“Thank you kindly, darlin’.”

  “Life with you will be crazy, exciting and frustrating, but never dull. I love you when you’re brave. I love you when you’re kind. I love you when your generous soul shines through. I even love you when you’re an idiot.”

  He ducked his head with a muffled snort of laughter.

  “I can’t wait to be married to you. And FYI, longevity runs in my family. You’ll have to put up with me for a long, long time.”

  “Throw me in that briar patch, darlin’.” Badger squeezed her hands. “My amazin’, powerful, stubborn and forgivin’ Hayley. The day we met you became my fake fiancée. Didn’t take me long to start anglin’ for the real deal. Took you a little longer to see things my way. But I kept workin’ the program, and here we are, marryin’ each other at last.”

  She swallowed. “Uh-huh.”

  “I’ve been told I have the gift of gab. But lookin’ at you standin’ here today in all your glory, promisin’ to be my partner for life…I’m speechless, darlin’.” His voice roughened. “I love you so much.”

  Neither of them spoke and a hush fell, as if no one wanted to break the spell.

  At last Warren softly cleared his throat and led them through the rest of the ceremony. Delilah had learned her part and stood quietly as they unfastened the rings from her collar.

  The rings went on, Warren blessed their union, and it was done. Badger kissed Hayley with vigor as the guests gave them a standing ovation.

  Releasing a blushing Hayley, Badger turned to the gathering. “Time to start partyin’!”

  Nicole and Bryce launched into Frankie Ballard’s It’s a Helluva Life and Badger glanced at Warren. “Last ones married, first ones out the door?”

  Warren grinned. “Go for it.”

  Aaron looked around for Caitlin but she’d vacated her spot in the center aisle and was…somewhere else. No telling.

  “Need my hat.” Badger took it from Ryker and crammed it on his head. “Race you to the champagne, darlin’.”

  Hayley picked up her skirts. “You’re on.”

  They ran down the aisle as the guests cheered them on.

  “We’re right behind you!” Luke called out as he grabbed Abigail’s hand and whistled for Delilah.

  As Luke and Abigail took off with Delilah bounding along behind them, Aaron glanced at Cowboy. “Are we doing that?”

  He shrugged. “Can’t see why not.” He looked across at Wes, Ingrid, Gage and Roxanne. “Let’s move ’em out!”

  Wes grinned. “Lead the way.”

  “See you there.” Ryker barreled down the aisle with Sheila.

  “Let’s go.” Aaron grabbed April’s hand and they ran after them, laughing like kids.

  The guests seemed…bemused. Probably hadn’t seen anything like this, ever.

  Aaron was ready for champagne. And a dance with Caitlin. Time to find out if they had a shot at what Abigail, Luke, Hayley and Badger had found.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Nothing like being immersed in a big ol’ vat of romance when a girl was attempting to make an objective decision about a very appealing guy. Taking pictures of happy people drunk on champagne, a full moon and love everlasting was Caitlin’s current assignment, and she was doing a bang-up job of it.

  But all those gooey emotions had gummed up her brain circuits and she was no closer to giving Aaron a definitive answer than she had been twenty-four hours ago. If anything, she was more muddled than ever.

  Because of that, she’d dodged and weaved all night to avoid having a conversation with him. Not easy when she was tasked with capturing members of the wedding party either in stills or on video.

  She’d chosen to take video of him dancing because he couldn’t waylay her then. He was a popular partner, mostly with women at least twice his age. When he waltzed beautifully with Hayley’s great-grandmother, those two cleared the floor. He left that sweet lady laughing and fanning herself. Then he asked a little girl about eight, who looked as if she’d won the lottery.

  Despite the cool evening, she dashed around so energetically that every thirty minutes or so she had to stop by the bar for a glass of water. That time had come again. She scanned the crowd for Aaron.

  There he was, drinking a beer and joking with a group of guys that included Badger and Ryker. Occupied for now. She hurried toward the bar, asked for her glass of water and took her first sip. Checked the group of guys. Wait. Aaron was no longer among them.

