by Cara Carnes
“Fuck no.” Dallas grinned, pulling back. “You?”
“Fuck yes.”
Dallas gave himself the moment to laugh his ass off. Dylan was marrying one of the best women in the world today. So was Jud. And Dallas was proposing to the best woman in the world at the reception. He’d had the plan in place for a week, but he hadn’t expected the wedding to happen so quickly.
Then again, Mary was pregnant. Her round belly was so cute. “Gotta go get some stuff together for tonight,” Dallas said with a grin.
“I’ll give the heads up to Jud. We’ll keep it quiet for now. I’m sure Ma’s got a plan for the women.”
Knowing Ma, she likely had more than a few plans underway. Dallas grinned. Hopefully she’d be willing to do it all over again on a much smaller scale for him and Kamren soon.
“Hey.” The woman in question startled him when she stopped a couple feet away.
“Jesus, I was so in my head I didn’t even hear you.” His gaze swept across her coveralls. They were baggy and faded with holes all along the legs and torso, evidence they weren’t for show. His woman worked her ass off. Dirt was on her face.
He smiled and swiped her cheek with his thumb. She leaned into the contact, closed her eyes, and sighed. “That’s what I needed.”
“You okay?”
“Not really.” She rocked back on her heels and dragged her bottom lip into her mouth. “I kind of got dragged into a secret I don’t think I should keep.”
“Riley just told me.” He motioned to the house he’d just left. “Dylan knows, he’s giving Jud the heads up. We’ll keep it from Vi and Mary for now.”
“Good.” She sighed and smiled. “What your mom’s doing is sweet, but I’m not good with surprises. I’d want to know. And holy wow, there are gonna be too many people here.”
She squeezed him tight as she settled her head against his chest. He inhaled her scent and smiled. God, he loved this woman.
“They’re starting a new chapter of their lives today and have no idea,” she whispered. “That’s so sweet, but so sad. They should know.”
“They will, sweetheart.”
“I’ll bring the boys back here after the wedding. They’ll get nervous with all those people there. She’s planning for the whole tri-county to be there. I don’t even know where she got all those chairs from. She’s got the full Burton Construction crew laying down flooring in a field, Dallas.”
“Jesus.” He muttered as the laughter tumbled from him. “Why?”
“Danny’s wheelchair and likely others with mobility issues.” She leaned back and whispered up to him. “You gotta warn them about that, too.”
“About what?”
“Danny. Your mom asked him to give the two women away.”
“Fuck.” They definitely needed a heads up about that. He didn’t think either Mary or Vi would want the entire tri-country witnessing their emotional reaction to that decision.
Which was brilliant.
The two women had rescued the man from hell. Not once, but twice.
Dallas pulled out his cell and texted Dylan and Jud. Once it was done, he returned the phone and claimed Kamren’s mouth. Her anxiety was palpable, and a dose of reality that choked out the elaborate plans he’d concocted in his head.
A proposal of that magnitude, him standing before everyone in the tri-county and asking for her hand was sweet. A fairytale ending.
But it wasn’t him.
And it sure as fuck wasn’t her.
He severed the kiss, letting their breathing return to normal a moment. “Marry me, Kamren.”
“What?” She leaned against him.
“I was going to do this in front of everyone at the reception, but I can’t wait. Marry me.”
“Yes!” She cheered. Tears ran down her cheeks. “I love you, Dallas Mason.”
“I love you, Kamren Mason.”
“You can’t call me that yet, not until the wedding.”
“A piece of paper doesn’t make that decision, sweetheart. We do. You were a Mason the day you exploded a truck outside this compound. You became my Mason when you found my sons. Actually, you were mine the day I walked into the Sip and Spin, turned that stool around, and looked into your eyes.” He cupped her face. “I knew you were about to rock my world right then.”
She took his hand. “That, Mr. Mason, has just earned you a special preview of our wedding night.”
Dallas chuckled as he lifted her up and jogged to their home. Her laughter rolled through the area, dissolving any residual fallout from what all they’d gone through the past few months. Today, four of the best people he knew were taking vows. One day soon, he would, too.
But the only vows that mattered had been decided the moment he met Kamren Garrett.
~THE END~
About the Author
Born in small-town Texas, Cara Carnes was a princess, a pirate, fashion model, actress, rock star and Jon Bon Jovi’s wife all before the age of 13.
In reality, her fascination for enthralling worlds took seed somewhere amidst a somewhat dull day job and a wonderful life filled with family and friends. When she’s not cemented to her chair, Cara loves travelling, photography and reading.
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THE ARSENAL SERIES
Jagged Edge
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Blood Vows
Zero Trace – Coming November 2018
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