Crazy Thing Called Life
Page 17
I am the luckiest son of a bitch in the world.
The lace surrounding her shoulders and collarbones is enough to keep her innocent, but the dip at the top of cleavage and lining into the tight waist shows the sexiness I know she keeps for me. I'm tortured by the slit in the dress that leads up her creamy legs to a spot that is both a favorite of hers and mine. Hmmm, I so plan to nibble on her hip at the top of that slit.
This whole day is going to be one torture-fest of her sexy body.
The veil that drapes over her lifted hair gives me full viewing access to her neck, and little pearled vines are intertwined into her hair.
Perusing lower, her heels are taller than I've seen her wear, and that gives me an idea for a full-body massage tonight as a teaser toward our sleepless wedding night. I might just make her wear those heels and nothing else.
Her eyes gleam of tears and even mine have gotten a little blurry in awe of the love we share for each other. Her father guides her to me and holds his hands over ours as the judge begins his sermon.
"Who gives this woman to be presented with this man?"
Her dad's voice is watered down when he looks at my bride and at me. "Her family does."
He kisses her on the cheek, and her shaky voice rings through my ears, "I love you, Dad."
He takes his spot with Mimi and Richard, and I'm finally left with Natalie in my reach.
"We are gathered here to celebrate the union between Colin Shaw and Natalie Lyons. Instead of the traditional vows, Colin and Natalie would like to recite their own vows."
I turn to the love of my life, look at her gorgeously teary-eyed face, and forget the entire speech I spent weeks writing. "Natalie Sarah Lyons. Where someone like me has had people look at him one way for a long time, you saw past the craziness that is my life to see the man who lives to take care of the most important people in his life. You are my world. You are my life. I don't exist without you, and if I had to have a tumble with a dog to run back into your life, I'd do it all over again if it meant you'd be the one taking care of us. Without injuring the dog, though. I promise you, for the rest of your life, I will be there to take care of you when you miss your mom, when Mimi tries to give you makeovers, or when I get you a dozen animals to be a part of our future family. I, Colin Keith Shaw, promise to love, honor, and cherish you through thick and thin, hot and cold, and anything else you can name 'til death do us part."
I put the wedding band on her finger. Natalie's downright crying now, and it takes her a second to compose herself with a tissue from Jamie before she nearly gets my heart to explode with her vows.
"Colin Keith Shaw, I promised myself I'd never admit to the daydreams and fantasies I had about you before we met, but I'm only a red-blooded female. Mr. March Madness stayed up on my wall longer than I care to admit, but it's nothing compared to feeling you hold me when I'm sad or tired. You've saved me in more ways than you can ever understand. Whether it be hyperventilating on an airplane or riding through a vineyard, you are my home. You are the happiness I feel whenever I look in the mirror because you are my mirror. You are my true other half. I cannot wait to have little ones running around our backyard and playing with our million pets, because I know they will grow up to be as happy, loving, and headstrong as their father. I, Natalie Sarah Lyons, promise to love, honor, and cherish you through thick and thin, hot and cold, and anything else you can name, 'til death do us part."
I wipe the tears falling from her eyes with my thumbs and grasp her face in my hands. I know as much as I want to kiss her right now, her dad might kill me if I jump the gun.
Ahh fuck it, I need to feel her lips.
Leaning down to her, the judge shoves me back a step. "Don't be so quick with the hands, MVP."
Everyone laughs before the judge quietens us down. "Natalie and Colin, as you both start this journey of love and home, do you take each other to be your lawful, wedded wife and husband?"
We both reply, "We do."
Clapping his hands, he announces, "By the power vested in me, by the state of California, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Colin Shaw. Colin, you may now kiss your bride."
I don't even hear him finish before I have my wife in my arms. I dip her down for a deep kiss through the applause and cheers of the people who care most about us.
We run through the small crowd of tossed lilies to the carriage, and I lift my wife into the velvet seat. I take Starlight's reins to have her pull us to the secluded spot where we want to take our pictures together before the reception.
The photographer is the same one who took the publicity stills almost a year ago, and we even had him do our engagement pictures. We went cheesy with matching football jerseys, and today's shoot will be full of love.
