“This isn’t asking,” Stone says, loud enough for everyone to hear. “This is telling. You’re mine, Josie Bright. Have been since you walked into my clubhouse and told me my legal strategy was shit.”
“It was shit,” I manage, my voice cracking. “You were planning to threaten a judge.”
“And you showed me a better way.” He holds out the vest. “Put it on.”
My hands are shaking as I slide my arms through the sleeves. The leather settles against my shoulders like it was made for me.
Because it was.
Stone pulls me against him and kisses me in front of everyone—deep, claiming, nothing held back.
When we break apart, I’m breathless and dizzy and happier than I’ve ever been.
“You know,” I say, loud enough for the crowd to hear, “if you’re going to claim me as property, you should probably make an honest woman of me first. Legally speaking.”
“Josie—”
“I’m a lawyer, Boone. I believe in contracts.” I grin up at him. “Vegas has twenty-four hour chapels. Just saying.”
The crowd goes absolutely silent.
Stone stares at me for a long moment. Then his face splits into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on him.
“You want to marry me?”
“I want you to make it legal before you go around branding me with leather goods, yes.”
“Vegas.” He’s laughing now. “You wanna get married by Elvis?”
“Obviously.”
He kisses me again, then turns to the crowd. “Looks like we’re going to Vegas!”
The clubhouse shakes with the roar.
“I’m booking you the honeymoon suite!” Ginger is already on her phone. “Don’t even try to stop me!”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Stone says, not taking his eyes off me. “When do we leave?”
“First light?”
“First light.”
Lee raises his beer. “To the President and his Old Lady!”
“TO THE PRESIDENT AND JOSIE!”
Stone pulls me close, his mouth against my ear. “You sure about this?”
I press my hand against the leather vest. His name is on my back. His ring will be on my finger soon.
“Absolutely.”
28
STONE
The party eventually winds down.
