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  As they got to the restaurant, Kason looked at Briella. She had been rather quiet on the way over, and she looked very pale. “Briella, how are you?”

  Briella sighed. “I’m feeling really lightheaded right now. I don’t know if it’s from all the activity, or if it’s just because I’m so hungry, but I’m not feeling too good.”

  “We’ll get you something to eat right away, even if it’s just a snack until the food’s ready,” Kason said as he led Briella to her seat. “I’ll be right back.”

  Kason left the restaurant and crossed the street to the gas station, where he grabbed a package of cupcakes and a skim milk. He told the cashier to keep the change and jogged back over to the restaurant.

  She sat at the table with her head in her hands, and didn’t look up when Kason sat next to her. He put the cupcakes between Briella’s elbows, right below her head, and sat the bottle of milk on the table in front of her. Briella slowly took the package, opened it up and bit into a cupcake. Relief flooded her face as she chewed.

  “How did you know I was craving chocolate cupcakes?” she asked, the color coming back to her face.

  “Must be ESP or something. You’re looking a little better, and after we eat dinner, I’m sure you’ll be feeling even better. You had me worried there!” He leaned over and gave her a kiss, just as Raelynn came over to them with a big box.

  “A little surprise,” she said.

  Kason opened the box to find six bottles of what looked like champagne. Each one had a special label on it that said ‘Briella Ashley Fox and Kason Kamden Harris.

  “Since you don’t want everyone to know you’re pregnant, and a lot of people would wonder what was going on if you weren’t drinking, I had these bottles of sparkling cider made up so that it would look like you were drinking champagne. Just remember to drink out of the bottles with these labels.”

  Briella laughed. “Ah, thank you so much Raelynn! This is great…and so thoughtful!”

  As Raelynn walked away, Aubrie stepped up next to Briella and Kason. Briella started laughing. “So, did you have fun on your date?”

  “Yeah, sorry I didn’t return your car last night. I called, and Kason told me that you were sleeping, so I didn’t think it was too big a deal. But, we had a great time, so thanks for setting us up,” Aubrie told Briella, her eyes set in a dreamy gaze as she shared the details, or most of them, of her date with Jordan. “He is so sweet, why couldn’t he live here in Texas?”

  “Well, all I have to say is don’t let that stop you from getting to know him. Look what happened with me and Kason. I was so dead set against Texas. Now look at me. Don’t let any geographic boundaries make up your mind for you,” Briella advised.

  Aubrie hugged her and got up and left, just as the food was being brought out. Briella dug in as soon as the food was served, and after eating, she felt like a new person.

  At the end of the night, Briella and Kason had to separate. “Do you really need to stay at your parents’ house tonight, Country Boy? I am going to be so lonely at the house all by myself,” Briella whined.

  “Don’t worry. I arranged for Mila and Aubrie to stay there with you. I got some chick flicks for you to watch, and there’s a bunch of Ben & Jerry’s in the freezer. I know it’ll be hard for me to sleep without you in my arms tonight, but it’s tradition, and we have the rest of our lives to spend together,” Kason told her.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow at 11:00 am. I’ll be the one up front in the penguin suit. Don’t be late!” he said, and kissed her one last time as her fiance.

  “I’ll be the one in white, running down the aisle. You better not back out, buddy!” Briella laughed.

  The girls spent the night watching movies and eating ice cream. Mila and Aubrie were proud of Briella for calling Kason only twice during the night.

  The next morning, the girls awoke early when Raelynn arrived. The rest of the bridal party arrived just before the hair stylists and makeup artists came to get the girls ready.

  The time finally came to get dressed, and Briella was so excited. Raelynn and Mila helped her get into her dress, then they buttoned it up. The dress looked gorgeous on Briella. The rhinestone spaghetti straps accented her toned shoulders, and the tight bodice had pearls and sequins all over it, accentuating Briella’s currently small waist. Raelynn applied the veil to her head, and Briella pulled on her long white gloves.

  Everyone was dressed and ready to head to the church in the limo, when Aubrie yelled for everyone to stop. “We forgot the gift tradition!” she said, as everyone looked at her.

