“That’s not the way it is,” I say furiously, wishing I could shut her up. I already warned her not to talk about stuff like this, but it’s obviously beyond her control.
Vi sticks her head in. She looks like a fairy princess in a flowing pastel pink and lavender dress. “Mr. Pryce says it’s time.” Her eyes widen. “You look really pretty, Kim.”
“Thank you. So do you.” Tears bead in my eyes at how settled and happy Vi seems now. I blink them away to avoid ruining my makeup.
“Move aside, I’m here for the bride!” Salazar announces, coming inside in a crisp tux. Since I don’t have a dad—at least not one who wants to be involved—he’s walking me down the aisle.
I step forward, and he extends an arm. “You look spectacular,” he says gallantly. “Ready?”
My heart is fluttering wildly with anticipation. “Yes.”
Jo hands me my bouquet—white lilies, just like the ones Wyatt bought me on the day he proposed.
Ceinlys, Yuna, Jo and Hilary take turns hugging me, then Yuna leaves to get ready for her part in the ceremony. Mom just dabs at her eyes, muttering that she knew I could do it. She’ll never understand that I’m just thrilled to have found a man I love and who loves me in return, and that his money isn’t even a consideration.
As Salazar and I walk outside to the garden, Salazar leans over. “Your mother’s a little dramatic, isn’t she?”
“She really wanted me to…marry well.” It’s sort of true. It’s just that her idea of “marrying well” means marrying a lot of money.
“You’re going to have a child your own, right?” Salazar asks.
“I already have a child of my own. Her name is Vi.” Geneva’s loss is my gain. I’ll do everything in my power to let Vi know she’s loved.
“You know what I mean. Your babies. Biological.”
“Maybe…” I say, hedging a bit, unsure where he’s going with this.
He smiles like I’ve already agreed. “If it’s a boy, you should name him after me.”
I arch an eyebrow. “What if it’s a girl?”
“Then name her after Ceinlys. That’s the least I deserve.”
What about what Wyatt and I want? I keep that to myself, though, and smile instead. “We’ll think about it.”
“You do that.” He pats my hand.
When we’re at the garden where the altar’s set up, Wyatt’s standing in front of it, heartbreakingly handsome in his tux, his eyes bright and full of love and adoration. I feel a big smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Yuna starts “Here Comes the Bride” on the special piano she arranged for.
I start down the aisle, my eyes on Wyatt—my friend, my lover, my future.
Chapter Sixty-One
Edgar
The meeting is long and tedious. And I can’t focus. I keep thinking about the woman from the adult cream pie party. Jo. She said her name was Jo. Then she moaned my name underneath me, her body pliant and hot and wet.
Shit. I shift in my seat. I shouldn’t be sporting an erection while the CFO is discussing… What is he talking about? Oh, right. The slide says, “Supply Glut and Its Impact on Our Profit Margin.” It’s a serious issue for the company, and my meeting wood should soften, except it doesn’t, because Jo’s sexy “more, harder…please” is echoing in my head over the CFO’s decidedly unsexy voice.
Fuck.
When the meeting finally ends, I leave for my office, leather portfolio strategically positioned to hide my condition. My elderly assistant gives me a funny look. Does she notice? But it wouldn’t be like her to act like she notices.
“Yes, Susan?”
“You have something from a lawyer in Los Angeles.” She hands me a brown envelope.
“Forward it to legal.” That’s why we employ them.