Page 81 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

I was going to intervene, but Naomi dutifully took Granny’s hands and bowed her head as my grandmother prayed that all would be well, that we’d have a splendid and blessed wedding, and that one day, if the good Lord saw fit, maybe He’d help her family work out their problems.

And that was it. Nothing more needed. Once the apologies and prayers were out of the way, the discussion went straight to planning the wedding. Mom and Dad got all of us beer and wine while everyone talked over one another, sharing their ideas for our nuptials.

The conversations were light, filled with joy, and by the time we made it home, Naomi was shining as golden as the day we met.

“You look happy,” I murmured from where I stood behind her in my tiny speck of a bathroom. She had just finished washing her face and applying her multitude of skincare products.

“I am happy. I’m getting married in less than two weeks to a hunk of a man who I think might actually love me,” she hedged, reminding me that I hadn’t said those three important words back.

“Oh yeah? What’s this guy like? Maybe I know him, and I can ask him for you?” I teased.

“Well, he’s big. Strong. Has the best smile I’ve ever seen.”

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pressed my chin to her neck. “And…”

“Smart and compassionate. Oh, and he’s a tiger in the bedroom.”

My eyebrows rose. “A tiger?”

“Mmm hmm. Best I’ve ever had.”

“Is that right?” I laid tiny kisses to the ball of her shoulder and slowly started to kiss my way along the exposed skin.

“Yeah. And he makes me feel…” She sighed as I kissed up to her sensitive ear, flicking the cartilage with my tongue.

“He makes you feel…”

“Like my happiness matters,” she finished.

I pulled my mouth away and slowly eased her around to face me as she leaned against the small sink. I kept my hands curled around her hips. “Naomi, your happiness does matter. What you want in life is important. No one gets to decide that but you.”

“And what about you?” She put her hands on my shoulders and caressed up and down my arms, sending pleasurable chills running along my spine.

“If you’re happy, I’m happy. If my sisters are settled and enjoying their lives, I’m happy. If my parents can retire and live out their golden years together, I’m happy. I’m a simple man. There’s not a lot I need.”

“I love that about you too.”

“And I love you, Naomi.”

Her bottom lip quivered as her eyes shimmered with love. “Really?”

God, I loved how shy she became sometimes. “Yeah, baby, really. I told you before, I practically fell in love with you at the first kiss.”

“Our goodbye kiss?”

I nodded.

“That was hard. I felt like I was losing something important, and I didn’t know why.”

“The Universe had other plans.”

“Good plans.” She rose onto her toes and nuzzled my neck, leaving warm kisses in her wake.

“We’re going to make it through all of this, you know that right?” I asked.

“I wish my family was like yours.” She blew out a long, frustrated breath.

“Poor?” I choked out teasingly.

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