Page 60 of The Bourbon Bride

Our souls are entwined forever, my heart lost to you at first sight.

Grant me my ardent wish, the most beautiful life.

Marry me, Paige, please say yes, be my wife.

“Oh,” I warble, the tears springing to my eyes as I read his handwritten poem. I throw my arms around Cerberus’s neck and bury my face in his sleek fur.

“Damn it. I knew I should have signed it so you would know it was me, not the dog, asking you.”

I look up and run my fingers under my eyes to remove the tears.

“He had such a good delivery, you can’t fault me for thinking it was all his idea.”

Hayes meets me on my knees with Cerberus beside us and takes my hands, his green eyes burning with intention.

“It’s definitely me asking. I know it’s crazy and fast, and there are so many reasons not to, but this feels right. Do you think you could grow to love me? To not just be my bride, but my partner in everything? I want to rule beside you, take over empires with you, fight for you. Do you think you could spend your life with me?”

My jaw has come unhinged, dropping lower with each romantic pledge. This ruthless businessman just went all emotional on me. How did I manage to find this perfect man?

“When you put it that way, it’s pretty hard to say no.”

“Say the words, Paige.”

“We really are crazy.”

He raises an eyebrow at me.

“Yes—on one condition.”

His chest inflates only to freeze with the breath in his lungs. “Continue.”

“We’ll never treat our relationship as a business deal. Deals can be undone and businesses can fail. I don’t want to fail with you.”

“Never.”

“Then, yes, I’ll marry you.”

Hayes smiles and pulls me to his chest, his lips crashing against mine and claiming another little piece of my heart.

twenty-three

Hayes

ThelightsofLasVegas grow smaller as the jet climbs into the night sky, but they were never bright enough to outshine my newwife.Paige is curled in my lap, my hand stroking her thigh, alternating pulling her left hand up to admire her new diamond rings, and proclaiming just how insane we are. Cerberus is sprawled at our feet, his duties as best dog now fulfilled even though he’s still wearing his bow tie collar.

“Mama and Daddy are going to kill me.”

I kiss Paige’s silky, raven dark hair.

“They’ll have to go through me first. Let me tell you, that would require a Herculean effort.”

“Really, though.”

She rests her head on my shoulder and threads her fingers into my hair to gently scratch my scalp. I shiver in response before she continues.

“I’m their only child, my mama’s only daughter, and I just took away her chance to plan a wedding. Do you know how angry she’s going to be? She’ll be mad as a Hydra getting its heads cut off.”

I smile at her Hercules reference to match mine. She really is perfect.

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