Page 372 of The Christmas Wife

I narrow my gaze on her.What the hell is she doing?Before I can say anything, she hooks her free arm through mine, and rubs her cheek against my sleeve. "Every day with Eddie is the best day of my life. He’s so warm, so caring, and he has a great sense of humor.” She beams.

I do?I blink.

"Oh, honeykins, you have a wicked, tongue-in-cheek wit, and your jokes crack me up." She pats my shoulder.

I stare at her, unsure of where she's going with this.

"Oh, Sweetie, you have such a sense of humor. I’ve never laughed so much as when I’m with you. In fact, the amount of tears I've shed?—"

I growl loud enough for only her to hear me.

"—due to finding your jokes funny… Perhaps, I’m the only one who does, but you’ve made me burst out in hysterics until I cry, Eddie." She flicks an imaginary tear from the corner of her eyes.

She called me Eddie, again.I’m aware I’m glowering at her, and in front of Arthur, but what-fucking-ever.No one calls me Eddie and gets away with it. Except her, apparently. Time I put an end to that.I open my mouth to set her straight, but Arthur cuts me off.

"That’s what my Greta used to say."

I manage to tear my gaze from that of my fiancée long enough to take in the wistful look on Arthur’s face.

"She always found my jokes hilarious. Even after all those years of being married, she’d laugh at my jokes. She liked to say she was the only one who found my jokes funny after all that time." He swallows then turns to me. "I’m glad you took my advice to heart."

"Wouldn’t dream of doing otherwise." I can’t stop the note of sarcasm in my tone.

His shoulders tense. There’s a flicker of anger in his eyes before he bats it away. "Then you also won’t dream of turning down an old man’s wish?"

It’s my turn to stiffen. "Depends on the wish. I’ve already agreed to not only take on the role of CEO but also to settle down, as you dictated."

He doesn’t seem satisfied by that. "You were wise to acknowledge when someone gave you good advice. All I ask is you do one more thing for me."

I scowl.

His forehead furrows.

I am only just beginning to get to know this man, but I see the same stubbornness in his expression that I recognize in myself. My footsteps slow; so do his and Belle’s. We come to a stop at the threshold of the library he’s been walking us to—not the dining room, as I’d originally envisaged.

"I think I’ve done enough. I?—"

"G-Pa, can I call you G-Pa?" Belle chimes in.

Arthur shoots me a final look, then glances down at her upturned face. "I would like that very much. And both of you would make me very happy if you agree to my last wish. I don’t have many days left on this earth, after all."

Why that canny so-and-so. The man has a strong enough constitution, he’ll probably outlast all of us. My scowl deepens. I open my mouth to tell him off, but Belle cries out, "Of course,G-Pa." She turns to me. "I’m sure there’s no harm in agreeing to what he wants."

I glare at her. Her color fades, but she firms her lips. The two of us lock gazes. The air between us heats. The pulse at the base of her throats kicks up and moves as she swallows. Another wall I’ve built around my heart crumbles, and a slow beat drums at my temples. If Arthur weren't here, I’d teach her never to defy me. My fingers twitch. I reach down and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. Her pupils dilate. She sways toward me. I begin to lower my head when Arthur declares,

"I want the two of you to marry right now."

19

Mira

"What?" Edward whips his head around to look at his grandfather. Whatever he sees there has him turning to look at the conservatory. And that has him tightening his jaw. He’s gritting his teeth so hard the muscles of his jaw flex. I follow his line of sight, take in the group gathered inside, a-n-d, the breath whooshes out of me.

"We…we’re getting married, right now?" my voice comes out shaky.

"Why wait until next week, when you can tie the knot now?" G-Pa’s tone is satisfied. He glances toward us, then seems to falter. "I hope it’s okay I invited your friends and arranged for an officiant?" He waves a hand toward the be-spectacled guy I don’t recognize at the far end of the library in front of the lit fireplace.

"I assume you didn’t want a priest presiding, Edward?"

---