Page 104 of Broken King

“How’re you feeling?”Scarlet is glowing under the candlelight at the table she’s been watching me from all night. Her ankles are swollen, and I know she’s uncomfortable. Still, I also know she’ll never leave her sister’s wedding a single second early. It’s late. We’ve been here for hours, but as the band switches to a slow song, I hold out my hand anyway. “Dance with me, duchess.”

A stunning smile spreads across her face, and when those midnight-blue eyes meet mine, I know I’ve won. Her soft hand slips into my rough one, and I pull her up from the seat and escort her to the dance floor. “Okay. But just one dance.”

Scarlet leans her head against my chest, and I inhale her spicy vanilla scent. “You having fun?”

She hums her agreement. “I am. You sure do have a way with the tiny toddler crowd.”

“Are they the only ones I have a way with?” I run one hand up her neck and cradle her head, forcing her to look up at me. “I love you, Scarlet.”

“I love you too, Cade. I always have.”

“Is this what you want? A small wedding with just family? Or do you want a big society event?” We haven’t talked about getting married yet, but she’s been slowly moving more things to my house lately.

None of it matters to me as long as I get to sleep with her in my arms every night.

One of her arms circles my head while the other rests over my heart. “You’re putting the cart before the horse, aren’t you, Mr. St. James? You haven’t asked me to marry you yet.” She tugs at my tie, then straightens it out. “But if we’re speaking in hypotheticals, I don’t think I’d want either.”

“What do you want?”

Her smile is thoughtful and serene. “I’d want you, me, Brynlee, and Baby St. James. We don’t need anyone else there. We never have.”

“That sounds pretty perfect.”

She wraps both arms around my shoulders and lays her head back down against my chest. “Just us.”

I rest my head against hers and whisper, “Marry me, duchess.”

“Okay,” she agrees softly.

There’s no fanfare. It’s quiet and subdued. And completely us.

As the song comes to an end, she pulls her head back with a bit of mischief in her blue eyes. “Can you go grab Brynlee, then meet me on the side of the house by the old tree with the wood swing? I have an idea.”

“What are you up to?” Not that it matters. I’d follow her anywhere.

She runs her teeth over her bottom lip and shakes her head the tiniest bit. “Just trust me and get Brynlee. I’ll be there in a minute.”

When I tap on Brynlee’s shoulder and ask if I can cut in on her dance with Hudson, she giggles and throws herself at me. It’s late, and it’s been a long day, but this is the first wedding Brynn’s ever been to, and I think she’s going to be flying high from the excitement of being a flower girl for days to come. “Did you have fun, baby?”

Her mouth opens wide as she yawns. “I had so, so much fun, Daddy.”

We find the old tree with the wooden swing hanging by two thick ropes, just where Scarlet said it would be, far away from the party that’s still going strong. But there’s no one here. Nothing special. We’re so far from the massive tent tucked toward the back of the property, I can barely hear the band.

But after a moment, I hear Scarlet.

More accurately, I hear someone telling her she shouldn’t be walking through the grass in her shoes because she’ll get hurt. When I see who the stupid man trying to get Scarlet to give up her heels is, I’m surprised to see Declan Sinclair steadying her as her shoes sink into the soft ground.

What is she up to?

Once she’s standing under the tree with me, she takes my hand in both of hers and presses it to her lips. “Want to get married tonight, Saint? Just you, me, and Brynlee? Declan agreed to officiate.”

When Brynn’s head pops up, much more interested than she was a minute ago, Scarlet presses her finger against her lips. “We’ve got to keep it a secret for tonight, okay? We don’t want to take anything away from Lenny and Bash. Can you do that, Brynlee? Do you think you can keep it quiet for a few days?”

“I promise,” Brynn tries to whisper, but I’m surprised everyone within five square miles didn’t hear the excitement in her voice.

I place Brynlee on her feet between us and search Scarlet’s face. “You sure this is what you want?”

“It’s all I’ve ever wanted and everything I thought I’d never have.”

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