Page 169 of One Wealthy Wedding

“Not even for a moment.” She reaches up to kiss me. “Thank you for being patient with me.” She murmurs the words against my mouth. I kiss her back, hot and hard.

“You were worth it, princess. I would have waited years for you.”

The bedroom at the house feels fuller with Cat in it. Her head is pillowed on my chest as she traces the tattoo there with her fingers.

“What does this mean?” she asks.

“Nothing.” I laugh. “Did you think it had a greater meaning?”

“I totally did.” She smiles. I can feel it against my chest. “I’ve been obsessed with it. You have to know that it’s enticing, right?” She levers herself up on an elbow to look at me.

“Enticing how?”

“This little part right here peeks out over your collar.” She brushes a finger over my neck. “Every time I saw it, I wondered what it led to. That wasn’t intentional?”

“Nah. I just liked the design.”

“Wow.” She flops on her back, and I laugh.

We lie there for moments, just breathing and watching the ocean beyond the balcony.

“Were you serious about living here?” I ask. “Would you like that?”

“I would,” she says. “I love the house, but mostly I like who you are here. You seem happier. More carefree.”

My chest aches. “I am happier. It doesn’t feel like I need to compete here, or impress anyone. I can just be.”

“You don’t need to impress me.” She yawns and snuggles into my side. “I’m already very impressed.”

“Tell me more, wife.”

She inhales softly.

“You like that?” I turn so I can tuck her in closer against me.

“Say it again, please.”

“Tell me how much you like me, wife.”

A laugh bursts from her chest. “It’s different when it’s an order, you dork.” She sighs. “But I’ll tell you anyway. I like how capable you are. I like watching you do things. I like how you leap right in, sometimes recklessly. I never do that. I like that you push me to do things I wouldn’t do alone. I like how fun you are. You always have a joke or a smile. You don’t take yourself too seriously. You’re honest and open with me about how you feel. You don’t play games.” She smiles up at me. “I like how smart you are. I like watching your mind at work. I like how charming you are. Others get to see you how I see you. I think the women you meet must fall a little bit in love with you with every word you speak, and I like that I get to be the one who goes home with you.”

“Always,” I tell her. It’s a vow.

“Want me to continue?”

“It’s okay.” My voice is ragged, and my chest is tight.

I don’t miss the fact that of everything Cat listed, she didn’t even mention my looks.

“I love you,” I tell her several minutes later, as her breathing deepens and my lids fall shut. “I will always love you.”

“Always,” she murmurs sleepily.

53

Cat

“You got this,” Theo tells me. He checks the shoulders of my suit before pressing a kiss to my lips. “Don’t be nervous.”

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