True North Book 3 - Finding Now Kate and Sam Read Free Page B

deserved a little happiness. Maybe marriage seemed like a prison to me , but Nate was obviously thrilled, and I was happy for the lucky son-of-a-bitch.
    The way he looked down at Jules as my parents put her hands in his and stepped back made me think he was going to kiss her right there, before they were even married. The Justice of the Peace asked who gave the bride away and my parents answered that they did, and then Nate and Jules stepped forward underneath the flowered arbor and turned to face one another. They spoke the traditional vows. Because Nate had two best men, Jake, who held the ring box, handed it to Caleb, who then passed it to Nate. The new couple placed the platinum wedding bands on each other’s fingers and a moment later sealed the deal with a kiss.
     
    With my mom and sister in charge, the reception was elegant. White cloth canopies had been set up over the prairie to provide shade and beauty. Hung underneath were strands of tiny white lights, and there were flowers everywhere. On one side was a gourmet buffet, a bar, a lavish chocolate fountain with colorful fruits and other treats to dip, a five-tier wedding cake with edible flowers, an ice sculpture of wild horses running while others reared up at the sky, and a gift table that towered with fancily wrapped presents and envelopes. On the other side was the bride and groom’s table, where they sat and received their guests’ good wishes.
    For their first dance together as a married couple, Nate chose “Sweet Child O’Mine” by Guns and Roses. The two of them came together and looked at each other as if they were the only two people in the world.
    My mom and dad had an amazing kind of love; they could fight like cougars over a kill one moment and then be hot as wildfire in love with each other in the next. I never got it, and honestly didn’t think they did either. They’d been to counseling a few times in their thirty year marriage to learn better ways to communicate. Ha! Whatever they’d tried obviously didn’t take. I smiled just thinking about it. It wasn’t always pretty, but damn, it worked for them. They were two extreme opposite personalities, but they loved the hell out of each other and were committed to each other one hundred percent. I could see that look in Nate and Jules’ eyes—stubborn, headstrong and completely out of their minds in love with each other.
    For a fleeting moment I wondered what it felt like for them, but shoved that thought away immediately. I was in no hurry to find out for myself. I was twenty-two, in my first year of grad school for my master’s in Engineering, and thoroughly got off on the rush and excitement of fast cars, faster women, loud music and the adrenaline surge of extreme sports. I fully intended to live my life for me and take on every challenge that I could conquer, just for the fuck of it.
    I shoved a chocolate covered caramel in my mouth. I chewed into the smooth cocoa, salt and caramel then chased it all with a swig of sweet champagne. One of the girls who worked with the catering company caught my eye as she walked by. I loved that look. That “maybe” look that burned with wonder. I made sure I returned the look, and as she captured my eyes, she smiled and quickly turned away. Music. Beautiful music. Sex was the best existing art form. Every woman was a new song to listen to, play and sing. I shook my head and walked away, knowing that I’d be watching for that girl later.
    Through the afternoon reception, each of us North boys danced with our sister.
    “You excited for the honeymoon?” I asked, taking Jules in my arms.
    “Samuel!”
    “Oh, gross! What’s wrong with you? I mean about traveling Europe for a month.”
    She laughed. “You’re such a pain! Yes, I’m excited. Are you excited about starting school Monday?”
    “Ecstatic,” I responded flatly. “So are you going to tell Mom and Dad you’re preggers before or after you come home?”
    She shot me a look full of sharp