Chapter 72

CHAPTER 72

SLATE

D oug and I had spent the last month cleaning out the barn and repairing it. Austin had come back to Merrick Meadows every weekend to help, and as I looked around now, I could hardly believe it was the same rundown, ramshackle building that I'd been afraid would collapse the first time Jess had brought me to the hayloft.

There were no more holes in the walls or the roof, and after we'd slapped a few coats of paint on the wood, it was gleaming. Good as new.

We'd cleaned out the scrap metal, broken machinery, tidbits, and even the hay, scrubbing every last speck of dust away until we'd been satisfied that Jess's dress wouldn't be ruined as soon as she set foot inside. I'd even installed clear roofing in the hayloft above so that she could still see the stars and the moon once the sun set later on.

For now, the sky was a deep blue outside, the sun starting to sink in the distance, but it wouldn't be going down for a couple of hours yet. Since it was the first weekend of October, it'd started setting earlier than it had even just a month ago, but we had plenty of daylight left for the pictures.

It was also a little cooler these days, which I was grateful for. I couldn't imagine standing here in the heat we'd had since I'd moved to Firefly Grove. Cows mooed and chickens clucked, but I could barely hear them over the music playing from above.

The hayloft was being used by a DJ at the moment and he was setting the scene with beautiful, instrumental music that made this moment feel unreal. In front of me, rows of covered chairs had been placed in the barn, currently occupied by everyone Jess and I knew and loved.

They were chattering and laughing, Jeanie and Doug in the front row, beaming as people came over to greet and congratulate them. I stood at the top end of a red carpet, under an arch that the family had made themselves out of vines and greenery from the forest, wrapped around the very same metal structure that Doug had built with his father for his own wedding.

I shook my hands out at my sides, anxiety coursing through me as I wondered where she was. My Jess. My bride.

I checked my watch. Again.

"Relax, brother," Austin murmured at my side, my best man coming to the rescue once more. "She's not even late yet. We've still got five minutes to go. She'll be here."

Jeanie had come in a couple of minutes ago, making me think that Jess was waiting right outside the new barn doors we'd put in for this very day. Why can't they just open already?

Dropping my chin in a nod at my hopefully soon-to-be brother-in-law, I dragged in yet another deep breath. "Yeah, I know. I just want to get this show on the road, is all."

Logan leaned past Austin, a groomsman who had happily stood back to allow Austin to be my best man. For starters, the guy was going to be my legal brother soon, so it'd felt right giving him the top spot on my side of the aisle, but he'd also helped me out so damn much with the wedding planning and we'd gotten pretty damn close. Behind Logan were my other longest standing friends I'd collected over the years. They'd all cracked the odd joke or two about never expecting the likes of me to get married in a barn of all places, but after seeing it all come together, they'd seen the whole picture of what it meant to live in Firefly Grove, and to make mine and Jess's love official.

"She's right out there, man," Logan murmured to me reassuringly. "They're just waiting for everyone to take their seats. Hey, have I mentioned how beautiful all this is?"

"I still can't believe it looks so good." Austin chuckled. "Maybe you can keep it like this. Turn it into an events venue."

As they continued trying to distract me, I took another look around. The flowers lining the walls and the aisle. The high ceilings and clean floor. It really did look amazing.

When Jess had told me she wanted to get married in the barn, I'd thought she'd lost it. We'd pulled this whole shindig together in a little over a month and I never expected we'd be able to get this place ready on time, but we'd all pitched in and here we were, not going to the chapel, but getting married nonetheless.

When the music changed and the officiant asked everyone to stand, my heart started thundering in my chest. This is it. Shit, I'm about to become a husband.

I swallowed past the nerves, clutching my hands behind my back. My eyes zeroed in on those damn doors. Finally, they swung open and my breath caught, but it wasn't Jess who appeared. It was fucking Tag.

He was a bridesman and he grinned as he walked in, wearing the suit Sophie had designed for him for the occasion. Mira appeared next, a bridesmaid who was carrying our ring bearer, baby Beau. She'd clipped the rings to his tiny tuxedo and I smiled as I caught her gaze.

She blew me a kiss and winked, followed by a handful of other bridesmaids, and then Sophie walked in, making my heart lurch once more. She was the maid of honor, which meant that Jess would be appearing next.

Somewhere along the way, Doug had disappeared from his place in the front row and my nerves kicked in again when I realized his seat was suddenly empty. My breath caught in my lungs, but when she finally appeared with her father in the doorway, the sight of her nearly took my legs out from underneath me.

Five weeks ago, when we'd come back from our picnic at the swimming hole, newly engaged, Jeanie and Doug had met us in the kitchen. After a few squeals of congratulations, my soon-to-be mother-in-law had disappeared, and she'd come back just a few minutes later carrying her wedding gown in a protective sleeve.

