He winked and turned, a hand at the small of Laney’s back as he guided her to the reception, too. Eventually, once my cheeks hurt from smiling for too many pictures and Maisie looked a little woozy for having been on her feet for so long, I snaked an arm around her waist again and held her close to my side as we entered our party.
The hall had been decked out like something out of a storybook, with long tables, more candles flickering, and laughing echoing around the room. We ate, we danced, and I still felt like I was stuck in a haze, or maybe it was a sweet dream.
I kept glancing at Maisie’s left ring finger, seriously unable to believe that she’d agreed to be my wife. Sterling elbowed me, arching his eyebrows like he expected something. I didn’t know what. He sighed.
“Your wife looks breathtaking. I know that, but you have to give a toast, so snap out of it.”
I shot to my feet, grabbing my glass and wondering if they’d told me about this. I sure as hell didn’t remember being told I would have to give a toast, but I raised my glass up high anyway and grinned out at a sea of mostly unfamiliar faces.
“For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Callum. I think introductions are in order since, from the guest list, it looks like CC invited half of Europe and many of you have probably never met either of us.” Laughter rippled through the room. “Look, I know I’m supposed to say something wise, and clever, and funny here, but all I can really say is that marrying Maisie is the best decision I’ll ever make.”
The guests fell silent and I smiled, turning my attention to her and only her. “She’s beautiful, but she’s also so strong, and so selfless. I have a lot of catching up to do in that department, but I plan on being the best husband and father my family ever could’ve hoped for. So here’s to my wife, Maisie, and to my son, Brody, who have made me happier today than I ever believed I could be.”
Of course, Brody didn’t know yet that when I said my son, I meant biologically, but we would get there. Just not here or now.
Glasses clinked as people toasted to us. Maisie blinked back tears before wrapping her arms around my neck once I sat down again. “I love you, Callum Westwood. I don’t think even I knew how much until I almost lost you.”
“Never,” I swore quietly, holding her tight as Jameson stood to make his speech.
The evening seemed to drag on forever, but finally, I managed to pull her away. I just needed a minute with my wife that didn’t involve at least eighty of my mother’s closest European acquaintances. Once we were far enough away thatthe sounds of the party were dim and muffled, I wrapped my arms around her and pressed my forehead to hers.
“Hi, Mrs. Westwood,” I whispered.
Her laugh was soft, her eyes shimmering with tears I sure hoped were happy. “Hi, husband.”
As the word came out, she pushed herself up on her toes, her lips found mine, and she wound her arms around my neck. Finally, it was just us and my heart felt like it was about to explode right out of my chest.
“Thank you for saying yes,” I murmured between kisses, holding her so tight I wasn’t even sure she could breathe properly.
She smiled against my lips. “Thank you for asking, and for showing up, and for forgiving me, and for everything else.”
She surged forward and kissed me again. For a moment, it felt like my world was standing still. Against all odds, Maisie and I had made it, and she, Brody, and I were finally going to be the family I’d never even known I wanted—despite the best efforts of my former self, who had done everything he could to drive her away forever.
CHAPTER 48
MAISIE
Rain pattered against the stone as Callum led me down a lantern-lit path at the back of the estate. The weather had been getting worse all day, but his hand was warm where it pressed against the small of my back. I leaned into him, soaking up the heat radiating from him under the large umbrella he was holding, but I also just couldn’t seem to stop touching him.
“Thank God. That’s a cottage, right? Trust Sterling to put us in a honeymoon suite we practically have to swim to get to.”
I chuckled, glancing up at his strong profile, soft shadows dancing across it from the lanterns. “Do you mind?”
“Nope. I’d have swum out here with you on my back if it meant getting you alone. Far away from everyone else.”
“Then you should probably thank him.” As I looked forward again, however, I gasped. I’d thought the castle itself had wrung every last ounce of awe out of me, but when we reached the small cottage tucked against the trees, I stopped in my tracks. “Wow. You should definitely thank him. That really does look like something that belongs in a freaking fairy tale.”
Callum nodded, his grin boyish as he led me forward. “I swear I had no idea this was even here. Sterling probably forgot he owned it, but sure. Let’s go with the fairy tale thing.”
He pushed open an ancient, wood front door and my eyes widened as we stepped inside. The suite wasn’t huge, but it was absolutely perfect. A fire crackled in the hearth, lit candles glowed on every available surface, and the bed was a copper-framed four-poster piled high with quilts.
“This is amazing,” I breathed. “It really does feel like those fancy jets of yours flew us straight into a fairy tale. Everything has just been…”
I trailed off, genuinely not having the right words to describe how I felt about the wedding his family had given us. His arms slid around my waist from behind, his lips brushing my ear. “Youare my fairy tale.”
The words stole the breath from my lungs. It had been like that all day long. Ever since he’d walked into my room before the ceremony, everything he said had made me feel more seen, more vindicated, and more understood than ever before.
I melted against him, lifting my chin to press my lips to his. He kissed me slowly at first, then harder until my knees went weak. He couldn’t seem to stop touching me, but that was okay. I didn’t want him to stop.
