Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(83)

Letting his shoulders drop into a relaxed position he laid his head back and sighed in relief. “Thank you, God.”



LYING IN BED, I stared up at the ceiling. As much as I had been dying to make love to Lauren, I wanted to make sure she was feeling one hundred percent better. Being near her was beginning to take its toll on me. Lauren had come over to my parents’ house for dinner tonight and every time she laughed, my dick jumped. The smell of her perfume caused my stomach to dip in that crazy way it does when you’re on a roller coaster. The way she kept smiling at me with that adorable smile of hers was enough to keep me forcing myself to keep my hands at my side. Being with Lauren was more than a physical thing; she made me feel whole when we were together.

Closing my eyes, I could still taste her on my lips. It was almost as if they were still tingling from the kiss good-bye she gave me.

Reaching over to the side table, I grabbed my phone. Lauren should be back home by now.

Me: Marry me.

Lauren: I’m pretty sure I already said yes.

Me: Marry me now. I don’t want to wait any longer.

Lauren: If we left now, we could be married in twenty-four hours.

My heart felt as if it leapt from my chest. Smiling, I hit Lauren’s number.

“Hello there, handsome.”

Grinning, I sat up. “Pack a bag, Ms. Reynolds. I’m taking you to Vegas.”

“Mmm . . . I’m not sure. I mean, we aren’t even twenty-one, what are we going to do there?”

Holding back my laughter, I said, “We can play strip poker in our hotel room after I make you Mrs. Colt Mathews.”

I heard a noise and Lauren yelled out. “Shit! I stubbed my little toe!”

Laughing, I got up and walked to my closet as I grabbed a duffle bag. “Well?”

“Ouch. That really hurt, Colt!” Lauren whined.

“How about I kiss it for you?”

Lauren sucked in a breath of air, then let out a soft moan. “I’m packing right now. I’ll be ready in a couple of hours.”

The phone line went dead as I pulled it away from my ear and looked at it. Laughing, I shook my head and quickly packed a bag, then headed down to talk to my parents.

Holy shit. I’m going to marry Lauren.





RUNNING DOWN THE stairs I called out for my mother. “Mom! Mom!”

Stepping out of my father’s office, my mother hummed as she made her way into the living room. “What’s up?”

Skidding to a stop in front of her, I stared at her. What’s up? She wants to know what’s up? Oh, just the man of my dreams is taking me to Vegas to get married and play strip poker! That’s all! Okay, so maybe I won’t mention the strip poker.

Attempting to keep the panic out of my voice, I said, “I need a dress! Mom, I need a white dress stat!”

Well, so much for keeping the panic out of my voice.

A smile slowly played across her face. “Why white?”

Sucking my lower lip into my mouth, I felt my face flush. “Colt’s taking me on a little road trip to Vegas.”

Her face was blank. I couldn’t read it at all and I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. “Lauren, I know you got the all clear from Dr. Cunningham, but are you up for a road trip, darling?”

My eyes widened as my father walked up and stood next to my mother. “Mom! Colt wants to marry me. Of course I’m up for a road trip.”

Wrapping his arm around my mother’s waist, my father chuckled. “Jessie, she’s been home for two weeks, I’m sure she’ll be fine. Where are you going, Lauren?”

Glancing over to the clock, I blew out a breath of air. Colt would be here soon. “Vegas, and I really need a white dress, Mom.”

My mother’s eyes began to water. I was slightly stunned they didn’t seem more shocked. “You’re eloping,” my mother whispered as she placed her hand on the side of my face.

“Yes!” my father said with a fist pump as my mother turned and gave him a horrified look.

“Scott! Our baby girl is wanting to run off to Vegas and get married.”

Looking at my mother and then me, my father shrugged his shoulders. “What? We knew they were going to be getting married soon, they both said so, and why can’t they elope?”

Placing her hands on her hips, my mother gave my father an angry look. “Scott Reynolds, you just don’t want to plan a wedding.”

Laughing, he looked at me and winked. “Nonsense. I’ll throw them the biggest reception ever thrown in Mason County.”

Throwing myself at my father, I whispered, “Thank you, Daddy. Thank you for being so understanding.” Pulling back, he kissed me on the forehead.

“You’ll always be my little girl though.”

Nodding, I whispered, “Always.”

“Wait. Wait just a second. I can’t . . . I mean . . . well—” Closing her eyes, my mother turned from me. When I heard her sniffle, I placed my hand on her arm.

“Mom?”

Turning to me, she wiped her tears away. “It’s just I always dreamed you’d be walking down the stairs on your father’s arm and getting married here, surrounded by your family and friends.”

My eyes burned with the threat of tears. “Mom,” I whispered, “that’s your dream, not mine. The only thing I want is to start my life with Colt, and this is what we both want.”