I squeeze her hand. "One day they'll all see what we have is real, and right. We're going to make them see, even if they refuse to accept it."

"I know. That's why I want to do this. One day they'll love you the way that I do."

"I hope so. If not it'll be their loss. We'll make them regret the decision, especially when Thing One and Thing Two are born."

We laugh together, catching the attention of the travelers around us. I hold up our hands. "We're getting married."

Callie is embarra.s.sed, while I bask in the congratulations we're receiving around us. She'll never know what it was like for me to see her and feel something come alive inside of me. If I didn't experience it myself I wouldn't believe it was possible. "I'm going to have a wife."

"And I'm going to have a husband. It's crazy, right?"

"So crazy, and so right, all at the same time."

"I hope Ca.s.sie can come. I haven't heard from her yet."

"She'll need to ask for time off. I'm sure there is a process, unless she pretends to be sick."

"She might. Ca.s.sie doesn't usually let me down. She's a really good sister."

"She seems like it."

"Logan is great too. You'll like him."

"When will you tell Cammie?"

Callie lets out an air-filled laugh. She seems amused. "As soon as we leave the chapel. I don't know why, but I want her to know this is real. I want her to hear it from my mouth. She'll call my mom and get everyone freaked out, but it will be too late."

"Are you sure you want to do that? I was picturing showing up with matching rings, or better yet, sending them the video of our wedding in the mail."

She shoved me playfully. "That's terrible. We should totally do that."

I kiss the back of her hand I'm still holding. "We're in for a fun ride, aren't we?"

"I hope so," she replies. "I'm so glad you came into my life."

"You came into mine," I correct.

"Whatever," she retracts.

I chuckle.

We're going to be okay. We have to be. Even if her family never comes around, I'll do my best to make her happy. I know she'll get depressed. She'll miss them terribly and I'll feel responsible. I'll do my best to give her everything she wants, and hope it's enough to keep her from leaving me.

Chapter 25.

Callie Bright lights, big city. It's been years since my family vacationed here. When Ca.s.sie lived here I swore I'd visit, but she kind of dropped off the grid for a while. After checking into a hotel, Cob and I go shopping. We've never discussed money, but I know for a fact that he's not hard up.

We walk into the first fancy store and I begin looking around for a dress to wear. My eyes catch something beautiful, but after I check out the price tag I'm a little discouraged. It's five hundred dollars. I have my own money, but he's adamant about giving me the closest he can get to an ideal wedding. "I'll find something else," I insist.

"Just get it. They say you only get married once, right?"

My eyes double in size. "That's what I hear, but most people aren't getting hitched to be able to keep dating each other."

"Is that all it will be for you? A solution?"

I shake my head. "No. I think we both know it's more than that."

"Good, because you're getting that dress. You'll look amazing in it."

"Really? Are you sure?"

"I wouldn't tell you to get it if I was joking. I can be an a.s.shole, but not today. Every decision we make today will be from our hearts."

"Who are you and where is the douche I fell in love with?"

We both get a kick out of what I've said. Cob pulls me into his arms in the middle of the store. "Don't worry, he'll have years to show up again."

"Hopefully."

"I'll do my best. Listen, last night I thought about a lot of things. You could be some girl I think is the one. You'd come into my life and eventually we'd split up. I'd believe that if we weren't so connected. What are the chances of our families being linked the way they are? What's the probability of us ending up at the same restaurant in Kentucky?"

"Okay, you've made your point."

"Have I? I mean, it's crazy, right? It's like you were made for me, and when we screwed up the first opportunity, a new one arose to give us a second chance."

"Like fate?"

He shrugs. "It has to be something like that."

"I'd say it was impossible, but yet I know it to be real."

"That's all I want to hear."

After he purchases the dress for me, we head back to the hotel so we don't have to lug it around. He suggests I take it up to the room while he waits downstairs for me.

I'm only gone about ten minutes at the most, but when I return I can't seem to find him. I walk around the casino, looking everywhere for him. Finally, twenty minutes goes by and no Cob, so I head back to the room thinking he might have gone there and missed me.

I find him sitting on the bed with his head down and immediately think something is terribly wrong. Why else would he look this way? "Hey? I've been looking for you. I thought you said you'd meet me downstairs?"

I sit next to him and wait for an explanation. He turns and gets down on both knees, looking up into my eyes as a smile forms over his lips. I can immediately tell he's up to something. "Callie Healy," he says while reaching into his pocket. A small box is being opened in front of me. "If you don't like this we can go back downstairs to the overpriced jewelry store and exchange it, but I think I did a pretty good job getting something you'll like."

I'm astonished as the heart shaped middle stone with a band full of tiny diamonds is presented to me. "I'm giving you my heart tomorrow, if you still want it."

