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“It’s more than nice. It’s a vintage executive desk, once used by GE’s Jack Welch himself.”
Liam’s eyebrows raise. “How’d you manage that?”
“Unlimited Crowley money. Also got lucky and saw it go up for auction at Christie’s. I got the rest of this stuff in the same lot.”
“You are nothing if not thrifty.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you saw the bill.”
He laughs and comes over, bending down to kiss me. “What, are you trying to turn this into some sort of legitimate operation?”
“That would involve having a legitimate boss. Unfortunately, we’re stuck with you.”
“You should consider yourself lucky, my darling.”
“But seriously, we do need some employees. Things are starting to move.”
“Thank to our favorite farmer, Ms. Tess.” He sits down on the edge of my desk.
“Once she fell into line, the others followed. What did you say to make her so amenable, by the way?”
He shrugs, looking at his nails. “I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.”
“What a lovely mobster you are.” I stand, draping my arms around his neck. He holds me by the hips. “I want ten new members of our team. And we’re going to need accountants.”
“Anything you desire.”
“My favorite words.” I kiss him gently.
“Only I have one thing I need in return.” He tightens his grip. “We need to return to Boston.”
“For what?” I ask. We’ve already been back once to visit with his mother and his brother. Carson was unhappy about how things played out, but couldn’t argue with the results.
“Our wedding.”
I stare at him, not sure if he’s joking. “We’re already married.”
“You said you wanted a ceremony. You wanted to feel like a princess. Well, I’m going to give you the biggest, most elaborate day imaginable, and you really will feel like royalty as the most important people in the country bow down at your feet. At least for a day.”
I stare at him, not sure what to say. My lips move, but nothing comes out. He looks a little worried, so I kiss him hard.
“You like it,” he whispers when I pull back.
“I love it,” I say, fighting tears. “You’re really serious about this?”
“I’m already making plans. You have a month to get everything together, then we’re going to Boston and getting married for real.”
“Do you want my input?”
“If you want to be involved, but I hired a team of obscenely expensive wedding planners to make sure everything is perfect.”
I grin at him, my stomach bubbling with excitement.
This is more than I ever dreamed possible.
More than I ever thought I’d have.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I’d love you even without the wedding planners.”
“I know.”
I kiss him again and hold him tight, hugging his broad chest, feeling his steady heartbeat against my cheek.
Chapter 39
Alisa
I stand outside the venue watching Boston traffic pass. Orin’s next to me, looking anxious. “We should be inside,” he says, shifting from foot to foot, but doesn’t argue when I wave him off.
Orin’s my personal secretary now. Also a very good friend.
It’s confusing, but it works.
“I just want to enjoy this for a second,” I say, breathing in deep.
I feel beautiful. It’s weird, but I’ve never really felt this before, but today it’s like everything has conspired to make me perfect. Hair, makeup, the dress—the freaking dress, this beautiful tulle-and-lace dress from a rising-star French designer—everything’s exactly how I pictured it when I was a little girl.
“Not many people get this, you know,” I say. I turn, expecting to see Orin—
But instead, Liam’s standing there.
He looks incredible. Suit impeccably tailored, shoes shined, hair slicked back just so. I laugh, putting my hand to my chest.
“You deserve it,” he says. “After what the world’s put you through? You deserve a thousand nights like this.”
“And are you going to provide them?”
“I’ll sure as hell try.” He steps up to my side. Behind us, an enormous hotel in downtown Boston is completely empty right now, the entire structure rented out by the Crowley family. Guests include senators, pop stars, police chiefs, everyone I know from back home, and all the other Crowley wives. Keely, Dara, Ash. My new sisters.
I lean against his shoulder. Behind us, the hotel’s full of happy guests just beginning the night’s festivities. We did a beautiful private ceremony earlier in the day at the oldest church in Boston, and now it’s time to cut loose. I won’t be drinking, for obvious reasons, but I can already tell this is going to be one crazy party.
And I’m the center of attention.
But for right now, I want to enjoy the relative quiet, the deep breath before running a marathon.
“We can leave, you know,” he whispers, sounding sly. “I have the nicest room in the best hotel in the city reserved for the next week. We can go get the honeymoon started.”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Only if it would make you happy.”
I shake my head, smiling. “We can’t disappoint the guests. Besides, Keely would murder me if I didn’t dance with her.”