  “Thought it was about time for your water break.”

  She turned as he walked toward her, beer bottle in hand, vest unbuttoned. Sometime during the evening he’d ditched the white Stetson. His tousled hair could use a gentle finger-combing. She’d be glad to oblige. “Were you keeping track?”

  “Yes, ma’am. You seem determined to avoid me, so I had to strategize.” He set his beer on an empty table nearby.

  “The thing is—”

  His gaze warmed. “Love your dress.”

  “Thanks.” She was a sucker for his low, seductive tone. Raven’s voice.

  “Will you dance with me? Please?”

  Such a sweet request. “I would, but—” She gestured to her camera bag. “I have this.”

  “I’ll bet you could leave it with the bartender.”

  “You sure can, miss.” The bartender was an older guy named Tim who’d come out of retirement to help Virginia with this event. “I’ll keep it safe for you. Have a dance. You’ve been working hard. And he’s a good dancer.”

  “I know.” She handed her bag to him. “Thank you. I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time.”

  Halfway to the dance floor, Ryker intercepted them, his gaze intent. “Need a word with you, Raven.”

  “Can it wait until after we—”

  “’Fraid not.” He tugged down the brim of his Stetson.

  A cowboy in a white hat, dispensing justice. Chances were good Ryker had somehow learned about the identity bait-and-switch. She cleared her throat. “If you two need a private chat, I can retrieve my camera and get to work.”

  Ryker glanced at her. “This concerns you, too. I’d like you to stay, please.”

  “Sure. What’s up?” Like she didn’t know.

  “Badger let something slip just now. When I questioned him about it, he asked me to let it go. I won’t push him on his wedding day, but I get the feeling Badger and Raven have been up to something that involves you. Am I right?”

  “Well, I—”

  “Yes, we have.” Aaron let go of her hand and his sigh of resignation said it all. He was going to confess. “Don’t blame Badger, though. He was only trying to help.”

  “And everything turned out fine.” Caitlin moved closer to him, took his hand and gave it a squeeze. “All’s well that ends well, as they say.”

  “Okay.” Ryker’s jaw tightened but his tone was conversational. “Then I guess you won’t mind telling me about it.”

  “Basically, I caused the problem because I have an issue with—”

  “You didn’t cause it.” Aaron’s voice was gentle as he disengaged his hand, squared his shoulders and faced Ryker. “It’s unfortunate you caught wind of it tonight, Cowboy. I was planning to fill you in tomorrow.”

  “Looks like you’ll be doing that now.”

  He grimaced. “Yep.” He briefly described the deception, leaving out the more intimate details. He minimized Badger’s role and emphasized his own.

  As the story unfolded, Ryker’s eyes widened in disbelief. Then his gaze darkened and his mouth compressed into a slash of disapproval.

  “I finally told Caitlin the truth Thursday night.” Aaron glanced at her before returning to Ryker, who looked ready to blow. “She was understandably furious with me and was ready to spread the story around town. Then she talked with Hayley and they voted to keep it to the four of us. Meaning I couldn’t tell anyone, including—”

  “I get it.” Ryker spoke through clenched teeth. “You’re damned lucky we’re in the middle of a wedding reception, buddy-boy. How could you do something so…so…” He threw up both hands and turned his back, chest heaving. “Honest to God, I feel like punching you.”

  “I’m not surprised.”

  Spinning on his heel, he faced Aaron, eyes blazing. “You could have ruined this wedding.” He jabbed a finger in Aaron’s direction. “Caitlin had every right to publicly humiliate you and Badger, but she considered the consequences. Which is more than I can say for either of you idiots.”

  Aaron sucked in a breath. “We…” He exhaled. “You’re right. We didn’t fully anticipate how it could play out. Things…got out of hand.”

  “You think?” Ryker clenched and unclenched his fists. “I still can’t believe you were willing to trick this wonderful—”

  “Ryker.” Caitlin stepped forward.

  “Ma’am?”

