Series: Willow Winters
Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I comment back.
“Let’s give these two a moment,” Kam suggests to the room.
Cade and Kam lead the men out to the kitchen and I watch them go. It won’t be the last time they’re here. As much as Zander is a part of my life, I’m a part of The Firm’s life. Even if Z has decided to take a leave of absence for an indefinite amount of time.
He and his brother decided it would be best for him to take time off for this transition. Mostly because I asked him to. I am his greedy selfish girl, after all.
The moment the room is quiet and the men’s conversation can barely be heard, Z turns me in his arms so I’m facing him. His black tee clings to his broad shoulders and his rough stubble is a bit more than a five o’clock shadow. His smile is easy and charming as if there’s nothing to worry about any longer.
“He said I need to marry you,” Z says far too calmly.
“What?” I can’t hide the shock in my voice. “Kam said that?”
He only nods as I stare at him wide eyed.
“When I ask you to marry me, it will be because I want you to be my wife,” he tells me with certainty as he slips down off the sofa.
My heart races as I stare into his hazel eyes flecked with gold. His necklace is still where it will always be. “You gave me a ring already,” I whisper, my fingers fiddling with the rose gold ring through the sweater.
He smirks, pulling a ring from his back pocket and says, “I can give you more than one, can’t I?”
My bottom lip drops at the sight of the oval diamond. It’s surrounded by small black diamonds all the way around. My hand trembles as I reach out to take it.
“You have to say you’ll marry me first,” Z says, staring back at me with a devilish grin.
The moment I kiss him, a hand on each side of his face, a champagne bottle pops and applause fills the room.
With tears pricking the back of my eyes, I look to my left and see them all standing in the doorway, watching with genuine happiness for the two of us.
“Let her say yes first,” Z manages to get out.
“Yes.” I’m quick to answer. “Yes a million times, yes.”
ZANDER
Two months later
Outside the doors to the courtroom, I take Ella’s hand in mine. These aren’t the same doors I stood behind six months ago when I first laid eyes on her, but the dark grooved floor-to-ceiling doors are reminiscent of how we started.
She’s dressed in a long white lace dress and I’m wearing a gray suit she picked out. The same suit I wear for court appearances. Funny, because this is one of sorts I suppose.
With a simper on her bloodred lips and a dark curl loose from her bun, she looks up at me. Nothing but happiness shines back in her chestnut eyes. My little bird looks stunning, actually. She had her stylist come over and do her makeup and her hair for the ceremony.
She planned every detail of today. It’s amazing how quickly a girl can pull together a wedding.
It’s nothing big like I thought she might want. There’s no fancy ceremony in a tall cathedral. There’s no press. And the reception is more like a laid-back after-party. No, this isn’t the big deal I want to give Ella, but we can always do that later. Having a life together … that’s the biggest deal of all.
“Are you ready?” I ask her, giving her hand a squeeze. She squeezes back and lets out a breath while giving me an uncontained, confident smile.
“Yes. I’m more than ready to be your wife, Mr. Thompson.”
Cade claps his hand on my shoulder just then and I had nearly forgot he was there. “Let’s head in?” he asks.
I smirk down at my soon-to-be wife and say, “Let’s.”
“We’re next on the list,” Cade tells me and I have to hold back my huff of impatience. It’s not the sexiest part of a courthouse wedding. We had to wait for another couple in front of us, and then for the judge to rule on a traffic violation.
The man who got the ticket didn’t have to pay his fine after all. The judge has been finishing up with him. He comes out the right door as my brother pulls open the left.
“Congratulations,” he says, his face happy and bright. Our attire is the opposite of his jeans and leather jacket. Even without a veil or bouquet, I’m certain it’s obvious what we’re here for. I happily accept his good wishes.
“Thank you,” Ella and I answer in unison and in this moment, I couldn’t feel lighter or happier or like this moment was meant to be.