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  “Right,” Sawyer said, shaking his head. “I guess it’s time, huh?”

  “That it is.”

  With a nod to The Colonel, Sawyer followed Walker toward the bunk house. He ran into Shelby on the way and passed his sleepy son into her care. It was funny that they’d have to wake him up to take part in the ceremony.

  Sawyer followed Walker to the little apartment he’d once occupied, which had been turned into the groom’s suite. Colt and Micah and Remy’s father Braxton were all inside, pinning flowers to their lapels and working on their bow ties.

  Remy’d insisted on black tie for the groom’s party, and Sawyer had been happy enough to oblige her. He’d wear pretty much any kind of monkey suit, as long as it made her happy.

  “There he is!” Micah said as Sawyer entered.

  “Thought he’d have headed for the hills by now,” Colt joked.

  “It would be a shame for me to kill him on his wedding day,” Micah said mildly.

  “All right, all right,” Sawyer said, waving them down. “Where’s my jacket?”

  He went through the motions, putting on his white dress shirt, white cummerbund, and black bow tie and jacket.

  “You look spiffy,” Walker said, dusting off one of Sawyer’s shoulders.

  “The three of you look like triplets,” Braxton said, amused. “Complimenting your brother is something close to vanity.”

  “Har har,” Sawyer said. He was starting to feel a little tense now, like his tie was going to choke him, his suit a little tight even though it was custom-made.

  “Colt, get out the whiskey,” Micah said. “He’s looking a little green around the gills.”

  Sawyer smiled as Colt produced four shot glasses and a bottle of Eagle Rare Bourbon. He poured out four measures and passed them around. They all held their glasses up, waiting for someone to make a toast.

  “To living your life without regrets,” Walker said.

  “And treating your wife like a queen,” Braxton said.

  “To new beginnings,” Micah chipped in.

  They all looked at Sawyer.

  “Here’s to Remy probably knowing she can do a lot better than me, and marrying me anyway,” Sawyer said, unable to hide a grin.

  “Bottoms up!” Colt crowed.

  They all knocked back the whiskey, wincing and laughing.

  “I’m gonna need a mint,” Sawyer said. “I don’t want Remy to think I got drunk before the wedding.”

  “Here,” Walker said, handing him a box of Tic Tacs. “And I bet she and Shelby and Larkin are having their own toast. I saw Larkin carrying up four bottles of champagne.”

  “It’s going to be a long night,” Micah muttered.

  Someone knocked on the door, and Walker checked his watch.

  “It’s time, guys.”

  They put aside their shot glasses and filed out the door. As soon as they came around the side of the house, Sawyer’s heart started to pound.

  Hundreds of chairs were spread out before the gazebo. Garlands of flowers swayed in the breeze, gauzy white tulle wrapped here and there to add a soft touch.

  The pastor waited on the gazebo, the guests in their chairs. A bluegrass string quintet sat to one side, warming up their instruments.

  This is really happening, he thought.

  As Sawyer and his groomsmen walked up the aisle, people started to whisper quietly.

  He took his place on the gazebo, his groomsmen to his right. A soft hush fell over the crowd as the music started up, a beautiful banjo-tinged version of a pretty pop song that Remy loved.

  Sawyer drew a breath.

  Any moment now, Remy would appear.

  For the life of him, he didn’t want to wait one more second…

  29

  Remy had never felt quite so pampered in her life. She stood on a step stool, clutching an armful of her tulle skirt in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other.

  Larkin knelt at her feet, doing up the straps of Remy’s pale blue heels.

  She’d been waxed and coiffed and made up, her blond hair flowing down her back in soft waves and her huge blue eyes rimmed with dark kohl.

  Shelby tossed back her own glass of champagne. “Drink up, it will steady your nerves.”

  Remy blushed.

  “It seems silly, being nervous. I mean, I have wanted this for as long as I can remember,” she said.

  “Except those few years when you wanted Sawyer to drop dead,” Shelby pointed out.

  Remy pulled a face. “Yeah, except those.”

  “You’re going to be okay,” her mother said from her seat across the room, sitting in a rocking chair with Shiloh in her lap. “River women don’t run when they’re scared. They only get more tenacious.”

  Remy smiled.

  “It’s just a big moment, a lot of pressure.”

  Shelby grabbed the champagne bottle from the ice bucket and refilled her own glass. “Come on. Don’t make my drink alone. You can be festive for one day, Rem.”

  “Actually…” Remy said, going red. “I kind of… can’t?”

  Her mother sat up at attention. “Remy River! Don’t tell me that you managed to get knocked up again before your wedding!”

  Remy wrinkled her nose. “A little?”

  Larkin swooped in and grabbed the glass of champagne from Remy’s hand. “No such thing as a little bit pregnant.”

