Epilogue
Ford
At a wedding, all eyes were supposed to be on the actual people getting married. Unfortunately, while I was one of the groomsmen at Chase and Andrea’s wedding, I wasn’t paying any attention to the groom or the bride.
I only saw her. Pure trouble and the love of my life.
As the maid of honor, Violet wore a pastel lavender gown—revealing a soft, elegant version of her most people never got to see. She was the most beautiful person in the room to me, and that was saying something because Andrea made a stunning bride.
I noticed everything about Violet. The way she straightened Andrea’s veil with steady hands.
The way she smiled softly when Chase teared up as Andrea walked down the aisle with her sister, Madison, at her side since both their parents were gone.
The way she blinked back tears when Andrea and Chase exchanged vows.
Violet felt everything deeply. She just didn’t show that side to many people. But I was privileged enough to see these parts of her, and was so grateful this was the woman I intended to spend the rest of my life with.
I had to remind myself that proposing at someone else’s wedding was incredibly gauche. But the ring was tucked safely in my sock drawer at home, not in my pocket. Which was probably a good thing, because the urge to drop down on one knee and ask her to be my wife was strong.
I’d bought the ring last month, right after we signed on the house we bought together.
I had a feeling Violet knew about the ring, but I also knew the ring itself wasn’t the thing that mattered most to her.
The real proposal had been the commitment of us buying the house together.
Giving her something she’d never had growing up—a safe and permanent home with the man who loved her and intended to stay.
A future no one could take away. A place so she never had to fear abandonment again.
The house was a promise. The ring would just be my way of claiming her as my own in the eyes of everyone else.
The ceremony passed, and vows were exchanged.
Chase looked at Andrea like she hung the damn moon.
It soothed me, to see someone like Chase, who once insisted he couldn’t ever be happy or give a woman what she needed in a relationship, getting married and smiling at Andrea with a softness in his eyes that maybe bordered on tears (and I was sure his brother, Austin, would tease him for that later).
Chase deserved it, and so did Andrea. And Violet deserved a day like this, too. I couldn’t wait to give it to her when she was ready.
At the reception, the music started and the party came alive.
Christopher was there—Andrea was finally softening toward him—and he’d brought his new girlfriend, a sweet girl he’d met in community college.
Violet practically beamed when she saw them together, pride and relief written all over her face.
I leaned close to Violet, who was sipping champagne and watching the two of them. “Should I be jealous that your brother getting a girlfriend is making you happier than sex with me?” I asked playfully.
She rolled her eyes, a smirk on her lips. “Please. I get you naked on a regular basis. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event.”
Despite the teasing, I knew exactly why this mattered to her.
It wasn’t just that Christopher was dating, it was what it symbolized.
He was growing up. Making better choices.
And like Violet, he was ready to open himself up to love and to the hope that it would turn out better than it had for their mother.
Violet and I watched some of the other couples on the dance floor, including Christopher with his girlfriend. “When did he learn how to dance?” she asked, her tone surprised.
“I taught him,” I told her. “He wanted to impress Leila.”
She whipped her head around and gaped at me. “You taught him? He didn’t tell me.”
I shrugged. “I think he was embarrassed.”
Violet watched them again, and then her free hand slipped down and eventually found mine. “I’m glad that he…it means a lot that he trusts you enough to ask.”
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze, loving how openly affectionate she was with me now. “I’m happy to help him. Always,” I said, meaning it.
She shook her head. “Most people haven’t been there for him. And you always have. I know it’s because of me, but…thank you anyway.”
“Of course it’s for you,” I said, smiling at her. “You love him. I’m always going to do what I can for him. He’s a good kid. If I can help him stay on track, why wouldn’t I?”
She stared at me, her eyes shining with emotion. “And that’s why I love you.”
Every time she said those words, it still hit me like a punch to the chest and reminded me how fucking lucky I was.
She leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “By the way, I just want to say, you look so damn hot in that tuxedo. Makes me want to climb you like a tree.”
I grinned at her, not opposed to the idea, if we were alone. “Yeah?”
“Mmhmm.” Her lips curled into that wicked little smirk I knew too well. “Which is why I took my panties off.”
My brain-short circuited at the knowledge that Violet had nothing on beneath her dress. Before I could drag her somewhere private, she slipped away with a husky, teasing laugh, heading toward the dance floor to join Andrea and the others just as the music switched to something upbeat.
I stared after her, half in awe, half in agony, until I reached into my jacket pocket and felt something soft. Silk and lace.
I smiled to myself. She was such a goddamn hellion, but she was my hellion and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
She’d deliberately slipped her panties into my coat, and now she was swaying her hips on the dance floor while giving me the most unapologetic, come-hither grin I’d ever seen.
She knew exactly what those panties would do to me. And she was looking forward to the consequences later.
My future wife was a brat, the sweetest trouble I’d ever known, and I couldn’t fucking wait to marry her.