Page 35 of Second Love
As the waves crashed about them and covered them in a fine spray, he endeavoured to show her with his kiss everything he’d written in his books. His love for her, his desire for her. How he would go to the ends of the earth to protect her. Coming to Ballicliff to win Maddie back had been the best decision of his life. He knew for certain he wouldn’t mess up again, not with her at his side.
Almost dizzy with gratitude, he drew back and framed her face in her hands. “Marry me?”
Epilogue
Maddie took several deep breaths and clutched the beautiful bouquet of lilies in her hand. She glanced at her dad who gave her an indulgent smile and waited for the carriage door to open. She gripped her father’s arm before he exited.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“For what?”
She lifted a shoulder. She couldn’t exactly say for not hating her fiancé but she suspected he understood.
“We only wanted the best for you, Maddie. It’s hard to tell an eighteen-year-old they might be making a mistake but I think you know your own mind enough now.”
“I do, I just wish Mum would see that.”
“Your Mother isn’t as disproving as she seems. Even she’s admitted Sawyer is a good man and deserves you now.”
Maddie shook her head. “I wish she’d told me that.”
“You know what she’s like and, anyway, you never needed our approval before.”
“I’d like it though, especially now that...” She clamped her lips shut. They hadn’t told anyone yet. She’d only just passed the twelve week mark and thankfully her morning sickness hadn’t kicked in. That didn’t mean her stomach wasn’t rolling with nerves though.
Not because of Sawyer, however. He wouldn’t let her down again. Sawyer had proved without a doubt he would be her perfect match in life. Maybe things wouldn’t have worked out all those years ago. Maybe they needed this time apart to grow and become better people. She couldn’t regret it now, not when they had so much.
He glanced over her, realisation in his dark eyes. Her father smiled and patted her hand. “Don’t worry. You have it. You always have and you always will.” He stepped out and offered her hand. “Your bridegroom will probably be sweating a little by now so shall we?”
Maddie clutched her skirts and handed him the bouquet while she extracted herself from the horse-drawn carriage. “He deserves to sweat just a little.”
Although, they were only five minutes late. She didn’t really have any intention of making him worry. Now she’d read all his books, she understood fully how much he’d been thinking about her all these years. His tales of their rather erotic antics might be a little wild compared to the reality of their life but it gave her an insight into what her husband-to-be had wanted for them. Love, passion and understanding. She had all of those now.
When she entered the church and noted all the locals there, she couldn’t help but smile. Sawyer had almost won over everyone in Ballicliff too—though not everyone knew what he wrote. There would be a few raised brows if they did. But now he had restored his father’s house and they’d moved in, people had begun to accept him as one of them again.
But her attention quickly moved from the people in the pews to the man waiting for her at the altar. He made her breaths quicken in a smart suit with an emerald waistcoat. If it wasn’t for the slight glint in his gaze as he let his roam over her, she’d think there was no hint of that bad boy left.
There was though. Just a little one. Enough of one to make life fun. She couldn’t wait for him to show that side to their child. He’d help balance out her need for logic and sense.
As her father seated himself on the pew behind her and she took her place next to Sawyer, she grinned at him. His gaze didn’t leave her face.
“You’re beau...” He swallowed. “Hell, Maddie, you’re amazing.”
“Shhh, you can’t say that word here,” she hissed.
“Hey, I’m the bad boy of Ballicliff Bay remember?” he whispered as the vicar came to stand in front of them.
No, she didn’t remember. All she knew was that he was love of her life. And nothing would change that.
THE END