They'd all refused to let me see it, but early the next morning, the women had been gone, apparently meeting with Sophie about alterations to the dress. I'd known Soph was talented, and sure, I hadn't really seen the dress outside of pictures before, but she'd outdone herself this time.

Or maybe it was just because of the woman wearing the dress, but I suddenly couldn't breathe. My knees were weak and I couldn't see anyone else. There was only my bride, her loose brown curls cascading over her shoulders, and her green eyes as brilliant as the sun in the sky.

The dress was an off-white color, the straps a delicate lace that also covered the corset enveloping her torso. With the skirt flaring from her hips and a pair of red boots peeking out underneath it, she still looked like her, but my God.

She's stunning. Breathtaking.

Her eyes locked on mine and I grinned, suddenly unable to believe that this absolute vision of a woman was about to pledge the rest of her life to me. I held her gaze firmly as she and Doug made their way down the aisle, and when he placed her hand in mine, I nearly started crying.

"You're so gorgeous," I murmured as I pulled her to me, sweeping my gaze across her features as I found our fingers together.

She had tears in her eyes, but that spark of playfulness was still present as she winked at me. "You're not so bad yourself, City Boy."

I chuckled and together, we turned to face the officiant. We'd chosen to go the traditional route with our vows instead of writing our own, and before I even knew it, we were repeating after him.

Jess's eyes never left mine and I hung onto her as if I would fall over if I eased my grip, which was entirely possible. It took all my brain power to even just repeat what the officiant had said, but when I got to the important part, I grinned.

"I do."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Merrick-Spieres," the officiant announced happily. "Slate, you may kiss your bride."

Eager to oblige, I stepped into her, slowly bringing my hands to her face before I pressed my lips to hers, winding my arm around her waist so I could sweep her off her feet. Instead of dipping her though, I lifted her up against me, spinning in a circle as we sealed our promises with a kiss that I would never forget.

Jess squealed with laughter into my mouth, her arms around my shoulders as she kissed me back like we were the only two people in the world. Meanwhile, our audience erupted with laughter and tears, and as soon as I set her down, they descended on us.

Austin reached us first.

"Congratulations, guys. I can't believe you actually did it, but I'm happy." He hugged his sister and extended his hand to me. "Welcome to the family, brother. Officially now, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess so," I said, shrugging as I laughed. "Sorry?"

He shook his head, chuckling as he stepped aside to make space for my sister. "Why are you sorry? I'm not."

I grinned at him but caught Mira when she threw herself at us, cleverly having handed Beau to Logan, who joined us a moment later. "I knew this was going to happen as soon as I found out you'd hooked up at our wedding." Mira gave Jess a pointed look. "If you'd told me about that, I would've warned you."

Jess smirked. "Why would I have told you about that? It's weird. Isn't it weird? I'm married to your brother. You're my sister."

"I love it." Mira tossed her arms around Jess, hugging her tight before motioning at Beau. "Thanks for allowing us to bring him."

"Of course! I love my little nephew." When Jess reached for him, he went happily, smiling and cooing as she scooped him up in her arms.

My heart—and my dick—roared to life at the sight of her holding him, and I groaned softly. Logan must've heard me though because he laughed, suddenly speaking against my ear. "If you want one so badly, make one. It's your wedding night, bro. I have faith in you. You can do it."

I chuckled. "Maybe I should bank a few hours of sleep first, huh?"

"You're telling me," he agreed, taking his wife and child with him as other guests swarmed around us.

Eventually, Jeanie intervened, smiling as she took both our hands. "You'll have plenty of time to chat with everyone later. It's time for pictures now. Remember to make them romantic. You'll need them to add to the walls in the house. This is part of our family history now!"

I twined my fingers around Jess's, only too happy to pull her away for a few minutes. The photographers were already waiting for us outside though, and together, we headed off to the back fields to have pictures taken.

As soon as we got there, Jess hugged me and smiled. "Catch me if you can. I don't want those boring, posed pictures, do you?"

She suddenly let go of me then, spinning around and taking off running. I laughed, pausing to loosen my tie as I watched her pick up her skirt, those red boots pounding across the grass as she ran. Taking off after her, we chased each other through the fields for candid pictures and the photographers seemed to love it.

Finally, they told us they had enough and I grabbed her hand, pulling her into me for just a minute before I knew we'd have to go back. "I love you, Jess. You happy with the way everything turned out?"

"Happier than ever," she assured me, smiling as she dragged her fingers through my hair. "All in five weeks. You're a miracle worker, Mr. Spieres."

"You're the miracle, Mrs. Merrick-Spieres," I whispered into her mouth. "Now kiss me before I have to go share you with people again."