Page 100 of Winning Bid

They call us, and I thought I’d be more nervous than I am. There’s a little of that, but with no Elliot West in sight, what is there to be nervous about? I’m marrying the best person I’ve ever known.

We face each other in front of a judge in a dressed-up hearing room. There are fake flowers in big vases on either side of him and a few flags lining the walls. Not even a window. It’s perfect.

He gets to the part where he asks about vows, and I let her go first. Her nervousness has been rolling off of her in waves, and I figure if she goes first, she’ll feel better. June’s voice is so pretty when she’s emotional. “Last night, I tried to come up with something profound or significant to us. Something personal. But I couldn’t, and it took me until this morning to know why. I didn’t have you with me. Last night was one of the worst nights of sleep of my life?—"

I can’t help but laugh and nod.

She smiles and continues, “Because I need you with me. Always. Maybe it’s co-dependent or whatever, but you’re my person, Anderson West. You make my life better. You make me better. It’s like the world is in focus when you’re in it, and I want you by my side for every step of life. I promise to love you, to cherish you, and to be your partner in crime from now until forever.”

I doubt the judge knows that last part to be absolutely literal. She gives my hands a squeeze. The judge says, “And now, the groom.”

I take a breath to steady myself. “Right now feels like a dream I don’t want to wake up from.”

Her smile absolutely glows at that.

“That’s what life is with you, June. All the hardships we’ve faced, all the challenges, and the good times, too. None of them feel real because I get to experience them with you, the woman of my dreams. The first breath I ever took was when I saw your face because I finally found my purpose. My first moment of happiness was the first time I made you laugh. Give me your bad hair days, your spilled coffee days, your stubbed toes days, your rotten days at the office. I want to be the one who makes those days better for you the way you do for me.”

A shining tear dances down her cheek.

“June Devlin, I am madly, irreversibly in love with you and everything you are and will be. Every day, for the rest of our lives, I will give you all of me. I am yours. Now and always.”

I know the judge says something, but I hardly hear him. All I know is her. This woman is my world, and now, the world knows it, too.

“… may kiss the bride.”

I’m on her before he can finish the sentence. My wife’s lips are soft and sweet, and I want to have my way with her right here and now. A sound like rain catches my ear. No—clapping. It’s only then that I remember there are other people in the room. I’d forgotten all about the courtroom witness and the judge.

“Congratulations to the happy couple,” the judge says, trying to collect our attention.

We break the kiss, and once the paperwork is complete, we bolt out of there, eager to get home. But my sadistic side has other ideas. That bastard.

On the courthouse steps, I tell her, “Let’s go to supper.”

“Really? I thought you wanted to get home.”

“I do. But I want to take my wife out more.”

She beams at that. “I like hearing you call me that, husband.”

There is something so erotic about hearing her call me husband. “A quick supper.”

She giggles. “Sounds good.”

49

JUNE

When Anderson pulls up to Copeland’s, it’s all I can do not to laugh. This is never going to happen. “What are you thinking? You sneak a look at their reservation list, and we pretend to be another couple to get in?”

“Now, why would I need to do that?”

“It’s Copeland’s! There’s a six-week waiting list that you get on only if you know someone. Or bury a body for the Copelands.”

He smirks at me and pulls into the valet line.

“Come on. I’m not up for pretending to be other people on my wedding day. I’d be happier getting Chinese from our favorite delivery place than trying to scam our way in here.”

But he pulls forward when the valet motions to him.

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