Embracing Today, a firefighter romance: (The Trading Yesterday Series, #3), Kahlen Aymes [essential reading txt] 📗

Marin. Chase and Teagan were already swaying together on the dance floor, Jace and Bliss secure with their grandparents at one of the tables. Missy and Jensen were there, too, deep in conversation with Chase’s sister Kat while her husband managed their brood in the buffet line.

Finally, my eyes landed on Marin. She was standing upstairs, looking down from one of the lofts. She looked ethereal, just like an angel. She had on a pale pink dress, with a low-cut sweetheart neckline that was trimmed in white lace with more on the short cap sleeves. The dress flared out and finished with a five-inch ruffle that ended just above the knee. She paired it with her old cowboy boots and the effect had my heart literally flipping inside my chest. I found my hand coming up to rest over it as if it could ease the ache the sight of her caused.

I felt a hand on my arm and turned to find my mother there. I bent down to hug her. “Hi, Mom! I’m so happy you could make it.” She’d flown in with Chase’s family and while I knew she was here, I was busy planting trees until I had just enough time to feed and water the horses, then hop in the shower. This was the first time I’d seen her this time. She lived in Atlanta near Jensen and Missy.

“I wouldn’t miss it. Marin has been an absolute doll since we arrived, and you look so handsome. So happy.”

“I am,” I said, sobering. “And you look very beautiful,” I returned her compliment.

“I think I’m the only one not wearing cowboy boots.”

“Nah, Teagan and Missy aren’t either. Can’t take the city out of those two.”

“Are you ready for this?” Mom asked, a gentle smile curing her face. She looked like a slightly older version of my sister, but still stunning as hell.

I nodded. “So ready.” More ready for this than any other moment of my life.

She reached up and patted my cheek, then presented me with a small dark blue box. “I had it cleaned, and it looks perfect.”

I wanted to look inside, but I glanced up to where I’d last seen Marin and she was now watching us. She’d found me in the crowd and was smiling down. “Okay. Thank you for doing that.”

“Don’t be nervous, son.”

Was I nervous? Marin had already agreed to marry me, but I had to acknowledge the butterflies in my stomach. “I’m trying not to.”

“Well, the place looks great, and you couldn’t have picked a more perfect night. You and Marin have done an amazing job.” She hugged me tightly, once more, and then patted my shoulders with both hands that ended with a hard squeeze. I could hear the tears in her voice as she struggled to keep her composure. “You make me very proud.”

My arms tightened around her waist for a moment and then released her. “Are you ready to dance?”

She laughed through her tears. “Are you kidding? Remi and Dylan have been practicing in whichever living room happens to be closet. I think I’ve done that damn thing a thousand times. Missy’s done it many times with little Josh strapped to her belly like a sack of potatoes.”

I let out an uproarious laugh. I could totally picture it in my mind, and if their enthusiasm was anything to judge by then tonight would be super fun, and totally perfect. “That’s hilarious! I bet the kids pestered the hell out of them.”

“Oh, they did. You should have seen Jensen. He couldn’t stop laughing for the first five run-throughs.”

Marin made her way down the stairs across the mostly empty dance floor to where I stood with my mom. It was an easy habit to slide my arm around the back of her waist whenever she was near. I bent to kiss her temple.

She smiled brilliantly at my mother. “Are you all settled in?”

“Oh, my goodness, yes! The cabin is so quaint. Everything is perfect. You must be so proud of everything you’ve accomplished in such a short time.”

“We are,” Marin beamed. “Thank you.” Her arm went behind my waist, she was tucked perfectly into place at my side. We fit so easily, in so many ways.

“Are you both ready to grab some food? Maybe we should eat before more people begin to show up.” I suggested.

Marin and my mother agreed, and it wasn’t long before we were all seated at a long table that had been set up to accommodate all of us. My mother started a conversation with Chase’s parents the minute she sat down next to them.

The food was delicious but when people began to file in, Marin and I took our place at the door to shake hands and thank everyone for coming.

At sundown, the bonfire was started outside and the band turned up the amps, switching to covers of popular country songs that spilled into the open air around the fire. It was turning out to be a great party, and everyone was having a blast.

We had a book set up on a table near the entrance where guests could sign in and inquire about any dates they wanted to book for future events. I’d gone over to glance at it a couple of times throughout the evening and it was filling up fast. There were already two full pages of reservation requests.

I was checking it out for the last time when Gina and Davis arrived.

“Wow, this is incredible! This place is going to be such a big success and another big draw for Jackson,” Gina exclaimed.

I leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Glad you two could make it. You look great.”

“Make it? Dude, I never left! I just showered in the cabin and Gina brought me a change of clothes. Where is Marin?” Davis asked.

I pointed to the dance floor. She was dancing with Remi and Dylan and holding little Jace on her hip. “Over there.” She looked deliriously happy.

“I can see motherhood all