bride before she comes down the aisle."

Ashlyn gave a happy nod. Mia was beginning to realize that Ashlyn's true nature was outgoing and friendly. Now that she'd moved past her grief, she was blossoming like a flower opening up to the sun. Right now her mother was that sun, and why not? Sharon Callaway had raised six kids of her own. She knew how to deal with one small eight-year-old.

"We'll see you in the church," Sharon said, taking Ashlyn's hand. "Tim, are you coming?"

"Not to see the bride, but I do see my brother over there, so I'll catch up with you."

"All right."

"You know ever since you told your mother the two of you were together, she's started thinking of Ashlyn as her granddaughter," her father said with a twinkle in his eyes. "So do I, to tell the truth. Maybe we'll be at your wedding one of these days."

"Dad," she protested. "Don't push."

"Just saying." He grinned and took off to meet her Uncle Jack.

She turned to Jeremy as her father left. "That was pointed."

"I want to marry you, Mia. I hope you know that. I haven't formally asked, because I didn't want to rush you into anything."

"I know. I didn't want you to ask yet. I wanted us to figure some things out first before we planned a wedding. Now that I've decided to take the job at the Eckhart Gallery, and you've decided to give being a police officer in Angel's Bay a try, I'm feeling more ready to move forward."

"Really? Should I get down on my knees right now?"

"No," she said with a laugh, grabbing his hand to stop him from making that move. "Today is Burke and Maddie's day. We'll have our own day."

"It's going to be soon. And I think we should talk to your parents about buying your aunt's house."

"Do you really want to do that?"

"I do. It's a great house, and you can keep the studio going in whatever way you want. It's perfect."

"It's not perfect, but it's perfect for us. If I've learned anything in the past several weeks it's that I don't need perfect; I just need what's right for me, and that's you. We're going to have a great life together, Jeremy. You, me, Ashlyn, and hopefully a few more kids—if you're up for it."

"As many as you want. I think I'm getting better at this dad thing."

He'd barely finished speaking when she heard a feminine squeal. She turned to see her two sisters walking across the parking lot.

Annie and Kate arrived with breathless greetings and hugs.

When that was done, they both gave Jeremy a speculative glance.

"So you're the man who's stolen my sister's heart," Kate said.

"That would be me."

"I'm Kate."

"And I'm Annie."

"It's nice to meet both of you," Jeremy said. "I've heard a lot about you."

"All good, I'm sure," Annie said with a grin.

"You do know if you don't treat Mia right, you'll have to deal with us," Kate told him.

"I do know that," he said solemnly.

"Or them," Annie said, tipping her head to three men getting out of another car. "Our brothers have been known to beat the crap out of a few of our dates."

"I can take care of myself," Jeremy said.

"You don't have to worry," Mia said with a laugh. "You're a war hero. My brothers are going to love you."

"We should go inside," Annie said. "It's almost three o'clock."

On their way into the church, Mia introduced Jeremy to her brothers and her cousins Emma and Shayla as well as Nicole and Ryan, and their brand new baby. By the time they found a seat, the church was filled with Callaways and friends.

"You weren't kidding about your big family," Jeremy said, as she slid closer to him to make room for more people in the pew.

"We're quite a crowd when we're all together." She looked around the church, and her heart swelled with love. "When I was little, I used to feel like I was insignificant in this big group of people. I wasn't the loudest or the tallest or the most athletic or the best at anything, but now I realize that I was always surrounded by unconditional love and acceptance. That's something I want to pass on to our kids."

"You will," he said, taking her hand.

"And I'm really thrilled for Burke and Maddie. Burke lost his first fiancée in a tragic accident. I didn't know if he would ever find love again, but then Maddie came along, and she turned his world upside down."

"I know that feeling," Jeremy said. "That first day, when I helped you off the roof, and I looked into your amazing blue eyes, I knew I was in big trouble. I told myself to stay away from you, but that didn't work out too well."

"And I told myself not to sleep with you, because I knew better than to jump into bed with a man who could easily break my heart, but that plan didn't work out too well, either."