He’d gotten to know Sarah’s best friend these last few weeks as they planned the wedding. Abby seemed all too willing to work with his chef friend on the menu. They seemed close, and he and Sarah were guessing there was a budding romance between them.

Abby gave him a wink when she reached the altar and took her place as maid of honor.

The music stopped for a second before the wedding march began to play.

And then Sarah appeared on her father’s arm like a goddess at the end of the flower-strewn aisle.

Luke lost his breath and his heart stopped for a moment.

He’d never seen a more beautiful woman, let alone a bride. He couldn’t take his eyes off her as she walked down the aisle, her gaze locked with his, a soft smile on her rosy lips.

Her father placed Sarah’s hand in his, and he felt like he’d been bestowed the greatest gift in the world. “You’re simply gorgeous.”

She put her hand to the knot in his tie and wiggled it. “You clean up good, cowboy.”

Yeah, she’d always liked the rancher a little more than the lawyer in him.

He laughed, and so did everyone else, and just like that all the tension went out of him. If possible, he fell a little more in love with her for knowing just how to make him relax and settle into this amazing moment.

They stood before their family and recited their vows. They spoke of love and friendship and vowed that no matter what, family came first.

Luke sealed those promises with a diamond eternity band, letting Sarah know his love was forever.

Sarah placed two gold bands on his finger that locked together to make one ring. One a thin gold band, the other a gold band with five diamonds across the top. Luke could take off the diamond band when he was working on the ranch and only wear the gold one.

“You may kiss your bride.”

Luke didn’t hesitate. He took Sarah’s face in both hands and planted a steamy, but respectable, kiss on her. He leaned back for a second and said, “Mrs. Thompson.”

He never expected her to take his name, but when she said she wanted it, his heart grew too heavy for his chest.

He kissed her again when the justice of the peace introduced them as Mr. and Mrs. Thompson.

They turned to their well-wishers and family and hand in hand smiled for everyone.

He walked his bride back down the aisle and straight to the raised temporary dance floor surrounded by tables covered in white linen, set with silver-trimmed white dishes, red napkins, silver place settings, and crystal glasses. Each table had a round bowl overflowing with red roses. Lights were strung on poles around the backyard garden, their shine barely breaking through at twilight, but they’d cast a soft glow once the sun fully set.

He walked Sarah up the two steps to the center of the dance floor and pulled her into his arms.