Code name revenge, p.18
Code Name: Revenge,
p.18
“No.” His grin is big, eyes shining with amusement. “But I thought that would take your mind off being nervous.”
I smirk and turn my eyes back to the patio doors of my dad’s house. At any moment, they’ll open, and my life will really begin.
Rows of white chairs are set up with something white and frothy attached to their backs. A massive arch behind me is filled with fresh flowers, and in the middle stands a minister my father procured from God knows where.
All of Jess’s family and friends sit on one side.
My side is filled with Jameson people—front row, Bebe and Griff, smiling at me, and Joslyn and Kynan next to them.
Not all were able to come, but most did. Cruce, Barrett, Saint, Sin, Malik, Anna, Cage, Jaime, Corrine, Clay, Jackson, Camille, Ladd, and Greer. The list goes on with folks from the Vegas office who I don’t know as well, but some I do. Rachel in particular who holds her son Tony on her lap, but her husband Bodie is off on a mission and couldn’t make it.
The one person I wish was here is Kellen. He’s new to Jameson, and I barely know the dude, and yet he’s the one who’s really missed. He took on the very important job of protecting Claire and Thea so I wouldn’t have to worry about them. But he’s wrapping up his stuff in California for the permanent move to Pittsburgh. He’s sold his house, and he, Bubba, and his girlfriend will be driving across the country this weekend. I’ll fly to Pittsburgh soon if for nothing more than to take him out for a beer.
Music starts, and my eyes drift to the patio doors. They open and Thea comes out, wearing a peach-colored sundress nearly the same color as her mom’s. She has daisies tucked into her hair, and her gaze locks onto mine. She seems scared when she realizes all the people are turned in their seats looking at her, but I hold out my hand to urge her forward.
She’s carrying a basket and is supposed to drop daisies down the aisle, but instead she takes off running toward me. Everyone laughs and I scoop her into my arms. “You forgot to drop the flowers,” I tease as I kiss her cheek.
“Oh yeah,” she says and wiggles to be let down. Everyone is charmed when she runs to just between the first row of chairs, tips her basket, dumps all the flowers, and then runs back to me.
More laughter as I pick her up again. I figure it’s probably more appropriate for her to be with me and Jess rather than standing off to the side.
And then Jess is there, standing in the open doorway, ready to step out onto the patio. Her dad is on one side, her mom on the other.
“I seriously want your opinion on Claire,” my dad mutters low out the side of his mouth.
“Not now,” I say back, not taking him seriously. He’s only trying to lighten the mood, ease my nerves, and take a playful jab. Truth is, I think he and Claire are going to be very good friends.
Jess’s eyes laser onto mine, and we stare at each other the entire time she walks down the aisle. No traditional white dress, and I notice she ditched her heels because she told me they were hurting her feet on the drive over. We didn’t spend the night before the wedding apart, and we didn’t even engage in the planning of this event.
That was all my dad and Claire, who took care of everything except for the outfit Jess picked out. As for me, it’s Miami, and I’m staying cool in a pair of khaki linen pants and a white linen, short-sleeved shirt that’s casually untucked.
Jess and I didn’t bother writing vows. We’re both so easygoing about this whole thing, we decided to speak from the heart when the time came.
Both of us know we’ll say the exact right thing, because we’ve already said it all before. We’ve spent the past two weeks making sure to be truthful with all our feelings and catching up on things we should’ve been saying to each other for years.
♦
“Now this is a wedding celebration,” Griff says. We’re standing in line for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster.
We had a small reception yesterday following the ceremony, but we invited everyone to join us today in Orlando as I am fulfilling my Disney promise to Thea.
Not everyone could come—but still high off our success against Borovsky, Kynan, Jackson, Cage, and Malik are standing in line behind Griff. The women decided not to come on the roller coaster and instead have gathered under a shade tree to wait for us. But Thea is fearless and stands next to me, holding my hand.
And why would she be scared? She has some of the toughest men standing around her, ready to slay all her dragons.
Of course, this is apparent to anyone in the Magic Kingdom who happens to walk by, because Bebe took it upon herself to buy all the men coordinating T-shirts—T-shirts that fit like a second skin, all in black with white lettering on the back that says, “Princess Protection Detail.”
Best of all, not one of the guys protested wearing these. All six of us are quite the spectacle, enjoying it to the max. Especially with Thea donning her Princess Tiana dress. All day we’ve had people coming up, asking to take pictures with us. Thea has been loving every minute of it, all her “uncles” protecting her while she waits in line.
There’s a tug on my hand, and I look down at Thea.
“What’s up?” I ask as the line moves forward and we shuffle along.
“Can I ask you a secret question?”
“Sure,” I reply and squat so we’re face-to-face. I glance over and across the way, see all the Jameson women sipping cool drinks and laughing.
Jess’s eyes are on me and her daughter while she keeps an ear on the conversation around her.
Thea leans in and whispers, “When can I start calling you Daddy?”
Fuck it all to hell, but why did she have to ask me that question right in the middle of the happiest place on earth with my macho bro dudes standing behind us? There’s no stopping my eyes from swimming with tears, so I quickly pull her into a hug so she can’t see. I dash them away with a few hard blinks so the guys don’t see.
“You can start calling me that right now,” I whisper back.
“Okay, Daddy,” she replies and then squirms out of the hug, taking hold of my hand again.
I straighten, look over to my wife, and she sees—but that’s okay. A smile tips her mouth, and I think she knows what’s going down.
Thea just truly made me the happiest man on the planet.
Join the team at Jameson Force Security one last time! Kellen McCord is the first K-9 handler to join the team at Jameson Force Security and with the help of his partner, Omega, he’s about to make a rescue that will change his life forever. CLICK HERE to get details on Code Name: Omega.
The Pittsburgh Titans are rebuilding following a tragic plane crash. Baden Oulett makes the move from Phoenix to Pittsburgh as he joins the coaching staff for the Titans, but did he make the right choice? CLICK HERE to read Baden.
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New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to her wonderfully naughty dogs.
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Sawyer Bennett, Code Name: Revenge
