Page 103 of One Midnight Kiss

EPILOGUE

NATALIA

One Year Later

Fox’s hand clasped mine. The moment was surreal. It felt like we had known each other’s souls forever. The last year had been amazing. After a couple of months of talking about our wedding, we finally decided to go small. Neither of us was interested in a grand affair. It really did feel like a waste of money. He had a shitload of it, but neither of us were the type to just blow money because it was there.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the priest said. “You may kiss your bride.”

Fox looked at me with a passion I knew was reserved only for me. He cupped my face gingerly and leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a soft, yet passionate kiss.

“Finally,” he murmured against my lips once we pulled apart, a broad smile on his face. His happiness was contagious. I had not stopped smiling since I woke up that morning.

“Finally,” I agreed.

He took my hand once again. We turned to face our guests, which numbered just over twenty. I took a moment to survey the scene. The lodge was perfect, like something out of a snow globe.

We had chosen to lean into the winter wonderland idea. We made the journey to Leavenworth, and it was well worth it. The place was blanketed in snow, the pine trees dusted in white beyond the windows. The lodge was toasty with a fireplace blazing on one wall. White chairs in perfect rows with a white runner down the middle. I looked at the faces of my loved ones and felt my heart swell.

It was exactly what I’d hoped for, intimate, cozy, and real. This was the opposite of the grand, ostentatious affair that had been my first wedding.

This time, I was in a sleek, white gown—simple, elegant, with long white gloves reminiscent of the look I’d worn to the Paris ball when all of this started. I had chosen it for myself, without any input from a stylist or a meddling mother. This was my day, our day.

Fox had known the look I was going for, but he didn’t get to see me in the dress until I walked down the aisle. The element of surprise had nearly knocked him off his feet.

Applause erupted around us. I could hear Wilder whooping louder than anyone. Christa was trying to quiet him, but it wasn’t working. Dave was sitting in the front row in a seat of honor after giving me away. He had cleaned house at the office, getting rid of the people who spread unprofessional rumors about me, including that prick Aaron. After that, Dave and I were all good again.

“Ready?” Fox murmured close to my ear, that familiar smirk curving his lips.

I laughed. “So ready.”

He scooped me up, just like that, and ran back down the aisle with me in his arms. I squealed, throwing my head back in laughter as our guests laughed and cheered.

“Don’t drop me!” I hollered.

“Never,” he said.

“Fox, put me down!” I half-laughed, half-protested.

“Not a chance,” he said, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re mine now. No takebacks.”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” I said, looping my arms around his neck as he spun us in a slow circle, like we were the only people in the world.

He carried me into the empty bridal room and kicked the door shut behind us. He put me down gently, still laughing, his hands resting on my waist as he looked at me with so much warmth and love in his eyes that I felt my breath catch in my throat. That was the thing about Fox—he had a way of making me feel like I was the only woman in the world.

“Are we going to spend our entire reception in here?” I joked, looking up at him through my lashes.

“Maybe,” Fox said, moving closer to me until we were practically chest to chest. “This is the only place I want to be.”

I watched as he reached out and moved a loose curl from my face. “We have the rest of our lives.”

He pressed his forehead against mine, the heat of the moment enveloping us. “And every moment will be like this,” he whispered. “Perfect.”

I smiled, feeling the truth of his words deep in my soul. Two years ago, I hadn’t dared to hope for such completeness, such profound joy. Yet here we were, heartbeats in sync, dreams aligned.

A gentle knock on the door interrupted our seclusion. “Mr. and Mrs. Samuelson, everyone’s waiting for you,” Christa said with a laugh. “No starting the honeymoon early.”

Fox groaned playfully. “We have fed you and entertained you. Leave us alone.”