I get out of the carriage and pick up Natalie and carry her around the small field. She wanted to be on the edge of the vineyard where the land is lush and the grapes are vibrant.
"Colin, you can let me down now."
"Nahhh. I don't think so, wife. I'm holding onto you for the rest of my life."
She wraps her arms around me tighter, prompting me to kiss her, all while the clicks of the camera are in the background. I finally set her feet on the ground as we take picture after picture. My cheeks ache from smiling, and when the sun completely sets over the vineyard, I pull my wife toward the giant tent that Mimi set up.
I fucking love calling Natalie my wife.
"Please give a warm welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Colin and Natalie Shaw!"
The applause is as deafening as the day we won the Super Bowl. I grasp Natalie's hand and pull her to the middle of the dance floor. Spinning my wife around in my arms, I bring her close to my chest where she can feel the beat of my heart hammering as fast it did the first time we met.
I don't even notice the song ends until I feel a tap on my shoulder. Paul Lyons is standing next to me with the look of a man who is probably the happiest he's been in a long time.
"May I cut in and dance with my daughter?"
I step back and watch my father-in-law dance with my other half. A pinch to my butt lets me know that Mimi is nearby. I grab her hand and get her to dance with me without grabbing my butt every five seconds.
I give her my signature grin. "Mimi, I'm a married man now. Ya can't be pinchin' my ass."
10 Years Later
Squeals and screams are coming from the backyard while I'm hands deep in several side dishes. The temperature is dropping more and more into the night so everyone's gathering near the heat lamps and fire pit. Family reunion dinner is set to start any minute.
"Colin Keith Shaw, you better not have fed the kids before dinner! We have so much to do, and I can't have them destroying all this hard work!"
Our own three dogs, Starlight, Oscar, and Bolt run through the house barking up a storm when the human voices trail behind them. Sadly, Starlight the horse passed away shortly after we moved here, but we named one of our dogs after the horse that brought me happiness. Oscar is doing well for his age, and Bolt is actually the youngest member thanks to Fuzzy giving birth.
Walking through the sliding door, Colin is carrying our six-year-old son CJ, Colin Junior, and my dad is holding CJ's twin sister, Molly. Richard is holding our three-year-old son, Oliver.
Finding out I was having twins was a shock to the whole family. Colin wasn't so shocked because "His bulge was likely to carry enough children for an entire football team." Yes, my husband is that strange, and I wouldn't have him any other way.
"Now, Mrs. Shaw, you need to calm down. Everything is fine. The dinner is going to go off without a hitch."
I point a spatula at him and challenge, "Don't you dare come in this kitchen or you will be sleeping with the horses tonight. Out you go, mister!"
Mimi smacks me with a wooden spoon on my ass and starts laughing at me. "Oh, karma has come! I seem to recall you saying the exact same thing to me right after you two first met, and what did I tell you?"
I sigh and remember the words she told m
e about having my own family because she reminds me all the dang, freakin’ time! "That one day, young lady, when you do events like these for your own family, you will understand this pressure." I turn to Mimi, "Yes, I understand now and have for a couple of years. But I'm still gonna make my husband sleep with the horses if those children are hopped up on sugar."
Richard and my dad both shout out, "Actually it was us!"
Molly wiggles in her grandfather's arms. "Papa let us have cake!"
Putting my hands on my hips, I glare at my father. "Dad! Richard! Come on. I expected this from Colin, but you two?"
Colin comes up behind me and kisses my neck, effectively shutting me up with his whispering in my ear. "You might end up regretting putting me in the stables tonight. I might just drag you with me for a tumble in the hay, baby. Romance you under the stars."
Even after ten years of marriage, our spark has never dwindled, mainly because I still can't stop jumping his bones half the time. Mimi was surprised I haven't had more children by now with how sexy my husband is, but we paced ourselves so that we don't go insane.
Colin loves his role as property manager here at the vineyard, and Mimi and Richard focus more on teaching and event planning. The kids love to watch Colin as he does the horse tours and keeps an eye out in the vines for the harvesting and picking. A few times a week we take runs or rides together as a family. We are trying to see what the kids are interested in first before we push football, medicine, or horseback riding on them.
