My throat is so tight I can barely speak. All I can do is I hug her again, and she hugs me back. No words are needed with women like my mom and Veil’s.
A soft knock has us pulling away, and this time it’s my future mother-in-law who appears by the doorway. The two older women greet each other like long-lost sisters who have finally found their way back to each other.
After, Lady Hampton turns to me with a teary smile.‘I know I made it seem that it was because of work and business that made me insist of moving the spring launch to Foxtown, but that’s not completely true.’
I’m all ears, having only heard this for the first time. And honestly, I can’t think of what other reason—
“When Joy told me her eldest son found the woman God chose for him at Foxtown—”
I nearly gasp, not expecting for Lady Hampton to actually use her own voice when speaking.
“I realized it was the same for me. The moment I saw your photo with your application, I knew right away when I saw you that you were also the one my son has been waiting for.” Her expression then turns rueful, and she squeezes my hand as she says, “I’m just sorry that a breakup was required for your heart to have space for my son.”
The words have the three of us laughing and crying just a little at the same time, and honestly? It’s just like what both my mom and his said. Veil is the man God chose for me, and being with him is worth having to go through a thousand breakups.
****
VEIL STOOD IN HIS BEDROOM, their bedroom now, and tried not to pace. The ceremony had been perfect, small and intimate, and with just family and a handful of close friends in Foxtown’s chapel.
His mother had cried through the entire thing, and so did her mother.
And when Evianne had walked down the aisle on her mother’s arm, wearing his mother’s dress with flowers in her hair—
She had stolen his breath away in an instant...just like she was doing now yet again, the moment his bride stepped out of the en-suite.
Evianne stood in the doorway, backlit by the soft bathroom light, wearing something white and lacy that made his mouth go dry. Her hair was down now, tumbling over her shoulders in soft waves, the flowers from the ceremony still tucked into a few strands. She was looking at him with a mixture of nervousness and desire that made his heart stutter.
“H-Hi.”
Her tone was shy and sweet, and in return, the sound of it had his own voice turning rough. “You look breathtaking, wife.”
Her cheeks turned pink, and that...that spelled the end of his control, with Veil striding across the room in an instant so he could pull her close.
“I’m nervous,” she admitted, her palms pressing against his chest.
“I know.”
“I’ve never—”
“I know,” he said again, his thumb stroking her cheek. And because he knew no words of assurance would really be enough—
Evianne released a soft gasp as his mouth closed over hers.
Veil decided to show her instead, just how perfect it would be between them, knowing that they were designed to be together for the rest of their lives.
His hands spanned her waist, and he lifted her, making her gasp, carrying her the few steps to the bed. The sheets were cool and soft when he laid her down, her hair fanning out on the pillow like dark silk threaded with white flowers.
“Veil—” Her voice caught as he settled beside her, his hand tracing the lace edge of her nightgown. “I...”
He kissed the words away, his mouth moving from her lips to her jaw, her throat, the hollow at the base of her neck where her pulse fluttered like a trapped bird.
She made a sound, half gasp, half sigh, that went straight to his head.
He took his time with her, worshiping every inch of skin he uncovered, every gasp he drew from her lips, every trembling sigh. He was patient when she needed him to be, demanding when she wanted him to be, reverent through it all.
And when she finally shattered in his arms, crying out something that sounded like his name but wasn’t quite right, he filed that detail away to tease her about later and followed her over that edge, both of them clinging to each other like they’d never let go.
****
