Page 81 of Silver Sanctuary
“That’s the world I live in.”
“No, beautiful, it’s not. Maybe before today it was, and I’ll always fucking hate that with every fiber of my being. But from this moment on, you’ll never step foot back in that world. You’re too precious. Too valuable.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, but before she could sweep it away, he was reaching up to cup her face in his hand.
“I hate that life has taught you that you aren’t worthy ofsafety. Of someone taking care of you. Of being loved just because you exist.”
“I’m not worthy of you. I hate that I have nothing to offer you… except drama and unlimited trips to the emergency room.”
“I can’t wait to spend every day of the rest of forever showing you how wrong those words you just said are.”
“You can’t mean that. Not after…”
His brows furrowed. “Do you think I was lying today during my vows? That I willingly said those words with no intention of following through? Because that’s not the sort of man I am. I started thinking about what forever would look like after our first kiss. Did it come a lot faster than I thought it would? Maybe. Am I mad about that? Not at all.”
“Nash, I?—”
“I’m gonna stop you right there,wife.” Nash leaned in, lowering his head so it rested against hers. With his eyes closed, he laid his soul bare. “I wish, for just one second, you could be inside my mind. Because then you would be able to see how I see you. You’d never doubt me again. You’re kind in the face of everything you’ve been through, and stronger than anyone I’ve ever met before. Not to mention, you’re the most incredible mother to Embrie.”
“I haven’t brought anything good to your life, Nash. And now you’re tied to me, you’re going to have to adopt Embrie. There’s all this stuff with me potentially being prosecuted for falsifying legal documents. I stabbed a man and was perfectly fine living my life thinking I’d killed him. You’re married to a criminal.”
“I married a woman who loves her little sister so much that she sacrificed everything to protect her. She gave up all her dreams to give her sister the mother she never had herself. You are not a criminal, baby. You did what you had to in order to protect Embrie. You’re a fucking badass in my eyes.”
“Nash.”
“Besides, you’re only half right. I am tied to you forever, because I meant what I said today, Lace—‘till death do we part. But you’re wrong about not bringing anything good. You’ve brought the best things into my life—you and Embrie. I know you’ve had to do everything on your own for so long, but listen to me, it’s an honor to get to take some of the load off of your shoulders. To share raising Embrie with you. To protect you both, and keep you safe. To cherish your heart. All of that is part of the best thing I’ll ever do in this life. As a husband. As a father. It makes me so happy to know that my two favorite people will soon share my last name.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Oh, god!He almost forgot!
Nash jumped up and ran to the closet, pulling a flat box down from the shelf. He carried it back into the bedroom and set it on Lacy’s lap.
“What is this?” she asked.
“A wedding gift. I’ve been working on it for a while with Embrie—since you both moved in after the fire. It just happened to come in a few days ago. Seems like divine timing.”
“Can I…”
“Please. Open it.”
Lacy carefully pulled at the ribbon, watching as the white ribbon slowly untied and fell off the box. She pushed her fingers between the bottom of the box and the lid, and he heard the softest inhale when she realized what she was looking at.
“Nash?”
“We weren’t sure what color he was originally, because Brie only ever saw him in his abysmally dirty, ratty state.” His words were teasing, a light shining in her eyes as he watchedexcitement take over her face. “So I found the original blanket, but it came in three colors. I ordered all three.”
“He’s blue. Silky is blue.”
“Perfect. Then there’s the pink one for Embrie.”
“Nash.”
“And the yellow one can be for…” His fingers reached in the box and touched the yellow blanket, thinking of a day in the not too far off future…
“For who?”
