She nodded, and his head dipped down for a kiss. She went up on her toes, meeting him half way. And then suddenly they were clinging to each other, standing in the scrub, crickets sounding all around them, and none of it existed, nothing but this man. This man who'd always been there for her when she needed him most, and it scared her to death to think of the possibility that that may not always be the case.

She broke from the kiss and hugged him tight. "I'm scared, Ghost."

He rubbed her back, murmuring in her ear, "I know you are, baby. Couple more days, this'll all be over. I promise."

CHAPTER TWENTY.

Undertaker stood in Ghost's living room and shoved a white dress shirt at Shades. "Here, put this on."

"Why the fuck would I put this on, old man?"

"Cause he fucking told you to," Blood said, stepping forward.

Shades' eyes moved between Skylar's father, and his right hand man. "What, is it picture day or something?"

Ghost fought a grin at Shades' joke, and he took in Undertaker's expression. The man looked like he was about to crack. He'd told the men what they were all there for, and warned them all that they'd better not do anything to fuck this up. Now he looked like he was the one they had to worry about blowing it.

Ghost knew he had to think of something quick, so he blurted out the only thing he could think of.

"I'm gonna marry Jessie."

The men all turned to stare at him. Undertaker finally broke the dead silence that followed that announcement, as he played along, apparently grateful to be off the hook for an explanation in this play act they were all putting on.

"Yeah, he's marrying Jessie, and you're the best man, so shut up and put this on," Undertaker insisted.

"Damn, bro. You serious?" Shades turned, frowning at Ghost.

"Yeah, I am."

"Well, why didn't you say so you big secretive bastard!" Shades shrugged out of his cut and slipped the white shirt on, then put his cut back on.

Ghost dragged him to the courtyard, where he watched Shades' eyes take in the decorations.

"Damn, when'd you do all this?"

"Never mind that now, just shut up and stand here with me," Ghost grumbled, pulling Shades to the altar. They waited while everyone took their seats.

Ghost's eyes connected with Tink's at the back of the aisle, and he gave her a slight nod. She nodded back, and disappeared out of sight.

Shades glanced at the minister standing at the altar as some recorded music began to play, and he leaned to Ghost's ear. "Think it through, bro. You sure you want to do this? Last chance to run for the hills."

"I'm sure."

Shades tried one last attempt. "Call me old fashioned, but what's wrong with living in sin?"

"Remind me later today that you said that," Ghost tried to hold back his grin.

"Maybe there's a very small chance you aren't about to make the biggest mistake of your life," Shades continued teasing.

"You're right. I changed my mind." Ghost changed places with Shades, shoving him forward.

"Dude, I was just giving you hell," Shades tried to apologize. "I like Jessie. Hell, marry the girl if that's what you want."

The strains of The Wedding March began to play and everyone stood. Shades turned to look and saw Skylar standing at the end of the aisle. She was dressed in a long white wedding gown, a small bouquet of flowers in one hand and the other tucked in Undertakers arm. She looked beautiful, and his mouth dropped open.

"Close your mouth, bro," Ghost said under his breath to him.

"You know about this, asshole?" Shades whispered back, his stomach dropping to the floor.

"Found out about fifteen minutes ago."

"Jesus Christ."

"Just breathe, buddy. You got this."

She came down the aisle on Undertaker's arm. And Goddamn if she wasn't the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. She practically floated with the most radiant smile on her face.

"Surprise, baby," she whispered as they stopped in front of him.

He nodded, huffing out a laugh. "Yeah, I'll say." Then he sobered. "You look gorgeous, Sky."

"Gorgeous enough to marry me, Shades?"

Undertaker glared at him. "Only one acceptable answer to that, son."

"Yes, ma'am."

The ceremony was a blur. He remembered the minister asking him for a ring, and he'd looked at the man stupidly, with the panicked thought running through his head that crap, he had no wedding band to put on her finger, until Ghost had tapped his shoulder and extended a plain gold band to him.

