Chapter 12
DEVON
Facing Lizzi as the sun sinks over the mountains, the last rays of light sparkling on the ripples of the lake, I have the urge to shout in victory.
It’s been four days since she walked into my bar.
Four days since she ran out on her wedding to another man.
Four days of hiding out in my dilapidated house.
Four days of falling. Hard.
Tessa, our celebrant, is speaking but I’m not paying attention. My focus is solely on the woman in front of me.
Elizabeth Foxworth soon to be Boyd.
Her smile is radiant. Her eyes bright with happiness.
I love seeing her like this.
The simple dress she has on molds to her torso, flares at her hips before dropping in loose folds to brush the tops of her bare feet.
It’s nothing like her first wedding dress.
Then again, this wedding is nothing like her first.
I know this because she hasn’t stopped talking about how perfect this dress is. How this spot at the water’s edge is exactly how she pictured it. Her dream wedding.
Pride fills me. I gave her this. I gave her the dream. And she has no idea she’s giving me mine.
Tessa’s voice is a low hum in my ear until she says, “Devon Rodney Boyd, do you take Elizabeth to be your lawful wife?”
“I do.” I can’t wipe the grin off my face as I push the simple gold band onto her finger.
“Elizabeth Louise Foxworth, do you take Devon to be your lawful husband?”
“I do.” Her smile widens, lights up her eyes the way I’ve grown to crave, and she slides a matching band on my ring finger. Nothing makes me happier than Lizzi being happy.
“With the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife.”
I don’t wait to be told I can kiss my bride. I’m yanking her against me and smashing my mouth to hers. She tastes like strawberries, and I know it’s the lip balm she slicked on moments ago. I make it my mission to kiss off any trace of it.
“Ahem.”
Jerking apart, our heads whip in the direction of the celebrant and the two strangers who were out walking their dogs we talked into being our witnesses we seem to have forgotten about.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Tessa’s smile is knowing. “But everyone needs to sign the marriage certificate and other paperwork before I leave.”
Gripping Lizzi’s hand in mine, we follow the woman who just changed our lives across the small section of sand and head toward the carpark.
When searching for a place to get married, we picked a public park bordering the shores of a lake south of Sydney because we knew it would be less likely to draw attention. And after yesterday’s phone call with Lizzi’s brother, attention is the last thing we need right now.
According to Edward, their grandfather is on the warpath and threatening to fire Lizzi for not being at work even though she’s on leave. I mentally scrub a hand through my mind. I don’t want negative thoughts intruding on our day.
I squeeze Lizzi’s hand and murmur, “I had no idea your middle name was Louise.”
“It’s my mother’s name.” Her voice is soft, full of love and sadness, and I hate that I made her feel that way today.
“You have her with you every day.”
My words make her stumble and I wrap my free arm around her middle to keep her from falling, which brings us face to face.
Her eyes are wide with surprise. “I never thought of it that way.”
I smile at my wife, the woman I plan to spend my life with even if she thinks we’ll divorce once she secures her family’s company. “Well, to remind you of her I think I’ll call you Lizzi Lu from now on.”
A smile so big I understand the saying from ear-to-ear flashes across her face, and suddenly I’ve got an armful of my wife.
“Thank you!” She peppers my face with kisses. “I’ve never had a nickname, not even before…”
“You’re not Elizabeth to me. Not anymore.”
Her expression dims, takes on a more serious look. “I don’t feel like Elizabeth with you.”
It’s the highest compliment she could give me.
Four days ago she walked out on a life that had been all but mapped out for her.
Fuck, it was planned for her. But she’s smiled more in the last few days than I’ve ever seen and admittedly I haven’t known her long or been in her company that much, but I know her friends have talked about how sad she’s been in recent months.
“I always want you to be comfortable with me. I want you to feel however you feel. Be honest with me, and yourself,” I say.
“I’ve been more honest around you than anyone. Including myself.”
“Good.” Over Lizzi’s shoulder, I see Tessa has paperwork spread out on the hood of her car, our last-minute witnesses signing where she points. “Let’s go make you legally Lizzi Lu Boyd.”
Her grin is contagious but mine doesn’t get to fully form because she’s kissing me again. It’s quick. All too quick. And while I want to protest, pull her back into me and take her mouth again, I don’t.
We’ve got papers to sign.
And plans to put into action.
“Are we going to head back to your place from here?” Lizzi asks.
I haven’t told her what we’re doing after this.
I wanted it to be a surprise. We agreed to keep this marriage a secret for a little while longer.
She’s on leave from her job for the rest of this week and next, although Edward’s call yesterday may change that.
We still have to meet with Lizzi’s lawyer, get other paperwork signed.
Tonight though, she’s mine, and I’m not letting anyone ruin this day for her.
“No. We’ve got somewhere to be first.”
“Oh?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Her frown is there and gone, but I’m watching her so closely I don’t miss it.
“You don’t like surprises?”
She shrugs. “Never had any good ones that I can remember.”
I make a mental note to give her a good surprise every day. Even if it’s a note tucked into her handbag. Coffee in bed before she starts the day. Flowers delivered to her office. Picking up her dry cleaning. There are any numbers of ways I can get a smile on her face with something unexpected.
“I see your mind ticking. What are you thinking?” She’s grinning, and it makes me smile in return.
“Just thinking of all the fun things I can spring on you in the future.”
Color floods her cheeks. “You’re too good to me.”
“No. I’m only giving you what you deserve.”
“Okay, lovebirds. I’m sorry, but I need you to hurry. I’ve got another ceremony to perform at eight.” Tessa stands beside her car, the two strangers who agreed to witness our marriage nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, sorry.” Lizzi quickens her steps, tugs me along with her. “How fast will this be processed?”
“I’ll lodge them tomorrow.”
“So the marriage won’t be legal until then?” Lizzi asks for clarification. I know she’s thinking about the other legal paperwork we need to organize.
“It’s legal now.” Tessa shoots us a grin and sweeps an arm out over the papers. “As long as you sign these.”
I waste no time; darting forward, I pick up the pen Tessa has set on the first document and start signing my life over to my wife. Once done, I hand the pen to Lizzi and watch as she signs her life over to me.
And when that last stroke is made, I pump a fist in the air, whoop so loud birds burst from the trees around us, then grab my wife. Lifting her off her feet, I spin us around and around.
She’s laughing, her head thrown back, eyes closed, and it’s in that moment that I know my suspicions are correct.
I’m in love with my wife.
The wife I agreed to divorce as soon as she gained control of her family’s company.