Heart of the Devil (The Forge Trilogy #3)(50)
“I still think you should’ve waited until after the babies were born to have the wedding. As incredible as this dress looks now, the lines would have been even better without the wonder twins.”
I almost drop the ring box as I start laughing. “You think Jericho would’ve let that happen? I had to negotiate, while naked, to get him to even wait this long so you could make the dress. I think his exact words were something along the lines of—‘you’re mine, the babies are mine, and I want my wife back as soon as fucking possible.’”
“Ewww. You could’ve left out the naked part from that story. Also, stop laughing. I don’t want to stab you.”
“Ewww from you? Really?”
“He’s my ex-brother-in-law who’s soon to be my brother-in-law again. Don’t make it awkward. I already had to hear about the Kraken, and I’ll never be able to forget it.”
It’s impossible for me to obey her no-laughing order this time.
“Y’all about ready? Because I’ve never seen a more impatient groom waiting to see his bride.”
Holly’s Southern twang comes from the doorway, where she’s wearing another of Summer’s creations. The pale aquamarine dress looks incredible with her curvaceous figure and dark hair.
Summer might have spent more time on her dress and Holly’s than mine, because she was determined to make them the most sought-after dresses of the year. With the number of inquiries she’s already getting based on Holly’s social media posts, I think my little sister is well on her way to establishing her new brand in a big, splashy fashion. I haven’t told her yet that I want her to design all my dresses for my poker games after the babies are born.
“I’m ready as soon as Summer quits fussing over my dress.”
My sister grunts as Holly steps aside to allow Alanna to slip into the room. “Jericho sent me—”
Another round of laughter fills the room as Summer finally stands and nabs the ring box from my hands. “Fine. Fine. He can have you as you are. No returns this time.”
Alanna lifts her hand to her mouth as her eyes glisten. “Oh, Indy. You look beautiful.” She swallows and holds out a hand. “I’ve never been so glad to have a daughter divorced so I could see her get remarried.”
I walk toward her, and she grips my fingers tightly. “Thank you,” I whisper.
We both blink back the tears as she leads me toward the sliding glass door that opens to the pool and patio, where the wedding guests are waiting. Holly hands Summer her flowers, and they head out the door. Instead of a traditional bridal party processional, Summer will be standing near the cliffs, opposite the groomsmen, and Holly will join her once she finishes singing.
“I’ll give you two minutes, and then I’m starting,” Holly says with a smile, and I’m grateful to call her a friend.
Creighton Karas and Lincoln Riscoff, who forgave Jericho and my father for the rocky business negotiations, are standing up for Jericho today. Riscoff insisted Karas pay back the winnings on the bet they made over six months ago, because they were both right about when Jericho would say “I do”—within six months and a year.
My father meets Alanna and me at the doorway. “It is my honor to share the privilege of walking our daughter down the aisle together,” he says to Alanna. The two have become friends since he moved to Ibiza, against doctor’s orders, to be close to Summer and me.
They each hold out an arm to me. “Are you ready, sweetheart?” Alanna asks.
“Absolutely.” My flowing dress flutters in the ocean breeze as I lay one hand on top of each of theirs.
The first notes of the piano sound, and we step outside as Holly sings the most incredible cover of Ruelle’s “I Get to Love You.”
Jericho’s stormy gray eyes shimmer like moonlight on the ocean as soon as he catches sight of me. Pure, radiant happiness beams from him as he watches me come toward him. The guests seem to fade away as I near him, until all that’s left is us.
My mother and father press kisses to my cheeks, and Jericho takes my hands and raises them to his lips.
As he brushes his lips across my hands, he says, “I would marry you over and over, every day for the rest of our lives. Once, twice, a thousand times. I don’t care. You’re mine until the last breath leaves my body.”
It takes everything I have to keep the happy tears from tipping over my lids. I didn’t know it was possible to love someone this much.
“Until the last beat of my heart,” I tell him.
He drops to one knee, cups his hands around my belly, and looks up at me as he whispers to my bump the way he’s done dozens of times since we learned I was pregnant.
“I’m holding my world in my hands. This is true wealth beyond measure.”
The End
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