Page 114 of I Want You

They whispered something to each other, both smiling dopily. Claire passed her bouquet to Scarlett while Maeve righted the small train. Both ladies then came to sit with us. I moved down a seat to give Maeve a spot next to Wyatt, and she hauled a wiggling Jane to her lap for the ceremony.

“You know,” I whispered to Scarlett, keeping my eyes focused on the bride and groom, my hand twinning with hers in an overwhelming need to touch her, “I should be mad at you for keeping this a secret from me, but you look so good in that sparkly dress I think I’ll let it slide.”

“I didn’t realize all it would take was a pretty dress. And hereI was, fully prepared to offer myself up for your forgiveness later,” she whispered back, heat in her eyes that set my blood aflame.

After the vows—and the tears—the real party started. Drinks were flowing, and I wasn’t the only one who was feeling liquored up.

“You’re so fucking sexy, doll. This dress…” Wyatt growled at Maeve, his hands sloppily wiping down the shimmery jewels sewn into the fabric. “Let’s make a baby tonight.”

“We have a baby, Wyatt. She’s only five months old.”

“But we can have another one in the house. We can have three under three.”

“Okay, big guy. Let’s hold off on that.”

“How about we just practice instead?” Maeve’s face flushed pink, and she looked around at our entire family huddled in a circle in the dining room.

Scarlett nestled into my chest, knocking me off-balance for a second. I wrapped my arms around her and steadied myself, swaying a little in the breeze. Was there a breeze inside? Maybe that wasn’t it. Maybe it was just me.

“How are you doing?” I asked her.

“I’m good. I’m not the one who just tipped back three shots,” she laughed. “How are you is the real question.”

“Baby, if you’re in my arms, I’m the happiest guy in the world.”

“Dude, I just got married today. I think I get the happiest guy in the world award,” Reid said. I didn’t think he had taken his hands off Claire the entire night, always finding a way to touch her.

Seb slapped Reid on the shoulder. “Good job, man. A pop-up wedding, I fucking love it.”

Someone shouted that the countdown was starting. Ringing in the new year surrounded by the people that mattered the most to me, there wasn’t a better way to spend the night. So much had changed in the last year, hell, in the last five months, and I couldn’t be more grateful for how it all turned out. I lifted Scarlett’s chin so I could meet her eyes, placing my lips on hers at the count of eight.

“It isn’t time yet.”

“It’s always the right time to kiss you, Letty.”

Wyatt held Maeve, his hand in her hair, tilting her head back. Reid’s hands were on Claire’s hips, their noses pressed together, waiting for the final seconds to tick down to start the new year as husband and wife.

“Are you going to be my New Year’s kiss, little wild?”

I glanced at Seb, a single brow of his raised in challenge. Where did that come from? Lydia looked him up and down with none of the typical signs of appreciation women leveled his way.

“In your dreams, Devereux.”

Good. Seb and Lydia together would be like pouring gasoline on a fire.

The clock struck midnight, and all other thoughts disappeared the moment Scarlett’s lips pressed into mine. I licked the seam of her lips, seeking entry into her mouth. Her tongue swiped against mine, my skin tingling with electricity as desire coiled within me.

This wedding was beautiful, and I was damn proud of my brother and new sister-in-law for finding a way to stay together through their challenges. But it was time I got my lady home.

It was time I made her my bride.

“Marry me,” I said, pulling back from her kiss.

“What? You’re drunk. You’re not serious, are you?” Her eyes searched mine, looking for the joke that wasn’t there.

“I’m not drunk. Well, I’m not that drunk. I’m completely serious, Letty,” I told her. My hands splayed across her mostly flat belly. “Have my babies. Be my wife. My family… Scarlett Ruth Hart, will you marry me?”

“Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”

She bounded into my arms, my lips crashing into hers.

“We’re getting married,” Scarlett shouted. Cheers went up around us. Wyatt, Maeve, Wes, Reid, Claire, and… Lydia was gone.

And so was Seb.

I didn’t bother looking for them. I couldn’t look anywhere except at my future wife, the mother of my child—hopefully more down the road—the most radiant woman I had ever known. I would never take for granted what I had with Scarlett. I knew I was damn lucky that she wanted me too.