Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(84)

Nodding her head, she wiped her tears away. “I know, Lauren. Will you at least let us throw y’all a reception?”

Quickly wiping my tears away, I smiled. “I’d love that. But what I’d love even more is if we could raid your closet for a white dress!”

Smiling, she took me by my arm and led me to her bedroom. Glancing over my shoulder I said, “Daddy, when Colt gets here, will you keep him entertained?”

Giving me a wicked smile, he chuckled. “Oh for sure. I have a few things I want to talk to my future son-in-law about.”

Getting ready to protest, my mother pulled me into her room and headed to her closet.

Pushing some dresses out of the way, my mother smiled as she said, “I have the perfect dress!”

My stomach began flipping and dipping in every possible way imaginable as I thought about marrying Colt. My mother pulled out a white strapless lace dress and held it up in front of me. It was beautiful. The length and style of the dress was perfect. “Oh, Mom this dress is perfect.”

Tears began to build in my eyes as I attempted to hold them back but couldn’t. Turning to my mother, I lost it when I saw the tears rolling down her face. Pulling me into her arms, we both cried. “Lauren, I can’t believe you’re getting married.”

Squeezing my eyes shut tightly, I mumbled, “I know.”

Taking a step back, I held the dress up and shook my head. There was something about it. It was so simple, yet elegant. Colt is going to love me in it and I bet my boobs are going to look amazing!

“You know, when you were little, you used to put this dress on and line up all your dolls and teddy bear. Your father used to have to walk you down the aisle and then pretend to marry you to your Prince Charming.”

Looking down at the dress, I smiled. “Oh my glitter! I remember that. Mr. Snuggles used to always be my Prince Charming.”

Letting out a giggle, I looked at my mother who had a stunned expression on her face. She slowly brought her hand up to her mouth and let out a small sob. “What’s wrong, Mom?”

Laughing, she dropped her hand and gazed into my eyes. “Lauren, do you remember who gave you Mr. Snuggles?”

Stopping to think about it, I looked away. My breath caught as the butterflies fluttered in my stomach when it hit me.

“Colt,” I whispered.

My mother placed her hands over her mouth in an attempt not to cry again. With a disbelieving voice I attempted to tell the story of when Colt gave me the bear. “It was in our place, the treehouse, for my seventh birthday.”

My mother nodded her head. “You wanted a tea party and we set it all up under the tree. After everyone left, Colt took you by the hand and led you to the treehouse, then gave you his gift.”

Placing my hand over my stomach, I let my tears fall freely. “Oh my . . . the man was romantic even back then! I just didn’t know it.”

Letting out a chortle, my mother said, “You must have because you married that stupid bear over and over at least fifty times.”

Looking into my mother’s loving eyes, I was lost in the moment. My skin felt as if tingles were moving up and down my body, my heart was beating quickly and I felt breathless. “Mom, it’s like everything has come full circle. Colt truly is my prince charming who saved me.”

“Oh, sweetheart.”

Walking into my mother’s arms, we stood there for a few minutes and cried. It was then I realized my mother wouldn’t be with me on the day I married my prince charming. My heart physically ached.

When I finally came to my senses, I heard Colt and my father talking. Chewing on my bottom lip I said, “I better go finish packing.”

Lacing her arm with mine she nodded her head. “I’ll help.”

Racing through the living room, I yelled out over my shoulder, “I’ll be a few more minutes!”

Colt and my father laughed as I heard my mother say, “We found the perfect dress.”

“Baby girl, slow down,” Daddy said as I raced up the stairs with my mother following closely behind me.

Thirty minutes later I was walking down the stairs with a suitcase in my hand and a smile on my face. Colt looked up at me and I had to catch my breath from the smile he was giving me.

Holy hell. Colt was so handsome. How in the world did I get so lucky to have those blue eyes look into mine with so much love? Oh my glitter. I could practically feel the heat coming off his body.

“Hey,” Colt whispered.

“Hey back at you,” I whispered back as I walked up to him. Taking the suitcase from me, Colt leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips.

I wanted to deepen the kiss so bad, but not with my parents standing right there. For a few brief moments, Colt and I were lost in each other’s eyes. My father cleared his throat, causing us both to pull out of the trance.

“Colt and I were talking, Lauren. With both of you going to be working here, I thought it best that you stay with us when you get back. I’m going to have Aaron and Dewey look at getting the hunters cabin fixed up. Maybe add onto it and expand it some. I think it would make the perfect first home for the two of you.”

Spinning around and facing my father, I ran into his arms. “Oh, Daddy! It will be more than perfect!” Burying my face into his chest, I took in a long deep breath. I loved how my father smelled. Anytime I ever got upset or sad, I would either hug my father or sneak into his bathroom and spray his cologne on my arms. “Daddy, I love you so much.”