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“I’m sorry about how things happened. You were right about everything—about my relationship with my mom, and pretty much everything else. I was taken aback, and didn’t want to face what you stirred deep inside me.”
She chewed her bottom lip. She wanted to move her gaze from him, to look away, but even breathing was difficult. Her chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, like she’d forgotten all she learned in yoga classes.
Something about him drew her in and unlocked a part of her that was far too foolish. Light and easy.
“The reality is, Lara, you have cared for me unconditionally. You’ve tried to understand me, to help me, and my money never played a part in our relationship. You were unafraid and I’ve never met any other woman like you.”
She scooted to the edge of the sofa. He kneeled in front of her, his eyes on the same level as hers. A thrill of anticipation touched her spine, and her heart pulsed in different parts of her body. Madly.
“I love you, Lara. I’ve fallen for you even if it went against every warning sign I set off.”
She parted her lips, but hesitated to speak—or perhaps it was the sensation of her heart in her mouth that kept her quiet.
He took her hand in his, squeezing it, and she realized they were both trembling. “I love you and I want you to be my wife. For real. We don’t need to have a wedding party, you don’t need to wear this wedding ring. I don’t have to impress anyone but you. As long as I have you, I’m happy. I’m complete if you let me make it up to you.”
She touched her chest with her free hand. Tears of joy glistened in her eyes. She thought she had it all before, but the feelings Troy has shown her had given her so much more. He cared for her, and took care of her, and hell, also let her butt in his life even if he’d been reluctant at first. “Troy…”
He squeezed her hand. “Please, let me prove it to you. Every day, for the rest of our lives.”
“I love you too.”
The tense lines of his face relaxed. There was unadulterated joy in the depths of his smoldering blue eyes. “Really?”
“Yes.”
He pulled her to him and lowered his lips to hers in a passionate kiss that curled her toes. Moaning, she encircled her arms around him, loving the feeling of his body colliding with hers, the hard planes of his chest pressing against her, his muscled arms embracing her like he would never let her go.
She kissed him back with urgency, her tongue stroking his, her fingers delving into his rich textured hair. Joy jolted through her, the kind of happiness she’d never experienced before. When he wretched his mouth from hers, they were still close, forehead to forehead, labored breaths mingling.
“I want to move to Tulip,” he said.
“Are you sure? I mean, you’ve been in LA for so long and I’m sure business is better there.”
He caressed her cheek. “I’m sure. You have family and friends here. I spent so much time chasing after the wrong things… now I want to chase after the right ones. The right person.”
Her heart sang. She reached for his collar and undid the first two buttons, sliding her hand inside his shirt, touching his warm, taut skin. “Good. Because since that’s the case, I say you could do some chasing right now…”
Epilogue
“And now, I declare you husband and wife,” the pastor said with a smile. “You may kiss the bride.”
Troy took her in his arms and lowered his lips to hers. It was supposed to be a quick one, but the emotion from the ceremony filled his chest, and he delved his tongue into her, bending her into a quick Valentino dip.
The guests clapped and a couple of them catcalled, cheering them on. Quickly, she recomposed, a shade of red staining her cheeks.
As they made their way down the impromptu aisle in her beautiful backyard, he glanced at his wife. Now, he could call her wife in every sense of the word.
Even though the original plan was to throw a reception party, they decided on a ceremony too, to give their marriage a new beginning in front of those they loved. She wore a gorgeous, long dress with different textures of lace and satin, with a golden pattern on the middle section. Nothing about her was common, why should her dress be?
“I love you,” she whispered, tightening the hold of his hand.
“Me too,” he said, planting a peck on her cheek.
The photographer captured the scene, closing in on them and snapping more shots.
“Hey, we’re in public now,” Miguel said, patting his shoulders. “Hands off my sister,” he added in a playful tone.
“I can’t promise anything,” Troy whispered so low that only she could hear. He’d already had to stay away from Lara all day. They’d flown her mother and aunt Celia, along with her brother for the occasion a couple of days prior, and today Lara had gone to a spa with her family and best friends.
