Holding You (Love Wanted in Texas #3)(88)

“Colt? Did you know?”

My mother stepped off to the side as Colt walked up to me. “There was no way I could let us get married and not have at least our parents with us, Lauren. The moment I hung up with you yesterday, I called your parents and told them our plan. Then I told my parents and they all made plans to be here early this morning.”

Turning to my mother, my mouth dropped open. “You knew the whole time you would be here?”

Nodding her head she placed her hand on the side of my face. “Colt wanted to surprise you, baby girl. While y’all flew here last night, we took care of arranging the wedding plans and the flights here this morning.”

Standing there I was stunned into silence. Colt Mathews truly was a Godsend. An angel sent straight from heaven, who would always protect me and take care of me. He seemed to know my feelings and emotions before I did. He knew my wants before I even expressed them to him.

The only thing that would come out of my mouth was, “Mr. Snuggles.”

Colt tilted his head and looked at me with a questioning look. “Huh?”

“You’re my . . . my Mr. Snuggles.”

Colt chuckled and said, “Okay. I’ll take it.”

Ellie and my mother both laughed. Ellie walked up to Colt and said, “Colt, honey, don’t you remember Mr. Snuggles. You gave him to Lauren on what . . . your seventh birthday I think?”

Nodding my head, I couldn’t pull my eyes off of Colt. His smile seemed to light up the entire room when it finally hit him who Mr. Snuggles was. Leaning down he gently kissed me on my lips and spoke softly against them. “Baby, I’ll be your Mr. Snuggles for the rest of our lives.”

Wrapping my arms around him I held onto him tightly. “I’m scared, Colt.”

His arms wrapped around my body tighter as he picked me up and carried me into the bedroom. Setting me down he placed his hands on my face and looked deep into my eyes.

“Do you love me?”

Nodding my head, I whispered, “Yes, so very much.”

“Do you trust me, Lauren?”

Swallowing hard, I felt my eyes burning. “With my life, Colt.”

“Do you believe me when I say I’ll love you until I take my last breath?”

A small sob escaped my lips as I whispered, “Yes.”

Brushing his lips across mine, Colt kissed me passionately as my entire body filled with a warmth I couldn’t put into words. Pulling back, he kissed my tears away. My body calmed down almost immediately. Knowing that our parents were here and knowing it was Colt who had brought them here had my heart wanting to burst from my chest. “I’ll see you at three, sweetheart.”

Biting on my lower lip, I nodded my head. “I’ll see you at three.”

Colt took my hand and led me out to the living room where he placed my hand in my mothers. Kissing his mother Ellie on the cheek he turned and winked at me. “I’m heading back to my parents’ room to get ready. See ya soon.”

Watching Colt walk out the door with his bag and the tux he picked up this morning, I wanted to call out for him, but I pressed my lips together. The door shut and I spun around. Looking at the two most important women in my life I took in a deep breath and blew it out.

“I don’t even know where to start,” I said with a nervous giggle. Ellie and my mother looked at each other and smiled before turning back to me with the most loving looks on their faces. Ellie pulled out the stool and motioned for me to sit down while my mother lifted her suitcase and placed it on the table. Giving me a wicked grin as she unzipped the suitcase, I let out a gasp when I saw all of the stuff she had packed. “Mom, did you bring your whole bathroom?”

Laughing she handed Ellie the straightener. “I haven’t forgotten how to make those curls with this thing.”

Before I knew it I was sipping wine while Ellie and my mother fixed my hair, and then makeup. I’d never laughed so much in my life. My heartbeat had steadied and became calm. As Ellie and my mother fussed over me I felt elated. The moment was perfect and one I would never forget. I couldn’t contain my smile if I had tried.



ELLIE WALKED UP to me and smiled as she reached out for my hands. Looking down I noticed I couldn’t keep them from shaking. “Take a deep breath in, darling, and slowly blow it out,” Ellie said as she handed me a bouquet of red roses.

Doing what she said, I closed my eyes. “Why am I so nervous?”

Chuckling and dropping my hand, Ellie placed her hand on my arm and said, “Let me tell you a story.”

Opening my eyes, I focused on Ellie. “Right before I married Gunner, I had a serious panic attack. I couldn’t breathe and no one could calm me down except for him.”

Grinning, I asked, “Really?”

Nodding her head, I watched as her eyes filled with happiness as she recalled the memory. “The way you’re feeling right now, sweetheart, is so normal, but I promise you, the moment you look into those beautiful eyes of Colt’s and he smiles at you, your fear will melt away. The nerves will disappear and you will feel nothing but contentment. A sense of peacefulness will wash over your body.”

And I’ll wanted to do was jump on him and probably hump his leg. I guess we had gone too long without sex. What in the hell was I thinking? Why did I tell him I wanted to wait? Oh my glitter. He’s going to be in a tux. Colt in a tux. The last time he was in a tux was at Alex’s wedding and it was all I could do not to attack him and undress him on the spot.