Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 15397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 77(@200wpm)___ 62(@250wpm)___ 51(@300wpm)
“Because you're getting married?” I tease him, unsure of what they were talking about when I walked in, but I must have heard something wrong.
“Yeah, because I’m getting married.” He sounds irritated and I notice he’s still edgy. It’s quickly becoming clear something is really wrong.
“What are you talking about, Daniel?” I glance over to Brent, who’s playing with his phone and probably trying to not look like he’s watching us.
“There’s a problem,” Daniel says, and I look back to him.
“Is that so?” I lift an eyebrow at him.
“One that I’m fixing right now.” Of course he is.
“Spit it out, husband of mine. We have things that need to be done that we didn't wrap up this morning,” I remind him with a smirk.
“You’re not married,” Mindy blurts out from behind us and I whip around to stare at her. “Sorry. I’m just not sure he could actually get the words out.” She shrugs before walking out once again. I’d laugh if her words weren't still trying to make sense in my head.
“Not married?” I repeat, and it sounds ridiculous. “How is that possible?”
“You’re my wife,” Daniel says through clenched teeth. He had me married to him ten hours after we met him, so I can see why the thought would really piss him off.
“Not in the eyes of the law,” Brent adds, and Daniel begins to shake. “Your marriage license has gone missing and there’s no court record of it ever being submitted to the county. I know it was, but now it’s gone.”
“You’re fired,” Daniel snaps at him, not even glancing his way.
“You’re not fired,” I tell Brent before giving Daniel a small smack to his chest. “It’s fine,” I reassure my husband. I don’t like the thought of us not being married either, but maybe I could use this opportunity to fix our family. “We’ll just get married again.”
“Mindy is getting a priest as we speak.”
“No,” I tell him, and I watch a look of shock form on his face.
“What’s wrong with him?” Mindy asks, walking back into the office with her arms filled with folders.
“He’s being dramatic,” I say.
“We’re getting married today,” he demands and crosses his arms over his chest. I wonder if this is the look that intimidated everyone else. I find it sexy, but I keep that thought to myself.
“We’re doing it right this time. We’ll get married next month. Give me time to plan something.” Already ideas are forming in my head of the type of wedding this will be.
“No,” Daniel says immediately.
“Yes.” I put my hands on my hips as I look up at him.
“Today,” he pushes.
“I think you better make sure that priest is almost here,” Brent mutters to Mindy, and she makes a ha sound.
“No, I already canceled him,” Mindy responds coolly.
“I really want to do this, Daniel. I want the dress and walking down the aisle. The vows, all of it.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “Put that bottom lip away, dream girl.” He sighs and his folded arms drop from his chest before he holds me against him.
“A week. I’ll give you a week,” he counters.
“That’s not much time,” I tell him and he lifts me so that my feet hang a good foot off the floor.
“I’m rich. A week is more than enough time.”
“That’s Christmas,” Mindy reminds him, and I realize I completely forgot.
“I guess I’m getting a wife for Christmas then,” he says before he gives me another one of those kisses reminding me of who I belong to.
As if I could ever forget.
Chapter 4
Daniel
I take another drink of my Scotch as I wait for my wife to come out of the bedroom. She kicked me out over thirty minutes ago and I’ve been impatiently waiting ever since. I don’t know if the burn in my chest is from the alcohol or the fact that I’m going to have to suffer through another one of these events. I’d rather send a check and be done with it, but it could be that I’m still irritated about everything that’s happened.
The Christmas lights on the tree sparkle and I think about having presents under it for our children next year. Maybe we should move and get a place outside of the city. I don’t know why I haven't thought about it sooner and I wonder what Blakely would say.
She’s never said if she enjoys being here or not. She’s told me several times that all she cares about is that where we live feels like a home and not a museum. My place hadn’t looked like anything before her. Most of it wasn't furnished when I brought her home, but it didn’t take long for her to change that. She took me to little antique shops all over the place until we found what we thought would fit best. There was something magical in watching her face light up when she found a simple five-dollar table that we could sand and refinish. She’s made this a place I want to come home to and now it’s cozy and warm just like she is.