Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(87)

Brilliant round diamonds that extended down the bands surrounded the princess cut diamond. The light it was casting off was breathtaking.

“Lauren, will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man on Earth, and say you’ll marry me?”

Lauren still had her head rested against my chest with her eyes closed as she let out a giggle. “I’m pretty sure I’ve already agreed to this, Colt.”

Placing my lips to her ear, I whispered, “Open you eyes, sweetheart.”

Opening her eyes, Lauren looked at me and smiled. Glancing back to the gondolier, she saw the ring and let out a gasp as she covered her mouth. Leaning forward, Lauren dropped her hands and whispered in a shaky voice, “Oh. My. Glitter. Look at it . . . glitter.” Turning around in her seat to face me, she shook her head. “Colt, it’s . . . it’s beyond beautiful.”

A single tear rolled down her face as I reached up with my thumb and wiped it off her face. “Is that a yes?” I asked with a wink.

Letting out a giggle, Lauren nodded her head. “Yes! Yes of course it’s a yes!”

Taking the ring out of the box, I slipped it onto Lauren’s finger as people surrounding us began to clap. I was glad it was in the middle of the night and not that many people were around. Lauren wrapped her arms around my neck as she began to cry. “Colt, thank you for making this so special. I love you. I love you so much.”

Holding her tightly, I closed my eyes tightly and thanked God for not taking Lauren from me. “I love you so much too, Lauren. So very much.”

We spent the rest of the gondola ride talking about our future. I would never take for granted the moments Lauren and I shared together. Not one single moment.

Lifting her chin and looking at me, Lauren smiled. “I’m exhausted. If you want me to be awake tomorrow when you marry me, you better take me to bed. Now.”

The gondolier pulled over and Lauren and I thanked him for the amazing experience. I picked Lauren up and carried her back to the elevator as she nestled her head into my neck. By the time we got to the elevator, my princess was fast asleep in my arms.

Riding up in the elevator, an older couple smiled at me as the wife nodded her head and said, “Your wife?”

My heart about exploded. “Fiancée, we’re getting married tomorrow.”

The couple smiled and both said, “Congratulations.”

Smiling, I said, “Thank you.”

The couple got off one floor below ours. Trying to get the door open and hold Lauren proved to be difficult, but I somehow managed to do it.

Walking into the bedroom, I gently put Lauren down on the bed and brushed her blonde hair from her face. After carefully undressing her, I picked up one of the chairs and carried it over to the side of the bed and sat down. Smiling, I watched Lauren sleep. It was the first time since she’d been out of the hospital I could watch her sleep and not have this ache in my chest that she was going to leave me.

Tucking her hand up under her face, Lauren let out a soft moan that moved through my entire body, lighting it up until I felt nothing but pure love coursing through my veins.

“You will forever be mine, Lauren Reynolds. No one or nothing will ever come between the love that we share.”

Moving slightly, Lauren opened her eyes and smiled as she gazed upon me with a loving look. “Colt,” she whispered. “Please hold me.”

Stripping out of my clothes, I crawled into the bed and pulled Lauren closer to me. It didn’t take long for me to drift off to sleep. My dreams consisted of nothing but Lauren.





STANDING IN FRONT of the mirror, I stared back at myself. I wasn’t sure why I had tears in my eyes. There was nothing more I wanted to do than marry Colt. But now, standing here all alone, I felt so lonely. I wanted my mother here with me. I wanted her to fix my hair and do my makeup. Gush over me in my dress. I wanted Ellie to tell me how happy Colt was to be marrying me.

Turning around, I walked out of the bathroom and sat on the bed. Colt had gone down to check on a few things and hadn’t been back yet. How were we both going to get ready in the same room? I wanted Colt to at least not see me until we got down to the wedding spot, which I still wasn’t even sure where that was at. What if he sees me before the wedding? Isn’t that bad luck? Closing my eyes I wiped the tear away.

Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Running off without our parents here. Even Colt seemed to be off this morning when he mentioned something about his parents. He’d been texting with them all morning. Was it really fair we didn’t include them in this? Colt seemed distracted all morning as he kept checking his phone over and over again. Maybe this was a rushed decision on our part.

Oh my glitter. What in the hell is wrong with me? I’m getting married today and being a Debbie Downer. Stop this Lauren.

Sitting up, I pulled myself together and was about to start putting my hair up when the there was a knock at the door. Smiling, I shook my head and let out a giggle. Colt must have forgotten his key. Opening the door, my mouth dropped open and I couldn’t believe who was standing in front of me. I immediately broke down into tears at the sight of my mother and Ellie standing there. My heart felt as if it was going to jump from my chest.

“Mom! Ellie!”

Both of them quickly wrapped me up in their arms as we all stood there and cried. When I finally took a step back, Colt was standing behind them with the most breathtaking smile I’d ever seen. The ground literally felt as if it shifted under my feet.