Page 88 of Made For You
I turned my head to look at Talon, who was frantically tugging at his shorter locks as he stepped closer to me.
“Aurora, think of us. Think of how good it felt to be together yesterday. Think of how far we’ve come. How can you look at me and pretend you evenwantto sign those papers? You have to know there is no life for me to go back to without you as my wife. And I don’t want there to be. You’re it for me, Aurora. And even if you sign those stupid papers, I’m not going anywhere. You can’t get rid of me.”
Somewhere in the distance, I heard someone mutter thattheycould get rid of him.
I set the pen down and turned to look at my husband. He wore an expression I’d never witnessed on him before. Fear.
“Do you love me, Talon?”
Talon scoffed in a prideful way. “Aurora, that’s a ridiculous question to ask me.”
“No, it’s not. It should be easy enough to answer.”
He stepped forward and grabbed my hand, though I was reluctant. “Nothing to do with you, with us, is ever easy. It hasn’t been since the moment I knocked into you over a year ago. You asked me if I love you. Every molecule in my body comes to life when I’m near you. I can’t take a single breath without the thought of you crossing my mind. I physically ache in my chest when I’m not around you. And I have felt that way from the second you let me sit next to you at the bar. Does that answer your question?”
I paused, his words wrapping around me like a warm hug, but it still wasn’t enough.
“Talon, do you love me?”
He stepped closer, his other hand resting on my cheek, his thumb stroking my tear-stained skin. “Mrs. Beckett, I love and adore you with every single part of me.”
“Good,” I replied, playing it cool and smiling up at him, even though my heart was about to explode. I wiggled my hand free from his grasp and moved it to rest on his chest. His heart pounded like a bass drum under my palm. “I didn’t want to sign those papers anyway. Because I love you too, Talon Beckett, and I can’t imagine not being your wife.”
I expected him to kiss me wildly, but he only wrapped me in his arms tightly, as if he was afraid I’d change my mind and walk away.
“What do we do now?” I asked as I nuzzled my face against his neck.
“We stop playing pretend.”
“And tell everyone it’s not fake anymore. Think if we stay like this, they’ll just eventually leave?”
Talon chuckled and loosened his grip, then turned us to face the crowd. My sisters smiled. They were always suckers for a good romance. My parents were whispering to each other, while Andrew stared at us, his eyes wide, deep wrinkles crossing his forehead.
No one said a word, and I looked up at Talon awkwardly. “I kind of wish Dean was here to break the ice.”
“Oh, he is, dear,” Gigi called out from her spot on the right side of the stand. She was standing in the sun, holding a cell phone at her waist. “I called him when I arrived, thinking something like this may happen.”
“I’m sorry we lied to you, Gigi,” I said, stepping away from Talon and making my way toward her.
“Well, it wasn’t a complete lie. You did meet in the hotel the way you claimed. I’ve seen the footage.”
“That’s true.”
“And the marriage was real, legally speaking.”
“Seems that way,” I heard my brother mumble.
“So, the way I look at it, you’re just two people who eloped and fell in love along the way.”
“I guess you’re right, Gigi,” Talon agreed as he came to stand beside me.
“Of course, I am. I’m always right. Your friend may have also given me a heads-up when things started to get serious.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that mybestieknew you were falling for this precious lady long before you did. As in a week after the marriage was official. Dean told me everything to protect you, Talon. He didn’t want you screwing up what you found, all for the sake of the hotels.”
“I’m a little lost, Gigi.”
