"Shit! I've got this, too!" He stood up taller, cracked his neck, and started for the door. "Let's do this shit!"

I chuckled as I followed him. I pulled out my phone and saw Maddie's last text to me.

Maddie: Monica looks like she's about to pass out. If she makes it through this, I'll be impressed. She keeps doing these breathing exercises to calm down. It's starting to freak me out!

Me: Jack is pacing back and forth. I find it rather amusing.

As we walked down the aisle to where the pastor was waiting, Jack stopped a few times to welcome friends and family. That's when I saw the small soldier girl-the wedding planner-coming. She was terrifying.

"Mr. Rambrandt, you need to get into position please." She barked. Jack turned to me and swallowed hard. "I've got this."

I nodded and said, "You've got this."

Jack turned and approached the altar where he greeted the pastor.

Tommy Harding, an usher and one of our college buddies, slipped a twenty into my hand. He was tall and thin with white-blond hair that stood out even more in the black tux.

Tommy narrowed his green eyes at me and said, "Shit, you win."

Tommy and I had placed a bet back in college. I'd said Jack would get married eventually, but he'd said there was no way in hell Jack would ever settle down.

I smiled, pocketing my cash and taking my place next to Jack.

"I NEED THE bride! It's time."

I rolled my eyes at Monica's wedding planner as I looked at Monica in the mirror. "You look beautiful," I said, my voice cracking.

"Don't make me cry, Maddison Nicole Powers. I'm about to walk down the aisle."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You? Cry? I don't think I've ever seen you cry."

"I've cried before," she said. "I've cried plenty of times."

I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

She shook her head and looked away. "I can't believe I'm getting married, Maddie."

I sat down. "Are you scared?" I asked with a slight smile.

She began chewing on her lip. "I'm so scared it's not even funny. I mean...what if Jack changes his mind? What if I go to start walking down the aisle and he realizes he doesn't want this? What if we moved too fast?" She attempted to hold back the sob, but it was too late. She fanned her eyes as she took deeps breaths.

I grabbed her hands. "Monica. Do you love Jack?"

Her eyes lit up. "Yes. More than I could ever imagine."

"Does your heart feel like you've rushed this?" I asked. "Not your head, your heart."

She shook her head and a single tear escaped and slid down her cheek. I wiped it away. "Then don't be scared," I said. "Trust your heart, Monica."

Another tear slid down her cheek and she pulled me closer and held me tight as she did the one thing I'd never seen her do before. Cry.

"Oh, no. That is not what the maid of honor is supposed to do," the wedding planner chastised. "You're supposed to keep her happy, not make her cry! We have fewer than two minutes to get your makeup touched up and get you down the aisle. They are walking down right now. Maddie, go get your flowers and get into position!"

I jumped up and saluted to the young girl Monica had hired to help plan the wedding. Both of Monica's parents were in France, and when they'd told her they wouldn't be coming back to the States for her wedding, it had nearly broken my heart. Monica hadn't been surprised. That was just what they did. Even in high school, Monica had spent more time at my house than her own. I knew it had hurt, but she would never admit it.

I winked at Monica and made my way to my position. As the music started, I stood and waited for my turn to walk down the aisle. We were all dressed in light teal gowns with white shawls. It had taken Monica all of thirty minutes to choose our dresses. Her only request was that they be the most expensive light teal dresses in the store. For her dress, we'd flown to New York. I was almost positive she'd bought the most expensive dress just to stick it to her parents-especially after her father told her to just bill him for all of the expenses. Her first stop after the news that they wouldn't be attending was to Pinnacle Country Club. Two hours later, the wedding date had been set and Monica had a smile plastered across her face. I swear, her wedding was fit for royalty. I had made a round through the private room where the reception would be held and I'd never seen so much crystal and silver. And she must have found every kind of flower known to man.

Fingers snapping in my face pulled me back. "Maid of honor! You're up."

Ugh. I hate this wedding planner. I shot the planner a look and said, "I have a name. It's Maddie, not maid of honor."

