When the ceremony ended, they were rushed into pictures, and it took almost half an hour before they were finally released to join the reception. After putting her bouquet in the dressing room, she made her way out to the garden. She was almost to the lawn when Jax intercepted her, grabbing her hand and pulling her behind some very tall bushes, which put them in an oasis of greenery and sweet-smelling flowers.
He gave her a quick kiss and said, "Sorry, but I couldn't wait any longer."
She gazed into his loving eyes. "Don't apologize. I like it when you can't wait."
"I like it when you can't wait," he echoed with a grin.
"Well, we are both going to have to wait. There's a reception to get through."
"I know. We can join the others now."
"In a minute," she said, squeezing his fingers. "Hearing their vows just now made me want to say something to you."
"Are you proposing?" he asked, a wary look entering his blue eyes.
She laughed. "No way. I may not be the most traditional person, but I'm not interested in getting on my knees to propose."
"Good, because I have some thoughts about that."
"Really?" she asked, a tingle running down her spine. "You've been thinking about proposing?"
"I've been thinking about a lot of things. That's definitely one of them. But what did you want to say?"
"I just wanted to tell you how happy I am."
His gaze softened. "You know I feel the same way, Kaia."
"I do, because you tell me all the time. I didn't know how much I needed to hear those words until you started saying them. Growing up with my dad, I had to stop expecting anyone to declare their love for me. I told myself it didn't matter. Words were just words. But since you've started using those words, I realized how much I like them."
"I like hearing you say the words, too. You fill the empty places in my heart, Kaia."
"That sounds like one of your song lyrics."
"Good catch. You heard me singing the other day, didn't you?"
"Yes." While Jax was happy to play for her now, he still liked to go out to the beach late at night, especially when she was working. "When I came home the other night, I listened for a few minutes. It wasn't a song I recognized."
"It's something I've been composing for a while, but I wasn't ready to play it for you, because it's about you, about us, the way we are together."
"You wrote us a song?" she asked, feeling beyond touched.
"How could I not? I write from my heart, and that's where you are."
"You are so good with words; it's not fair."
"It's not a competition. And I might be good with words, but you're even better with actions. You show your love every day, with your friends, your patients, and with me. Anyway, I want the song to be my first single. I recorded it the other day and sent it to Clay. He liked it. He wants more of the same. He thinks he can make a deal with a label based on that song alone."
"That's amazing."
"But if you don't like the idea of it being public, it can just stay between us. It can be our song."
"Are you kidding? No. Let's make a hit."
"I'm not sure it will go that far."
"I am. You're super talented, Jax. And if I've inspired you, I'm happy about that. But you don't need me to be a good musician. You already were, and it's time for you to make your own name in the industry." She paused. "What about the song that Wren started and wanted you to finish. You never told me what you were going to do with that."
"Nothing. I told her to finish it, but she decided that song belonged to a partnership that was over. She needs to move forward on her own, just as I do, and I agree."
