I handed my flowers to Sam, who was standing as my maid of honor. I invited Hallie to stand for me too, but she was clearly uncomfortable as she neared the end of her pregnancy, so she sat with Nate in the front row. Will and Gabe sat next to them. Will was shaking his head, and I think feeling a little lonely now that he was the only unhitched Sloane. Well, he would be once Mitch, and I said our vows.
Finally, I reached Mitch, and all I wanted to do was throw myself in his arms. So, I did. A collective “aww” sounded from our guests.
Mitch held me, and whispered, “I love you, Hope. Marry me.”
I pulled back and grinned at him. “Let’s get hitched.”
He laughed as he took my arm and turned us to the minister. The ceremony began and continued for a while.
Then finally, we were at the vows.
Mitch took my hands and looked at me with such emotion in his eyes. If I lived a million years, I’d never get tired at the way he looked at me with such love.
“Hope.” His voice choked up, and his cheeks turned pink. He cleared his throat. “Hope. I remember the day I saw you on the banks of this river when I was fifteen, and something shifted in my chest. You weren’t just a friend or Parker’s sister anymore. I tried to deny it because …well…” He glanced at Parker and then back at me. “There are rules about wanting your friend’s sister. But six years later, I still wanted you. And after another nine years, I still wanted you. And now, finally, you’re going to be mine.”
“I know I made this journey harder than it had to be. I was stubborn and afraid. But you showed me how to love again. You made it safe for me to give myself wholly and completely to you. I love you, Hope. More than words can say, and I’ve searched the dictionary for the words, but they don’t exist.”
I hiccupped as tears streamed down my face.
He squeezed my hands. “I promise that I’m going to never let a day go by that you don’t know how much I love and admire you. You’re amazing, and I’m so honored and grateful to be the man you’ve chosen.”
The minister then said it was my turn.
I bit my lip, not wanting to mess this up. “Mitch. I love you so much, sometimes I can’t hold it in.”
He smiled and pulled my hand to his lips for a kiss.
“I’ve loved you since I was fifteen and I think the rule about not being able to like your friend’s sister is stupid.”
Our guests laughed.
“It took us a while to get here, but I wouldn’t change anything. Through it all, I learned what my life would be like without you so that I know now not to ever take you for granted. I learned what can happen when you don’t share your feelings, and so now I know to always tell you how much I love you. I learned that when we want more kids, I should put on the condom.”
Mitch blushed, and the crowd laughed again.
“We could just skip it,” he said in a low voice.
“Or that,” I agreed. “The point is all the things that brought us pain or the unexpected have turned into lessons or blessing that will make us stronger. I’m so happy to be here today in front of everyone telling the whole world what an amazing, generous, sexy, kind, smart, sexy, sweet. Did I say sexy…man you are. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m so happy to become your wife.”
I wanted to kiss him then, except the minister insisted on the exchange of rings first. But then he pronounced us husband and wife and made my life complete.
“Come kiss me, Hope,” Mitch said as he pulled me to him. His lips were on mine, so warm and soft, and I melted into him. All of a sudden, I wished everyone would go home because I wanted my husband all to myself.
He lifted his head. “I love you, Mrs. Sloane.”
His calling me Mrs. Sloane had tears coming to my eyes again. “I’m yours, Mitch.”
His smile was so loving. “And I’m yours, Hope. All of me is yours, my heart, my body, my soul.”
I felt all the love from our friends and family as they congratulated and celebrated our love with us. Even the baby spent time dancing in my belly, as Mitch took me in his arms for our first dance as husband and wife.
As the sun set, the party continued on. Mitch pulled me aside. “What do you say we go have a honeymoon?”
“I’ve wanted that since we said ‘I do,’” I said.
“Good.” Mitch had assigned Will to take control of the reception after we left, and his mother to babysit Duke while we were gone. We said our goodbyes, and he loaded me into his SUV. Someone, presumably his brothers, wrote JUST MARRIED on the back window in what looked like shaving cream. At least there weren't any cans tied to the bumper, I thought.
“Do you think we’re leaving too early?” he asked as he got into the driver’s seat next to me.
“I thought we stayed too long.”
“Are you tired?” He looked over at me.
“No. I want to have sex with my news husband.”
He grinned and pulled my hand to his lips. “Let’s go have a honeymoon, Mrs. Sloane.”
“I love it when you call me that.”
His smile turned wicked. “Should I say call you that when I consummate this marriage? Come, Mrs. Sloane.”
“Absolutely, yes.”
He laughed. An hour and a half later, his ultra-strong arms carried my big seven months pregnant body over the threshold of the mountain house.
“We can go straight to bed. Or,” he said with a nod toward the fireplace. “We start this marriage where we rebooted our relationship, in front of the fireplace.” Somehow, he’d already arranged for pillows and blankets. Candles sat on the table, waiting to be lit.
“I like the fireplace idea. Will there be s’mores?” I asked.
He nodded. “I’m going to eat them off your body.”
Even pregnant, my libido ratcheted up to a hundred thinking of Mitch eating chocolate and marshmallow off my breasts. “Can I eat them off you too?”
He groaned. “I think I just came in my pants.”
I grinned. “I’m going to like being married to you, Mitch.”
“Good. That’s my plan.”
He set me down, helping me to the floor. He lay beside me and drew me in close. “No regrets. No secrets. No doubts. Just you and me, Hope.”
“Forever.”
Author’s Note
Thank you, thank you, for reading my book, “Her Mountain Hero”! I’m so grateful and I hope that you enjoyed the stories.
Reviews for my books are very important to me as an author. If you enjoyed reading my books I’d be so thankful if you would be willing to write me a review.
Thanks again for your support and for reading me story. I couldn’t do it without you!
XX Holly
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About Holly James
All of Holly's romances involve passionate, alpha males who don't shy away from demonstrating just how they feel about their sassy heroines. Because, let's face it, those are the best kinds of book-boyfriends to have.
Expect swoon worthy romance, juicy drama, lip-biting scenes and satisfying happily ever afters that will have you flipping the pages way past your bed time.
Also by Holly Jaymes
Taken
Hot Rod
Daddy Heart M.D. (Accidentally Daddy)
Daddy Ivy League (Accidentally Daddy)
Daddy CEO (Accidentally Daddy)
Daddy Player (Accidentally Daddy)
Accidentally Daddy Box Set
Protecting Her (Protector’s Promise)
Royally Protected (Protector’s Promise)
Protecting My Enemy (Protector’s Promise)
Protector’s Promise Box Set
Hating My Hero (Her Hero)
Her Hero Boss (Her Hero)
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