Sarah's Commitment

Our wedding day was an impromptu affair, at least from my standpoint. I had no special dress, no flowers, no wedding cake, no dad. But what I did have—my mum and sisters via satellite internet, the support of my new town and new friends, and most importantly, the men I loved with my heart and soul—made up for all of that. 

The Fourth of July and the grand opening of the B&B I’d worked so hard on with Axton set the perfect stage for the union between me and my Powell cowboys. My heart was so filled with love and joy, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“Hold it right there, y’all.” A new, male voice boomed from the back of the gathering, interrupting our dancing.

All eyes turned to a suit-wearing, businessman-looking guy with slicked back blond hair and expensive sunglasses. “Saggar, you and I need to have a little chat about your absence from Nashville… on behalf of your record label.”

We all stood there, staring at this suit, with our mouths hanging open. Me. Saggar. The rest of my men. The entire congregation.

My gaze roamed over the man’s broad frame, kitted out in his impeccable suit, his entire essence oozing arrogant confidence.

“You’ve been absent for too long, Powell,” the guy said as he carefully removed his sunglasses and hooked them over the lip of his breast pocket. His Southern drawl was apparent as he said, “Not only do you have an album to finish recording, but you’ve skipped out on one too many promotional appointments, and it’s come to our attention you’ve been performing free concerts when you should be completing the rest of your North American tour. Let’s just say Blue Outlaw Records isn’t too happy with you.”

Who in the hell did he think he was?

Rage whirled within me until it was as powerful as the scariest of storms.

The desire to swipe the smugness right off this guy’s face was so damn strong I could barely contain myself. “Do you know who else isn’t too happy right now?” I began to stomp towards him.

“Sarah.”I ignored Saggar’s warning tone and continued towards the interloper. “Me, that’s who. You want to know why I’m not happy, mate? Because you’ve interrupted my bloody wedding, that’s why!”

The man peered down his nose at me, clearly unmoved by my show of anger. If that didn’t scare him, maybe my brute strength would. But before I could show any, Dan was at my side, taking a hold of one of my hands, while Forrest flanked my left shoulder and linked his fingers through mine on the other side.

Saggar approached as well and squared up to the suit. “Who the hell are you?”

The man drew a business card out of his pocket and flicked it towards Saggar between two long, pedicured fingers. “Preston Campbell. I’m a part of Blue Outlaw’s legal team.”

“They sent a fucking lawyer after me?” Saggar snatched the card from him.

“You’re at risk of being in breach of your contract, Mr. Powell. Get your ass back to Nashville, or I’ll have you caught up in litigation for years.” Preston poked Saggar in the chest but Saggar barely budged. Preston barely seemed to notice as he glanced around the property. That, or he wasn’t easily intimidated, even by a bunch of burly cowboys. “Now, I hear you provide accommodation and food here?”

My grip on Forrest and Dan’s hands tightened. “We’re booked out.”

Preston didn’t look convinced. “You’ve got a lot of space here, I’m sure you can find me someplace.”

He strode back to his sleek, black merc, took a small suitcase out of the trunk and headed towards the event barn.

“For fucks sake, we were almost married. At least the vows and the ceremony were done.” I took Axton’s hat off and handed it back to him then began to storm away.

“Don’t think this is over, darlin’,” Dan called to me, making me stop in my tracks and turn back around. “You’ve still got papers to sign today.”

When I twisted my mouth to the side, Lawson nodded his agreement. “Uncle Dan’s right, Aussie. We get the paperwork done and you’re officially a Powell and an American resident.”

“Okay.” I turned to Saggar. “How serious are the things he’s saying about your contract?”

“Pretty damn serious.” Looking sheepish, he pushed out a long sigh as he kicked the ground with the toe of his boot. “I skipped out on them, roomie.”

“You’re supposed to perform soon, Saggar.” Axton narrowed his eyes. “Are you allowed to if that guy is breathing down your neck?”

Saggar ran a hand over his face and rubbed his jaw. “I need to call my manager.”

“Sign the papers first, then you can do that.” Dan clapped his son on the back.

Saggar turned his tentative hazel gaze onto me and I reached up to rest my palms on his cheeks. “We had the ceremony. Now make me a Powell.”

My request brought a smile back to his face and he kissed my forehead before leading me and the others back to the celebrant.

“Sorry about the interruption, Mum,” I said, bending down to the tablet screen where my mum and sisters were still being Zoomed with.

“What happened?” Bridget demanded with a scowl.

“It doesn’t matter,” Saggar piped up. “This does.”

When he took my hand and kissed my rings, my fingers trembled with excitement in his grasp.

Boone glanced down at my mum and sisters. “You want to watch your daughter and sister become an official Powell?”

“Absolutely,” Mum answered while Bridget squealed and Taylor clapped her hands together.

Saggar held a fancy black pen out to me. “The wife part first.”

Tears filled my eyes and Devon reached across and swiped his thumbs under my eyes. “Don’t smudge the page.”

With a laugh, I blinked rapidly and took the pen from Saggar. I did my best to hold the pen steady in my hands and signed my name on one of the dotted lines.

Saggar’s fingers grazed my own as he took the pen from me and then he was bending down to sign our marriage license as well, sealing our fate together forever.

“Who are the witnesses?” The celebrant’s line of sight passed over the other guys.

Lawson stepped up and smiled lovingly at me while he took the pen from his cousin. He scrawled his name then leaned into my personal space. “Signed, your hot cop.” He placed his lips on mine and I accepted his kisses for a few moments.

Dan took the pen from Lawson and I broke the kiss to watch the Powell patriarch sign in the final spot. He placed the pen down, turned to me as I turned to him and he rested his hands on my shoulders. “You’re ours. Welcome to the family, darlin’.”

More squeals and claps came from the tablet as I shared kisses with Dan and all of my men and placed a ring on each of their fingers.