Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45529 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Our food arrived shortly after, but I couldn’t really look away from Luke. That sucking-like feeling that tightened my stomach had made a swift return, and I felt I had to say something.
Of course, Luke had to take a photo of our meal first, ’cause heaven forbid we ate something without announcing it on Instagram. But okay, I usually liked his captions.
This time was no exception. I received an alert as soon as he’d posted the photo with his favorite filter.
Christmas shopping done. Now an early bird date with my favorite fighter pilot.
I cleared my throat as he put his phone away. “That pilot of yours is gettin’ real tired of not bein’ able to call you hubby.”
That definitely gave me his attention. The surprise on his face was clear as day. Then something softened in his silvery-gray gaze, and his hand found mine under the table. I knew what he was thinking. I could see it. We’d agreed to never go down that road. Or aisle.
When I’d proposed, I’d proposed eternal engagement because we’d still been holding out hope for including a third partner in our relationship. And we had. We’d found a boy who not only completed our dynamic but who made everything I’d felt for Luke grow tenfold.
“I ain’t sayin’ anythin’s gonna change,” I said, feeling a bit uncomfortable. “I’m just—I wish I could, you know. I wish there was a way.”
He nodded and squeezed my hand, his thumb brushing over the gold band that had his name on the inside. “I do too.” He smiled a little and side-eyed me. “Sometimes when I’m at meetings with clients, I’ll refer to you as my husband. Call it an indulgence.”
I pressed a kiss to his temple and smiled too. That felt good to hear.
“But, Colt—” He inched away and shifted in his seat to face me better. “Do we need a slip of paper from the government? We’ve already signed every contract we can to protect our rights and our assets. Screw the technicalities on marriage. We can have a ceremony anyway.”
I raised a brow, listening.
Luke leaned in and brushed his lips to mine. “We can get married. And one day, when Kit is ready, we’ll do it again.”
Still listening. This sounded better and better. “Yeah?”
“Yes. And I propose a family-oriented get-together and then a party with our extra family in Mclean.”
Fantastic idea.
“Say screw the government again,” I murmured.
He laughed softly. “That wasn’t what I said.”
Right, but— “Humor me.”
He smirked. “How about I’ll marry you?”
Fuck. Yeah. That was it. “Deal.” I kissed him again, feeling tons lighter. We were what mattered. No government or reverend could tell me whether or not I could call the two loves of my life husband. “Can I convince you to take my name too?”
I grinned as he chuckled and nudged me away.
“I’m only half jokin’,” I said.
“Oh, I don’t believe the joke part for a second, sweetheart.” His eyes shone with amusement again, but I focused on the affection in them.
“I guess we could hyphenate,” I bargained.
West-Carter. Carter-West. Didn’t sound bad at all.
But Luke shook his head and cut into his steak. “I would love to take your name.”
Christ. “You’re serious? You’d do that for me?”
“I’d do it for us, Colt. Because I want to.” He gestured his fork at my plate. “Eat before it gets cold.”
Well, shit. He’d just made my fucking day.
I listened to him and cut into my own steak, but my mind was fixed. “You’re not screwin’ with me, are you?”
“Quiet, dear. I’m compiling a list of venues in my head.”
I grinned.
Luke’s reaction to what we’d decided today bled into the rest of the day. While Kit was munching on chicken nuggets and fries in front of a Christmas movie in the living room, I was finishing Rosa’s list in the kitchen, and I had Luke mirroring my every move.
I fucking loved it.
Right now, he was plastered to my back, pressing kisses to my shoulders and spine.
Our song was playing on the Alexa thing…
After I’d checked the rolls in the oven and dumped a shit-ton of mushrooms into a skillet, I turned around and pulled him in for a tight hug. On a normal day, it wasn’t easy to get him to move with me, to dance, even to sway a little, but for once, he let me do it.
“You’re Mr. Cuddly today, darlin’… Not that I’m complainin’.”
He sighed contentedly and kissed my jaw. “I just love you.”
I gathered our clasped hands between us and tilted my head, capturing his mouth in a kiss. In my mind, I started calculating how much work I had left before I could move this upstairs to our bed.
Rosa, the housekeeper Kit had grown up with, was supposed to be enjoying her retirement. But she was one of those women who struggled to let go—something I could empathize with—so Kit had set her up with a new workstation in the kitchen of the studio apartment we had in the basement. But rather than cooking for us, she cooked for her community. She was heavily involved in her church, and she volunteered at the local soup kitchen a lot. Kit being the sweetheart that he was had gotten us all involved, if only a little. In short, we contributed with money so she could keep doing what she loved, while the food went to those who actually needed it.