Page 41 of In the Heir (Westerly Billionaire 1)
Her gaze flew to his, and her jaw dropped open. “Did you . . . did you just say what I think you said?”
He kissed her sweet lips. “I did.”
In the background, the minister said, “This couple represents marriage at its best. To hear their story is to be reminded of both the fragility of life and the strength of love. May we all come together many more times to celebrate another year of their commitment to each other and the beauty that love brings to our lives. Do you, Josh, vow again to spend the rest of your life loving this woman, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health? Will you stand by her side, remove any spider that enters your home, cheer her when she’s sad, and help her find her keys when she loses them?”
The crowd watching the ceremony laughed. “I do,” Josh said.
Me, too, Brett thought. I want all that. To Alisha, he said softly, “I can’t promise that things will be easy when we get home. My family is still a mess.”
A funny expression entered her eyes. He cursed himself for bringing up the issues that waited for them back home. “I used to think of them as mine, but lately I’ve felt like an outsider.”
He saw her pain and understood it too well. He knew exactly how it felt to love them, but not feel like one of them. He hugged her to his side and sought the words to comfort her. He thought about his grandfather, who had been a good husband, despite giving in to his weakness in the end. His mother had created a loving home and a refuge for Alisha, but had chosen a path that left half her children either behind or in the dark as to who they really were. He struggled with the complexity of family and what it meant to all of them. “They love you. Don’t give up on them. Things will work out.”
“I need to believe that.” She laid her head on his shoulder. After a moment, she looked up at him in wonder. “You really love me?”
“I do.” He smiled and added with gentle humor, “And you feel the same about me. The idea of a day without me nearly destroys you.”
Her laughter rang out. The couple in front of them turned around and gave them a disapproving look. Alisha looked as unbothered by it as he was. Her smile was as bright as the sequins on the bride’s gown. “You’re right.”
“Say it,” he commanded softly.
“That you’re right?” she asked innocently.
“You know what I want.”
Her eyes danced with mischief and desire. “More of last night?”
That, too. It was the first time he’d ever had a boner at a wedding, but he had a feeling it wouldn’t be the last, not with her in his life. “Say you love me,” he growled into her ear.
The minister continued, “Do you, Nadine, vow again to spend the rest of your life loving this man, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health? Will you stand by his side, keep trying to master his mother’s lasagna recipe, support his Monday night football addiction and forgive him, and keep letting him pretend he’s in charge even though everyone knows he isn’t?”
Alisha’s eyes never left Brett’s. “Trust is hard for me, but I trust you.” She raised a hand to caress his cheek. “You’re strong and gentle at the same time. You make me feel loved in a way I thought wasn’t possible. I didn’t think I needed anyone to protect me, but if you’re applying for the job, I should tell you that I love you, too.”
Thank God.
In the background, the minister said, “Then by the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, I declare you happily married. You may kiss your wife.”
Brett kissed Alisha, then murmured, “Marry me, Alisha.”
He’d imagined her throwing her arms around his neck, but she hesitated. “Just like that?”
“Yes.”
“I know they say they’re okay with us being together, but what if . . .”
Although her concern for others was part of what he loved about her, she deserved happiness, too. They both did. He refused to be pushed into choosing her or his family. “You want a family? Be mine. Then, together, we’ll make it right with them.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Together.” She wiped at her tears, smiled, and whispered, “Yes.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly.
The crowd stood to watch Nadine, Josh, and Ethan walk down the aisle together. Brett broke off the kiss in time to see them stopping to speak to each row of guests. When the couple came to where Brett and Alisha were, Nadine winked at them. “You don’t have to stay for the reception, but I’m glad you came.”
Brett shook Josh’s hand. “We were glad to hear it worked out for you.”
Nadine looked at Alisha. “This place came out of nowhere, and the money came through from the other venue just in time. Like a sign.”
“A really good one,” Alisha said and hugged Brett.
Ethan said something, but Brett didn’t hear him, so he bent closer to the boy. Ethan snatched Brett’s sunglasses off his face and put them on. Nadine said, “Give those back, Ethan.”
Ethan shook his head.
Brett held out his hand.
Ethan’s face scrunched up. Brett kept his hand out while the boy refused.
Josh leaned down and talked to his son. “Give them back.” Ethan refused. Josh looked at Brett apologetically. “Watch your hand, he bites sometimes.”
But Brett leaned in closer to Ethan and in a firm voice said, “Men don’t bite men, do they?”
With big round eyes, the little boy shook his head.
“I’ll take the glasses now, Ethan. Thank you for holding them for me.”
Ethan handed them back.
“I like your suit. You look like a big boy,” Brett said in the tone of voice his father had often used with him.
Ethan smiled. “Big boy. Big boy.” He jumped happily and ran off toward something else that had caught his attention.
The guests slowly followed Nadine and Josh toward the reception area. Brett hung back with Alisha.
She was watching him with a keen expression. “You’re going to be a good father.”
He pulled her into his arms. “God, I hope so. My father did his best, and look at us.”
She framed his face with her hands. “Yes, look at you. Strong. Kind. Loyal. He didn’t fail.”
They kissed deeply.
When Brett raised his head, he said, “I found your father in Connecticut. You won’t hear from him again.”
Alisha’s smile fell away, and she tensed in his
arms. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t have to do anything. He overdosed six months ago. I didn’t know how to tell you, but I wasn’t going to keep it from you. My father lost my mother because he closed her out. I won’t ever do that to you.” Brett waited, barely breathing. Would she hate him for being the bearer of bad news? Had he tarnished their moment? He didn’t believe that secrets made things better. They certainly hadn’t for his family. He had to believe that telling her was the right thing.
A series of emotions showed on her face. Fear. Sadness. “Thank you.” Then relief.
“Part of me was always afraid he’d come back. Does that make me a bad person?”
“You? Bad? Never.” He hugged her closer and kissed her forehead. “You’re safe now. No one will ever hurt you again, not while I have a breath left in me.”
Her smile returned. “I feel sorry for anyone who comes for you, because they’ll have to deal with me.”
The look in her eyes was one he’d seen the first time he met her when she’d been protecting Spencer. The memory didn’t make him jealous; instead, it filled him with intense gratitude. Forever would never be enough time with a woman like her.
The sound of a man clearing his throat behind them was enough for them both to look up. The minister stood a few feet away from them with a smile on his face. Like two children caught doing something wrong, he and Alisha laughed and scooted away.
They were walking back to the ship when Alisha stopped. She frowned and swatted his chest with the back of her hand. “I was dying imagining us ending.”
He could have apologized or said something sweet, but he knew another way to make her smile. “I completely understand. I’m quite a catch.” He laughed and backed away as she swatted at him again.
They were both laughing when he picked her up and swung her around. “What am I going to do with you?” she asked.
He lowered her to her feet and wiggled his eyebrows. “Still not sure? I guess I’ll have to show you again.”
She blushed, but desire lit up her eyes. “I guess you will.”
“Race you to the room.” They ran toward the ship, laughing the whole way. People stopped and stared, but he didn’t care. She’d said yes.
