Page 41 of Needing Happily Ever After

“You don’t have to say anything.” He grinned and got to his feet so he could pull her close. She nuzzled her face into his neck and Damon breathed in the scent of her. He held her until finally she came back down to earth and pulled away just enough to look up at him.

“That was…” She shook her head with a smile. “Pretty freaking amazing.”

“I can’t believe you’ve never…damn, those men weren’t worthy of you, Katie.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“Not those men. Just one.”

Damon stiffened. They’d never had the how many partners have you had talk. Even as best friends, that was one area they never discussed and Damon knew exactly why. Jealousy. He hated to admit it, but it was true. He’d been jealous of Jeremy when they were kids, and now…it was him again. The only other man who’d had the honor of laying his hands on Katie. And even though he had absolutely no right to it, the idea of that consumed Damon with jealousy.

He forced himself to take a deep breath and focused on the exhale before he said, “Well, he’s a fucking idiot.” Before she could respond, he added, “But that doesn’t matter anymore.”

And it didn’t. He needed to remember that. She was his wife. Not Jeremy’s. She’d said yes to him. Even if it hadn’t been real at first, it was real now. At least it would be real. It could be. And the fact that they were on the same page together made him genuinely happy.

He ran a hand down her back and held her a little closer. “Today was perfect. Wasn’t it?”

“It was beautiful.”

They moved to the couch with their glasses of sparkling water. Damon couldn’t wait to get her into their bed, but there would be plenty of time for that. And plenty of time for him to introduce her to all kinds of pleasure.

“I really am sorry if it wasn’t the type of wedding that you’ve always dreamed of.”

Katie tucked her legs up under her on the couch. She had such a beautiful post-pleasure glow about her, it made her even more gorgeous. “I meant it when I said it was beautiful.”

“But…”

She grinned. He knew her too well. “But,” she looked at him pointedly, “I think if there had been different circumstances, I would have liked a big dance and all our friends and family.”

“Really? A big white wedding?” He sat back and crossed one leg over the other. “I don’t know if I would have guessed that.”

“I’m full of surprises, Banks. Just you wait.”

They both laughed but after a moment, her laughter faded. “Do you think my mom…well, did you see her face?”

He had, of course, but had been hoping that Katie didn’t notice. “I’m sure she just thinks it’s a coincidence that we got married at the same time as the house sale.”

“I hope so. I would hate her to think…well…”

There was no need for either of them to finish the sentence. “Don’t worry about it, okay?” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “Tell me more about the wedding that you would have had.”

Katie laughed again. “I really haven’t thought about it that much. But it would have been nice to have a first dance and maybe a father-daughter—”

Tears filled her eyes and her hand flew to her mouth as she realized what she’d been about to say.

“Katie, I’m so sorry your dad wasn’t here.” Damon put his glass down on the table and moved so he could gather her into his arms. “He would have been so proud of you. You just finished your degree and now…you’re a remarkable woman, Katie, and I’m sure he would have given anything to be here today.”

She was silent for a moment, letting the emotion run its course, and he didn’t push her as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Finally, she sniffed loudly and wiped at her tears. “I’m sorry, Damon. I don’t know what came over me.”

“I do.” He tried a small smile. “It’s still new, Katie. It’s okay.” It was still new. Her father had only passed away a few months ago and she’d just gotten married without him giving her away. Of course, she hadn’t been worried about it before, because it was all meant to be fake. Just the way he’d thought about his mother more than once throughout the day. She would have loved to know that he was marrying Katie. Damon hadn’t given it much thought before, but now that there were real feelings involved…it was different.

And just as he couldn’t have imagined a few days ago that there might be some very real feelings involved with a marriage that wasn’t ever supposed to be real, now, he couldn’t seem to imagine it any other way.

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