Page 99 of Hold You Close
“And maybe phrase it a little differently,” my nephew suggests, the traitor.
“It’s okay, you guys.” London smiles at me sweetly. “Your uncle has already made me very happy this morning. One thing at a time. There’s no need to rush.”
But here’s the crazy thing—I want to rush. I want to marry London. I want to be her husband and introduce her as my wife, and love and cherish and protect her and these kids for the rest of my life. I feel like we’ve spent way too much time apart already, and patience has never been my strong suit. So when I spot a billboard for the Love Me Tender Wedding Chapel off the next highway exit, I quickly veer onto the off ramp.
“Ian?” London gives me a funny look. “This isn’t our exit.”
“It isn’t?” I spy a sign for the chapel, one of those horrible all-in-one places that will supply everything from rings to a license to witnesses to an Elvis-impersonating officiant, probably all for ninety-nine bucks.
London sees it too. “Oh, my God. Ian Chase, what on Earth are you doing?”
All I can do is grin.
When I pull into the Love Me Tender parking lot a couple minutes later, my heart is pounding. I turn off the car, turn around and look at the stunned faces in the back. “Well? Are you going to help me do this right?”
Morgan recovers first and beams. “Get out of the car. You too, Aunt London.”
London, who looks like she’s in shock, does as Morgan says. A minute later, all five of us are piling into the chapel’s lobby, which conveniently contains a glass display case featuring some gold wedding bands of dubious quality. Nothing even remotely resembles the engagement ring I’d have chosen for London, but I can remedy that later. I take her hand and whisper in her ear. “Pick out the one you like, sweetheart. I’ll get you a diamond eventually, I promise. Anything you want.”
She looks at me with tears in her eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this now?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my entire life.”
She smiles. “Me either. And I don’t need a diamond on my finger to prove it.”
She’s going to have one anyway, but I love her even more for saying that.
I grab her hand and pull her toward the chapel. “Good. Now, let’s go make you my wife.”
Morgan squeals. “Yes! Finally he gets his head out of his butt.”
London shakes her head with a smile. “I need a maid of honor, would you be willing to stand beside me?”
Morgan’s eyes widen and tears start to form. “Really?”
“Who else would I pick?”
“I would love to,” Morgan says as she wipes her tears. “Mom would be so happy right now.”
London’s gaze meets mine and I can see the emotions swimming. “Yeah, she would.”
“Enough of this sappy crap,” Chris cuts in. “It’s time to be happy.”
“Let’s go make it so London can never run away from me again,” I say as I scoop Ruby up in my arms.
“Please, you don’t control me.”
I pull London to my side. “We’ll see about that tonight.”
Her lips touch my cheek and then we march into the crappy little chapel.
We fill out the paperwork, go over the questions, and London and Morgan pick out the limited decorations they have available. I stand here, staring at her, wondering how the fuck I got so lucky. I always said I wouldn’t get married again. I made that mistake once, and repeating that error wasn’t on my agenda, but this feels so right.
London is the person who makes my life make sense. On one hand, she’s irritating, nosy, knows everything, and God forbid she’s ever wrong. On the other hand, she’s beautiful, funny, loving, smart, and she’s usually not wrong, which brings me back full circle. I just know I can’t live without her. I did that for too long, and I won’t do it again.
I love her more than anything.
I need her, and now I’m going to have her.