Fuck, they'd thought of everything.

He took it, turning to smile at his best friend.

"Thanks, Brother."

Ghost grinned big. "Anytime."

After their first kiss, they pulled apart and Skylar stared up at him, grinning big. He'd do anything to make her happy, and apparently he'd just made her very happy. The woman was just full of surprises. Then she pulled his head down and surprised him even more when she whispered in his ear.

"Husband?"

"Yes, wife?" he whispered back, grinning.

"I'm pregnant."

He pulled back staring at her with what he was sure was a stupid expression on his face.

"Are you shittin' me?"

That was about as uncouth as he could get, but he was kind of at a loss and couldn't be held responsible for anything that came out of his mouth right now.

She nodded, grinning.

Jesus Christ, could this life get any better? Then he hugged her, lifting her clear off the ground and whispered back, "I love you, wife."

When he set her down, he turned to the crowd and hollered, "We're havin' a baby."

A resounding cheer went up, and then Ghost was there, pounding him on the back. But the best part of all of it was the way Undertaker's face turned white as a sheet at his announcement.

Shades burst out laughing, happier than he'd ever been.

Ghost was leaning his elbows on the railing of the porch that overlooked the terrace, watching the party below. The girls were dancing together, while his brothers were all drinking. Several prospects were posted around the edge of the property, standing guard.

His eyes lifted to a plane landing in the distance, the horizon a gorgeous midnight blue in the background as the last streaks of sunset faded.

He turned his head as Skylar stepped next to him.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered, taking in the view.

He smiled at her. "It's you who's beautiful tonight, Hotrod."

She grinned at the nickname he'd always teased her with. Then her eyes fell to Jessie, and Ghost's eyes followed.

"You two work everything out?"

He took a sip of his drink. "For the most part."

She frowned, apparently not satisfied with that answer. "Which part's not worked out yet?"

He shook his head.

"I'm not going to push you to tell me what it is, but whatever it is, you need to have a conversation with her about it."

He turned his head to glance over at her. "When I do, it'll all go to shit."

"And if you don't tell her, it'll all go to shit."

Fuck.

His eyes returned to the horizon.

"Ghost, you once had a conversation with me about what it took to be an ol' lady, remember? Back when Shades and I were struggling to work things out."

He smiled. "Yeah, I remember, Hotrod."

"Is that what this is about? That you don't think she has what it takes."

He shook his head. "No, that's not it at all."

"Then what are you afraid of?"

She stayed silent, which made him eventually fill the silence. "There's something from my past. Something she doesn't know about. Once I tell her...I'm afraid she'll never look at me the same."

"Maybe, maybe not. But you owe it to her to come clean. Only way this works, right?"

He turned to her, bumping her shoulder with his. "When did you get so smart?"

She bumped his shoulder back. "I had a good mentor."

"Is that what I was?"

"Friend?"

"Always." He pulled her into his arms. "Come here, girl."

She went, her head resting against his chest as his arms enfolded her.

"Have some faith, Ghost," she whispered. When he didn't respond, she said, "Promise me you'll tell her."

He replied, his voice soft at her temple. "I promise."

"Hey, you tryin' to steal my woman again?" Shades asked, coming up the stairs.

"Always," Ghost replied winking down at her.

Skylar laughed, pressed a kiss to his cheek, and then went smiling into her husband's arms.

As the party wound down, and the cake was cut, and the garter thrown, Skylar took one last minute to speak with Jessie before she and Shades made their exit.

She found her in the courtyard, alone and looking up at the pretty lights.

Skylar walked up and hugged her, looking up at all the work that had gone into the decorations. "Thank you so much for doing all this for us. Everything was so beautiful."

Jessie hugged her back. "You're welcome. You were a beautiful bride."

Skylar grinned. "Thank you." Then she studied Jessie's eyes. "How are you doing?"