Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars(84)

“Yes, you dork,” Gemma said.

James dropped his hand and whistled. “Not bad, baby sister. Mom, it’s time to start the parade.”

Her mom went to take James’s arm and they left the room quietly.

Gemma turned to look in the full-length mirror. Travis had insisted on a new wedding dress, even though she’d protested, assuring him that the dress from their first wedding was wonderful, but he’d wanted a fresh start. She’d ended up finding the perfect strapless, champagne taffeta wedding dress on eBay, and Travis had teased her about being a penny pincher. Wearing the teardrop diamond necklace he’d bought her, she’d paired it with her sapphire studs for her something blue and the silvery heels she’d saved from their prom as her something old.

Gracie handed her the round bouquet of orange roses and Gerbera daisies. Gracie, Callie, and Dawn all wore tea-length, sea-foam-green dresses they’d gotten off the sales rack, and the color complemented each of them.

“You ready?” Gracie asked. “Or do I need to go get the escape mobile?”

Gemma smiled. “I’m ready.”

Following the other women out to the entryway of the church, Gemma saw Michael, who was one of Travis’s groomsmen, looking very handsome in his tux, and gave him a bright smile. Returning her smile, he covered his heart with his hands and acted like he’d been shot. Things had been getting better between them, especially since Travis and he had rekindled their friendship with a late night of drinking and a couple of thrown punches. They never would tell her why they’d fought, but considering both men had been thick as thieves ever since, she didn’t press it.

Charlie came running up to her in his tux, his hair slicked flat with gel and beaming. “Hey, Mom!”

“Hey, honey.” The processional started, and two by two, the couples entered the church until Charlie and Gemma were the only ones left. Slipping her hand through her son’s crooked arm, she asked, “Are you ready?”


“Yeah!” he said, moving forward a little fast at first, but a quick squeeze of his arm slowed him down. They entered the church, and the rest of the room melted away when Gemma saw Travis waiting under the arbor.

They seemed to float down the aisle in slow motion until they stopped at the bottom of the three-step stage. Gemma held her breath, unable to look away from Travis’s face. A combination of love, wonder, and happiness shone from his deep blue eyes, and tears started falling down her cheeks before she could stop them.

“You’re going to ruin your makeup,” Gracie hissed from the top step.

Ignoring her, Gemma waited as Travis came down the stairs and cupped her cheek, bringing her to him. Leaning down, he gave her a long, soft kiss that only broke when Pastor Edwards coughed. “Eh, not time yet.”

Smiling as they held each other, Travis said, “I love you, Gem.”

“I love you, too, Trav,” she replied, one arm around his waist as they faced the pastor and started up the steps.

Pausing briefly, Travis grabbed Charlie from her other side and pulled him between them.

As the trio reached their place under the arbor, Travis said, “We’re ready now.”

Sixteen minutes and a lot of laughter later, Pastor Edward’s gave Travis permission to kiss the bride. Again.

www.mobilism.org





Want more Rock Canyon romance?

Keep reading for an excerpt from Codi Gary’s


THINGS GOOD GIRLS DON’T DO


and a sneak peek from her upcoming novel,


BAD GIRLS DON’T MARRY MARINES


Coming June 2014 from Avon Impulse!





An Excerpt from


THINGS GOOD GIRLS DON’T DO




For Katie Conners, being a good girl just isn’t worth it anymore. One evening, after a bad day and one too many mojitos, Katie starts making a list of things a girl like her would never do . . .

When local tattoo artist Chase Trepasso finds Katie’s list in a bar, he’s determined to help Little Miss Uptight check off a few items. Especially the ones on the naughtier side . . .


KATIE FINISHED HER last appointment and headed to the grocery store to do some shopping. She drove past The Local Bean and Chloe’s Book Nook, and looked to the left at Chase’s place, Jagged Rock Tattoo Parlor. She was still fuming about him coming into her salon and playing with her, even if he had apologized. Telling her he could help her out with anything on her list. Of all the conceited, high-handed, jerky things to say. He obviously hadn’t been too sorry, since he made that outrageous proposition. And after she had just started to think he wasn’t that bad of a guy.

Who did he think he was, Iron Man? That he could just ooze charm and she would fawn all over him because he was handsome, successful, and single?

Like she would ever really do anything on that list, and for him to suggest it made her feel cheap. Like he had no respect for her, or maybe it was just women in general. Was he one of those guys who thought all women were easy prey, just waiting for some big, handsome guy to move in with a few suggestive ideas and they would just drop their panties and say, “Come on, big boy . . .”?

Without really thinking about what she was doing, she pulled around the corner and parked. She slammed her door and marched into the parlor just as he was coming out of the back with a sterile tray. His pleased, lazy smile only added fuel to the fire.