Chapter Thirty – If You Love Her #2
She sighed almost wistfully. “That’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever said.
It fills my mom heart with pride.” Then she grimaced and continued, “If I’m going to take the heat for knowing about this and not telling anyone, I better get it as right as I can.
We’ll get the license and the rings after lunch, and then I’ll go with Fallon to pick out a wedding dress of some kind.
If you don’t have your Navy Whites with you, you will wear a tuxedo.
I’ll at least have photos to give everyone when they scream at me.
The chapel at The Fortress might not be available on such short notice, but I’ll make some calls. ”
The Fortress was Marquess Enterprise’s hotel and casino here in Las Vegas. Designed to resemble the tidal island of Mont Saint Michel in France from the spirals and towers of the abbey at the top of the island all the way down to the sea walls, it dripped with wealth and sophistication.
Rafe had opened the casino about a year before everything had blown up on the ranch with Spencer’s murder. He still maintained a private penthouse at the top of the hotel’s tower that the family used whenever they were in Las Vegas, even though he and Sadie lived primarily in Tennessee.
Fallon’s relationship with her dad had improved in recent years, but for a long time, she’d thought she was nothing more than a duty to him.
Realization hit me in the chest like a bomb going off.
This was why she’d given me yet another “out” on the front porch.
She knew I loved her, just like her dad and stepdad had loved her, but she still wasn’t convinced that I wasn’t doing this out of duty.
She was worried it was just another time she was someone’s obligation.
For as long as I’d known she battled feeling this way, I should have picked up on it sooner.
The shit thing was, I was doing it out of honor and duty, but it wasn’t the primary reason I was marrying her.
The real reason was the truth that I’d told both my mother and Fallon.
I couldn’t stand the idea of not waking up with her at my side.
The only reason that mattered was that I loved her.
Fallon needed to not only hear it in a way that made her believe it, but I needed to show her in a way that left it completely irrefutable.
Somehow, before the end of the day, I had to convince her this was more about us than any damn obligation.
? ? ?
By the time Fallon came out of the bedroom, Mom and I had placed several calls to get the ball rolling on our marriage.
My mother gushed over Fallon so much that she turned bright red, sending me desperate looks to save her.
But I had no intention of stopping my mother from making Fallon feel as special as she deserved on her wedding day.
“I’ll follow you to the Marriage License Bureau,” Mom said. “And then Fallon and I will go find the perfect dress.”
She hustled out of the room to grab her purse and keys, and Fallon crossed the kitchen to slam me on the shoulder with a fist. She didn’t hold back, and it actually stung, but my only response was a grin.
“Shopping? Really? How did you rope me into this while I was out of the room?”
“Mom was right about one thing, Fallon.” I pulled her into my arms. “Even though we’re doing this fast, it doesn’t mean we can’t take a few minutes to do it right.
Just make sure you don’t overdo it physically today.
” I brushed my lips gently over the bruise at her temple. “I don’t want you relapsing.”
Plus, I had ideas for tonight. Our wedding night. Ideas that might just bring that flush back to Fallon’s cheeks for completely different reasons. Ideas that would have her crying out in bliss. The climax she’d had this morning was nothing. I could top that. I would top that.
“What are you and Theo doing while I’m shopping?” she asked.
“I don’t have my Whites with me, so I’m getting a tux,” I answered, but that wasn’t all I had on my list of things to accomplish.
I hoped she wouldn’t be upset when she found out about some of it, but it would be too late at that point.
And if worse came to worse, I’d dare her not to back down.
The Fallon I knew wouldn’t. She’d raise that stubborn chin of hers and walk down the aisle just to prove she could.
Theo left his toys behind on the couch and joined us, glancing warily at Fallon and me wrapped up together. “Dog is bored.”
“Well, good thing we’re about to head out.
We have a list of errands, and I’ll need your help keeping me on task,” I said.
It was the same way I’d gotten through all the errands with him back in San Diego, by giving him his own job.
I picked him up before wrapping my free arm back around Fallon’s waist and pulling the three of us together.
“I have a very important question for you, bud.”
He tilted his head sideways. “Yeah?”
“I need someone to be my best man. That’s a friend who stands by your side when you get married. Would you like to be my best man?”
His eyes grew wide. “You’re getting married? To Fallon?”
“Yes.”
“And we’re going to live with her at the ranch? With the doggies and the ponies?”
“Don’t forget the chickens and the cows,” I told him with a smile.
“Okay! Let’s do it!” Theo yelled, shoving Dog in the air.
I hugged them both tight. This new life wasn’t something I’d planned, but it would be better than anything I’d ever imagined for myself.
I put him down and told him to get his shoes on.
When I looked up, Fallon’s face was a sea of conflicted emotions.
“What’s wrong, Ducky?”
“What does this mean for you, Parker? For your team—”
I cut her off with a kiss like I’d done several times in the last few days, because sometimes it was the only way to stop her from spiraling into a thousand arguments and what-ifs.
“I know we haven’t discussed everything, but I promise we will.
After. For now, let’s concentrate on getting the marriage license and our wedding gear before heading to The Fortress. ”
“The Fortress?” Her brows furrowed.
“Mom placed a call. As luck would have it, their chapel wasn’t in use today.
I guess no one wanted to get married the Monday before the Fourth of July.
They’ve slotted us in with the officiant at eight o’clock.
That means we have seven hours to pull this off.
Dress, hair, and makeup for you. I’ve got the rest.”
“The rest?” Her frown grew.
I kissed the spot between her brows. “Stop overthinking this, Ducky. For once in your life, let someone else handle the bulk of the plans. Relax. Have fun.”