I was feeling pretty good about myself for standing up to the Wicked Witch of the West-until she glared at me, making a strange noise.

"Walking now," I said as I made my way to where I would start heading down the aisle. While I was walking, I smiled and nodded, saying hello to complete strangers. I didn't know most of these people, and I was pretty sure Jack and Monica didn't either.

That's when I saw Cale. I sucked in a breath and attempted to keep my jaw from dropping to the ground and drool escaping. Holy shit. I need a new pair of panties.

He was dressed in a black tux, white dress shirt and a light teal tie. His messy brown hair was tamed, but not too much. The smile on his face made me slow my pace, until I heard a whispered, "Speed it up maid of honor!" I looked behind me, but the evil wedding planner was nowhere to be seen. Maybe I'd imagined it. Or she had something planted in my flowers so she could boss me around remotely.

As I came to the front, I saw Cale's parents, Mary and Mitchel, sitting with Jack's parents, Craig and Diane. My heart hurt for Monica, knowing that her parents weren't here. Mary was holding Lily, who was also dressed in a light teal dress. She was five months old and just the sweetest little thing. I felt tears building in my eyes, and I looked away. I glanced back at Cale and his smile faded briefly before I gave him a slight grin. When I got to my position, he caught my eye and mouthed, "Happy tears?" I nodded and winked. I wasn't sure why, but I was suddenly overcome with sadness.

The wedding march began and everyone turned to watch Monica. My heart leapt with awe. She was stunning. I smiled when it looked like Jack's knees were going weak. His smile was huge as he watched her walk toward him. When she finally arrived at his side, he held his hands out for her. He leaned in and I could hear him say, "You look beautiful, Monica. More beautiful than what I dreamed."

That's when it happened. My best friend, a woman I'd known since middle school, publicly broke down in tears. Rachel, me and Monica's college roommate, leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I'll give you the fifty bucks after the reception."

I smiled and nodded.

I TOOK IN a deep breath, inhaling Cale's heavenly scent. I closed my eyes, moaning just slightly.

"Maddie," Cale said, "keep making noises like that and I'm going to sneak you out to my car and have my wicked way with you."

I looked into his eyes and giggled. "I'd totally be okay with that."

Cale looked around. "Shit, I wish we could."

I followed his gaze. My eyes caught Jack and Monica dancing.

"They really are so good for each other. I'm so happy for them," I whispered as Cale pulled me closer.

"We're going to be next," he said with a grin.

My heart slammed in my chest and I swallowed the lump in my throat. He turned and captured my eyes with his intense stare. His lips curled into that crooked smile that melted my heart.

"That's not a very romantic way to ask me to marry you, Mr. Blackwood."

Cale let out a chuckle. "No it wasn't was it?"

I slowly shook my head.

He leaned down and lightly brushed his lips against mine. "I love the way your lips taste." His eyes searched my face. "I love the way your eyes reveal how much you love me." His hands moved up and cupped my face. "And I love how you are mine."

I closed my eyes and barely spoke the words, "Yes. Yours."

His lips met mine again and soon we were lost in our kiss. Cale's want pushed up against my abdomen and had my fingers digging deeper into is arms.

"Cale, I love you so much," I said. "You're all I've ever wanted. All I'll ever need."

He moved his hand down to my neck and pulled me back into a kiss. It was as if we were the only two people in the room. I was lost in his passion, engulfed in his love.

"Excuse me, maid of honor and best man? It's time for the toasts so break it up and follow me."

Cale glared at the wedding planner. "I hate that woman," he hissed through his teeth.

I giggled and turned to follow her. I didn't even know what her name was. I was starting to think that Monica didn't either. The lady only referred to herself as "the wedding planner." So everyone called her that.

"I don't think she believes in names. I don't even know if she has a name," I said.

Cale grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it as he laughed. "She has a name all right. It's 'bitch.'"

I covered my mouth and laughed as the wedding planner turned and glared at us. I hit Cale in the side. "Great, now you've got her mad at us."

