Page 27 of The Marriage Demand
“But I—”
“Bozo is dead,” Eliassaid. “He’s not going to hurt anyone. I found out where he was hiding and Itook care of it.”
“Oh,” Winnie said.
“He was never a threat toyou.”
“He wasn’t?”
“No, Winnie. I promisedyou I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, and this is me keeping thatpromise.”
He looked into her browneyes. What had started out as him simply protecting this woman had turned intosomething so much more. Elias knew he should let her go. Let her find a man herown age, who didn’t have enemies waiting to take him out. But he also knewthere was no one else out there that would be able to keep her safe. Only hewas able to do that.
Also, he wasn’t exactly anice man, and had a reputation for being a bastard. When it came to Winnie, hetended to be selfish. Whatever she wanted, she could have.
“I love you,” Winnie said.
Elias stood frozen.“What?”
“I … I just wanted to tellyou I love you, and I love being your wife, and one day, I hope we can havekids and perhaps a dog,” she said, pressing her lips together.
“You want a dog?”
“Maybe a couple of dogs.Perhaps some cats, but you know, bunnies as well. They’re cute.”
“You love me?” Elias said.
“Yeah, I love you, and I’mkind of crazy about you. I don’t … I can’t stand the thought of anythinghappening to you, Elias. I know you married me out of convenience and feltsorry for me.”
He silenced her with akiss. His wife loved him. His wife fucking loved him. He was on cloud fuckingnine.
“That was then, baby,”Elias said. He cupped her face. “Look into my eyes. I love you, Winnie. I havenever loved anyone or anything the way I love you. Nothing can ever happen toyou. My whole day rides on seeing you, on being near you. Whether it is seeingyour sweet smile, or just being with you. I love you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I do. I want tohave kids with you, and I have a couple of dogs I think you’re going to like.”He took hold of her hand and led her out toward the main corridor. “I didn’tknow if you would be happy that they’re fully grown.”
He let out the two dogsfrom the back of the garage, and they had been starving. He fed them, wateredthem, let them have a good run, and then allowed them in the back of his car.They were good Doberman dogs, and he never thought he would love them, but hedid.
“Wow,” Winnie said.
The two dogs stood toattention and moved toward him. He stroked behind their ears, and Winnie sunkto her knees and fussed over both dogs. “They’re amazing,” she said, and thatlaughter was sweet music to his ears.
There was nothing hewouldn’t do for his woman.
Whatever she wanted wouldbe hers.
Epilogue
Ten Years Later
“Tell me again why I haveto wear this thing?” Elias asked, looking down at the garish Christmas sweaterhis wife insisted he wear. His had a reindeer on the center, with pom-poms ofwhite balls all around it. There was no way anyone in the world would take himseriously.
He should have known thiswas coming. Ten years ago, his wife had started this tradition. Each year, shepurchased sweaters for him, as well as their children, and they would have towear them and get their picture taken. The sweaters always had a garish designon them, but his wife loved to do it.
“Come on, Dad, you lookhot,” his son Elliot said. Ten years old with a smart mouth and way too muchwit about him.
“I like it. I look like aprincess, don’t I, Daddy?” That was his little girl, Bernice.
