Page 72 of Hunted Temptation
Smoothing my hands down the yellow dress, I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I take them in. Nadine places her hand on her pregnant belly at the same time Colette coos to her baby in her arms, and Lucille grins while holding her daughter’s hand.
“I’m so glad you kept the yellow,” Nadine says.
“I am too,” I rasp. “Is your brother here so I can thank him for the use of the club?”
Nadine wrinkles her nose, shaking her head a couple of times. “A wedding is the last place my brother would be, at least for the ceremony. He’s always down for a party. But seriously, he doesn’t care.”
Nadine’s brother owns the Willow Club, and he’s allowed us to use it for the small ceremony and reception. Nothing about my wedding is fancy. There aren’t even any table decorations, more like ten friends getting together for some appetizers, cake, and drinks.
“I still want to thank him again,” I murmur.
Nadine smiles as she closes the distance between us before she reaches out and takes my hands in hers. She squeezes, then dips her chin slightly. “I’ll call him when all the ceremony stuff is over.”
“Thank you,” I exhale.
“It’s time to get married,” Lucille says.
It’s time to get married.
It’s time to become Mrs. McCrae. Although my identity has already been changed to Elodie McCrae, and the court documents are already in the system. We didn’t even have to go to the courthouse. The master hackers of Securus took care of it all. This is all just for the ceremony, but it feels just as important as if it were real.
“It’s time to get married,” I confirm the words out loud.
I’ve chosen to walk down the makeshift aisle alone with just a bundle of yellow roses in my hands. Nadine wraps her arms around me in a hug, and the others do the same. I watch as they leave, all of them giving me a small wave on their way out of the room.
I don’t turn around to look at my reflection again. I can’t stare at myself for another minute. Granted, I do love this dress, but I want to go to my husband. I want to hear him declare his love for me, and I want to tell the world how much I love him, too.
I move toward the door, reach for the handle, and gently tug it open. Walking toward the entrance to the club, I stand in the lobby area, staring at the closed door and wondering how I’m going to get it open without everyone watching me do it.
But then a throat clears. I turn my head and look over to see Hale walking toward the door. He reaches out, wrapping his fingers around the knob. He smiles at me, his gaze nothing but kind brotherly love. The last six months, I’ve gotten to knowthese men and been able to fall in love with them as if they were my own older brothers.
“You ready?” he breaks me out of my thoughts.
Sinking my teeth into my bottom lip, I worry it for a moment before I release it and smile.
“I’m ready.” I dip my chin in a single nod.
Hale slowly opens the door, giving me that dramatic entrance, and my smile widens as I begin to move forward, taking one step after the other, trying not to fly down the aisle. Which becomes increasingly harder to do with each step forward and almost impossible once my gaze connects to Vaughn’s.
I want to run toward him and wrap my arms around him. It feels like it takes a lifetime for me to be in front of him. Without a word, he reaches out for me, and I release my flowers with one hand and slip my fingers into his waiting palm. He guides me directly in front of him.
The officiant begins speaking, but I can’t make out anything she says. She could be talking complete nonsense, and I wouldn’t know it. All I can see are his blue eyes looking down into my own.
We don’t say our own vows. We repeat after the officiant, and then we exchange rings. I bought him a black zirconium band with black diamonds encased along the center that goes all the way around—an eternity design. It fits his personality, fits him… It fits us.
We’re pronounced husband and wife, and Vaughn is instructed to kiss his bride. When he leans forward, my breath hitches, and my heart stops in my chest before he whispers against my lips.
“You’re mine now, Elodie—forever.”
I am his. Proudly. Forever.
VAUGHN
ONE YEAR LATER
Pointe Industries.
I can’t get it off my mind. I have spent far too long obsessing over this name. Over this company. Lucius was right. Not a single person is listed anywhere in any documentation. Nothing is listed anywhere.
