One Bossy Dare

Until I catch her by the shoulder with a wary look. “Where do you think you’re going, young lady? This family’s not getting another wedding for at least seven years.”

“Dad!” She grins at me. “Not fair. Give me a chance.”

“You’ll have your chance at other weddings, little bee. I’m too young for you to give me that much grey hair if you catch that thing.”

She pouts, but lingers at my side as the handful of single ladies cluster around her.

When the moment comes, Eliza throws the bouquet like a catapult—and Destiny still lunges for it as it sails over our heads—but when I turn around to look where it landed, everyone’s staring in quiet shock or screeching laughter.

“Oh, hell.” Brock Winthrope looks up, red-faced, the flowers pinned against his shoulder. “Can we have a do-over?”

A couple hours later, the guests are on their way out. Eliza gives her parents an emotional goodbye. Once they’re gone, she and Destiny go to the bathroom and come out wearing matching brown velour jogging suits and aqua t-shirts.

Destiny looks down, rolling her eyes in horror. “Big yikes. We look like we just escaped the nineties. I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

“Just you wait. It’ll be comfortable on the long flight,” Eliza promises with a grin.

“Leggings are good enough. This screams old people club—and not the cool kind.”

Eliza eyes her warily. “On your wedding day, we’ll wear whatever you want, okay?”

“I’m holding you to it.” Destiny points at her stepmom.

I stand there and try not to cringe, grateful that Eliza’s outfit won’t be staying on for long.

I put a bedroom on my jet for good reason.

“Are we ready for the honeymoon?” I ask, linking my arm with hers just as Tom pulls up, working his way through the exiting wedding traffic. “Flight leaves in about an hour.”

“You’re kidding, right? Cole, just name any day of the week and I’ll follow you to the ends of the Earth.” Her eyes glisten.

Eliza looks at me like it’s the first time she’s truly seeing me.

Goddamn, I can’t wait to make that sparkle in her eyes a whole lot brighter.

While I wait for Tom to park along the curb next to us, I bring my woman—my wife—home to my lips.

This is our moment.

Our special drink of forever.

I don’t even look back at Destiny, knowing she’s turning ten shades of green behind us.

We trade champagne kisses for the next five minutes, fully lost in each other, laughing with hungry tongues and heat and heart.

Who knew one little dare with a spitfire would finally set me free?

Who the hell knew I’d fall so hard for this woman?

With Eliza, I’ll always be dizzy, coming off a permanent caffeine high.

And I wouldn’t trade this spectacular woman for another cup of anything else in this life.