  “I’d like to say something.”

  He frowned. “Look, I don’t want you to go easy on them, Caitlin. They don’t deserve it. You have a kind and forgiving nature, but what they did—”

  “Was wrong. They admit it. But after the truth came out, Aaron said something that stuck with me. He doesn’t regret any of it.”

  “What?”

  “And neither do I.”

  “They set you up! How can you—”

  “Because their goal wasn’t mean or cruel. They only wanted to show me I could be attracted to Aaron if he called himself something else. And I was. We…had a good time together.”

  “But now you hate him because he tricked you into liking him, right?”

  “I don’t hate him. He colored outside the lines to get my attention, but at heart he’s a good guy.”

  “I used to think so, too.” He glared at Aaron.

  “He is a good guy, Ryker. I like him a lot.”

  “Then you weren’t heading to the dance floor just to keep up appearances?”

  “No.” She looked at Aaron and drank in the warmth shining in his golden eyes. “I’d very much like to dance with him.”

  “Hm.” Ryker’s gaze shifted between them. “I still want to punch him for you.”

  “I appreciate your gallantry, but I’d rather you didn’t do that.”

  “Can’t, anyway. I’d likely bloody his nose and he’d drip all over his tux shirt.” He turned back to Aaron. “I have more to say to you, soldier, but Caitlin wants to dance with you for some reason or other.”

  “Can’t account for taste.”

  “That’s the God’s truth. Think I’ll go chew on Badger for a while.”

  “It’s his wedding night.”

  “I know. I’ll make it private, short and to the point. He was the mastermind behind this scheme and don’t try to tell me different. It has his fingerprints all over it.”

  “His heart’s in the right place, Cowboy.”

  “And his head’s up his—” He glanced at Caitlin. “Sorry. When I get steamed I sometimes forget myself. If you have any more trouble with this joker, let me know, okay?”

  “I will.”

  “And thank you again for keeping this under your hat. This is Eagles Nest, so the story will get out. But I won’t be saying anything.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Enjoy your dance.” He touched two fingers to the brim of his hat, sent one last scathing glance Aaron’s way, and left, his long strides carrying him back to the group that included Badger.

  Aaron turned to her, his expression tender. “You defended me. Didn’t expect that.”

  Moving closer, she gave in to temptation and combed her fingers through his hair. “Seems I’m becoming quite fond of you.”

  He drew her into his arms. “The feeling’s mutual.”

  “Are we going to dance?”

  “Sure.” He began to sway in time to the music.

  Winding her arms around his neck, she nestled against him and followed along. “I meant—”

  “I know.” His body brushed sensuously against hers. “Some people call this dancing.”

  “Not you.”

  He smiled. “Want to go out there?”

  “Not especially.” She held his gaze, watched the heat build, welcomed the sweet ache of longing. “This is nice.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  She stroked his jaw, faintly shadowed by the beginning of his beard. “If you stay much longer, you’ll have to duck out and shave.”

  “No kidding.” He rubbed her back in slow, mesmerizing circles. “Thought I’d leave after the brides and grooms take off. How about you?”

  “The send-off is the last thing I’ll be shooting. Then I’ll pack up.”

  “Wanna come over?”

  Her breath caught.

  “No pressure. Didn’t mean to scare you. Just an idea.” His grip tightened slightly. “But I’d love it if you would.”

  Desire coursed through her, leaving her hot and shaky. “Okay.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Aaron led the way to his house with Caitlin’s Jeep following close behind, her headlights shining in his rearview mirror. The moon was directly overhead, bathing their world in a romantic glow. Perfect timing.

  He should have pinned her down about the name thing. They’d agreed on that last night and it was important. But…the invitation had slipped right out.

  Not surprising when her warm, supple body had been cradled against his. And he wanted her so much. Maybe this was better—get the hot, urgent stuff under control so they could talk without hyperventilating.

  He was battling that very thing as he pulled into his driveway, shut off the engine and exited his truck as if the seat was on fire. A wonder it wasn’t, as hot as he was for the woman rounding the front of her Jeep and running, running toward him in the moonlight. She’d left her lights on.

