Free Committed Passion by Bonnie Dee Page B

she’d wanted to rent a church rather than go to the courthouse. We’d chosen this small chapel near a county park. The reception would be in an open-air shelter overlooking a lake. Flowers from our own garden garlanded the altar and were strewn up the aisle down which Rianna would walk—any second now.
    I folded my hands in front of me, trying to appear at ease, but my heart thumped as I looked toward the back of the church and waited. A pianist played softly. And I waited. Then there was movement in the foyer, and the pianist began the wedding march.
    Not a march, really. We’d chosen a lyrical piano piece, and Rianna’s sole bridesmaid, Cyndi, slunk down the aisle to the tune. The woman couldn’t help it. She heard music and her hips swayed. She made me smile, and I started to relax. Then my gaze settled on Rianna, and nothing else mattered.
    She walked alone, graceful, beautiful, proud. She had no parents to escort her. Her grandmother had refused to attend, saying the several-hour trip to Lexington was “too far.” I’d suggested she might want to have Travis by her side, but Rianna had shaken her head. “You know how he is. He might get nervous or stubborn or act up. I’d feel more comfortable with him in one of the pews.”  
    I’d smiled at her practicality. She knew our boy well. At four, he was unpredictable, and while he might have escorted her like a little angel, he was just as likely to show off and make faces at the guests all the way up the aisle. Not that it would matter much. There were only my brothers and their girlfriends, a few friends from Sawville, and a few more Rianna and I had made since moving to Lexington.
    Right now, Travis sat between J.D. and Leah. He waved at his mom as she passed, and she lifted her bouquet and gave a little finger wave back. She turned her attention back to me and gave me a look with those gorgeous eyes that had seized me the first time we met and rocked my world.
    I couldn’t stop grinning back at her like a big idiot. It was literally impossible to restrain my smile. And then she was beside me, and the minister began talking. We’d stuck with traditional vows because I knew I couldn’t begin to make it through a speech about how much she meant to me. Micah handed me the rings, and Rianna and I exchanged simple, classic “I dos.”
    We kissed politely while everyone applauded. I would’ve liked to spend much more time and effort on that kiss, but tradition swept us back down the aisle and outside to greet our guests.
    Travis came barreling up and threw his arms around my legs. I scooped him up and held him in the crook of my arm. “How you doin’?”
    “Good. Are you my dad now?”
    Too hard to explain about adoption paperwork to a little kid, so I answered, “I sure am” and gave him a big kiss and hug.
    Travis reached for his mom and clambered from me to her like a little monkey. “Me and Uncle Micah got a present for you. It’s a surprise,” he announced.
    “What is it?” Rianna asked distractedly while continuing to greet guests.
    “He wouldn’t tell me ’cause he said I’d spill the beans, but you’ll love it.” Travis slipped down Rianna’s body, and Gina took his hand.
    “Congratulations, you guys. It was a beautiful ceremony,” she said before she led Travis away.
    I chatted with a few of my distillery employees, and with Bud Harringer, an old friend from Sawville.
    Micah, who stood beside me, nudged me with an elbow. “Who’s that?”
    I looked up to see Clay Peters walking across the lawn toward the chapel. No. More like weaving his way. Drunk. Angry drunk. I could tell from his expression.
    “Rianna’s ex,” I answered. “Jesus, how did he know where to find us?”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this.” Micah strode off, beckoning J.D. to go with him. I wanted to join them, but me ending up in a fistfight on our wedding day wasn’t the kind of memory I wanted Rianna to have.
    By now, she’d noticed Clay too,