The Devoted Groom

by Cami Checketts

  Bree nodded, appreciating the gesture. He could’ve told her to leave with her sister and stay away from him. Of course, Ryder was too kind and thoughtful to treat her like that. Her heart was thumping painfully though. If she associated with Jasmine, would she be risking Ryder and Tate?

  Ryder’s phone rang. He answered it, and from his answers, it sounded like his security company.

  They all walked quietly into the house while Ryder talked on the phone. He hung up and took Tate from Bree’s arms, giving her a sad smile. She didn’t know what to say, so she walked toward the office with Jasmine in tow.

  She and Jasmine sat in chairs close to each other. Jasmine reached out and took her hand. “I’m sorry, sis.”

  “For?” Almost getting them killed tonight? Bree realized that was mostly on her as she’d been the one to hire a P.I. and find Jasmine twice, but she couldn’t have known the danger surrounding her sister.

  “Saying I didn’t want you in my life last night.” She let go of her hand and looked at the desk. “I lied.”

  “Why?” Bree’s heart filled with tenderness for her sister.

  “I wanted to protect you.” She gestured toward the outside. “My life is nothing predictable or safe. I wanted to leave you alone with your famous football player and know you were safe and happy, even if I couldn’t see you again.”

  “But I want you in my life,” Bree said.

  Jasmine arched an eyebrow. “Is that smart for you or them?”

  Ryder and Tate. She didn’t want anything to happen to either of them. Yet she needed this chance, to be with Jasmine, to get to know her.

  “I want to know you. I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too.” Jasmine smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “But my life is just too … crazy. How would we spend time together?”

  Bree swallowed. “What if I came with you? Where are you going?”

  “We’ll go back to Sutton’s home, to California, until I get a new assignment.”

  “Could I come with you?” Jasmine started to protest, but Bree held up a hand. “Just for a little while, even if only for a couple of days. I just want to know you a little bit. Hear what’s happened to you the past fourteen years, know how you became this Wonder Woman lady, see where you live.”

  “You’re the only person I would share any of that with.”

  Excitement filled Bree. Her little sister was here, and she wanted to talk to her, share her past.

  Jasmine shrugged. “Sutton won’t care if you come. There are so many agents in and out of the house, and there’s plenty of room.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Can you really leave Ryder Quinn and that cute little boy?”

  Bree’s throat tightened. She didn’t want to leave them ever, especially when they’d had this breakthrough with Tate’s speech, but how could she pass up this opportunity to finally reconnect with the sister she’d longed for? “It’s only for a couple of days.”

  “We’d have to leave immediately.”

  It was still hard to reconcile this professional, confident woman with her eight-year-old sister. Bree couldn’t let her get away again. “I can do that.”

  “Okay. Let’s go.”

  Well that was easy. Sadly, leaving Ryder and Tate wouldn’t be nearly as simple or painless. Would Tate be okay after seeing his dad fight to protect them? Ryder was an amazing dad, and Bree knew he would take good care of Tate. Two days shouldn’t matter much, and she’d be back soon to be with them.

  Bree stood and followed Jasmine to the entry. Ryder rose from the couch with Tate in his arms as they approached. Bree left Jasmine’s side and walked to meet him. Before he could say anything, she quickly said, “I’m going to California with Jasmine for a couple of days.”

  His eyes widened. “You’re leaving us?” His voice was full of pain.

  “No, not leaving. It’s just for two days.” She lowered her voice. “Please understand, Ry. This is my chance to get to know my sister. I’ve dreamt of this day for fourteen years.”

  Ryder studied her, his blue eyes as serious and troubled as she’d ever seen them. Finally, he asked, “Will you come back to us?”

  “Of course.”

  Ryder shifted Tate higher in his left arm, wrapped his right arm around her back, pulled her in close and kissed her. The kiss was full of passion and need. The kiss was begging her not to leave his side, even for a moment. The kiss made it impossible to think straight. She finally pulled back, breathing heavily and feeling disoriented.

