Unfortunately, I can’t poke at him right now. Not when Ineedhim.
A pity.
“We’ve come to marry,” I inform my delusional brother-boss, gesturing to the royalty beside me. “This is Sarelia Elowen Prim. She is to be my wife.”
Sarelia stops breathing.
Millie squeals.
Stryker squints. “Your wife?”
“Yes,” I affirm, grinning. I place an arm around her waist and take the liberty of resting my head upon hers. “Don’t we make a dashing couple? Dashing enough that you would, say, marry us immediately, no questions asked?”
“No,” he negates. “Why are you getting married? Who are you marrying? What angle are you trying to weasel out of this?”
Well.
Slowly, so as not to overwhelm him, I answer. “I am marryingSarelia.” I frame her face with my hand, the better for him to see her with. “For convenience reasons. The only angle I have is to convenience myself, and her, and my uncle.”
Stryker’s brows furrow. “Your uncle?”
I sigh, displace another plant on their porch, and pull up a stool beside my dear, patient love, who watches the proceedings with curious, blinking eyes.
“Stone’s decided to retire,” I clarify. “Leaving the handling of my affairs to myself and myself alone. The main one being Sarelia, who dearly loves to stalk me, and I her. As such,under your brilliant advice, I’ve decided to marry her for the convenience of all. My uncle gets his vacation, Saralia gets to stalk me from a better vantage point, and I have the same benefit. A win-win-win.”
“Myadvice?” he rumbles.
I nod, beaming. “Yes! You said, and I quote, ‘Marry her immediately, you bumbling moron.’ It was very inspirational.”
“That does sound like you,” Millie mumbles as her eyes flit between her husband and me. She bites her lip to hide her smile.
“What Isaid,” he clips, “is thatImarriedmykidnappee. Not thatyoushould marry yourhypotheticalabducted woman. Then I asked if you had someone unauthorized on the compound, if you’ll recall, and you didn’t text me back.”
Hmm. “Nope, can’t remember that.” I grin. “At any rate, we’re here now.”
He glares at me.
I flick my eyes toward Sarelia, who nibbles nervously at her cheek.
Stryker’s eyes follow mine, and his expression softens, if only minutely.
Millie pokes him.
He sighs. “Oh, fine. But we’re calling everyone over, first. I’m not listening to Sal complain about missing another wedding.”
Millie cheers when Stryker turns, waving us to follow him into the house. “A wedding!”
“A wedding!” I echo, hopping to a stand and helping Sarelia up. “Our wedding,” I tell her, squishing her hands in mine.
Her pink cheeks turn crimson as she leans into my touch. “Our wedding,” she repeats faintly. “I can hardly believe it.”
“You don’t have to believe it,” I tell her, pulling her with me after Stryker and Millie as they wander further into the house. “You merely have tofeelit.”
She gulps. “That’s rather overwhelming,” she admits.
I laugh, head thrown back in glee. “Yes,” I agree. “That’s what makes it sofun.”
Chapter Seven
