Nobody's Lost (Rescue Me Saga #5)(69)

“Megan, you look beautiful.”

She smiled. “Today, I feel beautiful because I’m going to marry the man who makes my heart complete.”

He shook his head. “I sure hope you know what you’re doing. Mom thinks you’ve gone off the deep end, you know.”

“Just wait ’til Mom meets him at Adam’s place in a couple weeks. She’ll love him, too.” She stood on tiptoes, gave him a peck on the cheek, and then wiped away the coral lipstick. “Thank you for not going into typical big-brother mode with Ryder the other night.”

“If Adam trusts him with your life, then I know I can.”

Marines and their Code. God love ’em.

“I guess we’d better go. Marcia texted me that they’re about thirty minutes out from the courthouse. I don’t want to keep my future husband waiting.”

“You haven’t kept him waiting at all, by most wedding standards.”

She punched his arm playfully. “You’ve been listening to Mom. ‘What harm would it do to wait a few weeks at least? Get to know him better. Men with combat stress can change at the drop of a hat.’”

“You know what she went through with her first husband.”

She nodded.

“I’ll try to help reassure Mom that Ryder is trying to change how he responds to his triggers and nightmares. While you were working on your photo edits the other night, Ryder and I had a good long talk.”

“Yeah, I was a nervous wreck, worrying the whole time you were going to send him packing for the hills.”

Patrick grinned, probably remembering how much fun he’d had intimidating past boyfriends. “Anyway, the vision quest and sweat lodge ceremony he participated in sounds like something I might try sometime.”

Megan gave him a hug.

“What’s that for?”

“For being a strong Marine who knows when he needs to reach out to others. I’m so glad you found Save a Warrior. I noticed a dramatic change in you when you came home from that experience.”

“It’s actually spiritually based, like Ryder’s vision quest.” They broke the hug, and he smiled at her. “You found a good man, Megan. But you know I’m here for you, no matter what. Promise me you’ll be a strong Marine sister and you’ll let me know if you ever need anything.”

“I will. But you also taught me how to be strong and take care of myself.”

She grinned. “Now I think we’d better go.

They walked toward the garage, and once inside, he opened the passenger door of her Ford Escape and gave her a hand up. She’d learned long ago not to even try to open doors for herself around him. As she waited in the SUV, she pulled the vows from her purse and read them over again. The words of her heart for the man who won her heart.

They didn’t say a lot on the way downtown. A text from Marcia told her they were in the county clerk’s office and could start the process for the license as soon as the bride arrived. Patrick parked, glaring at her when she opened her own door to get out, but went to the back of the SUV to retrieve a large white box.

“Sis, I wanted you to have a bouquet, even if it’s a civil ceremony.”

She opened the box, revealing the arrangement of pale pink roses and baby’s breath. “Oh, Patrick, it’s beautiful!” Holding onto the bouquet she wrapped her arms around him. “Thanks so much for being here.”

He picked up her camera case. “You know I wouldn’t miss it—not that you would have waited for me.” She grinned. The man knew her very well. “I’ve been practicing to use your video camera. Hope I don’t mess up recording your big day for Mom and Adam.”

“Nothing will mess this up short of my groom being a no-show, and Marcia assures me they’re all up there waiting for us.” They found the clerk’s office, and when she walked inside, she was surprised to see Ryder in his dress blues. He crossed the room to her.

“Breathe, Red,” he said as he bent to kiss her, taking her breath away a second time.

“You look even more handsome in your uniform.”

“Well, I don’t have many occasions to wear it anymore, but I had to today.”

“I’m glad you did.”

After introducing Patrick and Marcia, they filled out the paperwork and waited to receive the license then they all walked the few blocks to meet with the justice of the peace who would perform the ceremony.

They informed the justice of the peace that they had written their own vows, and the ceremony progressed rapidly to that point. With Ryder’s arm brushing hers, Megan didn’t hear much until she and Ryder were instructed to face each other. He was prompted to speak his vows first, and everyone else in the room faded away.

With his shaking hands holding her own, he said:

I, Ryder, choose you Megan,

To be no other than yourself,

Loving what I know of you,

Trusting what I do not yet know.

I will respect you as an individual and my partner in life,

and as someone who will help me to grow and heal.

I promise to laugh with you when times are good,

and hunker down with you when they are bad.

I will adore, honor, and encourage you.

And I will love you always.

Megan smiled through her tears. Overcome with emotion, she accepted a tissue from Marcia to wipe her eyes before she began her own vows.