“You sure about this?”I asked Sutton for what was probably the millionth time.
We stood outside the Vegas chapel, waiting in the middle of the surprisingly long line that snaked through the doors.
Big business, the Vegas wedding industry, and apparently, we picked a popular day to get hitched.
She patted my cheek. “Relax, Chief. It was my idea, remember?”
“Oh, I know,” I said, playfully grabbing her ass, but my fingers shook.
That was true. Most women wanted the pomp and circumstance of a carefully curated ceremony followed by a big party with all of their friends and family, but not mine. She’d found herself in the spotlight way too much recently thanks to Addie’s attempts to ruin her life, and Sutton wasn’t interested in further scrutiny. I’d never thought much about my wedding beyondwhoI’d be marrying, and Sutton had always been the one standing across from me in my imagination.
As long as I had her, the rest didn’t matter.
“You’re not afraid to marry me, are you?”
“Of course not.”
She rested her chin on my chest and looked up at me, studying me.
“No, I know what it is. Be honest. You’re afraid of what your mom will say!” She chuckled, digging her fingers into my sides, and I twitched.
“Of course I am!” I burst out. “Aren’t you?”
“We’re adults, Lane. We make our own choices. I think as long as we’re happy, she will be too. So no, I’m not afraid of Birdie.”
“Me neither,” a cheerful voice piped up, and I turned, spinning both Sutton and I to face Aspen. I’d momentarily forgotten they were here, and the reminder sent dread sweeping through me.
Mama was going to kill us all.
“Really?” I asked her, a brow raised. “Because I distinctly remember you saying the only reason you and Crew didn’t do exactly this is because of Mama.”
“Okay, let me rephrase. I’m not afraid of Birdie whenmyass isn’t in the hot seat.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m telling her you abducted me and held me against my will,” Crew said.
Aspen smacked her husband on the chest. “I don’t think so, hotshot. If I go down, you go down.”
His expression softened, and he ducked to press a quick kiss to her lips.
I couldn’t help but smile. I was happy for them—and even happier for myself. That I’d found what Crew and Aspen had.
We’d wound up in Vegas after deciding to take a vacation. Today marked one year to the day since I’d gotten shot, and neither of us were keen on spending it in Dusk Valley. Instead,we’d decided to replace that awful anniversary with something a lot more joyous.
Maybe that was morbid, but we’d been through a lot together. Not only recently but over the entire course of our relationship, and we deserved to celebrate the fact that we’d survived and found our way back to each other.
I’d asked Sutton to marry me, and she suggested we elope to Vegas.
Win-win.
Crew and Aspen also happened to be in town because Aspen was on a tour for her latest book release that included a stop in Sin City. It also timed perfectly with their one-year wedding anniversary. When we realized they’d be here at the same time as us, we asked if they’d be our witnesses. Aspen agreed for both of them, but to Crew’s chagrin.
We’d be heading home tomorrow as husband and wife, but I wasreallylooking forward to our wedding night.
Eventually, I’d take her on a true honeymoon, somewhere tropical where she could spend the entire time in a skimpy bikini—or nothing at all. My mouth watered at the thought of Sutton all warm and golden from long days in the sun. Of a private villa where I could spread her out and fuck here wherever and whenever I wanted…
Fingers snapped in front of my face, and I jerked back to reality to find Sutton watching me, brow creased in confusion.
“You good?” she asked.
