Ryder, who’d propped his butt against the stool by the breakfast bar, was watching Ridge with an amused smile. “I still can’t believe this is happening. You’re such a joker, when you told me you were getting married in two weeks I thought this was one of your usual pranks and I told Mom so. Boy, you proved me wrong this time.”
“And nearly gave Mom a heart attack in the process,” Rafe said with a chuckle. “For days she was running around like a chicken without a head.”
“But I told her I was handling everything,” Ridge said. “It wasn’t like I needed her help in planning this thing. I had my team taking care of everything.”
“Yeah, but you know Mom,” Rafe said with a shrug. “Everything’s got to be just right.”
“Miss Perfectionist,” Ryder said in agreement. “But it’s a good thing, since Dad’s such a sloppy organizer.”
Ransom smiled. "Opposites attract.” He jerked his chin toward Ridge. “That the case with you and Lani?”
Ridge grimaced. “Maybe. She doesn’t seem to find my jokes all that funny.”
“Jokes,” Ryder asked, his tone skeptical, “or pranks?”
Ridge shrugged. “Whatever.” But then he thought about it. “It would be kind of great if she had more of a sense of humor.”
Instead of agreeing, Ransom shook his head. “Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.” Then he jerked his head toward the door. “Come on, guys. Time to go make a good man out of this beast.” And, not even waiting for them to make a move, Ridge’s best man strode out of the suite, leaving the rest of them to follow.
Later he made up for his nonchalant behavior, though. As Ridge stood at the front of the church waiting for his bride, sweat beading his forehead and his upper lip, it was Ransom who dabbed his face with a folded handkerchief. He even whispered a few supportive words that helped Ridge calm down a bit.
He had no idea he would have gotten so nervous just because he was attending a little old wedding. His own, but still. If he’d known it would be so nerve-wracking maybe he would have ditched the whole idea and just gone in front of a judge with a couple of witnesses. But the really weird thing was, he had no idea what he was so nervous about. After all, it was just Lani, right?
And then he saw her. She was standing there at the entrance, her hand on the arm of a stately-looking gentleman with graying hair. The look in the man’s eyes told Ridge that he was the proud ‘give-away’ father. But it wasn’t that gentleman who made Ridge’s heart jerk in his chest. When Lani looked away from her father and turned to face front Ridge’s breath caught in his throat. She was more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. Even through the diaphanous veil that covered her face he could see the soft petals of her rose-red lips and the brilliant sparkle of her onyx eyes. The veil she was wearing was held in place atop her head by a circular band decorated by a garland of tiny white flowers. As tiny as she was beside her very tall papa it made her look like a bewitching little fairy, so exquisitely beautiful he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
Then, as if she hadn’t entranced him enough, she started down the aisle on her father’s arm, moving with such style and grace that he couldn’t have pulled his eyes away if his life depended on it. Since the day he met her Ridge knew Lani was beautiful but was this the same woman who seemed to wear nothing but slacks and loafers? In heels that were so high he feared for her safety Lani practically floated up the aisle, her poise making all heads turn in obvious admiration.
And then she was standing there right in front of him, so close that he was soon losing himself in the shimmering dark pools of her eyes. Like she could see the tension in him, her lips curled in a smile that had him drawing in a deep breath. God, he wanted to kiss her. So bad.
But like a good little boy he didn’t pull her into his arms and kiss her breathless like he wanted to. Instead he smiled down at her and then reached out and lifted the veil from her face, exposing her loveliness to his eager gaze. Close up she was even more beautiful. He must have been staring at her too long and too hard because Lani took his hands and gave them a gentle squeeze, bringing him back to awareness.
The officiant cleared his throat and with that the ceremony began. “Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today to witness and celebrate the union of Leilani Isabella Donatelli and Coleridge Martin Kent.” The man’s voice rose, filling the room, and as he spoke the words Ridge held Lani’s hands and gazed deep into her eyes.
“Today you enter as individuals but you leave as man and wife,” he continued, “blending together, becoming as one, moving on to the greatest of all social interactions, the uniting of body, mind and spirit.”
As the words flowed from his lips the minister waxed loquacious, moving on from celebrating the union of the couple to dispensing advice on the keys to a successful marriage.
And all that time Ridge was dying for him to get to the best part.
It wasn’t going to come that fast, though. First, he had to suffer through a series of readings. “Marriage is not just the joining of hands,” the man admonished. “It is the joining of hearts. It is a union built on commitment and support.”
Even as he smiled down at his wife-to-be Ridge gritted his teeth, wanting the man to get on with it. The readings were meaningful but there were so many of them. Two he could stomach, but five? Ridge could only hope Lani wasn’t picking up on his agitation.
And then it was time for them to exchange vows. Ridge almost breathed an audible sigh of relief.
“Do you, Coleridge Kent, take Leilani Donatelli to be your partner for life, promising to care for her, honor and respect her, to console her in times of sorrow and support her in all her endeavors?”
Without hesitation Ridge gave his response. “I do.”
“And do you, Leilani Donatelli…”
As the words were repeated Lani lifted her face to Ridge, her lips curling into a soft smile. “I do,” she said, her voice bold and clarion-clear, carrying throughout the church.
“The ring, please.”
Now it was time for Ridge to put his seal on the woman who’d started by turning him down flat. Thank goodness she’d come around.
And then, finally, came the part Ridge had been waiting for the whole time.
“By the power vested in me by the State of Texas I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”