  “I’ll see you soon,” she whispered, kissing Tate on the cheek and then pulling away from them. She spun quickly and strode to Jasmine’s side so she wouldn’t have to see their faces. If either of them looked sad, she would break. She loved them both, but she would hate herself forever if she didn’t reconnect with Jasmine. Two days shouldn’t matter much in her relationship with Ryder. Especially if he really cared for her like she thought he did.

  “Bree.” Tate’s little voice floated behind her. “Don’t leave.”

  Bree whipped around. Ryder stared at his son in disbelief. Tate struggled from his dad’s arms. Ryder set him on the floor. He pumped his little legs to get to her. Bree ran at him. She swooped him up in her arms and kissed his soft cheek.

  “Please,” he repeated, framing her face with his chubby hands. “I’ll talk. Please. Don’t go. I love you, Bree.”

  Every word was clear, perfectly enunciated.

  “I love you, Tate.” Tears ran unchecked down her face. She looked to Ryder. His eyes were bright, and he was pushing a fist against his mouth.

  Bree pulled Tate close, swaying with him. “Thank you, Tate. Thank you for talking to me.”

  “You stay, Bree?”

  Bree glanced at Ryder. She needed his support more in this moment than she ever had before.

  Ryder walked to them and said quietly, “Bree needs to be with her sister, but she’ll come back to us.” He looked to her as if searching for confirmation of that.

  Bree had never felt so torn. She wanted to get to know Jasmine but to leave Tate and Ryder, now? Could she really do that?

  Jasmine spoke up. “You know what, sis? This is your family.” She focused on Ryder. “It’d be fun for us to reconnect, but I think you need to be with them right now.”

  Bree felt the rightness of that wash over her. This was her family. They needed her, and Tate loved her. Was it possible Ryder loved her as much as she loved him?

  “How about I come see the three of you when I know I’m clear and won’t bring any danger to your family?” Jasmine asked.

  Bree glanced at Ryder. She wanted her sister to be part of her life, but she couldn’t endanger them.

  Ryder nodded. “We’d love to see you. When it’s safe for everybody involved.”

  Jasmine smiled. She gave Bree a hard, quick hug and then said to Ryder. “Take care of her.” Then she disappeared out the front door.

  Bree suddenly felt uneasy. Had she just agreed that this was her family? She was still Ryder’s employee, no matter how brilliantly he kissed her. Would he think she was crazy for assuming she was a part of them?

  She focused on Tate. “Hey, buddy.”

  “Hi, Bree.” His little voice was adorable. “The bad guy gone?”

  “Yes.” She pointed at the front door. “Your daddy beat the bad guy up.”

  Tate smiled. “My daddy’s tough.”

  Bree hugged him close, laughing. “Yes, he is.” She let herself look at Ryder. His eyes were shining, and his face was relaxed. He looked so happy, but of course he would be, with Tate speaking. Their gazes connected and held. Bree felt such hope as he studied her like she was his entire world.

  The doorbell rang, and they both jumped. Bree laughed.

  “Probably the security guys,” Ryder muttered. He walked past them to the door. Bree stepped down to the living area and sat on one of the couches with Tate. Leaning against the cushions, she was suddenly drained and exhausted.

  “You tired, my Bree?” T
ate asked.

  “Oh my goodness, little man, I love hearing you talk.”

  Tate grinned. “Sorry I didn’t afore.”

  He didn’t offer any reason, and Bree didn’t think she should get into reasons or theories. She simply smiled at him. “It’s okay. You can make up for it now.”

  He tilted his head to the side, his golden curls swaying. “Okay.”

  He suddenly seemed so much older than his four and a half years. He’d always had this wisdom in his eyes, but Bree was absolutely amazed by him now. She knew him not talking was due to the trauma of losing his mother and Jessica asking him not to speak after she was gone or his dad would get hurt. What kind of self-control did this little man have to follow through for so long? Some might call it stubbornness, but to Bree, it was impressive. She thought that kind of will, applied correctly, would take him a long way.

  Ryder shut the door and walked to them, sinking down on the couch next to her. He smiled at her and Tate.

  “Everything okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah, they just wanted to check the property out with what happened. They said something about reporting to the police, but when they called, Sutton Smith had taken care of everything. He’s some kind of enigma apparently. They were all in awe when his name came up.”