  “Oh! I have ‘Something Old’!” Mila said. She handed Briella a beautiful antique embroidered handkerchief. “I know you’ll be bawling your eyes out up there, and you’ll need this.”

  “Who has the ‘Something New’?” Aubrie asked.

  “I do!” Raelynn said, as she went over to Briella. “I was saving this for later, but traditions come first,” she teased, and handed Briella a small box. Inside was a beautiful charm bracelet with two gold rings and a topaz stone in the middle, signifying the month they got married. Briella teared up when she saw it.

  “Don’t you dare cry!” Raelynn warned. “You’ll mess up your makeup!”

  “I’ve also got the ‘Something Borrowed’,” she went on. “These earrings were my mother’s. She wore them on her wedding day, and so did I. They have brought us all luck so far.”

  “And finally, I’ve got the ‘Something Blue’!” Aubrie said. She pulled out a blue and white lace garter.

  “Thank you, everyone! And Aubrie, where would I be without you? I completely forgot the garter!” Briella said, and slipped it up her leg.

  When they got to the church, Briella was escorted to the Bride’s chambers. As she stood in the room alone, looking into the full length mirror, she heard a soft knock at the door. Briella asked who it was, and was surprised to hear Bruce’s voice on the other side. She opened the door for him, and he came in quickly before anyone else could see her.

  “Wow, you look beautiful Briella!” he told her. “I know that I don’t usually say much to anyone, and my wife calls me the ‘strong-silent type’, which is true. I’ve seen how much my son cares for you, and how much you care for him, and I need to tell you I am so happy that you two have found each other. I couldn’t have asked for a better woman for my son to marry. I know this has been a tough year for you, and you have shown what a truly amazing and strong person you are. What I want to ask you is…Would you do me the honor of allowing me to walk you down the aisle? I know you planned to do it alone, but it would mean a lot if you let me do this for you.”

  Briella was speechless. “Wow! It would be my honor if you would escort me down the aisle, Bruce. It would mean a lot to me as well.”

  Bruce hugged Briella and whispered, “Welcome to the family, sweetheart.”

  Another knock was heard at the door, and Bruce went to see who it was. The bridal party, including Raelynn, had come for Briella. “Well, let’s get this show on the road. Time to get hitched!”

  The bridal party lined up and waited for their processional to play. Kason smiled from the front of the church as he waited to catch a glimpse of his bride. It seemed to take forever for the bridesmaids to get down the aisle. Finally, after Mila reached the altar, the music changed, and she appeared as if in Kason’s dream. He had never seen someone as beautiful.

  And she was on the arm of his father! There was no clearer stamp of approval from his family. Kason fought back tears as his dad looked up the aisle and winked at his son.

  Kason felt as if the world was moving in slow motion. He could barely breathe as he waited for her to reach the altar. As Bruce and Briella stopped a few feet away, Kason went to them, to escort Briella the rest of the way to the altar.

  “Nervous?” he whispered.

  “Not a bit. You?” she whispered back.

  “Nope. You look unbelievable, and I love you so much.”

  “I love you too, hot stuff,” she whispere
d, as he took her hand and led her to the priest.

  The ceremony went splendidly, but neither one heard much of what the preacher was saying. They were too lost, looking into each other’s eyes.

  Finally, much to Briella and Kason’s delight, the preacher pronounced them Mr. And Mrs. Kason and Briella Harris, and gave the traditional command: “Kason, you may now kiss the bride!”

  Kason didn’t need to be told twice. He pulled Briella into his arms, and his lips met hers in a sweet but passionate kiss.

  Chapter Twenty

  Briella and Kason sat in the limo cuddling on the way to the reception. The photographer had kept them and the wedding party at the church for forty-five minutes after the guests had left, then sent them on their way, telling them he would get more pictures at the reception. The wedding party was following in a different limo, giving Briella and Kason some time to be alone.

  “Can you believe it? It’s legal now, Mrs. Harris.” Kason said, his eyes shining.

