Page 64 of Sweet Rule
“That one day I was going to have someone worth protecting at my side. Even if I did everything to keep them away, there wasn’t going to be any fixing it. I knew I had to make my world change to give them exactly what they were worth, and you are worth the world, princess.”
His words are romantic and soft. They’re exactly what I always dreamed of hearing and the fact that it’s Lawson saying them to me makes them all the more beautiful.
I drop my eyes and smile. “You’re being awfully romantic lately, you know that?”
He gives me a grunt of acknowledgement and hits the button for the elevator. “I almost lost you once before and didn’t say what I should have enough. I’m not making that mistake again. I’m going to spend every fucking day making sure you know just how much I love you.”
“You already did that before,” I tell him. I look down at where his arm is still around my waist and put my hand on his. “You always made me feel loved. It was what was in my head before. The whole messed up shit with my mom a-and how I grew up that had me thinking I didn’t deserve you.”
The elevator dings and we step into it. Law is quiet while we ride it down to the garage but when the elevator comes to a stop he speaks. “Things are going to change for you, Honey.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that when we leave the building today you’re going into the city as my wife. People are going to know. The papers are going to pick it up. Marriage license is already handled. No doubt, if someone is on their shit, they’ll have figured it out from some clerk. It’ll be news for a while and that’s gonna bring attention to you.”
I can hear what he isn’t saying. He knows that I hide from too much attention. That I’ve made it a skill to blend in and go unnoticed. It’s not going to be easy to break old habits, but I know why I did it. Why I thought it was safer to go unnoticed than be in the spotlight. I’d learned it all came at a price, that love was the currency for that attention and that when I lost it I’d lose the love too.
It hurt too much to have love taken away from me so I decided to avoid it rather than risk my heart. That’s different now. I know it is. Law squeezes my hand and I take in a steadying breath. I can do it with him at my side, even if I end up splashed across some tabloid from the news of us being married.
It’s worth it, because even when the city and all the newspapers forget about me, Law won’t.
“Okay.” I nod at him and straighten my shoulders. “I’m ready.”
* * *
The security detailis quick and efficient. They even blend into the background if I’m not paying attention so I try and do that to pretend everything is normal. It doesn't work for long though, not when a photographer gets too close. Then I doubt that even on my most space cadet moment I would be able to forget they’re there, not with the way they strong arm the photographer away from me. Law hustles me into the safety of Law Acquisitions and only seems to relax when we’re on an elevator on our way to his office.
“I didn’t think there would be so many,” I say quietly. We’re alone in the elevator. Well, except for Taylor. It seems Law had brought him on to do more than just driving. He is Law’s shadow when he isn’t directing the security detail.
“Photographers?” Law asks.
I nod and fidget beside him. It is easy to feel confident and able to take on anything when we are home, but that photographer has me rattled. Not to mention when I’d looked over my shoulder at the glass walls of Law Acquisitions, I’d seen more photographers. They are easy to spot with the massive lens and stereotypical “incognito” uniform of sunglasses and a ball cap.
“I don’t understand why there’s so many.”
“Because of who I am,” he says and then adds, “because of who your father is.”
My eyes go wide. “They know about that?”
Law snorts as the doors open with a gentle ping. “Sweetheart, he sent out exclusive invitations to your birthday and an email. The fucker made sure there was more than one way for the papers to tie you to him.”
I hadn’t known about the email. I’d seen the invitations before they'd gone out when one of Zeus’ acolytes had passed me one with a wink and an excited ‘you’re so lucky.’ I hadn’t felt lucky, but I’d forced a smile on my face anyways, looking down at the heavy cardstock with the painted filigreed words. I’d felt confused by it. I’d known it was a party, but seeing that invitation had my intuition on high alert for what else Zeus had up his sleeve. I’d been right to be wary, considering how the night had gone.
“And now you,” I say, looking at Law. He is the best part out of the entire mess. The security detail is against Zeus, but even with us on high alert it is worth it to be Law’s wife.
He takes my hand and brings it up to his lips. “If I have to be connected to fucking Zeus to have you I’d make the same choice again and again.” He drops a kiss against my knuckles and leads me out of the elevator with Taylor a step behind us. He is scanning the halls as we walk, but the second we hit the reception area for Law’s office his gaze zeroes in on one person almost instantly.
Addie.
I smile seeing her. She is at her desk looking prim as ever as she works on her computer. It takes a second for her to realize we’ve arrived but the second she does she jumps up with a bright smile on her face.
“You’re here!” She is looking at me with a sunny smile but I don’t miss the way her eyes shyly go to Taylor. Interesting. I’d noticed they always seemed to gravitate towards one another but if what I am seeing is right then I guess they’ve taken a step towards something other than secretly pining and sneaking looks at one another.
At least, I hope so. Life is too short not to go after what you want and that includes people.
“We are and we’re not alone,” Law tells her.
Addie’s brows scrunch. “What do you mean?”
