Page 74 of Accidentally Checked By My Brother's Best Friend

“Duncan!” I gasp. “We said we weren’t going to get anything fancy.”

Duncan gives me a sheepish grin. “Welcome to the first day of me spoiling you for the rest of your life.”

I nearly throw my arms around him, but Elvis’s hand pops out again.

“Almost done, little lady.”

Laughter fills the room again.

“Ava, do you—”

“Yes!” I yell and place the ring on Duncan’s finger. I slide my arms around his neck and kiss him for all he’s worth.

“Well then, I now pronounce you man and wife.”

“Took long enough.” I can all but feel the roll of Scarlett’s eyes.

The room laughs and clapping breaks out nearly bringing down the house.

When Duncan scoops me up, the room roars and my heart flies. When he snuggles his face in my neck and tells me just how much he loves me, I’m grateful for all his muscles since I’m certain I wouldn’t have the strength to stand.

SinceDuncanliftedmein his arms after the ceremony, my feet haven’t touched the ground once. Getting our new room key was quite the experience. But now that he carries me over the threshold to the honeymoon suite, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

The past thirty minutes of being Mrs. Duncan James has consisted of very little talking, at least not with words, and every little touch leaves a trail of flames across my body.

For the first time I realize how empty the characters I’ve been playing have been. I didn’t think this type of love was possible for me; heck, I didn’t believe it was possible at all. How could I, when I never got to experience it?

The absence of Duncan’s lips as he tries to navigate the room has me protesting and him chuckling.

“You don’t want to fall, do you?” Letting my hands slowly explore his face, my lips curve into a crooked grin.

“I guess.” Duncan chuckles. He gives me a quick peck that nearly makes me cry out in frustration. “You can always put me down so I can walk for myself.”

“Not in this lifetime. I’ve been waiting forever to do this.” When I quirk an eyebrow he chuckles. “Okay. Just for the next few minutes, until I find the…there it is.”

As if I am the most precious thing in the world, Duncan gently lays me on the bed. When he pulls his arms away from me, rather than following, my eyes widen in surprise.

“Mr. James, where do you think you’re going?” A mischievous grin spreads across his face and his eyes fill with heat.

“I’ll be right back.” Pointing at me, he commands. “Don’t move.”

A silly grin stretches across my face and I let my gaze roam over my husband’s body as he walks away. Extending my arms over my head, I let out a content little sigh and impatiently wait for what seems like forever.

My mind wanders over the last few weeks and everything that’s happened. An intense longing fills me, wishing Fiona was here so I could share all of this with her.

“I hope you—” his voice cuts off, and he rushes over to lie next to me, his thumb working to smooth the lines of worry on my forehead. “Ava, what’s wrong?”

The huskiness of his voice wraps around me like a blanket, and my lips lift at the corner a tiny bit.

“I was just wishing Fiona was here.” I cup his face with one hand and he turns his lips toward my palm. “I miss her so much.”

Smoothing my hair with his hands, he pins me with his gaze. “I do too. I don’t think she ever told you…” He pauses and I see, for the first time, how much Fiona meant to him too. “She was the only person who knew how I felt about you. I never told her, she just knew.”

Warmth bursts through my chest knowing that Fiona is a part of this journey, even if she’s no longer physically here.

“We can always name our first daughter after her…” He waggles his eyebrows at me and I giggle. “What do you think? We can get started right now.”

“Right now, huh?” I run my fingers over his lips and pull his face down. “I think that might be your best idea all day.”

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