  “Y’all can’t tell anyone. I was waiting till tonight to tell Sawyer.”

  Shelby cackled. “Withholding vital information before the wedding, eh?”

  “It’s supposed to be a nice surprise for him!” Remy said, starting to feel a little offended.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Larkin said, downing Remy’s champagne. “Sawyer’s gonna be happy.”

  “He’d better be,” Remy said. “Pretty sure I didn’t exactly get preggers on my own.”

  “Remy!” her mother said, sounding scandalized.

  “Oh, it’s funny,” Shelby said, waving a hand. “How far along do you think you are?”

  “About six weeks, maybe.”

  “Goodness,” Larkin said. “Good thing you’re having the wedding today. A few more weeks, and you won’t be able to fit in this skintight lace bodice thing.”

  Larkin waved to indicate Remy’s dress.

  “That’s true enough,” Remy sighed.

  Someone knocked on the door and called that it was time.

  Remy glanced around at her mother and sisters, biting her lip.

  “It’s really… real,” she said.

  “Oh, Remy, don’t you tear up now!” her mother said, rising to come over and give Remy a hug. “You’ll ruin your makeup.”

  “Yeah, save that for the ceremony,” Shelby joked.

  “Are you going ahead with Shiloh?” Remy asked her mother.

  “Yep. I’ll wake him up on the way.”

  Remy took a deep breath, summoning her courage.

  It was time to make the most important vows of her entire life. To join herself with Sawyer, forever.

  Where the whole day had felt slow, like time was dragging as she waited for the ceremony to begin, now everything seemed to speed up. She walked down the stairs, Shelby in front of her and Larkin behind.

  She heard the music, a pretty song she loved. She stepped outside and walked down the steps. The white walkway was laid out before her.

  Her heart started to pound wildly in her chest. Her father was there for support, offering her an elbow. She took it, giving him a grateful look.

  The Romans sat on one side of her path, the Rivers on the other. Everyone rose as she approached, some people even applauding.

  It was everything Remy could do to focus on not tripping on her dress. Her palms began to sweat, she could feel her knees shaking almost as badly as her hands.

  And then… she looked up and saw Sawyer and Shiloh. Sawyer standing tall and proud, Shiloh sitting on the steps at Sawyer’s feet.

  Her two men, the loves of her life, waiting there for her
.

  She forgot to be nervous. Forgot all the people watching. Forgot everything except the fact that she was going to get to stand with Sawyer.

  She floated through the ceremony. The second she climbed the steps, Sawyer reached out and offered her his hand.

  She took it, unable to hold back a shy grin.

  It was funny, how new and strange this all felt, even though she and Sawyer had been through so much.

  Shiloh immediately wormed his way to sit between them, and Sawyer had to gently move their son off the puffy tulle skirt.

  The pastor started talking, but Remy hardly heard a word of it. She and Sawyer’d decided on simple, traditional vows. She managed to say, “I do” at the right time, which was a relief.

  She even got the ring on his finger, feeling almost proud of herself.

  Sawyer held her hand tight, promised to love, honor, and cherish her. He got the ring from Shiloh and slipped it on her finger.

  The look on Sawyer’s face, the promises in his eyes…

  Only then did she feel her eyes start to well up, her heart overflowing with all the love and emotion of the moment.

  And then, moments later, the pastor declared them husband and wife. Sawyer’s slid an arm around her, and pulled her close.

  They kissed, hot and passionate, as everyone applauded and catcalled. Remy’s face went pink, but there was nothing anyone could say to her now…

  After all, she was Mrs. Sawyer Roman now. She could kiss him all she liked!

  They turned, Sawyer scooping up Shiloh, and proceeded down the aisle as everyone clapped and cheered.

  The reception area was set up right behind the bunk house, a big wood dance floor, a band, plus a bar and a buffet line. The proximity made it easy for Remy and Sawyer to glide right into their first dance.

  The first notes of “At Last” began to sound. Sawyer passed Shiloh off to Remy’s father, then swept Remy up in his arms.

  She stared up at Sawyer, finding herself a little awestruck.

  “How are you feeling, Mrs. Roman?” Sawyer asked, his voice low and rough.

  Remy grinned. “Pretty damned lucky.”

  Sawyer laughed.

  “Funny, I feel just the same.”

  Remy slid her arms around his neck as they swayed to the music. She knew there would be a toast coming in just a few minutes, so she wanted to savor these few minutes alone with Sawyer.

  “Sawyer,” she said slowly. “I need to tell you something.”

  He cocked a brow. “It’s too late to back out now, darlin’. That knot is good and tied.”

  Remy cracked up.

  “No, not that.”

  “Are you going to whisper dirty things in my ear, then?” he asked.

