Page 67 of Silver Sanctuary
“Don’t let that grumpy bastard get inside your head.” Hawk wrapped his arms around Lacy and she fought the urge to smile. “We’re glad you have Nash, and we’re happy to help where we can.”
“Oh, speaking of that.” Nash pulled Lacy out of Hawk’s bear hug, tucking her under his arm. “Before we have to see lawyers, and rehash this again, we’re going to be getting married first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll expect to see all of you down here at six to start getting ready. Tracker, Reap, I’m hoping Lily and Sloane will want to help my blushing bride get ready, so whenever they have time to pop into the apartmentbefore we leave at eight, that would be incredible. Oh, Hawk, tell Mae that too, would you?”
Lacy’s mouth popped open. “You’re not going to run this by me?” she whispered.
“The lawyers are going to say it’s better if we’re married. So let’s just get a head start on covering that. And it’s not like we were going to put it off for forever. It’s time to make sure you and Embrie are safe, forever.”
“And what do you get out of it?”
“A wife, and a daughter. I get a family to take care of, to come home to, to laugh with, and grow old with. Finally, at thirty-eight, I get exactly what I’ve always wanted. I get forever with the woman I love.”
“Give Nanny my love.” Nash sighed, undoing the buttons on the front of his shirt as she made her way into the room. Lacy waved, walking into their bathroom to brush her teeth. She wished she had something, anything, to help her feel like she was prepared for the next day. Because the only things she had on hand was a tube of mascara and a bright blue scrunchy. Not necessarily things that screamedbeautiful bride on her wedding day.
“I’m sorry you all can’t be here tomorrow, but I’ll talk to Lacy about coming up to the ranch and doing a proper ceremony once things settle down around here. Yes, sir, I’ll give her your love. Make sure Nanny practices her brambleberry pancake recipe for me. I’m gonna devour at least three dozen when I come home.”
Nash’s laugh pierced the air as she spit into the sink. She set her toothbrush down and splashed some cold water over her face.
“Oh, I remember. I’m a little older and a little wiser thanwhen I tried that as a kid.” He met her gaze in the mirror, very clearly not ashamed that she’d caught him staring right at her ass. “I’ll warn Embrie, all the same. Look, I gotta go, Pops. We’ll see you soon… Yep. Give Nanny all my love… Yes, sir. Bye.”
Lacy rested her hip against the door frame as Nash tossed his phone on the nightstand.
“You called your family?” she asked, as she moved toward the closet. Nash didn’t respond right away, so she popped her head out to check on him. The amused smile he flashed at her made her stomach somersault.
“I needed to tell my Pops and Nanny about tomorrow. They would never forgive me if I just showed up with a wife and daughter that they didn’t know about.” She ducked back into the closet, quickly changing out of her clothes—ditching her bra, but leaving her panties on—before slipping one of Nash’s shirts over her head. Her hand tapped the overhead light off and she made her way back into the room, awkwardly hovering halfway between the small space she’d just been in and the bed.
“Do you want to wait? Until they can meet me? Until they can approve of me?”
“Whoa. Lace, what?” It only took two steps for Nash to close the distance between them, his hand coming up to rest against her cheek. “They don’t need to approve of you. They want what’s best for me, and if I’m marrying someone, then they know I’ve found that.”
“But you’re marrying me to help with Embrie’s custody.”
“Do I need to remind you of the ring I already slipped on your finger?”
“Which was for an engagement of convenience to give me the protection of your name and the guys in this building.”
His lips lowered to her ear. “I told you I was going to make good on our engagement—that I would marry you for realone day. I hate the circumstances surrounding why we have to do this so fast, but I won’t lie, Lace, the idea of you being my wife tomorrow at this time makes me so fucking happy.”
He sat on the bed, moving over until he was in the middle, and reached for her hand. But she hesitated.
“Lace.”
“Don’t let anyone forget that the flowers are in the office fridge downstairs, okay? I keep thinking I’m going to leave them behind and that would not be a good look for a florist getting married. And I need you to help me pick out something to wear in the morning. I know it’s bad luck for you to see the outfit before, but I’ve seen your side of the closet so I know you’re going to look amazing in one of those suits you have tucked away in there. I think I only have one dress, and it’s floral. Not very nice for a bride on her wedding day. Do you think I should ask one of the girls?—”
“Lace, come over here.”
Her shoulders slumped as she stepped closer, but she didn’t sit down on the bed. Instead, she crossed her arms and chewed on the corner of her mouth. Stupid nerves. Everything felt raw and untethered, and the last thing she wanted to do was have Nash feel like he was marrying someone who couldn’t get their shit together. Which, of course, he was.
“I should probably sleep with Embrie tonight. Isn’t it bad luck to share a bed on the eve of your wedding.”
“I don’t care about that.” He leaned over and tugged her gently so that she settled against him with an exaggerated “oomph.”
“We’re walking into tomorrow as a family. I want you here, in our bed tonight. And tomorrow, after you’re all done getting ready with the girls, I want you to come find me. We’re going to the courthouse together. You, me, and Embrie. We go in a chosen family, and we come out as one for life.”
Her head snuggled down against his shoulder and he tucked the comforter around the both of them.
“I love you, Nash. I’m sorry I didn’t say it earlier when you did. I wanted to, there were just so many?—”
“Eyes on us?”
