Forever Driven: Forever Bluegrass #4 (23 page)

Riley swatted his arm as she laughed. “I’m surprised my mom and the entire town isn’t here with casseroles and placing bets on when the wedding will be and when I’ll be pregnant.”

“Ah,” Matt said with his grin widening. “That’s because your mother and I have a side deal going on. See, I swore to her I
would
have children, but only if she kept everyone away until tonight when I promised we’d go to their farm for an engagement celebration. She’s probably standing at the entrance of the neighborhood with your father’s rifle right now.”

Riley shifted so she was straddling him. She felt Matt’s erection growing under her as she ground into him. “Then we better not waste anymore time. After all, we only have six more hours all to ourselves.”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart, we have the rest of our lives. But I sure would like to start with these six hours.” Matt reached up and ran his hands over her breasts, down the curve of her side, and clasped her hips as they started enjoying every single second of the rest of their lives.

“
T
his is
the worst day of my life,” Cy muttered as Riley slipped her hand through her father’s tuxedoed arm.

“Dad!” Riley cried as she shot a glare up at him. “It’s my wedding day.”

“I know,” Cy snarled.

“ I thought you liked Matt.”

“I do,” Cy grudgingly admitted. “Marshall and Will told me today would be hard, but I thought if I didn’t think about it, then it just wouldn’t happen.”

“Think about me getting married?” Riley asked as they waited at the doors to Saint Francis.

Her father turned his head away from her and nodded. “The day I lose my baby girl,” he said softly.

“Oh, Daddy. You won’t lose me. You’ll just gain another son,” Riley said softly, tears filling her eyes. She rose up on her toes and placed a kiss on her father’s cheek as the doors opened.

Her father kissed her cheek, and the guests all rose to their feet. “I’m glad of that, honey. I’m so proud of you. And of Matt. Marshall told me he’s retiring next month and that the board voted last week to hire Matt as the new sheriff. I really am happy for you both. I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter or son-in-law. Just don’t forget I’m here for you, even if you just need a flat tire changed or help unscrewing a lid.”

“I love you, Dad,” Riley smiled up to him.

“I love you, too, honey. Now, let’s not keep your husband waiting.”

On her father’s arm, Riley started up the aisle. She smiled at her sister, her maid of honor, and at Sophie, Layne, Sydney, and Piper, her bridesmaids. But it was Matt who held her attention. He stood tall before her, looking devastatingly handsome in his tuxedo. The look in his eyes made her heart sing. Love, as pure and as true as she’d ever known.

Matt shook her father’s hand before taking Riley’s in his. As one, they turned to Father Ben, who cheerfully performed the service. Before Riley knew it, Matt was dipping her back with her long veil lying on the train of her satin gown as he kissed her. The church erupted in applause, and Father Ben announced them as Matt and Riley Walz.

* * *

G
emma watched
her daughter dancing with her new husband and sighed happily.

“Come on, let’s toast the happy couple,” Paige said as she handed her a glass of champagne. Gemma took the glass from her sister-in-law and turned to her friends, all waiting for her.

“To Matt, Riley, and grandchildren!” Dani toasted.

Gemma clinked glasses and took a sip of champagne. She had done it. One down, three to go.

“Mrs. Davies. It good to see you again.”

All her friends stared as Gemma turned and smiled.

“Officer Tandy. It is a pleasure to see you again, too.”

The nice trooper who served as one of Matt’s groomsmen smiled at her. “I never did get a chance to thank you for your help locating Matt. I never would have thought to call DEA dispatch without you telling me. And I see you have a new trooper assigned to your town since Matt was appointed sheriff.”

Gemma looked to where DeAndre and Aniyah were dancing and smiled at the officer. He was set to start the next week. “Yes, we’re very lucky to have those two in Keeneston.” Gemma smiled.

“I hope you enjoy the rest of the reception. Save me a dance.” He smiled before tipping his head to her friends and heading out onto the dance floor with Abby.

“See you
again
?” Kenna asked.

“Thanks for your
help
?” Morgan asked with a smile on her lips.

“You know,” Katelyn tried to say seriously, “for knowing
exactly
where Matt was.”

“And for contacting the
DEA
,” Tammy said trying not to laugh. “I’m surprised you didn’t call them yourself!”

Gemma shrugged. “A mother’s gotta do what a mother’s gotta do.”

“Cheers to that!” Annie and Bridget called as they lifted their glasses once more.