Of course, Colin is subliminally trying for football.
He retired shortly after the twins were born because he didn't want to miss out on anything in their lives, but he still loves to rough house.
It was actually his idea to leave Houston and move to Napa. His whole family moved here, too. Mimi hired Jamie to be the head chef at the restaurant, and Grant got a job at the elementary school where Melissa goes. Danny is hard at work for the high school varsity football team with a captaincy in his future thanks to coaching from Colin.
While me, I decided to work part-time at the vet clinic not far from here so that I could still be home with my family on a regular basis.
Speaking of family. The noises roaming from outside and the constant barking of the dogs, a total of seven on property now, does not help my stress at all.
The natives are getting restless for food.
"Dad and Richard! Will you get the grill goin’ now? The meats are done marinating!"
Mimi and a couple other helpers take the sides out to the giant tent, and all the men have run outside to the grill stations. A glass of wine appears in front of my face and the scent of my husband surrounds me.
Without spilling it, I move the wine from my face.
"I won't be needing that for a little while, babe."
His eyes bug out of his head, and he puts the wine glass on the flat setting of the railing before pulling me into his arms.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
I blush at him and give him a deep kiss, long enough for our kids to scream "Ewwww" from across the lawn.
"You're gonna be getting another player for your team, Shaw. Although, I have a feeling this one will be a girl."
He lays his forehead against mine and cradles my neck in his hand. "Running into that clinic was the best damn day of my life. I love this crazy ride we've been, on and I love you so fucking much, Natalie. I'm gonna go tell the kids. You go relax."
Colin gives me another bruising kiss before running to grab our three kids to tell them the good news. Dad walks back up the stairs of the back deck and wraps his arm around my shoulder.
"Are you happy, baby girl?"
I lean my head on his shoulder, gaze out at my amazingly crazy family, and smile at the sight in front of me.
"More than you will ever know."
As I continue my paths through writing and publishing, new people have come into my life in ways where I cannot express my gratitude enough, even with chocolate bribery involved.
First and foremost, my group of best friends who are my biggest supporters and fans. We may not be sisters by blood, but our bond goes further, and a lifetime. I'm so lucky to have you guys in my corner through thick and thin, hot and cold, and all the mess in between. I love you all.
To my very own Aunt M. Whether I text you just to say I miss you or complain about wanting to go to Disney, I can expect the love of the Irish to be there. You are my wine guru and enabler of all things Tasty Kakes. I love you, auntie carrot top.
My parents, family, and siblings. You've been such a huge support since my first book and no words can cover any adjective to how much I love you more.
Silla Webb. How can I explain this angel from heaven? She lets me send one paranoid e-mail after another because I always think I forget something. You somehow seem to understand my brain despite being several states away when I write it and are not afraid to let me enable you with chocolate. You've been a ray of sunshine when I'm trying to remember your advice and I look forward to working with you more throughout the years if I haven't driven you crazy yet.
Shauna Kruse. The mastermind of all things sexy and sensual pictures. You captured the essence of my Colin Shaw. You are a truly one of a kind sweetheart and I'm so glad to have worked with you on this project and hope for many more. I hope someday your travels take you all around the globe to wherever you want to go and that you get your chance to cross all the countries off of your bucket list. Not only are you an incredibly talented photographer, but you are also an amazingly beautiful person.
Jessica Florence. You are the happy to any dark day. You're not afraid to be outside the box with your personality and writing. Whether it's dressing up in a hilarious costume or naming a character after a favorite tv show, you let your passion for life shine through every single day. Your writing has encouraged me to continue mine and look forward to new challenges in all parts of imagination.
Justin James Cadwell. Your smile alone makes your followers swoon and your spirit makes fans look up to you as one incredible role model. Thank you for bringing your gifts to the world. I once told Shauna that you have that look that you know something the rest of us don't. You know that we are all capable of achieving our dreams by simply going after them.
To the authors I've had the honor of meeting at signings and events. Thank you for the warm hearts and stories you give to the world. It means more to me than you will ever know.
To the readers: thank you for following me through this journey and continuing to be a strong and loving community. Your faith and support in me have kept me going to branch out with my dreams.
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