  The combined velocity as they slammed together nearly sent them tumbling into the piles of leaves at his feet. He managed to gasp out your lights before the first kiss happened. He couldn’t say who’d started it. He lost track of everything but her mouth…oh, God…her hungry mouth.

  He managed to get his hands under her firm bottom and lift her up, crushing her skirt as he pressed her to his throbbing groin. She wrapped her legs around him and sucked on his tongue as he carried her up the steps. Was the door locked?

  Wasn’t usually, shouldn’t be now, but he’d left the house in a hurry and might have reverted to old habits. The knob turned without resistance. He shouldered his way through the door and kicked it shut.

  No lights. Didn’t matter. Heading for the hallway, he walked directly into his very dark bedroom. He chose the side of the bed where the condoms lived in the nightstand drawer. Lowering her to the soft quilt, he followed her down, drowning in her kisses, aching like he’d never ached before.

  She wrenched her mouth from his. “Get the—”

  “Yeah.” Letting go of her took willpower. Eventually he stood, unbuttoned, unzipped, and yanked open the bedside table drawer. “Take your panties off.”

  They sailed over his head as he ripped open the package and rolled on the condom. Shrugged off his vest. Left on everything else. Stripping off all his clothes would be great, but he didn’t have the time. He’d keep his booted feet on the floor. “Lie back.”

  “Already did. Come here, you.”

  He couldn’t see a damn thing, but he could feel. He pushed her skirt aside and slid his hands up warm, silken thighs until he encountered wet, hot woman. Bracing one hand beside where her shoulder should be, he used the other to guide him. There.

  She gasped as he drove deep. So good he nearly passed out. Gulping for air, he steadied himself. Used both hands to support his weight.

  Beneath him, she was breathing hard, too. Her fingers dug into his glutes.

  If she kept clutching him to her like the only gift she’d asked Santa for, he wasn’t going anywhere. Not that he was complaining. His cock was very happy with its current position. “How’re you doing?”

  “Never…better.”

  “Want me to move?”

  “Um, yes, please. That would be nice.”

  “You’ll need to loosen your grip.”

  “Oh.” Her fingers relaxed but she kept her hands right where they were and began a slow massage.

  Pressure built in his balls. “I could come just from you doing that.”

  “Should I stop?”

  “Only if you want this to last more than sixty seconds.”

  Her hands stilled. “I just…love touching you.”

  “We have all night.” What a concept.

  “We do, don’t we?” She sounded fascinated by the idea.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Sliding her hands up his back, she wrapped her arms around him. “Good. I’m staying, too.”

  Happiness poured through him. She’d been so far out of reach. But now she was here. She was staying.

  Leaning down, he estimated from her breathing where her mouth might be. He brushed a tentative kiss in the area and located soft, tasty lips. He nibbled on them. “Since we’re both here for the duration, how about if we kick off the evening with a couple of orgasms?”

  “That would be lovely.”

  “Let me know if this works for you.” Clamping down on his own hair-trigger response, he initiated an easy rhythm.

  Her breathing sped up. “It works.”

  “I can tell. You’re grabbing hold.” So easy. So easy when it was right. Filled with the joy of loving her, he gradually increased the pace and rejoiced as she lifted her hips, seeking the pleasure he longed to give her.

  Her soft cries spurred him on and he bore down, coaxing her up, up…and over the brink. With a wild cry, she arched beneath him and her hot channel undulated over his thrusting cock.

  He came in a rush, plunging into the whirlpool of sensation with her name on his lips. Caitlin.

  His labored gasps and the buzz in his ears blocked all other sounds. Was this real? Damn well better be. If he woke up alone in his bed...

  The haze cleared from his brain. Caitlin lay beneath him, her breathing semi-steady. He cleared his throat. “That was fun.”

  “Crazy fun.” She ran a palm over his chest. “I’ve never been quite so…spontaneous.”