"I love it. Oh my G.o.d, it's amazing." He slips it on my finger as we both stare down at it. "You said I was getting a band."

"It came with one, and I got mine for half off. It's just a dark band that I can wear every day. The matching ones seemed lame. I like to be different, plus I need you to be happy with it. We might be rushing into this, but it makes me feel better knowing we'll do everything else right. I want you to walk around proud that you're married."

"Can you afford this?" I ask.

"My credit report said I could."

"I don't know what to say. It's perfect."

"That's enough thanks for me. How does it fit?"

"Like it was made for my finger," I admit.

"Good. Now all we have to do is pick up the flowers before the appointment. The jeweler gave me the number to the chapel. We have an appointment tomorrow at three in the afternoon."

"So this is really happening?"

"Yep."

"How did you buy this so fast?"

I went on the website while you were unpacking your clothes and filled out the credit application. Then I looked at everything they had and knew what I wanted as soon as I walked in. It was just a matter of filling out the paperwork."

I pull him close in order to kiss him pa.s.sionately. "This feels right."

"I know. It's almost scary."

Chapter 26.

Cob We don't make it out of the room for the rest of the evening. We end up in bed, ordering room service for dinner. Callie's sister manages to get off of work and is on her way to meet her boyfriend. We've given her the time and location of the ceremony so we know she'll be in attendance. Even though I'm certain Callie is sad she isn't getting a traditional wedding with all of her family present, I think she finds peace in knowing her sister will be at her side.

The next morning my stomach is in knots. I have a text message waiting for me on my phone and notice it's from my mother.

Dad told me what you're planning on doing. I promised him that I wouldn't interfere. We love you. I'm excited to meet her. See you soon. Mom I don't write her back. This day is about Callie. She's planning on meeting her sister at their hotel in order to get ready without me seeing her. Even though I was with her when we purchased the dress, I've yet to see her dolled up in it.

We say our goodbyes, and I swear a part of me worries that she's not going to show up for the appointment. If she wants to be a runaway bride there's nothing I can do to change her mind. This is a huge decision. I have to accept it if she can't go through with the plans we've made.

At ten a.m. I'm in the bathroom throwing up. By eleven I'm standing in the shower hyperventilating.

At eleven thirty my phone rings with an unfamiliar number. Thinking it's work, I pick up. "Jacob Monroe."

"Just the man I need to talk to." I recognize his voice immediately. It's Callie's father, Conner Healy.

"Mr. Healy."

"Did I give you permission to marry my daughter?"

My heart drops. I swear I feel like I'm going to puke again. I have to remind myself that we're in Vegas and there isn't a d.a.m.n thing he can do to stop this from happening. "No, sir. You didn't."

"I understand you've taken my daughter to Vegas in hopes of making her an honest woman. Am I correct?"

"Listen, Mr. Healy. With all due respect, I love your daughter. We know about the history between our families. I get that there's bad blood between you and my mother, but we're different people. We shouldn't be judged by what happened to you. So yes, I asked Callie to marry me because I knew it was the only way both of our families couldn't come between us. I'm sorry that I've disrespected you. I wasn't raised that way, but recent circ.u.mstances have led me to make a drastic decision. I won't lose her, even if I have to spend forever moving us around to keep you from breaking my neck."

He chuckles.

The man is laughing and I don't know how to take it.

"Son, you're right about things being complicated."

"Are you calling to threaten me?" I need to know what I'm up against. Has he already talked to Callie? Is he calling to gloat because he knows the wedding won't be happening? A million things are going through my head.

"I'd like to."

"I can handle it," I offer.

"I had a long conversation with your parents this morning. The four of us sat down and talked about the situation."

"My mom told me she'd stay out of it."

"It was your father who made the call. He wanted to speak to me man to man."

"He's trying to help me, I suppose. This has been tough on me. I thought if anyone could understand my predicament it was him."

"The thing is, neither you or Callie were born into this mess by choice. I can't speak for my cousin Colt, because your issues with him are between the two of you, but from where I stand I'm willing to try to accept that maybe you and my daughter have something worth fighting for."

I finally get it. "You're doing this to stop us from marrying each other? That's it right?" I'm feeling defensive. "This is your last ditch effort."

He chuckles again. "I like you. You have b.a.l.l.s, son."

"I'd do anything for Callie."

"Good. It's what I need to hear."

"Then why are you calling?"

"Call off the wedding, Cob. You know it's the right thing to do."

"That's just it, sir. Nothing has ever felt this right before. Regardless of how this came about, I'm not sorry. I want her to be my wife. I want to promise to love her forever and spend the rest of my life proving I can be who she needs me to be."

"Even if you're taking her away from her family?"

His question doesn't come as a surprise. "I'd hate for it to come to that, but yes. No matter what. Oh and just so you know, I'm quitting my job for her. I don't want any part of your family losing their land."