Page 88 of 7+Us Makes Nine

And when he twirled me around, the lights came up on the shadowy figures in our box seat.

Tears streamed down my cheeks when I saw my family. My mother, holding Langley and waving her hand. My father, cradling both Abigail and Christina as tears welled in his eyes. Hannah holding Michaela as they both sang along with the song and our newly-appointed nanny who was supporting Ivan and Dmitri as he practically hung themselves over the edge to wave at us, while managing to bounce Nadia on her knee.

My family.

My entire family had witnessed our engagement.

I threw my arms around Jace and crashed my lips against his. I felt whole. Complete. Happy, for the first time in my life. True, unfiltered happiness I could no longer contain. The song rose in volume and the orchestra built their chords as our lips locked again on stage. My heart soared with joyous elation as my legs came up, and Jace spun me around once again.

“I love you so much,” I said into his lips.

I opened my eyes and found his beautiful stare looking back at me.

“And I love you, Catherine. Always and forever, no matter what the cost.”

Just like the lyrics of the song being sung for us.

Twenty-Nine

Catherine

6 Months Later

“How does the water feel?” Jace asked.

“Mmm, it feels incredible,” I said. “I think the rose petals add a nice touch.”

Jace cupped another handful of water and slowly poured it over my naked shoulder.

“Enjoying the champagne?” he asked.

I tipped the last of my flute up to my lips and finished it off.

“It tastes expensive,” I said.

“Because it was expensive,” Jace said.

“You went all out for the wedding. I would’ve been just fine with us spending the weekend at home.”

“Oh no. A beautiful bride deserves a beautiful honeymoon. Your parents are helping the nanny watch the kids and Hannah’s staying overnight with them. Everything will be fine for our two-week honeymoon.”

“I still don’t know why you made it so long.”

“Do you not want to go?” he asked.

“Oh, no. I want to go,” I said as I looked back at him. “I just don’t want you to think that you had to do all this for me.”

“I know I don’t have to,” he said as his lips fell to my neck. “But oh, do I want to.”

I set the champagne flute on the edge of the jetted tub as his lips nibbled along my collarbone. My hand slid back into his hair, massaging his scalp as his arms threaded around my body. Our wedding had been beautiful. A mas

sive ceremony with all of our friends and family. Joanna, Libby, and Natasha were my bridesmaids and Emma had been my matron-of-honor. Jace had asked Ryan to be his best man and the bridesmaids respective husbands had been his groomsmen. Our Bachelor and Bachelorette parties had been a massive weekend party thrown at Carter’s place. Full of drinks and laughter and late nights spent talking about children and where lives were headed next.

And the ceremony had been breathtaking.

“Oh Jace. Right there,” I said breathlessly.

“You love it when I nibble behind your ear,” he said.

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