out for his mama and his grandma, who’d hurried across the room to throw their arms around him too.
A few minutes later, Derrick and Trevon took their places next to the minister. Holly slid her hand through her dad’s arm again. The DJ cued up John Legend’s “All of Me,” and Holly was thankful she was wearing waterproof mascara. She knew why Derrick had asked for this song. They both had faults, but she loved him more than anyone else because he had the courage to show his weaknesses to her, accepting and loving her for who she was too.
Holly’s parents had moved to Arizona four years ago because her mom’s health couldn’t take Seattle’s damp winters anymore. Retirement definitely agreed with them. Even if they didn’t see each other every day anymore, she’d never doubted her parents’ love for her. Her dad patted her hand and said, “I look forward to getting to know Derrick.”
“I know he wants to spend some time with you, too, Dad. As well as with Mom and Marcus.” Holly’s older brother, Marcus, lived in Utah with his wife, who was expecting their first child.
“We’re so proud of you and we love you very much,” her dad said. He stopped at the top of the aisle only feet from Derrick. “Be happy, honey.”
“I love you too. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” she said.
Her dad kissed her cheek and reached out for Derrick’s hand. He was enveloped in a huge bear hug. “Mr. Reynolds,” Derrick said.
“Call me ‘Dad,’ ” Holly’s father said. Poor Derrick; he needed another handkerchief. Finally, it was the two of them in front of the minister.
“I’d like to welcome everyone to Derrick and Holly’s wedding. Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the minister asked.
“Her mother and I,” her dad said. He sat down next to Holly’s mother, who was already dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
Derrick took Holly’s hands in both of his. They made promises with trembling voices and slipped a ring onto each other’s finger. Finally, Derrick pulled her into his arms for their first kiss as husband and wife. She heard laughter and applause as he kissed her a second time, and then a third. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her cheek against his as he spoke up.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to kiss my wife.”
D ERRICK WATCHED H OLLY circulate among their thirty-five guests. She was glowing with happiness as she accepted congratulations and held out her hand so their friends and family members could see her rings. They’d danced together, had dinner, cut the cake, and kissed, when yet another guest tapped a glass with a piece of silverware. Shelby Anderson had caught Holly’s bouquet. Derrick didn’t miss the look of triumph in Shelby’s boyfriend Chuck’s eyes. Unless he was really wrong, Chuck was about to propose.
Wait until Shelby’s big brother, Zach, found out.
Derrick was ready to start their honeymoon, but a few of his teammates were having a fairly interesting convo in one corner as they watched the women in their lives talking and laughing together.
“And another one bites the dust, Collins,” Zach Anderson teased. “There aren’t many single Sharks around these days. Caleb’s dating my kid sister, and Drew McCoy even tied the knot.”
“Best decision I ever made,” McCoy interrupted. He glanced across the room at his wife, Kendall.
Seth Taylor took a sip of beer in response.
“Taylor,” Zach said, “I think your number’s up, man. Accept it gracefully.”
“Nope. Not getting married,” Seth said.
“Are you sure about that?” Derrick shot back. “Care to make it interesting?” He jammed his hand in his suit pocket and pulled out a money clip.
The normally shy and reserved Caleb pulled bills out of his pocket and slapped them down on the table. “Get out your cash, men. Five hundred says that he’s engaged before the end of next season.”
“Oh, you’re on,” Seth told them. “Who’s
A few minutes later, Derrick and Trevon took their places next to the minister. Holly slid her hand through her dad’s arm again. The DJ cued up John Legend’s “All of Me,” and Holly was thankful she was wearing waterproof mascara. She knew why Derrick had asked for this song. They both had faults, but she loved him more than anyone else because he had the courage to show his weaknesses to her, accepting and loving her for who she was too.
Holly’s parents had moved to Arizona four years ago because her mom’s health couldn’t take Seattle’s damp winters anymore. Retirement definitely agreed with them. Even if they didn’t see each other every day anymore, she’d never doubted her parents’ love for her. Her dad patted her hand and said, “I look forward to getting to know Derrick.”
“I know he wants to spend some time with you, too, Dad. As well as with Mom and Marcus.” Holly’s older brother, Marcus, lived in Utah with his wife, who was expecting their first child.
“We’re so proud of you and we love you very much,” her dad said. He stopped at the top of the aisle only feet from Derrick. “Be happy, honey.”
“I love you too. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” she said.
Her dad kissed her cheek and reached out for Derrick’s hand. He was enveloped in a huge bear hug. “Mr. Reynolds,” Derrick said.
“Call me ‘Dad,’ ” Holly’s father said. Poor Derrick; he needed another handkerchief. Finally, it was the two of them in front of the minister.
“I’d like to welcome everyone to Derrick and Holly’s wedding. Who gives this woman to be married to this man?” the minister asked.
“Her mother and I,” her dad said. He sat down next to Holly’s mother, who was already dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.
Derrick took Holly’s hands in both of his. They made promises with trembling voices and slipped a ring onto each other’s finger. Finally, Derrick pulled her into his arms for their first kiss as husband and wife. She heard laughter and applause as he kissed her a second time, and then a third. She wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her cheek against his as he spoke up.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to kiss my wife.”
D ERRICK WATCHED H OLLY circulate among their thirty-five guests. She was glowing with happiness as she accepted congratulations and held out her hand so their friends and family members could see her rings. They’d danced together, had dinner, cut the cake, and kissed, when yet another guest tapped a glass with a piece of silverware. Shelby Anderson had caught Holly’s bouquet. Derrick didn’t miss the look of triumph in Shelby’s boyfriend Chuck’s eyes. Unless he was really wrong, Chuck was about to propose.
Wait until Shelby’s big brother, Zach, found out.
Derrick was ready to start their honeymoon, but a few of his teammates were having a fairly interesting convo in one corner as they watched the women in their lives talking and laughing together.
“And another one bites the dust, Collins,” Zach Anderson teased. “There aren’t many single Sharks around these days. Caleb’s dating my kid sister, and Drew McCoy even tied the knot.”
“Best decision I ever made,” McCoy interrupted. He glanced across the room at his wife, Kendall.
Seth Taylor took a sip of beer in response.
“Taylor,” Zach said, “I think your number’s up, man. Accept it gracefully.”
“Nope. Not getting married,” Seth said.
“Are you sure about that?” Derrick shot back. “Care to make it interesting?” He jammed his hand in his suit pocket and pulled out a money clip.
The normally shy and reserved Caleb pulled bills out of his pocket and slapped them down on the table. “Get out your cash, men. Five hundred says that he’s engaged before the end of next season.”
“Oh, you’re on,” Seth told them. “Who’s
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