Page 27 of The Revenge Bride

When she starts shaking her head, my heart drops to my feet. “No? That’s not going to happen?”

Lucy can’t love me.I feel like the moon and stars fell from the sky and there’s no light left anywhere.

Then, she cups her hands on the sides of my face. “There’s no time needed for you to convince me to love you back because I loved you first.”

Chills race over me. “Y-you…” I clear my throat. “You love me?”

“I do. I didn’t know when we got together that I have loved you for years. I can see now that the way you always teased me never truly bothered me. Instead, I looked forward to our interactions but never realized as much.”

Lucy loves me. Lucy. Loves. Me.

Suddenly overcome with the need to start our married life on the right note, I take her hands in mine. “Lucy, do you take Rhett to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

She smiles through unshed tears. “I do. Do you, Rhett take Lucy to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.” I smooth her hair away from her face. “Oh, how I do.”

I kiss her then, a caress that promises her I will love her and treasure her. I will protect her and make her happy. I will run through the hottest fire for her. I will dive into the deepest waters. Whatever it takes to keep her safe.

I lift my head and gaze into her beautiful eyes. “I want to give you the world.”

“I’m not interested in the world. What Iaminterested in is our honeymoon.”

I laugh, then gather her into my arms.

She puts her head against my chest.

“I love you,” I say, tightening my embrace. I’m never letting go of this woman. My meant-to-be. My other half. Forever.

Epilogue

Lucy

There are no lights on at the house when I pull into the driveway. I swallow my disappointment. Rhett had said even though he had a late client appointment, he was going to try to get home early.

We’ve been married a little over six months now and each day we fall deeper in love.

I unlock the door and walk in, then stop. A fire crackles in the fireplace. Soft, instrumental music plays, and the tantalizing aroma of steaks fills the air.

I sniff appreciatively, then drop my purse on the sofa and walk into the kitchen. When I get there, I burst out laughing.

Rhett is bustling around the room wearing nothing but a frilly apron.

I’ve never owned an apron in my life. Then again, I’m not much for cooking. Rhett, on the other hand, excels in the kitchen. Almost as much as he excels in the bedroom.

He grins at me as he sets the table.

“Only one plate?”

“I’ll eat later.” He guides me to a chair. “Sit. I’m going to take care of you tonight. Because I know things have been rough for you lately.”

He’s right. There have been a lot of stress and shakeups at the station.

He fills my plate and then pours me a glass of wine.

After I take a long sip, he kneels in front of me and slips off my shoes, then starts massaging my feet.

“That feels good baby.”

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