Page 24 of Marrying the Underboss

I found a boutique on Main Street that had just what I needed. There was a beautiful champagne-colored party dress with silver and white beads and sequins across the fitted top. The sleeves were long and flowy, and the dress stopped just above my knees. I was worried it wouldn’t fit, but when the lovely woman who owned the place encouraged me to try it on, I was surprised how perfectly it fit against my curves. She helpedme pick a pair of heels that went with the dress, and I was on my way.

After we fill out the paperwork for our marriage license with the clerk, I grab my bag to change in the restroom.

Kane thought it was ridiculous for me to change at the courthouse, but I refused to let him see my dress until right before we were married. I had to uphold some kind of tradition.

Kane stops me before I go in. “Here, put these on too,” He says, handing me a jewelry box. When my brows pull together, he kisses the crease away. While you were shopping yesterday, I ran into the jewelry store across the street. When I saw it, I knew they were made for you.”

“But I didn’t get you a gift.”

“You agreeing to marry me is all the gift I need.”

I open the box to find an earring and necklace set. The earrings are round rubies surrounded by diamonds, and the pendant on the necklace matches my earrings. “Oh, they’re beautiful,” I gasp, tears filling my eyes. “No one ever bought me jewelry before. Thank you, Kane.” Getting on my tiptoes, I wrap my arm around his neck and pull him down for a kiss.

“You’re welcome, Angel. Now hurry, I can’t wait to be your husband officially.”

Laughing, I walk into the bathroom and go to the biggest stall to change and get ready. Ten minutes later, I walk out of the stall and check my appearance in the mirror. “Wow,” I say.

“Darlin’, you better get a move on. That handsome man of yours out there is giving scary looks to everyone who passes by .” The older clerk who wrote out our marriage license says.

I laugh. “Oh my God. I can’t bring him anywhere.”

“Here,” She says, handing me a small bouquet. “You should have some flowers on your big day.”

I don’t know where she got them, but I don’t question her kindness. “Thank you, they’re beautiful.”

She smiles and opens the bathroom door for me. When I walk out, Kane looks stunned. “Beautiful,” He murmurs. He holds his arm out for me to take, and I place my hand in the crook of his arm. He leads us down the hall as we follow the friendly clerk to a small room where an older man is waiting in black judge robes.

The ceremony takes less than twenty minutes, but by the end of it, we’ve pledged our lives and hearts to one another. When the judge tells Kane he can kiss the bride, he doesn’t waste any time pulling me close and kissing me soundly.

Chapter Fourteen

KANE

It’s beentwo weeks since we were married in a private ceremony with only us, the judge, and the clerk. Married life is great, and the sex is fantastic, but something is missing. Don’t get me wrong, I love Jennifer with every part of me. She is quite literally the angel who saved my soul, but being away from work and home is starting to wear on me.

Jennifer comes into the living room after showering and stands before me with her hands on her hips. Is she readying for battle? “Kane, I want to talk to you about something.”

I close my computer and set it to the side.“Well, that doesn’t sound ominous or anything. Tired of me already?” I smirk.

She bites her lip and tips her head to the side. “Well…”

Holding my hands out to her, she takes them and I pull her into my lap so that she’s straddling my hips. I brush some hair out of her eyes and behind her ear. “I was just kidding before, but now you have me worried, Angel.”

“Nothing to worry about,Husband. I’m not tired of you, nor do I ever think I will be, but I want you to hear me out before you answer.”

So this is serious. “I promise to listen, but I won’t agree to anything that will put you in danger, Jennifer. ”

She sighs but continues. “Alright. As much as I love being here, I think it’s time we return to reality.” I give her an are-you-fucking-kidding-me look, but she presses on. “You’ve been looking for Jacob for over six weeks, and he hasn’t popped up anywhere. Right?”

I scrub my hands down my face, knowing where she’s going with this. “Right,” I sigh.

“Either you suck at your job, which I highly doubt is the case, or he knows he fucked up and is staying gone. He’s probably halfway around the world by now in hiding. It would be stupid for him to come back because he knows what you’ll do to him if he does.”

I shake my head. “Oh, he’s hiding all right, but he’s not finished here. He’ll be back. Mark my words.”

“How do you know?” She implores.

I shrug. “I don’t. It’s just a gut feeling. I’ve always thought something was going on with him. I couldn’t figure out what.”

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