Redneck Romeo (Rough Riders #15)(134)

Loud clapping behind them echoed through the trees.


They turned together and faced their family.


Hugs and claps on the back and even more hugs were exchanged. Then everyone backed off, giving them time alone.


They’d kept the ceremony for immediate family only. His brothers had stood up for him. Rory’s mom and Sierra had stood up for her.


Now they stood before each other, husband and wife, in the exact same place where they’d met for the first time.


“What are you thinking about?” she asked.


“Us. How perfect this is. But also in all those years we hung out here and all the games we played, we never once played house.” He kissed her again. “Why?”


“Because playing house isn’t a game for us. It’s for real. For keeps.”


And she swore she didn’t have a romantic streak. The fact she’d insisted they get married here and she carried a bouquet of plum blossoms and her lip gloss spoke volumes to him.


“I recognize that look, McKay. You were thinking of a way to get me up onto that rock just so you could push me off.”


“No way. It wouldn’t be the same because the six-year-old Rory I remember wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a princess dress. She would’ve jumped into the creek before I could shove her off, just to save face.”


She grinned at him. “You’re right.”


“But you look spectacular.” The white satin dress clung to her every curve from the waist down. From the waist up it was all fancy beading, lace and poufy stuff. Rory had let her hair hang loose rather than putting it up, knowing the second Dalton got her alone, all the pins would come out and he’d take it down anyway.


“Thank you. You look pretty spectacular yourself.”


He’d chosen a western-cut black suit with a plaid vest and no tie. Not once during the brief ceremony had he felt like he was choking.


“Sweetheart,” Rielle said to Rory, “Gavin and I are heading up to the house to make sure everything is set for the party.”


Rory kissed her mom’s cheeks. “Go on. We’ll be up in a minute.” As soon as her mother was out of earshot, Rory murmured, “I cannot believe she’s hosting the wedding reception at her house. I know it’s just a family reception, but that means all those McKays. And all their kids.”


“Hey, you’re one of them too now, Mrs. McKay.”


Tell and Georgia’s little girl, Carly, started to fuss. As Dalton’s first niece she was the official flower girl even when she didn’t do anything but look cute as a button in her beribboned dress. Tucker had done better than expected as ring bearer, but he’d lit out for the creek with Landon, Wyatt and Jackson as soon as possible.


Brandt and Jessie’s baby girl, Bethany, let out a loud wail.


“I think we’ll grab the kids and head up to the house too,” Brandt said and yelled for the boys.


Dalton’s mom gave him another hug. “I’ll ride up with the judge.”


“Well I’m not staying here by myself to watch the newlyweds suck face,” Sierra announced. Yanking up the skirt of her bridesmaid’s dress, she whistled for Jingle and shouted, “Hey Dad, wait up.”


And then they were alone.


Dalton faced Rory with a grin. “You know, we could…”


“Absolutely not, Dalton McKay. I am not having sex with you on that rock… Omigod please, stop doing that. Right now. Seriously…”


“In a minute,” he murmured against her throat.


Rory grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked so they were looking at each other. “Save it for the honeymoon.”


“You mean tonight, right? And not waiting to have my wicked way with my wife until we’re in Spain?” Having Rory to himself for two weeks in Europe was gonna be some fun.


“Of course I mean tonight. You do have a room reserved for us someplace?”


“Don’t need reservations in the great outdoors.”


“You are not expecting me to spend my freakin’ wedding night in a sleeping bag out in the woods, are you?”


He laughed. “Nope. You get enough of the great outdoors in your job.” Their transition to living together in a new state, as a couple, had gone much smoother than they’d imagined. They’d bought a house, a small fixer-upper to give him something to do. He’d found a logging company that needed part-time seasonal help and he planned to serve as a hunting guide in the fall for Boden. But for the most part, he was content being in their home, taking care of Rory, supporting her in the career she loved.


She swept his hair from his forehead. “I love you. Promise me we won’t get separated for too long at the reception?”


“I promise.” Then he kissed her. The kiss caught fire, like it always did between them. His mouth wandered, as did his hands. He’d just about had her talked into a quickie, when he heard motors gunning behind them and a series of annoying beeps.


Dalton stepped in front of Rory so she could straighten the top of her dress.


Kyler pulled into view in a side by side ATV that’d been decorated with white streamers and graffiti and had tin cans tied to the back end. A big sign said, Just Hitched.