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Authors: Parker Kincade
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wrong with me. I didn’t mean … of course we can’t go away during calving season. But we can’t go away now either. I wouldn’t be able to relax knowing things are such a mess here.”
Gavin was on her before she could retreat. He pulled her into his arms and breathed a sigh of relief when she melted against him. “I can think of a few ways to help you relax.”
“I have no doubt.” She nuzzled his chest. “I know it’s not ideal, but we could spend our wedding night at the beach house. Maybe spend a day or two there?”
He loved his— their —place on Galveston Island. However— “November isn’t the greatest time for swimming in the Gulf.”
“Who said anything about swimming?”
Gavin stroked a hand over her silky hair, struggling for the words to express how precious she was to him. He settled for, “All right, baby. If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”
He’d find a way to give this woman the moon if she asked for it, but spending what should be their honeymoon fighting with housing contractors was not his idea of a good time.
He had to make this right.
It was time to call in reinforcements.
Chapter Two
Minutes before the wedding…
“You look beautiful.”
Lauren’s heart warmed at her father’s praise. She’d special ordered her wedding dress from New York. The sleeveless ivory gown was perfect. The deep V neckline displayed enough of her cleavage to be alluring without being overly sexy. The bodice was custom fitted to her curves with a skirt that flowed into a stunning lace train.
But her favorite part was the sheer lace back. Lauren smiled when she pictured Gavin wrestling with the tiny pearl buttons that lined her spine. Once he realized she wore no undergarments, her poor dress wouldn’t stand a chance. She hoped he didn’t completely destroy the delicate fabric in his bid to get her out of it.
She raised the dress high enough to slide her feet into the pair of ivory and tan cowgirl boots that completed her wedding attire.
“Thank you, Dad.”
Her father grinned. “The boots are a nice touch. I’m glad to see you’re embracing your Southern roots.”
Lauren had worked hard to lose her Georgia accent when she’d moved to the east coast, but she’d never been ashamed of her roots. Ditching the accent had been a professional decision, not a personal one.
She went to her toes to smooch her dad’s cheek. “I don’t have to sound Southern to be proud of where I come from. You and Mom are wonderful parents. I wouldn’t be here today if not for the life you provided.”
It was true, and a better explanation than her soon-to-be husband had a fantasy that included Lauren in a pair of cowgirl boots and nothing else. A fantasy she planned to play out for Gavin later.
It was the least she could do after canceling their honeymoon.
Lauren checked the mirror one last time. Her hair was fashioned into sleek curls that framed her face. She decided to forgo heavy makeup, opting instead for a light dusting of blush and her favorite gloss on her lips. And since she cried at the drop of a hat these days, only the hardiest waterproof mascara would do for her lashes. Who knew running a cattle ranch while planning a wedding and building a new house could be so emotionally demanding?
Stressful or not, Lauren loved her life in Texas. Gavin’s family had welcomed her into their midst with open arms. Learning all the ins and outs of the cattle industry fascinated her, and Gavin … well … Gavin took every available opportunity to show her how much he loved her.
Her father’s gentle gaze met hers in the mirror.
“You ready, baby girl? It’s almost time.”
Lauren’s stomach fluttered. She was about to become Lauren Mathis.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
* * *
Gavin stood under the large, sturdy oak and tried not to fidget. He folded his hands in front of him.
His suit was perfectly tailored. The collar wasn’t too tight. The
Gavin was on her before she could retreat. He pulled her into his arms and breathed a sigh of relief when she melted against him. “I can think of a few ways to help you relax.”
“I have no doubt.” She nuzzled his chest. “I know it’s not ideal, but we could spend our wedding night at the beach house. Maybe spend a day or two there?”
He loved his— their —place on Galveston Island. However— “November isn’t the greatest time for swimming in the Gulf.”
“Who said anything about swimming?”
Gavin stroked a hand over her silky hair, struggling for the words to express how precious she was to him. He settled for, “All right, baby. If that’s what you want, that’s what we’ll do.”
He’d find a way to give this woman the moon if she asked for it, but spending what should be their honeymoon fighting with housing contractors was not his idea of a good time.
He had to make this right.
It was time to call in reinforcements.
Chapter Two
Minutes before the wedding…
“You look beautiful.”
Lauren’s heart warmed at her father’s praise. She’d special ordered her wedding dress from New York. The sleeveless ivory gown was perfect. The deep V neckline displayed enough of her cleavage to be alluring without being overly sexy. The bodice was custom fitted to her curves with a skirt that flowed into a stunning lace train.
But her favorite part was the sheer lace back. Lauren smiled when she pictured Gavin wrestling with the tiny pearl buttons that lined her spine. Once he realized she wore no undergarments, her poor dress wouldn’t stand a chance. She hoped he didn’t completely destroy the delicate fabric in his bid to get her out of it.
She raised the dress high enough to slide her feet into the pair of ivory and tan cowgirl boots that completed her wedding attire.
“Thank you, Dad.”
Her father grinned. “The boots are a nice touch. I’m glad to see you’re embracing your Southern roots.”
Lauren had worked hard to lose her Georgia accent when she’d moved to the east coast, but she’d never been ashamed of her roots. Ditching the accent had been a professional decision, not a personal one.
She went to her toes to smooch her dad’s cheek. “I don’t have to sound Southern to be proud of where I come from. You and Mom are wonderful parents. I wouldn’t be here today if not for the life you provided.”
It was true, and a better explanation than her soon-to-be husband had a fantasy that included Lauren in a pair of cowgirl boots and nothing else. A fantasy she planned to play out for Gavin later.
It was the least she could do after canceling their honeymoon.
Lauren checked the mirror one last time. Her hair was fashioned into sleek curls that framed her face. She decided to forgo heavy makeup, opting instead for a light dusting of blush and her favorite gloss on her lips. And since she cried at the drop of a hat these days, only the hardiest waterproof mascara would do for her lashes. Who knew running a cattle ranch while planning a wedding and building a new house could be so emotionally demanding?
Stressful or not, Lauren loved her life in Texas. Gavin’s family had welcomed her into their midst with open arms. Learning all the ins and outs of the cattle industry fascinated her, and Gavin … well … Gavin took every available opportunity to show her how much he loved her.
Her father’s gentle gaze met hers in the mirror.
“You ready, baby girl? It’s almost time.”
Lauren’s stomach fluttered. She was about to become Lauren Mathis.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
* * *
Gavin stood under the large, sturdy oak and tried not to fidget. He folded his hands in front of him.
His suit was perfectly tailored. The collar wasn’t too tight. The
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