  “Yup, but that’s Mrs. Country Boy to you,” Briella laughed. “I couldn’t imagine anyone more perfect to spend the rest of my life with.” She leaned over and touched her lips to Kason’s. They lost no time in talking; things were getting steamy by the time the limousine pulled up outside the reception hall.

  Once inside the doors, the wedding party lined up, and the DJ announced their arrival. When it was finally the bride and groom’s turn to be introduced, all of the guests got to their feet and cheered. Kason led Briella to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife.

  As he took his new wife in his arms, Green Day’s “Time of Your Life” began to play. Kason tightened his arms around his bride, and sang softly in her ear. They became lost in each other’s embrace, not realizing the song had ended until they heard everyone cheering for them again. They dried each other’s eyes, then returned to the head table, where the rest of the wedding part was waiting for them.

  After dinner, Kason brought out a bottle of the special “Champagne”, and poured a glass for Briella, and one for himself. “Kason, just because I can’t drink doesn’t mean you can’t either,” Briella whispered.

  “I know, but I don’t need to drink tonight. I’m more than happy to be drinking the sparkling cider with you.”

  Dexter’s voice came over the intercom, filling the room. “Excuse me, can I have everyone’s attention?”

  Dexter raised his champagne glass, making it clear it was time for the toast. Everyone settle down to listen. “My name’s Dexter and I’m Kason’s best friend and best man. I’ve known Kason since we were in high school, and I have to say, I don’t think I have ever seen him as happy as when he’s with Briella. Kason used to tell me that he was never going to fall in love. Briella, thank you for coming into Kason’s life, and making him happy. I hope you both lead a prosperous, healthy life together. Cheers!”

  Dexter handed the microphone to Mila. “Hi everyone, I’m Mila Lockheart, and I’m Briella’s best friend and maid of honor. She and I have known each other since middle school, and have been virtually inseparable since. My parents died just after we graduated from high school, and Briella and her family took me in. She is the sister I never had, but always wanted. Briella and I are so close that we both met wonderful men at the same time, and both moved from New York to be with them here in Texas. Kason, you are one lucky man…I just hope she doesn’t wear you out. You have her whole heart, so cherish it. Briella, you will make a wonderful wife, and someday a mother. You’ll always be my best friend and I love you! Cheers!”

  Everyone yelled “Cheers!” right back to them and drank from their champagne. Briella and Kason hugged Dexter and Mila, then went to the cake table. Everyone gathered around, taking pictures of Briella and Kason holding the knife to cut the first slice. The applause roared as they slipped the knife through the layers.

  Kason took two pieces of cake and put them on a plate, holding it between them. They both picked a piece off the plate, and held it to each other’s mouth.

  After everyone had their cake, the music began. Kason kept filling their glasses with their special champagne, and no one had a clue that Briella was pregnant. When Kason noticed Briella getting tired from dancing, they announced the ‘Tossing of the Bouquet’.

  The single girls gathered on the dance floor. Briella turned her back to the group of women and tossed the spare bouquet over her head. Aubrie watched as the flowers landed right in her hands. She didn’t even move to catch them.

  Briella laughed with delight when she turned around to see who had caught them. Kason started to scowl, wondering who would have to put the garter on his sister’s leg.

  The girls left the dance floor, and a chair was pulled out into the middle. Kason led Briella to the chair and sat her down. He got on his knees in front of her as the DJ played a sexy song. Kason reached up and pulled Briella’s head down to his as they met in a searing kiss, before his hands started their journey up her skirt.

  Briella smacked his arm playfully as she blushed. She crossed the gartered leg over the other one, and felt Kason running his hands up her leg. He finally reached her garter, and instead of pulling it down her leg, he pushed it up higher, so he could feel the warmth between her legs.

  “Kason!” Briella yelled softly, a little embarrassed.

  An innocent smile crossed Kason’s face as he relented and began to lower the garter off Briella’s leg. As he slipped it over her foot, Kason stood, then took her lips with his again. “I couldn’t help it. I was right there, and it’s been too long!” Kason whispered in her ear.

