“It’s stunning.” I narrow my eyes at one of the pearls, noting a tiny imperfection in one. A small dent in an otherwise perfectly smooth surface. “Slade… these are…”
“Your grandmother’s. I hope that’s okay. I know how much you wanted to wear them on your wedding day. So now you can. And every other day as well.”
“It’s perfect,” I say, my voice drying up.
I curl my hands around the lapels of his suit jacket and pull him to me for a kiss. The warmth of his lips against mine sets butterflies raging in my core, and I break away with a pant before I get carried away.
“I love you.”
He tilts my chin up, pressing a soft kiss to my lips before resting our foreheads together.
“I love you too. Do you think your work can give you some time off to marry me now?” He grins, and from the look in his eyes, I know he’s already spoken with my boss and somehow got what he wanted agreed. That’s something I’ve learned about the Beauforts. When they want something, they make it happen.
“I think they might spare me a day or two,” I tease.
Since the new systems update rolled out, things have quietened down.
“Starting tomorrow,” Slade says.
“What?” I splutter.
“Tomorrow,” he repeats, his breath dusting over my lips as he strokes my lower one with his thumb. “You, me, our family and friends, and a wedding to organize.”
“You’re serious?”
“I waited long enough for you. I’m not waiting any longer to call you my wife. Call your mom. Go choose a new dress together, because I ruined the last one.” He smirks. “And then marry me.”
My smile splits my face. “Okay.”
We gaze at one another until Slade’s phone cuts through the moment. He pulls it from his inner jacket pocket.
“Dad?” he answers. His brows shoot up. “Okay, we’re on our way.”
“What is it?” I ask the second he ends the call.
“It’s Halliday.” Slade shakes his head, like he’s in shock. “She’s just had the baby. It happened so fast Dad had to help deliver it before the ambulance arrived.”
“Seriously? Oh my God. What is it?”
“A baby,” he repeats, looking at me blankly.
I laugh. “I know that. I meant a boy or a girl? Did you get a new brother or sister?”
Slade’s eyes widen as my words hit their target. “I’ve got a new sibling?”
“Yes.” I grab his face and grin. “Yes, you have. More family to love you and to love back.”
“Jude…” His face crumples and he crushes his lips to mine in a kiss filled with so much emotion my stomach flips.
“You’re okay,” I soothe. “Come on, let’s go and meet them.”
46
SLADE
ONE MONTH LATER
“I thinkshe needs changing again. Have fun with that, Dad.” I chuckle as I hand the baby back to my father.