  “And my sister’s working for him.”

  “I’m sorry you had to miss out on being with her.”

  Bree shook her head. She loved Jasmine and wanted to reconnect with her, but now was her and Ryder’s time. “I want to be with Tate … and you.” She suddenly felt shy. Did he want her here permanently? She loved them both and would even if they couldn’t be her family, but oh, how she longed for them to be her family.

  “Daddy?” Tate spoke up, and Ryder jolted. Tate talking was going to be a shock for a little while for both of them.

  “Yeah, buddy?” Ryder smiled softly at his boy.

  Tate circled Bree’s neck with his arms. “Can my Bree stay with us? Not leave us like Mama did?”

  Ryder and Bree sucked in breaths. How to answer a child when she didn’t know if they had some permanent connection?

  “I hope she can,” Ryder murmured, searching Bree’s face.

  Bree nodded. “I would like that.”

  “When your sister said that we’re your family, that felt right to me.” He glanced away and rubbed his hand down his thigh. “I know this is really unconventional, but I don’t ever want you to leave. Will you marry me, Bree?”

  Bree leaned back, blinking quickly. “Whoa. Are you serious right now, or have you had too many hits to the head? Do you even love me, or is this just because Tate doesn’t want me to leave?”

  Ryder chuckled. He slid off the couch and onto his knees, resting both his hands on her knees. Tate’s gaze kept swinging from his dad to Bree. “I’m doing this all wrong. Help me out here, Tate.”

  Tate pursed his lips. “You love my Bree, right Daddy?”

  Bree absolutely loved him calling her “my Bree.” She didn’t want Ryder to be pressured into loving her or marrying her, though she never wanted to be apart from either of them. Before Ryder could answer, she put up a hand. “I don’t want you to be pressured into something, Ry. We can take this slow and date, but I’ll probably have to move back to my apartment and get another job.”

  Ryder was shaking his head. “No,” he said. “Unless that’s really what you want?”

  Bree swallowed and admitted, “I want you.”

  Ryder grinned. “I love you, Bree. Please marry me.”

  “I love you back. Of course, I’ll marry you.” She leaned forward and kissed him. It started soft and tender but quickly grew in passion and intensity.

  “You’re smashing me, Daddy,” Tate said.

  Ryder let her go and leaned back. “Sorry, buddy.” He grinned and winked at Bree. “This is to be continued, after he’s in bed.”

  “I’m not sleepy.” Tate puffed his chest out.

  Bree wrinkled her nose. “And here I am exhausted.”

  Ryder slid next to them on the couch. “You’d better take an energy drink or something,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ve got hours of wedding prep planned for after he goes to bed.”

  “Wedding prep already?”

  “We’ve got to practice the ‘you may kiss the bride’ part.”

  Bree giggled. Suddenly, she wasn’t tired at all.

  Epilogue

  Bree glanced down at her energetic, gorgeous sister. She was ecstatic that Jasmine had contacted her again a few weeks ago and made arrangements to be here for her and Ryder’s wedding day. Bree had sent an invitation to Sutton Smith’s address, but she’d had no idea if it would get to her sister in time.

  Jasmine winked at her. “You’re the prettiest bride I’ve ever seen.”

  Bree felt pretty in a simple, fitted white lace dress with a white veil circling her head and holding her curls back. “Thanks for being here.” She blinked to stop from crying. “I don’t think I’m worthy of this much happiness.”

  “You hold up on that kind of talk. You’re an angel, and you deserve everything.”

  “Thanks,” Bree whispered.

  “Let’s go, girls.” Navy snapped her fingers and pointed.

  “Bossy, isn’t she?” Jasmine whispered.

  Bree laughed, but Jasmine and Bree followed Navy out the French doors and onto the rear patio of Ryder’s house.

  “Ready for me to walk you down the aisle, sis?” Jasmine extended her elbow, looking perfect in a pale blue dress with her long, dark hair flowing down her back.

  “Let’s do it.”