"After the toast, let's make a run for it. Just for our own safety, no other reason."

I nodded. "I think that's a good idea. Purely for our own safety, we should skip out on our best friends' wedding before they even leave."

"No one will even notice we're gone." Cale said, pulling me closer to him and wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Nope, no one. I don't even know these people," I said looking around. We stopped at the wedding party table and the planner handed us each a glass of champagne.

"Since I never did get those speeches ahead of time like I asked, keep it short and sweet. No one wants to be bored by your toasts. Make it personal but not about you." She gave me a once-over, and I made a face, slightly offended. Cale started laughing but quickly stopped when the evil witch turned to him. "Don't say anything about his past girlfriends, sex life or any of that bullshit. Him. Monica. That's it. Got it?"

Cale chuckled. "Um...yep. I got it, Your Evilness."

She shot Cale a dirty look and said, "You're on first, smart ass. Thirty seconds."

Cale winked at me before he stepped up to the microphone.

It took everything out of me to stand there with a straight faced as Cale started from kindergarten and moved his way through college, with stories of him and Jack. The wedding planner finally took the mic from Cale, thanked him for his toast, and handed the mic to me. I smiled at Jack and then Monica.

"I've never in my life met two people so in love with each other," I said. "Your courtship was an amazing whirlwind, your wedding a breathtaking adventure, but your union..." I smiled as I watched Monica wipe away her tears. "Your union is a journey that will lead you to your happily ever after. I love you both so much, and I'm so happy for both of you. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Rembrandt."

Monica looked at me and mouthed, "I love you," as Jack kissed her on the cheek.

Cale walked up next to me and leaned down. His hot breath on my neck had me placing my hand on my stomach to calm the butterflies.

"You're so afraid of the wedding planner aren't you?" he said.

I smiled and nodded. "Yep."

I SLOWLY ROLLED over and pulled Maddie closer. The moment she let out a soft moan, my dick hardened. I smiled and turned her over.

"Good morning, beautiful." I said as I kissed the tip of her nose.

She stretched and smiled back. "Good morning, handsome."

"It's our first Christmas Eve together as a family."

The tears in her eyes made my heartbeat pick up. I loved Maddie so much, and I wanted to scream it from the tallest mountain.

"I know," she said. "I'm so excited. I feel like a little girl."

I teased her entrance as I cupped her face with my hands and gently kissed her cheeks. "Do you want your first present?"

She thrusted her hips toward me and giggled. "If my first present is you making love to me, then, yes. I want it very much."

I slowly pushed into her as we both moaned. "God, Maddie. It's like the first time every time with you." She wrapped her legs around me and pulled me closer.

"Mmm...nothing is better than this. Best. Present. Ever." She whispered against my lips.

I slowly made love to her as we kissed. We couldn't get enough of each other, but we needed it to be slow. Gentle.

"Dada..."

I stopped moving and looked at the monitor. I pulled out of Maddie, stood up, and pointed to the monitor. "Oh my God!"

Maddie quickly sat up and looked. "What? What's wrong with her? Oh, God!"

She stood up next to me and looked at the monitor. Then gasped and started jumping up and down. "She's sitting up. Cale! She's sitting up!"

"Dadadada."

My mouth dropped open. "She said, 'Dada,'" I breathed. "She said, 'Dada!'"

Maddie tilted her head. "Yeah, I didn't hear 'Dada.'"

"What? She clearly said, Dada.'"

"Mamamama..."

Maddie punched me in the arm. "Oh! My! God! She said, "Mama!'"

My shoulders dropped and I stared at Maddie as she jumped up and down, grinning like a fool. "She is sitting up and saying, 'Mama!'"

I shook my head. "Uh, no. She's sitting up, but she said, 'Dada,' then rambled off and said nothing but jumbled baby talk."

"Dada...Dada...." Maddie and I both looked at the monitor again.

"Damn it. She said, 'Dada.'" Maddie said as I ran toward the dresser. "Wait! Cale, where are you going?"