Bethany"You know, this is honestly unfair," Bethany grumbled as she turned her head to look at Sophia who sat beside her in the bride's room later that afternoon. Hair and make-up were done, and her toes and fingernails looked like a million bucks. She felt like a princess, a grumpy one at present."I agree, but let's do the best we can. Here, let me see what you have." Sophia snatched the paper in front of Bethany and gave her a look. They were becoming fast friends. Too bad the woman was working in Saudi for the next year. "You don't even have anything down. It's just a bunch of doodles.""How am I supposed to write my vows? I just keep hearing the words from the traditional vows in my mind playing over and over again. It's useless.""What are we getting upset about?" Erica walked into the room and sat down across from Bethany at the table."Damon just sprung on me a few hours ago that he's written his vows, but it's okay... I can just use the old, crusty, traditional ones." Bethan
DamonHis breath caught in his chest as Bethany rounded the corner at the back of the church. The crowd of people that had gathered in the church had helped to block his view until that moment. He'd never in his life seen anything so beautiful, so perfect."Wow. Damn..." Matt mumbled beside him.Damon's hands were clasped tightly, his arms hanging comfortably. He had to look like the picture of confidence and assurance, but his insides were a fucking mess.What if he messed things up with Beth? What if he lost her like James almost lost his wife? What if she cheated on him like his mother did with his father?Was love enough? Was he enough?He'd never contemplated the questions before, but standing there at the front of the church with his bride walking toward him. It was all he could think about.Her eyes never left him; her lips turned up in a beautiful smile as the crowd shifted to face her with every step she took. His father held on to her, his face filled with the type of pride
DamonHe took her hand and slid the ring halfway on it, pausing as he glanced up and looked deep into her eyes. "From the moment I met you, you've challenged me. Not only to be a better man but to change my way of thinking. Love isn't given just to be snatched away, and happiness lasts for more than a few moments. Forgiveness isn't the way of the world, but it's your way." He paused and took a shaky breath. "You're beautiful and kind, beyond brilliant and will soon rule not only my heart but my home, my business and anything else you want that belongs to me."Tears welled up in Beth's eyes, spilling over and stealing his heart. He must not be dicking it up too badly."Where are your notes?" she whispered and he laughed."I don't have notes, silly. Do you?"Her lips pursed tightly. Him memorizing it wasn't a good thing from what he could tell."We both had so much to overcome to bring this relationship together, but I want you to know, that I overcame each obstacle because of you, for
Bethany"You okay?" Damon asked her for the tenth time as they walked into one of the Sunday school rooms.Bethany laughed. "Yes, baby. Are you okay? You keep asking."He was a little wide-eyed. "I think so. You were just shaking in there. I was worried.""I was nervous." She slid her arms around his waist and pulled him in tight. "Your vows were beautiful.""Shit..." He scoffed. "I should have known better than to give my beautiful wife a challenge. You blew me out of the water. I worked on mine for a fucking week, and you had twenty minutes and took me down fast."She lifted to her toes, and he moved down, pressing his lips to her as his strong hands gripped her lower back. She relaxed against him, enjoying the feeling of him holding her up."I feel so damn sentimental." She moved back and wiped at her eyes. "It's driving me crazy.""It's just gratitude." Kent walked in behind them. "When you get something in life that makes your life better, you're overwhelmed with gratitude." He sh
Bethany"Well? That was a hit." Bethany reclined in the back of the limo beside Damon as they pulled away from the reception. There had been far too many people to keep track of anyone. After hugging the hundredth person, the faces and conversations started to blend together."It was incredible. I'm fucking beat though." He reached over and touched the side of her face. "How about a quick shower and bed?""How about a long shower and bed?" She moved closer, pressing her shoulder to his as they slumped against the soft leather behind them."I like the sound of that too." His fingertips skimmed down her cheek. "Our flight leaves at ten in the morning, so we need to get up at six or so-"He paused as Bethany sat up and moved into his lap, her huge wedding dress billowing down the sides of his legs."Stop talking about all the to-dos on our list tomorrow. Tonight is our first night as a married couple." She ran her hands down his firm chest and purred. "I don't want to focus on anything b
KendalI'd never seen Damon look so dejected, so fidgety, so lost."What can we do to fix this?" I leaned back in my chair and let my hands drop into my lap. We had ordered lunch, but it had yet to be served. Where I'd usually love to hang out with my best friend for an hour, today wasn't one of those days. I was sliding into a dark place in my own life, and watching Damon head-dive into depression wasn't helping much."Nothing." He glanced up from staring at his hands and shrugged. "I fucked up.""Everyone messes up, Damon." I reached for my water, enjoying the coolness of the glass in my hand. Life was a torrential accumulation of painful fuck-ups, but I thought it was only my life that told that story. It would seem that I was wrong."Right." He chuckled and let out a sigh as his eyes moved around the quaint restaurant in front of us. "All these women and any one of them would be mine with very little effort.""But you don't want any of these women." I took a quick sip of my water
Kendal"No, you idiot. Listen to what I'm saying and stop reading into it a million meanings. She was nice and I took it as a come-on because I'm hyper sensitive to women as I should be. I can't tell you the number of innocent looking college girls that basically throw their panties at me. It's disturbing."Damon's turn to laugh. "Wait, are you saying that all these women are attracted to you, and you, being the upright citizen that you are, turn them down?""Of course I do, asshole." I picked up my burger. He was getting to me... though I promised myself he wouldn't. "It's not like I have a choice. I don't own my company, and my fingers aren’t stuck up my dad's ass, timing his pulse for the right moment to seize the opportunity.""Oh shit. I hit a nerve." Damon laughed and glanced around the room. "You assume these women are stealing glances at me, Kendal. What if they're not? What if it's you they’re looking at?""It's irrelevant." I worked on my burger while he glanced around as if
DanaThe loud crying that filled the hallway broke my heart. I quickly finished tying my scrubs and tugged my shirt over the top of my pants before jogging that way. Amanda Tarrington was one of my favorites on the floor, and I'd only been at the hospital for a few weeks. My internship with Memorial was turning out to be an overwhelming and eye-opening experience, if nothing else."It's okay. I'm right here, Mandy." The deep rumble of a male voice rolled over me as I stopped just inside the hospital room. Two nurses were standing on the far side of the bed, one giving the thrashing girl a shot while she wept loudly.The handsome man leaning over the top of her had to be her brother. I'd yet to meet him, but the girls on the floor spend half the damn nights talking about how handsome and good-hearted he was. From what I could see from behind, handsome wouldn't exactly cover it.I moved back out into the hall and took a shallow breath before turning and heading for the nurses’ station.