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Letting out a low growl, I lean in, pressing my lips to hers once more as the door to the bathroom begins to rattle. We snap our heads as someone begins to knock. “Hey, is someone in there?”
We both chuckle as I straighten out her skirt for her. “Back to dinner then?”
She tousles my hair, straightens my shirt, and then helps place me back inside my pants. “You’re good to go. Let’s go back out there and finish our night.”
I slide my hand to her lower back, where it belongs, and start leading her toward the door. When I flip the lock and open it, a woman stands there, gawking at us as we exit.
“Have a good night, ma’am,” I say to her as we walk past, making Zoey chuckle. “I know I certainly am.”
Zoey bursts out laughing as we make our way back to the table, and I can’t help but think that, yeah, this night couldn’t get any fucking better.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Blake
Saturday
I must admit, I’m a little nervous.
While this wedding started out as a mutually beneficial motivation for Zoey and myself—for her, my money, and for me, my image—it’s so much more than that now. There are genuine feelings involved, so while yes, we’re both gaining from it, we’re also benefiting from being together as a couple in love. It’s not what I expected, and I don’t think Zoey did either, but here we are, walking into the New Orleans Courthouse. Me wearing an everyday suit that I wear to work, but included is the tie I used on Zoey at the restaurant the other night.
Gotta have a little nod to our sex life in there somewhere.
Cleo is here with us for the legal side of things. Who better to ensure everything is done properly than an attorney?
Nash, Brianna, Lucas, Paisley, and even Cam sit in the chairs watching as I approach the officiant.
You would think with all the time we have spent together that I would have met Zoey’s parents and her mine. Unfortunately, we left it a little long, and let me tell you, when we told our parents we were getting married, both of them were shocked.
As I glance over to the bench seat at my parents, older brother, Link, and younger sister, Paige, sitting there, they appear skeptical. I guess I am not surprised. I’ve hardly had time to tell them about Zoey, let alone that I’m now marrying her.
To them, this is sudden.
For me, this has been two years in the making.
But the scariest part about today is that I’m going to be meeting Zoey’s parents for the first time, and I know she is super close to them, so I want to impress them.
As I stand with Hailee, I already see her mother, Andrea, sitting in the pews, and I smile at her just before I turn to see Zoey enter the building. Her father, Oliver, is on her arm, and they walk down the small hall toward us. No music plays, but we don’t need any as the whole world stops when I stare at my woman in a simple knee-length white lace dress with long lace sleeves. She looks stunning. Not overstated, but today isn’t some big event, and I feel kind of like shit that I couldn’t give Zoey the big to-do like Kyle and Tamara had. I know she envisioned something like that for her wedding day, but Zoey needs the funds for the custody battle, and I need my image fixed. So we had to do this as fast as we legally could, which means we had to keep it small, simple, and fast.
One day, later down the road, I will give her a grand day. One where she can dress up and be the princess she deserves. For now, though, we must get this underway because I can’t wait to marry her.
Her father walks her to me, and I smile so damn wide my heart hammers in my chest as Oliver places Zoey’s hand in mine. “I know we haven’t officially met, but my girl has told me a lot about you… you just make sure to take care of my girls.”
“I will, sir, I promise,” I tell him.
He exhales, leans in, kisses Zoey on the cheek, and then nods. “You’ll always be my baby girl.”
Zoey chuckles. “I know, Daddy.”
Oliver turns to me once more before stepping off. “You hurt her or Hailee, Iwillkill you.”
“Dad!” Zoey snaps.
I smile. “Understood, sir. And it’s not going to happen.”
Oliver smiles, dipping his chin, and caresses Hailee’s face making her giggle as he walks past his granddaughter to sit with Andrea.
I turn to Zoey. “You ready to do this, beautiful?”
