“God, I know you’re sick of hearing me beg, but this is my woman, my wife. My best friend! No, she’s so much more than that—she’s the other half of my heart. I’ve waited my whole life for her—I’d give my life a hundred times to keep her safe! A thousand times! She’s every breath I take, every single beat of my heart. I don’t think I can live without her now. Not now…Please,God. Please. Oh God, please…”

“Shelby handed off her bouquet and faced Luke, taking both his hands in hers. And shebegan: “Luke, I love you. I promise that each day I have you in my life, I will show you my love.”Noah's eyes drifted to Ellie's and a smile played about his lips as the bride and groomspoke.“Shelby, I love you. In each day of our lives together, I will show my love. And wherethere is injury, I will pardon without hesitation.”“Where there is doubt, Luke, I will have faith in you.”“In times of despair, you will be my hope.”“In times of darkness, I will find my light in you.”“When there is sadness, let me bring you joy.”“Luke, I will not so much seek to be consoled as to console.”“I will seek to understand, not just to be understood.”“I will love, not just crave love.”“I pledge you my heart, my life.”“And I pledge mine to you.”“I, Luke Riordan, take you, Shelby MacIntyre, to be wife, my best friend, my lover, my partner, the head of my family and other half of my heart. Forever.” He slid a ring on her finger.Shelby slid a ring onto his finger. “I, Shelby MacIntyre, take you, Luke Riordan, to be myhusband, best friend, lover, partner, head of my family and other half of my heart. Forever.”

“He grabbed her face in his hands again. "I want to be with you forever. I want to be beside you every night, holding you close, whispering to you that I love you more than anything in the world, that you turned my whole world upside down just when it needed to be turned upside down. I want to make forever promises to you out loud, in front of God, and I want you to promise to be my woman, my wife, my one and only love, my best friend and my conscience. You're never easy, Ellie, but you're sure never boring..." (Noah Kincaid)”

“He stared at her and his smile slowly faded. He put his hands on his hips. He took a deep breath and felt tears gather in his eyes. “You’re all I need to be happy, Shelby,” he said. “You’re everything I need…”He actually surprised her. Her arms dropped from over her chest and she gaped at him for a second.“You’re everything,” he said. “It scares me to death, but I want it all with you. I want you for life. I want what you want, and I want it right now. Everything, Shelby. I want you to be the lead in my shoes that keeps me on the ground. The mother of my children. My best friend, my wife, my mistress. It’s a tall order.” He took a breath.“If you won’t quit, I won’t.”

“I gotta call Vanni tonight, and tell her. I’ve got her all confused and totally furious…”“Paul, you can’t tell her on the phone,” Jack said.“But—”“Paul! She’s gonna hang up on you! And then the next time you show your face, she’s going to put a bullet in your head. And Walt will help her line up her shot.”

“Are you sure?”“I’ve never been more sure about anything. I want this. If you can’t stay here, I’ll go anywhere you want to go.”“But Jack, you love it here!”“Don’t you realize I love you more? I need you in my life. You and our baby. God, Mel—I don’t care where that happens. As long as it happens.”

“He reached out and lightly touched her hair. There’s no way, he thought. I’m sunk. And my heart hasn’t beat the same since she walked into town.”