Every person around me taking part in the ritual of giving me away to the man I love.
We all walk together down a makeshift wildflower aisle of black-eyed Susans, cow grass, and fairy slippers, with the peppery-sweet scent of sagebrush teasing our noses. The Teton Mountains tower behind Tenn majestically and the dancing river sings to me.
This may possibly be the most perfect moment in the history of moments.
And wow… Tenn looks so impossibly handsome, my heart swells with pride that this is my man. Even with his Stetson on, I can see the clear blue of his sparkling eyes as they are pinned on me. He’s wearing the bolo tie I had made for him with the Double J ranch logo, and while I definitely love him in his Harley t-shirts and shit-kicker boots, he makes a fucking fine ass cowboy as well.
Tenn’s eyes roam over me slowly as I get closer. He’s taking in the cream-colored sundress with spaghetti straps I had bought to match my cream-colored Stetson, and because hey… it’s my wedding… I bought a pair of cream-colored boots to match. The only hint of color on me is in the lilac-colored ribbon that’s tied to the ends of the braids I put in my hair, along with little sprigs of baby’s breath.
Before I can reach my groom, he steps away from his group to meet me. As if planned, my group halts their progress and within a few steps, it’s just Tenn and me standing in front of each other.
“Hey,” I whisper.
“Hey, Goldie,” he says huskily as his eyes roam down and then up my body. “You look gorgeous in your wedding white.”
I give a soft laugh and lean in a bit closer to him. “This is actually cream. I couldn’t go with pure white because… hello… I’m marrying you and there’s not a virginal bone you’ve left untapped in my body.”
Tenn’s bright, white teeth explode from behind his lips as he laughs. “Consider me educated on wedding colors then.”
We stare at each other, completely oblivious to the other souls around us. Completely uncaring that there’s a wedding waiting on us.
“So, what did you do last night?” I ask him curiously.
“Couldn’t sleep because I was missing you too much.” And, there goes the butterflies in my stomach. “What did you do?”
“I got a little tipsy and tattooed your name on my ass,” I tell him sincerely.
His eyebrows disappear under the brow of his hat and his mouth hangs open slightly. “You’re kidding?”
“Yup, kidding,” I tell him. “It’s actually here on my wrist.”
His hand jets out and turns my hand palm up, taking in the delicate cursive writing of his name on my skin. I remember he told me once that he intended to ink my name somewhere prominent on his body because it didn’t get any more permanent than that. I figured I should do the same, although I didn’t have it in me to get anything big because… well, that shit hurts and I wanted it over as soon as possible.
Tenn lifts my arm and brings my wrist to his mouth, where he places a light kiss on it. “I love it, baby,” he says softly.
My cheeks turn a little pink over the adoration in his voice. We stare at each other some more, both of us getting lost in each other. Oh… his eyes. The most beautiful thing ever invented. Perhaps my favorite place in the world.
A coughing sound from behind Tenn has me blinking slightly, and I lean to the left to peek around his shoulder. The minister smiles at me kindly and says, “Are you two ready to get going?”
I give him a smile, nodding my head and then pulling back to look up at Tenn. “You ready?”
Tenn takes my hand and turns his body to face the minister. He tucks my arm in his and starts walking me across the pebbled shore of the river. “I’ve been ready for you my whole life, Goldie. Let’s go do this.”
If you enjoyed Shaken, Not Stirred as much as I enjoyed writing it, it would mean a lot for you to give me a review.
If you want to read all about how Nix and Emily fell in love, check out my book, Off Limits.
OFF LIMITS
Two years ago, Emily Burnham, had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time. And she likes it.
Nixon Caldwell has served his time in the Marine Corps, surviving two brutal tours in Afghanistan. He is back home, surrounded by what he likes best…isolation. It's certainly the easiest way to avoid confrontation of the consuming guilt that is weighing him down.
When an accident brings Emily and Nix together, he soon learns he is not the master of his own fate. Struggling with his own pain, Nix tries to guard himself against Emily’s charms. He wants her in his bed, but he doesn’t want her in his heart.
Having grabbed life by the horns, Emily wants it all. But is she willing to accept just the small part of himself that Nix is offering? Or can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?
Find out in Off Limits.
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Books By Sawyer Bennett
The Off Series
Off Sides
Off Limits
Off The Record
Off Course
Off Chance
Off Season
The Last Call Series
On The Rocks
Make It A Double
Sugar On The Edge
With A Twist
Shaken Not Stirred
The Legal Affairs Series
Objection
Stipulation
Violation
Mitigation
Reparation
Affirmation
Confessions of a Litigation God
Friction: A Legal Affairs Novel (Coming Soon)
Stand Alone Titles
If I Return
Uncivilized
The Cold Fury Hockey Series (Random House/ Loveswept)
Alex
Garrett (releasing 2/7/15)
Zack (Coming June, 2015)
Ryker (Coming September, 2015)
The Forever Land Chronicles
Forever Young
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling Author, Sawyer Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
THE END