  The wedding party stood, craning their necks to look at the two of them as they walked slowly down the aisle. The wedding wasn’t huge, mostly Ryder’s family and football buddies. Bree had some college friends here and her sister, who was the only one she really cared that was here besides Ryder and Tate.

  Her two men were standing up front, with a whole slew of brothers to Ryder’s right side. Tate saw her and punched his fist in the air. “Yes! That’s my Bree!”

  Bree wondered if he’d ever call her mama, but she also loved hearing “my Bree.”

  Everyone laughed, and Bree smiled, waving at him. Her eyes met Ryder’s, and the world seemed to disappear. His gaze was so full of love and longing she almost tripped on her heels. Luckily, Jasmine held her up and muttered, “Come on, sis. He’s cute, but no man’s worth tripping over.”

  Bree simply smiled, hoping someday Jasmine would find a man she wanted to trip for. Ryder was more than cute, and she’d do a face plant on her wedding march for him. He and Tate were worth everything to her.

  Finally, they made it up the aisle, and Jasmine gave Ryder Bree’s hand.

  “Be good to her, or I’ll kill you in your sleep,” Jasmine muttered to Ryder with a beautiful smile on her face.

  Ryder sort of choked and laughed at the same time. “I’ll remember that.”

  Kaleb, the country singer, stared at Jasmine. “Who do you think you are?” he asked so quietly Bree almost missed it.

  “I’m Wonder Woman.” She smiled prettily at him. “And no matter how famous you are, I can kill you in your sleep too. So don’t mess with me.”

  Kaleb’s eyebrows lifted. “I’d like to see you try.”

  “Kaleb,” Griff whispered harshly. “Stand down.”

  “At least your bro knows who he’s messing with.” Jasmine winked at Kaleb. “Sadly, fun times like killing you in your sleep might have to be put on hold until after the ceremony.” Jasmine patted his cheek condescendingly.

  Kaleb looked like he might explode.

  “Kaleb Quinn, you step down right now, son,” Ryder’s mama said from her front row seat, giving him a hard glare.

  Kaleb bowed his head obediently, not looking at all like a famous country singer. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Jasmine grinned at Ryder’s mama. “I like this lady.” She gave Bree a hug.

  “Love you, sis.” Bree had to clear her throat and blink fast so
she didn’t cry. Jasmine was here, and Bree was marrying the man of her dreams.

  Jasmine smiled but didn’t repeat the sentiment. That was okay. At least she was here. She stepped around to stand by Navy.

  Ryder squeezed Bree’s hand, a knowing grin on his face. “We won’t invite Kaleb to any more family parties,” he whispered.

  “I kind of like the threats and banter,” Bree whispered back.

  The preacher was looking at all of them like they were nuts. He cleared his throat and said loudly, “Ladies and gentlemen …”

  Ryder squeezed both of her hands and whispered roughly, “You’re so beautiful.”

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she said back.

  The preacher kept talking, and Bree tried to focus on his words, but there were too many wonders happening right now. She stared at Ryder in his tailored tux, and happy butterflies filled up her stomach. Tate leaned against her side, and she caught Ryder’s parents’ approving looks, and again, there was the fact that Jasmine was here. She could keep listing happy thoughts, but it all boiled down to Ryder and Tate. She loved them, and she had a family of her own now.

  The ceremony finally finished, and Ryder pulled her in close. He tenderly kissed her and whispered, “Thank you for making me so happy.”

  “Thank you for being mine,” she whispered back.

  He kissed her more firmly, and the crowd roared in approval.

  Tate tugged on their arms. Ryder leaned back and said, “What, buddy?”

  “My turn to kiss my Bree!”

  Ryder chuckled and swooped him off the ground. Tate leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Love you!”

  “I love you.”

  Ryder kept Tate in his right arm, encircled Bree’s lower back with his left arm, and escorted her down the aisle. They were greeted by friends and his family. She liked Navy and all of his brothers and especially his feisty mom and kind father. These were her people now, and it felt amazing.

  Kaleb greeted them, and it was kind of surreal to have a famous country singer be her brother-in-law, but then her husband was famous too, so she’d have to get used to all the pomp.

  “Where did your sister go?” Kaleb asked after he congratulated them.