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  Mitch cleared his throat and held on to her as tightly as she was holding on to him. “I was broken when I met you, in ways I didn’t even understand. Your acceptance, passion and caring have changed that. Having you and Sophie and Grace in my life has healed past wounds. I want nothing more than to be your husband and their dad. You are everything I’ve ever wanted, the woman I didn’t even know I hoped to find. I love you, Lily, and I will cherish you, protect you, honor and respect you every day of our lives.”

  The minister opened his hand to Lily. Raina handed her a wide gold band and Lily placed it in the minister’s hand. Matt handed Mitch a circle of diamonds and Mitch placed that in the minister’s palm, also.

  Reverend Allbright said, “These rings embody the circle of love that you have promised each other. I give them to you now to slide onto each other’s fingers in memory of this night, the vows you have made and the love you will share.”

  Lily took the ring again and slid it onto Mitch’s finger. “I thee wed,” she said solemnly.

  Mitch took the ring from the minister’s hand and slid it onto Lily’s finger. “I thee wed,” he echoed, just as solemnly.

  They held hands and faced forward again.

  Reverend Allbright smiled. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

  Mitch took Lily into his arms and she lifted her face to his. Their kiss was an embodiment of everything their ceremony had entailed.

  When Mitch raised his head, he said loud and clear, “I love you.”

  She kissed him again and buried her nose by his ear. “I love you, too.”

  Everyone around them was applauding and they realized they weren’t alone in the universe. With her husband beside her, Lily went to Grace and lifted her into her arms. Mitch did the same with Sophie and they came together for a group hug.

  “Can we cut the cake now?” Joey asked.

  “We can cut the cake,” Mitch announced happily, tickling Sophie.

  After more hugs all around, they headed into Mitch’s house, ready to begin their lives and the future they would build together.

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7606-6

  TWINS UNDER HIS TREE

  Copyright © 2010 by Karen Rose Smith

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  *Baby Bonds

  †Montana Mavericks: Gold Rush Grooms

  ††Talk of the Neighborhood

  ‡Logan’s Legacy Revisited

  °The Wilder Family

  **Dads in Progress

  §The Baby Experts

  ¤The Foleys and the McCords

  ‡‡Montana Mavericks: Thunder Canyon Cowboys