Page 63 of The King's Fake Bride

I need to know that he loves me enough to admit it to himself and me.

Xander cups my jaw with one hand, thumb drifting over my cheekbone. “I love you, Amy. I’ve been half in love with you since I met you that day on the beach. While you look at me like I hung the stars, I know without a doubt that you’re my sun. My entire world revolves around you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Tears sting the corners of my eyes. “I love you too.”

“Good. I would never dream of marrying a woman I wasn’t in love with,” he says, those teasing words making my heart flutter and the butterflies come to life. “And just so you know, I plan on loving you every day for the rest of my life, even when you bring out the orphan story for sympathy.”

Laughing, I throw my arms around him. “You’re horrible. I wouldn’t bring out the orphan story at the ceremony when we’re both missing our parents.”

“Are you sure about that?” His arms wrap around my waist as he pulls me closer to him.

“I was saving it for the reception. I thought it might get us some good wedding gifts.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “I love you, Amy.”

“I love you, too.”

For the millionth time, I can’t help but think of my fiancé as the most attractive man on earth.

All I want to do now is get to the part of the evening when the tuxedo hits the floor and I’m out of my corset.

His head dips down and his lips press against mine, molding to me like he was made for me.

And maybe he was.

This wasn’t the start of the whirlwind romance I was expecting. It was messy and carved from lies, but something beautiful blossomed after the fire that tore through us.

Xander steps away from me with a small smile on his face as he gets to one knee in front of me. “I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. With you, it feels like my life is finally headed in the direction it’s supposed to be. I know that the two of us are going to have a long life together, and I know it’s not going to be easy all the time, but I love you, and I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

“Yes.” I laugh as he gets to his feet and sweeps me into another kiss before letting go. “You should go now, though. We’re already late, and they’re all going to think we ran for it.”

“We could run away and elope if that’s what you want.”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow, arms crossing as I tease him. “You would leave everything behind and run away with me to get married? Right now?”

“I told you, Amy, you’re the sun. If I don’t have you, then nothing in my world makes sense.”

I smile and gesture to the door. “Go to the altar.”

He kisses the corner of my mouth. “I’ll meet you there. I’ll be the best-looking one in the garden until you arrive.”

Xander hurries out of the room, shutting the door behind him and giving me a minute to myself.

I take a deep breath and make sure my makeup is still in place before turning toward my future, confident that this is the life I’m meant to live.

As I enter the garden to a soft melody, Xander’s full attention turns to me.

And when he looks at me like he adores me, I know that he’s my forever.

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER: XANDER

Amy leans back, propping herself on her forearms and looking up at the cotton candy clouds as the waves crash against the shore. “I swear, after all the trouble getting the bakery up and running has been, I need a night away with you.”

I lean over and kiss her, taking her chin in my hand. “You don’t need to worry. All the electrical has been replaced, and there’s not going to be another fire.”

She sighs. “I know, but it could’ve been a disaster. If Beatriz hadn’t been in there to get a sneak peek at the renovations, it could’ve been so much worse.”

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