R
iley smiled
at her husband as they cut the cake. Tonight had been perfect, though she could have gotten married in her jeans at the courthouse for all she cared. The most important part was she was now married to Matt.

“The bride and groom wish to dedicate this song to all the couples here tonight who have inspired them by their love and devotion to each other,” the D.J. said as couples made their way to the dance floor. “Umm, also, a pair of women’s panties have been found outside, hanging in the lower branch of a tree. If the owner of them would like them back, Miss Lily is holding them for you.”

S
ophie shook
her head as her father, Cade, dipped her mother, Annie, on the dance floor. Married thirty-three years and you couldn’t tell them apart from the newlyweds.

Sophie had to go, but before she left she wanted to give the happy couple her best wishes one more time. She loved seeing her cousin so in love. It gave her hope that her happily-ever-after was still out there, and he hadn’t disappeared forever in the middle of the night two years before.

She had tried to get back into the dating game after Nash left, not that they were ever in the game together, but she just didn’t have the heart for it. Instead, she’d poured herself into her work for a private company with the Department of Defense contract. Which was probably why she was standing alone at the wedding, watching everyone else dance.

Cody Gray, one of the sheriff’s deputies had asked her to dance, but it had felt strange. Somehow he seemed to be a kid at twenty-four compared to her almost thirty-one years. Probably because he hadn’t seen or done half the stuff she had. Sophie kept the smile on her face as the song finally ended. She made her way through the crowd to where Riley and Matt were laughing as they grabbed another drink.

“Hey, guys. I’m so sorry to cut out before you leave, but I have to catch the red-eye to London.” Sophie gave her cousin a hug and kissed her radiant cheek before giving Matt a quick hug as well.

“I understand,” Riley said with more truth than Sophie thought she should have. Sophie had been MIA for most of the last two years and felt like a horrible friend. However, with her job it was a must. At least, that’s what she told herself. “Let me know when you get back to Keeneston. We’ll have a girls’ night at the café.”

“Sounds like a plan. Congratulations again.” Sophie smiled and tried not to run out the door. Her flight to New York City was leaving soon—too soon to even change out of her bridesmaid dress. She hoped the blush strapless dress with a satin sash under her bust and a slit up the flowing material on her leg would get someone to buy her a drink or two on the plane.

T
oo many hours
later to count, Sophie was finally in London. Her flight from New York to Heathrow had been cancelled. After waiting most of the night and a good part of the morning to get on a new flight, her company finally hired a private jet. She normally flew in one of the company’s jets, but the president and some of the board were using the fleet to get ready for the big launch.

So finally, at ten o’clock at night, British Summer Time, Sophie was riding the elevator to her suite at The Dorchester in Hyde Park. The chignon her strawberry-blonde hair had been in for the wedding almost twenty-four hours before had long since fallen. The only thing keeping her from looking like a psychotic prom queen was the fact that her hair had natural waves that were quite fashionable. Basically it meant instead of looking homicidal, which was how she felt, she had that freshly-tumbled-by-a-hot-man look. At least, that’s how she saw her hair in her dreams.

Sophie reached down and pulled off her heels a second before the elevator stopped at her floor. She hoped no one would see her walking barefoot, but at this point she didn’t care. She just wanted a hot shower, some food, and a bed. The order didn’t really matter.

Sophie lucked out and didn’t pass anyone in the hall. When she had picked up the special package her employer left her at the front desk, a special package containing a never-seen prototype gun she had helped develop, she had been told her bags were already in the room so she wouldn’t be disturbed. Perfect, she thought as she unlocked the door. She opened it up to find the living area cast in shadows, but her skin prickled with awareness nonetheless. Always trusting her instinct, she had the gun in her hands and was aiming it at the dark figure sitting in the chair by the time her eyes adjusted to the darkness.

Sophie gasped, and she suddenly felt lightheaded when she could finally make out the man waiting for her.

“Hello, Soph,” Nash said as he turned on the light.

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K
athleen Brooks is
a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author.  Kathleen’s stories are romantic suspense featuring strong female heroines, humor, and happily-ever-afters.  Her Bluegrass Series and follow-up Bluegrass Brothers Series feature small town charm with quirky characters that have captured the hearts of readers around the world.

K
athleen is
an animal lover who supports rescue organizations and other non-profit organizations such as Friends and Vets Helping Pets whose goals are to protect and save our four-legged family members.