  All of the single men were brought to the dance floor. Kason turned his back to the men, wound up his arm, and tossed the garter. All of the guys were elbowing each other, fighting for position. When Kason turned around, he saw a pile of friends on the floor, all scrambling to get the prize. One by one, they all returned to their feet, and finally Jordan lifted the garter in the air victoriously.

  Kason brought the chair back out to the dance floor, and when Aubrie and Jordan walked over, Kason pulled Jordan aside. “Don’t forget, that’s my little sister,” he warned.

  Jordan nodded with his mouth suddenly dry, then walked back to the chair Aubrie was sitting in. The sexy music began playing as Aubrie crossed her left leg over her right. Jordan nervously fumbled with the garter, and finally got it over her foot and started to drag it up her leg. When he got to her knee, Kason cleared his throat loudly.

  The crowd laughed. Jordan looked over at him and kept going, but only a little higher. He stopped when the garter was three inches above Aubrie’s knee. As he kissed Aubrie’s hand, Briella got on the microphone.

  “Wait! Did you just put it on her left leg?” Briella asked, and Jordan nodded. “Sorry buddy, but you need to take it off. It’s supposed to go on her right leg.”

  “What!?” Jordan yelled.

  “She’s right, man. Sorry, got to do it all over!” the DJ announced, sharing a smirk with Briella.

  The DJ started playing the music again, as Jordan slid the garter off Aubrie’s leg and moved it over to her right leg. When Jordan finally got the garter onto Aubrie’s right leg, the DJ said into the microphone, “Gotcha!”

  Both Aubrie and Jordan blushed furiously, and the crowd roared their approval.

  “Can I have one last dance with my wife before we have to run and catch a plane?” Kason whispered into Briella’s ear.

  “It would be my pleasure, Country Boy!” Briella let Kason lead her to the dance floor. Kason pulled Briella close. “Thank you for everything, Kason. You have made me the happiest person ever.”

  “Who’d have thought that when I saw you standing in that bar, slamming those shots, I was looking at the love of my life? I know you didn’t like me at first, but for me, it was love at first sight,” Kason told her.

  “No, the problem was that I did like you, and I didn’t want to. Thanks for not letting me get rid of you,” Briella smiled, and laid her head on Kason’s shoulder, as they danced to �
��When You Say nothing at All” by Alison Krauss.

  When the song ended, they said their goodbyes to everyone, and headed back out to the limo. Their suitcases were already packed and waiting in the trunk, so they could head straight to the airport to catch their plane for Hawaii.

  Because they were flying first class, Briella didn’t feel it was necessary to change out of her wedding dress. Fortunately, the dress didn’t have a long train or many layers of tulle, so she would fit just fine in the airline seats. Besides, she only wanted to take it off when Kason was ready to make love to her for the first time as husband and wife.

  When the plane landed in Hawaii, Kason grabbed their carryon luggage. Inside the airport, they were greeted by Hawaiians handing out leis. Their limo was waiting outside the airport, ready to take them to their hotel.

  When they finally got to their room, Kason set the suitcases aside and scooped his wife into his arms. “I don’t think we’ll be leaving the room the whole time we’re here. I can’t wait to ravish you!” he said, as he dropped small kisses on her neck and brought her towards the bed. He turned her around and started to work on her dress buttons. “Do they make these damn things frustrating to the new husband on purpose?”

  Briella laughed at Kason’s impatience. “Sorry, but trust me, when you get them all undone, it will be worth it!” More and more buttons were undone, and Briella could feel Kason’s hands brushing softly against her skin, as he made his way down her back.

  Finally, when he had finished, Briella turned around and worked on the buttons of Kason’s tuxedo shirt. She pushed his shirt and jacket off his shoulders in one movement, and watched as they fell to the floor. She ran her hands along his chest, feeling his muscles rippling beneath her fingertips.

  Kason gently pushed the spaghetti straps of Briella’s dress down her shoulders, and let the dress slowly slip to the floor. He held Briella’s hand as he helped her step out of the dress. Kason picked it up and laid it across one of the chairs, then went back to Briella and laid her on the bed. He slowly peeled her white stockings down her legs, and pulled her thong off too.