“I promise to always make time for you, for us, even during the hardest seasons of life.
“And I promise to honor our love every single day until death do us part… and even then. I love you heart, mind, and soul.”
By the time she finishes, she’s a mess of tears. She pulls a tiny handkerchief out of her dress pocket and dabs beneath her eyes.
I can’t help it. I just lean down and kiss her.
Because how the fuck am I supposed to hear vows like that and not kiss my future wife?
“I love you, Penélope Marie Levine,” I say after I break the kiss.
“Miles,” the priest warns, though he’s clearly trying not to laugh.
“I’m sorry,” I say without sounding sorry at all. “But did you hear what she just said to me?”
Laughter fills the room.
I shake my head slowly while staring at Penny because I still can’t fully believe she chose me.
“Alright,” I say finally. “My turn. But fair warning, I’m not nearly as eloquent as my future wife.”
A few chuckles ripple through the crowd.
I take a steadying breath before looking directly at her.
“Penny. My boss. My…” I pause, smirking when her eyes narrow at me, already knowing I’m about to say something ridiculous. “Sugar mama.”
Everyone bursts out laughing.
Penny rolls her eyes, but the smile stretching across her face turns her cheeks pink anyway.
“I knew from the very first time I saw you that you were trouble,” I admit. “And deep down, I think part of me knew if I ever really let myself fall for you, there’d be no coming back from it.
“For years, I convinced myself you were just a family friend. A sophisticated, intelligent, and incredibly kind woman who was completely out of my league.”
She snorts softly at that.
“But then one night, between the palm trees and the stars, you stopped pretending. You showed me who you really were and went after what you wanted.”
I grin slowly.
“And boss, you got it. I was a goner.
“One night with you was enough to ruin me for everyone else. Because yeah, I wanted you physically. That part was obvious.” Laughter breaks out again. “But what scared me was how badly I wanted everything else too.”
I look down at Millie tucked safely between us before meeting Penny’s gaze again.
I reach with my thumb and wipe the moisture from her face.
“I’ll never have words to describe everything that you make me feel, Penny MacAllister,” I admit roughly. “All I know is whatever is between us is powerful enough to make me move past my fears and face the world to keep you by my side.
“Because as scared as I am to lose you… The thought of living in a world where I can’t hold you anymore? That pain would be infinitely worse.”
A sob escapes me, and I laugh wetly through it.
“And then we went and created that little ray of sunshine, and now I’m truly fucked.”
The room bursts into laughter.
