Perfect Grump (Bad Chicago Bosses)

Reese waits for me like a dream on the pier. So stunning I almost need CPR.

Her wedding dress falls around her in cascades of champagne-colored silk that ends just above her knees. It drops to a triangular point above her ankles in the back. The waistline is right under her full breasts—and I’m enjoying the fact that they’ve only gotten rounder during pregnancy.

It’s not the elaborate dress I’ve seen at other hotshot weddings, but for us, it’s perfect.

I’m damn near running up the aisle. We decided to put a twist on the typical here comes the bride, and have her wait for me at the makeshift altar.

I’m on her with everyone staring, cupping her face and leaning in, overwhelmed like never before.

“I love you so much. You’re a hell of a bride, and thank God you’re mine,” I whisper, about to attack her lips when Abby clears her throat.

“Hey, Casanova, you’re supposed to wait until the end of the ceremony for that. We’re still doing a few things by the book,” she says.

“Sorry.” I didn’t even realize she was there.

We have roughly a dozen people, a tiny audience, but all I see is us.

Something body slams my knee.

“Quick Nick, are you ready to be my uncle?”

Smiling down, I lift Millie and kiss her cheek. “You’d better believe it, munchkin.”

She points at Ward. “Is he my uncle too?”

“Uh...” My gruff brother surprises me by saying, “If you want me to be.”

“Okay! But Quick Nick will always be my favorite.”

“Isn’t he always everyone’s favorite?” Ward shakes his head.

Grandma comes up. “Oh, Reese. You’re beautiful.” She hugs my bride.

“Thank you, Bea,” Reese says.

“I’ve interrupted you enough. Please carry on,” she says, moving to the small row of chairs.

Reese holds a rose bouquet with one hand and shakes her other hand out.

“I’m glad we went with a small ceremony,” she whispers to me.

“Hope you’re not nervous.”

“To marry you? No way. It’s just the audience that makes me jittery.” She lowers her voice. “Um, they’re going to see us kiss.”

I flash her a devilish grin.

“I’ll be chaste—and save the real kiss for later—if that’s what you want.”

“Listen, we need to get this started before I laugh or gag or something,” Ward grinds out. Paige shoots him a dirty look from the seats.

“Do I get to be on stage now?” Millie asks, waiting at the start of the short aisle.

“Stage?” I put her down.

“It’s not a stage, little one.” Abby rushes over and bends down, finger-combing Millie’s hair. “Just like we talked about. You walk to the center of the white chairs and stop when you get to the first row.”

Abby escorts her away and then returns to us.

Millie starts down the aisle in a peach dress, white shoes, and pigtails. The pigtails win smiles from everyone, including me, but I smile wider because she’s carrying the remote-controlled limo I used to propose. It’s decorated with pink ribbons and flowers, and no one ever put the top back on.

“Why does she have a toy?” I ask.

“You’ll see,” Abby says.

She pulls rose petals out of the limo and throws them, changing hands with every step so they’re distributed evenly—or at least she tries.

“Oops!” Millie puts a hand over her mouth.

She turns around, grabs a handful of flowers from the pier, spins back around, and chucks them ahead of her.

Reese giggles, covering her mouth with her bouquet.

Paige steps into the aisle from a white chair.

“There’s my wife.” Ward sighs. “It’s weird walking another woman down the aisle.”

“You’re my brother. Deal with it.”

He slaps my shoulders. “The things I do for you.”

“I’m sorry,” Abby says. “This was my sister’s idea. Not mine.”

“No worries.”

Paige bends down next to Millie, says something to her, and leads her to where she’s supposed to stand before returning to her seat.

“She’s going to be a damn good mom,” I whisper.

Ward smiles. “I know.”

The music swells, loud wedding notes soaring over us. Ward leads Abby down the aisle first. They pass Millie and each of them stand at one side of a black circle arch perched on Lake Michigan.

“Abby says the sunset will make a beautiful picture over there,” Reese whispers.

“It will, but I won’t be looking at the sun.”

Her cheeks glow neon red.

“Ready?” I whisper.

She nods at me, her blue eyes sparkling.

I loop my arm through hers and walk her down the pier, just like we planned. Since she doesn’t have parents, I’m escorting my bride to the place where we’ll say our vows.

We stop at the arch in front of a smiling pastor.

It’s a small wedding, but Reese still holds her bouquet up with one hand and hides behind it.

I grin at her but don’t say anything. I don’t care what anyone else sees. Only that she leaves as my wife. Mine forever.

“You’re supposed to give me the bouquet,” Abby whispers.

Reese looks at me and raises a brow.