Page 112 of Reluctantly His

I had only been released this afternoon and told to take it easy, and I would… tomorrow.

The officiant wasn’t a priest.

They could only do weddings in a church, and there was no way to get this all ready in time, so the director of the New York Philharmonic agreed to marry us if I agreed to join as first cello after I recovered.

Apparently, he had been ordained before in order to marry some other friends of his.

The entire thing was perfect.

No, it was better than perfect.

It was magical and more than I could have ever hoped for. I wore a vintage dress Amelia found when none of the stuffy haute couture designers felt right. She’d even organized a small team of seamstresses to come in and alter the dress to fit me with its beautiful art deco beadwork and long elegant train. It was so exquisite, soft and feminine, and just stunning.

Olivia took care of the business end, making sure to invite everyone I would want in a private, intimate ceremony.

Despite the weather, she even managed to get Reid’s brother and his family flown out.

I never thought my wedding would be filled with people I knew and cared about. I always assumed it would be more of a business networking event for my father and whomever he married me off to.

This was so much better.

I just wished my father was here.

Despite her protests, Olivia did deliver an invitation to our father, but he still chose not to come. I knew his refusal was coming, but that didn’t mean it hurt any less.

Fortunately for me, my brother was there to give me away.

When Luc handed me off to Reid, he kissed my cheek, then shook Reid’s hand before leaning in and whispering something in Reid’s ear.

“You don’t have anything to worry about,” Reid told Luc, clapping him on the arm before Luc turned to sit with everyone else in the audience.

Our vows were short and simple.

We did not promise to honor or obey. We didn’t even say in sickness or in health. Instead, we promised to love and support each other’s dreams and passions. We promised to listen to each other and encourage one another to find our passions together.

Reid had listened to me.

He’d had the vows changed, so I was free to make decisions in my life.

I was his, always his, only his.

But I was no longer forced to live my life in a gilded cage, watching as everyone else around me lived their life and mine just passed me by.

Reid gave me the freedom I needed to make my own choices, while still choosing him.

He slid a perfect two-carat princess cut diamond on my finger, elegant but not too flashy. Just big enough to sparkle but small enough I could wear it while I played cello without it being a hindrance.

A single tear slid down my cheek as I looked into his eyes, knowing he saw me.

Not my name, not who I was raised to be, but me.

All of me.

Then on his finger, I slid a titanium band.

It was like him: strong, to the point, and unbreakable.

Reid Taylor had burst into my life as a domineering shadow I did not want, but now he was my protector, my savior, and my love.

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