She nodded. “I want one.”
“I want one, too.” He ran the edges of his thumbs over her cheeks, wiping the tears, praying he’d never make her cry again.
“And I can kiss you?” he asked.
She smiled a watery smile. “Whenever you want, chef.”
He took that opportunity to take her up on that. His mouth met hers, and the world was perfect.
“I love you,” he said against her lips.
“I love you, too.” The edges of her mouth tilted more.
“You don’t love me more, Mar.” He touched his fingertips to the apples of her cheeks. “We love each other exactly the same.”
That got him a full smile.
And that was perfect.
Epilogue
“I’m fine,” Marlee mouthed the words to Eli from across the restaurant.
His restaurant. With the help of his family and his savings, he’d bought the building. She’d personally ensured every other expense was covered, enjoyed the heck out of picking out the decorations, and Eats Grille was ready to open less than a year after they’d found their way back together.
Not to say it was nice to have money again, but it was really nice to have money again.
One thing money couldn’t buy was Eli’s peace of mind. Marlee was due any day—any minute, really. Eli had been on edge about it for weeks. He’d tried to convince her to stay home and skip out on Heather and Jase’s wedding. But this was their reception—the first time the restaurant served guests—and she wasn’t going to miss it. Thumper would have to stay put until after the festivities.
It was a good thing the festivities were about over. She was spent.
Heck, the kid was over a week past due. If he were a library book, he’d be racking up the fines. They’d fully expected to bring a newborn to the reception, but Thumper was nice and content where he was, much to everyone’s—mostly Marlee’s—dismay.
“He’s worried about you.” Sadie passed her a ginger ale and gave a jaunty wave to Eli.
He scowled back.
He was very scowly lately.
Heather and Jase stood in the middle of the bridal party, the sun setting on the Rockies behind them while the photographer snapped away. Jase said something that made Heather laugh like crazy. The vibe was definitely one of happiness.
Heather had gone with a formfitting satin wedding gown that looked amazing with a pair of strappy heels peeking from the hemline. The way Jase had looked at her when she walked down the aisle of the church made Marlee choke up.
Jase went with his dress whites, the rest of his groomsmen in tuxedos.
“Do you wish you would have had this?” Sadie asked.
Marlee shook her head. “I wanted the party. Not the man. Now, I have the man. I don’t need the party.”
Sadie was Marlee’s designated wedding babysitter since Eli was on groomsman duty with Dean, Brek, and Jase’s brothers, Zach and Roman.
Zach lived in Denver. Roman had just moved back after a stint in the military.
He kept glancing at Sadie. She didn’t seem to notice or care.
Interesting.
Marlee could tell Eli was on edge—his gaze kept sliding to her all throughout the ceremony at the church. Now, he kept finding her around the restaurant, catching her gaze, and waiting until she gave him some sign that she and the baby were both A-OK. They’d both been fine the entire pregnancy. That didn’t stop Eli from worrying.
