Peyton’s gaze slid back to Michael, Frankie and Joey. “Well?”
Her sisters’ evasive eyes finally met in her direction, while a collective sigh filled the room.
Peyton’s heart sank at the sight of gloom and doom painted on their faces. “Just forget it.” She waved them off and turned away. Their failure to back her up on this issue felt like a knife to the heart, and it was difficult to pretend otherwise.
“C’mon, P.J.,” Sheldon said. “Would you rather we lie? You can be a little hard on men. We’ve told you this before.”
Peyton clenched her jaw and squeezed her eyes shut. Had the iron fence around her heart cost her the best thing that had come into her life?
She flinched when a pair of cool hands settled on her shoulders, but then relaxed when Frankie’s comforting voice brushed against her ear. “We all understand why. It’s just that if you ever want to be in a meaningful relationship again, you’re going to have to risk having your heart broken.”
“I already have.” Peyton opened her eyes, but her vision was blurred by brimming tears. She drew in a shaky breath and winced as if her heart were being torn from her chest. “And it hurts like hell.”
She turned toward Frankie and instantly wrapped her arms around her. “I really did screw this up, didn’t I?”
“Oh, P.J.” Frankie squeezed her tight.
Before Peyton knew it, two more sets of arms enveloped her. She was nearly crushed beneath the wave of love and support.
“P.J., you’re going to have to forgive me,” Sheldon said from the chaise. “But I don’t think I’m going to be able to get up.”
The statement elicited a chorus of laughter from the sisters.
From this moment, Peyton drew a measure of comfort from her sisters. Yet she still wished like hell there was some way she could get her man back.
* * *
It was a beautiful day for an outside wedding. As friends and family filled every chair on the lush lawn, there was no mistaking the buzz of excitement. After years of being engaged, Michael and Phil were finally getting married. Many had doubted this day would ever come.
A hush fell over the crowd as “The Wedding March” suddenly filled the air. Tears sprang to Peyton’s eyes as she took her position to march single file out onto the lawn. It was all she could do to concentrate on placing one foot in front of the other. Once she reached her marked area, she was to link arms with her groomsman partner, but way before she hit that mark, her gaze zeroed in on the man approaching her.
“Lincoln…?” Her steps faltered and she quickly hustled to get back into step with the music.
She hit the mark and paused again, when Lincoln, handsome in a black-and-white tuxedo, offered her his arm.
“What are you doing here?”
“Filling in for a sick groomsman.” He jutted his arm toward her again.
Disappointment crushed her heart.
“And of course, I wanted to try and win you back.”
Someone coughed and jarred Peyton back to reality. At last, she accepted Lincoln’s arm. Together, they marched down the aisle toward the minister.
“You know, this is pretty good practice,” he whispered into her ear, making her miss a step.
“You’re not funny,” she admonished him. “What happened to all that stuff about us not having what it takes to make this relationship work?”
He fell silent for a couple of steps before he replied, “I’ve been wrong before. The thing is…I love you.”
Tears seeped from her eyes as they finally arrived at the altar. Silently, they separated to stand at their designated positions.
Lincoln tried to calm the wild pounding of his heart. He had taken a big chance in coming there today. But he couldn’t get himself to board the plane that morning. He couldn’t walk out on the best thing that had ever happened to him.
He watched the rest of the wedding party as they marched down the aisle, but kept sending covetous glances towards Peyton. She was beautiful in a pink bridesmaid dress with her hair pinned up, and soft ringlets framing her face.
But Peyton refused to meet his gaze.
The wedding went off without a hitch. The crowd burst into jubilant excitement when the minister presented Mr. and Mrs. Phil Matthews.
Lincoln tolerated the silent treatment for a few minutes while everyone posed for photographs. But after that, he managed to corner Peyton before she made it to the reception tent. However, he hadn’t expected to find her eyes swimming in tears.
“You know we belong together,” he said gently. “I know it, too. But this is something we’re going to have to work at.”
She remained silent and refused to look at him.
Lincoln released a long breath. “It’s up to you. Maybe you don’t want to give us another try?”
Peyton sniffed. “It’s not that,” she finally said.
“Then what is it?” he asked, and then inched closer.
Wiping at a stray tear, she met his eyes. “I’m afraid that you were right yesterday. I don’t know how to let go of old baggage. I don’t know how not to expect the worst.”
It was Lincoln’s turn to lower his gaze. The silence that stood between them made it seem as if they were attending a funeral instead of a wedding.
“But I’m willing to try. If you’d let me.”
Lincoln’s gaze flew back up to meet hers. Had he heard her right?
“I love you, Lincoln. I know that much.” She moved closer to him. “Neither of us is perfect, but we’re definitely perfect for each other. Marry me.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.
He blinked in surprise. “Hey, that’s my line.”
“Not anymore.” She smiled. “Marry me.”
He rolled his eyes playfully. “I don’t know. It’s sort of sudden and where is my ring?”
“Going once, twice—”
“Yes,” he said, and then sealed the deal with a kiss.
Cheers surrounded the couple and they immediately sprang apart.
“I guess this means I’m off the hook?” Flex asked as he draped his heavy arms around the newly engaged couple.
Peyton waved a finger in front of him. “You’re not going to get off that easy.”
“Guys?” Sheldon’s voice sliced through the crowd. “Uh, I think I need to get to the hospital. My water just broke.”
All hell broke loose as the entire Adams clan scrambled to get Sheldon to the hospital. So much so that they had forgotten to tell her husband—who was in the bathroom. Lincoln found himself in the center of the mix, and was the appointed driver. In that instant, he was accepted as a member of the family.
A few hours later, he and Peyton stood arm in arm at the hospital’s nursery. They stared and made funny faces at Sheldon’s newborn baby girl.
“You know, I wouldn’t mind having a few of those myself,” he hinted.
“Oh? And just how many did you have in mind?” she asked, glancing up.
“One, two—a dozen.”
Peyton nearly choked.
“Okay, a half dozen,” he amended with a wink.
Peyton chuckled, and then slid her arms around him. “Aim…lower.”
“Well, at least I know we’ll have fun making them.”
“You know, there’s no crime in getting started right away.”
“Sounds like a short engagement is in order.”
“I think that might be best.” She tilted up her chin and rec
eived a kiss. When their lips broke away, she made a confession. “I’m glad you came back.”
“I’ll always come back to you. I love you.” He kissed her again. “So what’s it going to be—Georgia or California?”
“I love you, too, and I’ll be happy anywhere—as long as we’re together.”
“California it is.” He winked. “Of course, that’s depending on whether my boyfriend, Flex, doesn’t mind.”
“Very funny.” Peyton smacked him playfully on the chest. “I’m not sharing you with anyone.”
Lincoln leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Ditto.”
* * * * *
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ISBN: 9781459237964
Copyright © 2005 by Adrianne Byrd
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Measure of a Man Page 22