  “Nope.”

  “You gonna remind me which of your girl cousins is which? They all look alike,” he said, his eyes shining with humor.

  “I can’t drink tonight,” she said, cutting to the point.

  Sawyer’s brow creased. “You worried you’ll get too drunk and miss out on something?”

  “No.”

  She watched his face closely, waiting for him to get it. It took him a minute, but then…

  “Fuck, Remy,” he uttered, his steps slowing. “Are you saying you’re…”

  He trailed off, eyes gone stormy.

  “I am. Six weeks,” she said.

  He was quiet, stopping the dance altogether. For a second, Remy’s heart squeezed tight with anxiety.

  “Should I not have told you tonight?” she whispered.

  Sawyer wrapped his arms around her, hugging her hard and picking her up off the ground. She squeaked, laughing. The second he set her down, he kissed her, long and hard and sweet.

  When he pulled back, he had the biggest grin on his face.

  “I’m going to get to see it this time!” he said, clearly over the moon.

  Remy’s brows arched; she was surprised that he was so excited about that particular facet of her news.

  “Yes, you will. I’m glad you’re not upset.”

  “Upset?” Sawyer asked. “I’m doing everything I can not to shout it to the rooftops right now! I can’t believe I’m going to be a dad again.”

  “It’s going to be hard,” Remy warned him, but she couldn’t keep the smile from her lips.

  “Bring it on,” Sawyer said.

  “You’re really stuck with us now, you know.”

  Sawyer pulled her closer, kissed her lips. “Thank god.”

  Then he stepped back, just as the song ended. He held Remy’s hand, raising them both high.

  “My wife, ladies and gentlemen!” Sawyer crowed.

  “About time!” someone from the crowd shouted.

  Remy grinned. The reception swept on, hundreds of people to see and many things to do.

  But all through the afternoon and into the evening, she couldn’t stop thinking the same thing.

  I must be just about the luckiest girl that Catahoula’s ever seen.

  Hand in hand with her husband, Shiloh on her hip, Remy knew that to be the god’s honest truth.

  Ready for more? Read The Teacher and the Virgin next!

  * * *

  An older man, a younger woman, an irresistible attraction.

  * * *

  My BFFs and I made a pact the last month of high school: No one was going to college a virgin. The only question was, who would we choose? I knew exactly who I wanted. My teacher, Mr. Parker.

  * * *

  I might have just graduated, but I was still his student. But Mr. Parker isn't teaching me anything in that boring civics textbook any longer. He's bossy. He's demanding. He's so much older than I am. And he's opening my eyes, teaching me exactly how pleasurable surrender can be.

  * * *

  Click here to read The Teacher and the Virgin now!

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  * * *

  Also by Jessa James

  Bad Boy Billionaires

  A Virgin for the Billionaire

  Her Rockstar Billionaire

  Her Secret Billionaire

  A Bargain with the Billionaire

  Billionaire Box Set 1-4

  * * *

  The Virgin Pact

  The Teacher and the Virgin

  His Virgin Nanny

  His Dirty Virgin

  The Virgin Pact Boxed Set

  * * *

  Club V

  Unravel

  Undone

  Uncover

  Club V - The Complete Boxed Set

  * * *

  Cowboy Romance

  How To Love A Cowboy

  How To Hold A Cowboy

  * * *

  Treasure: The Series

  Capture

  Control

  Covet

  Cherish

  Treasure Series Boxed Set

  * * *

  Protect Series

  The High Priestess

  Provoke

  Punish

  Possess

  Cherish

  Protect Series Boxed Set

  * * *

  Bad Boy Series

  Bad Boy’s Bride

  Bad Boy’s Kiss

  Bad Boy’s Touch

  Hard Candy Christmas

  Bad Boy Complete Boxed Set

  * * *

  Bad Behavior

  Bad Reputation

  Bad Behavior/Bad Reputation Duet

  * * *

  Beg Me

  Valentine Ever After

  Covet/Crave

  Kiss Me Again

  Contemporary Heat Boxed Set 1

  Handy

  Dr. Hottie

  Hot as Hell

  Contemporary Heat Boxed Set 2

  Pretend I’m Yours

  Rock Star

  The Baby Mission

  His Brother’s Fiancee
/>   Enemies to Friends

  Sing Your Heart Out

  About the Author

  Jessa James grew up on the East Coast but always suffered a severe case of wanderlust. She’s lived in six states, had a variety of jobs and always comes back to her first true love – writing. Jessa works full time as a writer, eats too much dark chocolate, has an iced-coffee and Cheetos addiction, and can’t get enough of sexy alpha males who know exactly what they want – and aren’t afraid to say it. Dominant, alpha-male insta-luv is her favorite to read (and write).

  * * *

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