Safe by His Side Read online

  The bridal march began, and she spotted Micah, dressed in a long western duster and black Stetson, waiting for her in front of the gazebo.

  He looked so sexy and handsome that her heart nearly burst with joy.

  As she walked down the aisle toward him, images of their future together flashed in her mind, making her heart pound with anticipation. When she reached him, she handed Jenny her bouquet of roses and took Micah’s hand.

  The Reverend, an older man she’d met through her job, had taken a special interest in her mother at the rehearsal. Maybe her mother would have a second chance at love now.

  He greeted everyone and read a Bible verse, but she and Micah had chosen to write their own vows.

  Micah began. “Lenora, I thought by working in law enforcement that I had to be alone. But you taught me that love means more than a job. That my job means nothing without you. I am so blessed to have you as my bride.”

  Lenora stared into his eyes, touched by his heartfelt words. “Micah, I once lived in a world of darkness. But the day you took my hand and walked me back into the light, I fell in love with you. I loved you then, I love you now, I’ll love you forever.”

  They exchanged rings, and the reverend pronounced them husband and wife.

  The ceremony was short and sweet, but Lenora knew in her heart that their marriage and their love would last a lifetime.

  Micah had never expected to find a soul mate, but he’d found one in Lenora. He couldn’t help but blush as he shook hands with his fellow rangers and watched the crowd disperse.

  As much as he’d enjoyed the party and dancing with his bride, he was ready to be alone with his new wife.

  And he still had a surprise for her.

  She’d loved his ranch immediately and hadn’t cared that it was rundown. But before he moved her here, he’d wanted to make some changes.

  Lenora waved goodbye to her friends and mother, then sashayed over to him. “Hey, husband.”

  “Wife,” he said with a grin. “I say we take this champagne inside.”

  She glanced at the fading sun on the horizon. “But I hate to leave this view.”

  “You won’t miss it.” He swung her up in his arms, grabbed the champagne and two flutes for her to hold then carried her inside to the master suite.

  He’d insisted she redecorate the kitchen, but he’d kept her from the master suite to give him time to renovate it.

  When he opened the door with his foot, she gasped. “Micah . . . it’s beautiful.”

  He grinned. He’d knocked out the back wall and extended the room, added skylights, and French doors to offer a view of the sky and the sweeping land. The colors of the sunset shimmered on the horizon.

  “You did this for me?” she whispered, awe in her voice.

  “I know you don’t like closed in spaces.” He nuzzled her neck. “I wanted you to have your terrace and sunset here at our home.”

  “Thank you, Micah.” Lenora clasped his face between her hands. “I love you. I always will.”

  “And I love you. You’ve given me everything I ever wanted.”

  She smiled and kissed him, and he laid her on the king sized sleigh bed he’d bought for them to share.

  Smiling seductively, he stripped her wedding gown and his clothes, and they made love all night with the stars twinkling through the skylights and the moon glowing bright just as their love would glow the rest of their lives.

  If you liked Safe By His Side, then please write a review on Amazon! You can also contact Rita at www.ritaherron.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @ritaherron!

  The Manhunt Series

  Safe by His Side (Book 2)

  Safe with Him (Book 3)

  The Keepers Series

  Pretty Little Killers (Book 1)

  Good Little Girls (Book 2)

  Little White Lies (Prequel to Dead Little Darlings)

  Dead Little Darlings (Book 3)

  The Graveyard Falls Series

  All the Beautiful Brides (Book 1)

  All the Pretty Faces (Book 2)

  All the Dead Girls (Book 3)

  The Slaughter Creek Series

  Before She Dies (Prequel)

  Dying to Tell (Book 1)

  Her Dying Breath (Book 2)

  Worth Dying For (Book 3)

  Dying for Love (Book 4)

  The Demonborn Series

  Heartless (Book 1)

  Mindless (Book 2)

  Soulless (Book 3)

  Rita’s Lighter Side

  Marry Me, Maddie

  Sleepless in Savannah

  Love Me, Lucy

  Husband Hunting 101

  Here Comes the Bride

  There Goes the Groom

  Single and Searching

  Under the Covers

  USA Today and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job!

  With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and YA stories, but she especially loves writing dark romantic suspense tales set in southern small towns.

  For more on Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter @ritaherron.