The Gratitude Guarantee (Boyfriend in the Bargain #4)

Epilogue

brENNA

10 months later

“ T here, you’re all set.” Heather straightens my veil one last time and steps back. She, Sara, and Amanda look lovely in their burnt orange chiffon bridesmaid dresses, the long sleeves, cinched waists, and flowing floor-length skirts very flattering on all three of them. They’re perfect for a November wedding.

Kenzie is adorable in a matching dress in a much smaller size, her hair pulled back in a curling ponytail and tied with a ribbon. Her flower girl basket is adorned with eucalyptus and filled with white rose petals to match our bouquets. Bella declined to be a flower girl, saying she was too old, and Kenzie was only too happy to have full command of the spotlight.

I turn to the mirror and check my dress one last time. I fell in love with the ballgown style dress as soon as I tried it on, the smooth satin V-neck bodice flaring out into a wide organza skirt that makes me want to twirl like a little girl. “You look stunning,” Mom says, wrapping an arm around my waist. I beam and squeeze her back. I feel stunning, as well as thrilled that this day has finally arrived. After ten months of back and forth between Nashville and Knoxville and countless discussions about the logistics of combining our lives, Zach and I are both more than ready to embrace forever together in the same city.

In a matter of minutes, I’ll be walking down the aisle to meet Zach at the altar and I couldn’t be more ready. I haven’t seen him since yesterday morning before our family and friends took us out for our respective bachelor and bachelorette celebrations and then insisted on adhering to the tradition of the bride and groom being kept apart until the wedding. Heather even went so far as to confiscate my phone a few hours ago, lest an unapproved photo sneak through and ruin everything. Her words, not mine.

“Alright girls, let’s get this party started,” Mom says, clapping her hands and shooing everyone out into the hallway. I follow and find Dad waiting in the hallway, looking distinguished in a new suit, his salt-and-pepper hair freshly trimmed just this morning.

“You look beautiful, kiddo.” He presses a kiss to my cheek and clears his throat. I pretend that I don’t notice the suspicious sheen in his eyes.

“Thanks, Daddy. You look pretty dapper yourself.”

We line up behind the bridesmaids and flower girl and listen as the pianist starts to play. One by one, they walk out the double doors until finally, it’s our turn. The music changes, and I squeeze Dad’s arm.

I’ve been remarkably calm all day, but the moment we step into the sanctuary and I see Zach at the end of the aisle, my eyes well up and my chest tightens with all the feelings. Love, joy, excitement, and gratitude fill me and bubble over like a fountain.

It’s the longest and shortest fifty feet I’ve ever walked, and before I know it, I’m standing in front of Zach, our hands clasped tightly. He looks devastatingly handsome in his dark suit and burnt orange tie, a white rose pinned to his lapel. I’m lost in his brown eyes, captivated by his full, firm lips turned up in a smile. He shoots me a slow wink, and I very nearly swoon.

When the pastor finally pronounces us man and wife, Zach gets a dangerous gleam in his eye. He pulls me forward and grips my waist tightly. “I love you,” he whispers, just before he delivers a humdinger of a kiss, complete with a deep dip that makes my head spin as I hang on to his solid shoulders for dear life.

He pulls me back up and into a tight embrace. I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him back. Behind him, Grant, Isaac, and Ben stand as his groomsmen, grinning and clapping with the rest of the guests.

Zach lets go and turns us toward the crowd, raising our joined hands in the air between us like we’ve just been named victors, and leads me down the steps and out the back door. As soon as we’re outside, he sweeps me off my feet and carries me into an adjoining hall with long strides.

I squeal in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“I had to have a minute alone with you,” he says, halting once we’ve turned the corner. He lets my feet down carefully and then faces me, a look of pure adoration on his face. “You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe you’re my wife.”

My eyes mist and a giggle escapes me. “You’re not so bad to look at either.”

He walks forward, gently crowding me back against the wall, and braces his hands on the wall on either side of my head. “I’ll take it.”

Then he leans in and kisses me with all the confidence and passion of a soulmate who now has the marriage certificate to make his claim on me official, legal, and binding. I respond eagerly, putting all my effort into letting him know that my heart is fully and completely his.

After a moment, he pulls back, his reluctance clear. “I guess we should go make an appearance at the reception since you and your mom put so much effort into planning it.”

I wave my hand and give him a saucy smile. “Meh. Maybe we should just skip straight the honeymoon.”

His eyes darken and he swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Don’t tempt me, woman.”

“It’s my job to tempt you. I’m the only woman who is allowed to now.”

He throws back his head and laughs as he stands up straight. “Come on.” He offers me his arm. “Let’s at least go get some food before we split.”

Now that I can agree with.

As he leads me toward the reception hall, all I can think is how is this my life? A year ago, I didn’t realize how lonely I was, putting too much effort into a dead-end job hours away from my family. Now, I live fifteen minutes from my parents and Isaac in an adorable house I bought when I realized that I loved my new job working with Mark and wanted to stay in Knoxville. When I told him as much, Zach immediately began making plans to move his business here, leveraging every connection he had to build up a client list quickly.

I glance over at my husband of five whole minutes. In a few hours, we’ll be leaving for the airport to fly off on our first adventure as a married couple. We planned a leisurely week in London with a list of sightseeing locations and lots of downtime scheduled to just bask in each other’s presence. I can’t think of anything that sounds more perfect.

Isaac spots us approaching the door to the reception hall and holds up a hand to delay us while he jogs to the DJ booth.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the DJ booms into his microphone. “Please welcome the new Mr. and Mrs. Dawson.”

Our gathered loved ones clap as we enter, and I’m grateful that despite all our challenges, we made it to this day. Zach spins me out onto the open floor in the middle of the hall as the music we chose for our first dance starts to play.

At last, my love has come along, Etta James croons, and I bury my face into Zach’s neck as we slowly rock and twirl across the floor, his heartbeat strong and steady beneath my cheek.

It feels like coming home.