Chapter 18

Tony pulled up in front of the house. Jay was waiting for me, and got into the car.

“Hello, beautiful,” he said, kissing my cheek.

“What’s up? Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Jay and his surprises. What was it going to be this time?

* * *

The Rolls pulled up beside Jay’s jet at Midway airport. Once again I had to repress my urge to squeal at the toys of Jay’s wealth. The only other time I’d been on his plane, he’d taken me to Europe. Where was he taking me this time?

We climbed the steps to the private jet and settled into the plush cream leather seats.

* * *

“Look out your window, beautiful,” Jay said.

I leaned over and looked out at the Las Vegas strip shinning up at me. Vegas! I’d never been before, but the hotels were so iconic that I recognized it straight away. The lights were dazzling, and I turned my head between looking at them and looking at Jay watching me watch them.

“I’m so excited,” I said, clasping his hand.

A big black Hummer limo waited for us at the airport.

“No Rolls?”

“You’ve gotta go big in Vegas.”

Jay placed his hand on my back and guided me into the limo.

The inside of the Hummer was comically large for just two people. Especially when those two people were snuggled up so close against each other. Jay handed me a flute of Champagne.

“To the most amazing woman I have ever known,” Jay said, clinking his glass against mine.

We took sips of our drinks and kissed. His mouth tasted of the drink, and I lapped up every bit of him I could.

Jay had the driver take us up and down the Strip a few times before taking us to our hotel. Slack jawed and eyes wide, I stared out the window at all the lights, the massive buildings in their quirky shapes. This place was crazy.

We pulled up at The Cosmopolitan and one of the doorman held the limo door open for us. With its low lighting and music, the hotel lobby felt like a night club. Huge pillars were covered in screens displaying stylish things to the stylish people checking in.

Jay took my hand and led me to a private elevator. Buzzing from the jet, the Strip, the Champagne and Jay, once the doors shut I reached my arms around his neck and kissed him. He put one hand on my back and pulled me into him as he kissed me back.

* * *

“I can’t get over this view.” I stood on the balcony, looking down on the Bellagio fountains. A massive delayed boom echoed up each time the water fell back on the lake. Jay came up and hugged me from behind, kissing my ear and my neck.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“How could I not?”

I turned my back on the view and buried my head in his chest. He enveloped me in his arms.

“I have to admit something.” His voice sounded serious, and without his usual assuredness. I tensed.

“What?” I tried to keep my voice steady.

“You are the best thing that has ever come into my life. A day without you by my side is the worst thing I can imagine.”

I welled up at his words, drank in the love he was pouring on me. He let go of me, captured my eye contact, and went down on one knee. My entire body shook and I struggled to breathe.

“Abbie, beautiful,” He pulled a small box from his pocket.

One every girl knew was for rings. A tear escaped my eye.

“I never knew I was capable of loving someone so much until I met you. I’m constantly in awe at your intelligence and ambition. You make me laugh every day. Every moment I’m with you is the best moment of my life. And on top of all that, you’re the most beautiful woman imaginable. You are perfect. I would give up every penny I have just to keep you.”

Jay opened the box and revealed a massive princess-cut diamond solitaire. My heart pounded harder than it ever had before.

“I love you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Abigail Marie White, will you marry me?”

“Yes.” The word came fast and left my mouth as the most natural thing in the world.

He held my hand to keep it still enough to slide the ring on with his other hand.

My body shook uncontrollably and my chin quivered. The ring on my finger, Jay stood and embraced me. The closeness of my body against his calmed me, confirming we should be together. We needed to be together.

“I love you,” I said, looking up at him.

Jay kissed me, his lips tender on mine. I wanted more but he took his lips away. He pulled me close, his arms tight around me.

His mouth near my ear he said, “Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? Get married tomorrow? I started to pull my body away, to look at him for an explanation but he held me tight.

“Let’s get married tomorrow, beside those fountains. I mean it, beautiful, there’s no reason to wait. Let’s do it.”

“But,” I managed to get out. I had always envisioned a big, traditional white wedding. Except I didn’t have my daddy to walk me down the aisle. I didn’t have much family at all, only an uncle who had little to no role in my life. The church would be empty. But Jenny. I had Jenny and Sam and Marla.

“I don’t want to pressure you. Think about it overnight, you can tell me your answer in the morning.”

My shoulders relaxed, and I tilted my head to him and kissed him. Kissed the lips I knew I wanted to kiss for all eternity.

I didn’t give him an answer. The yes to the engagement had flown out of my mouth, but getting married tomorrow, that left me speechless.

* * *

Jay laid beside me in a deep sleep that came easy to him. Sleep that wouldn’t come for me. Was this my last night as a single woman? I loved Jay. He healed me. He protected me. I wanted to marry Jay. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. What was my hesitation about tomorrow?

I fingered the ring on my finger. The rock was comically large. So much, that even though I’d taken a photo to text Jenny and Sam, I didn’t because I wanted to see the looks on their faces when first they saw it.

I’d always thought weddings took ages to plan to make every little detail as perfect as possible. That the bride tried on an endless number of gowns before she found the perfect one.

Where was this wedding even taking place? Would someone dressed as Elvis be there?

Did I want to go through with it? Jay hadn’t put any pressure on me at all. He didn’t so much as bring it up again, instead letting me consider it before answering him in the morning.

I didn’t have parents. He didn’t have a dad. I wondered what his mother was like. He barely talked about her. They couldn’t be close. It seemed weird if I were to marry someone without knowing any of his family.

But at the same time, he told me a few times how family is the most important thing in life. How he would never do anything to hurt or betray a family member. Who could make a better father than someone who so strongly believed that?

Sometime around two that night, I decided that since I was already living with him and we were going to get married anyway, there was no point in waiting. I was getting married tomorrow. Or that day, really, since it was after midnight.

I shook Jay.

“Huh? What?”

I draped my body over him and kissed his forehead.

“Yes.”

“Yes?” He shook his head, disoriented with sleep.

“I want to marry you tomorrow.” In the faint light, his eyes shot open and he grabbed me tight.

“I love you. I’m going to give you the best life ever.” His lips brushed mine, the touch electric. “What time is it?”

“Two-thirty.”

“Go to sleep, beautiful. We have a big day tomorrow.”

He laid facing me and put his arm around my body.

Part of me wanted to jump out of bed and phone Jenny, but I was exhausted and I needed my beauty sleep for the wedding photos. My eyes closed.

* * *

“I love you.” I kissed all over Jay’s face until he opened his eyes.

It was only six Chicago time, but it was my wedding day. I couldn’t sleep any longer.

Jay opened his eyes and smiled. He pulled me into a bear hug and kissed my hair.

“I love you, beautiful. I’m going to make you the happiest person alive.”

Room service brought a huge assortment of food to our suite. As I spooned fresh passion fruit into my mouth, Jay made us mimosas. He passed me a glass and raised his in the air.

“To the best day of my life.” He clinked his glass on mine and I filled with emotion.

“Stop it. I don’t want to spend the whole day crying.”

He reached over and clasped my hand.

“I need to you to understand how much I love you.”

My cheeks flushed at the intensity of his eyes. “When are we getting married?” I couldn’t contain myself any longer, Jay hadn’t given me any indication at all.

“This evening.” My shoulders dropped.

“That’s so long. What are we going to do all day?”

“You are going to get a gown. It’ll take them a while to make any alterations. Then you are going to the spa for a six-hour pamper package, a facial, body wrap, massage and some other girl stuff. Get your hair, nails and make-up done. By the time you do all that it’ll be time for the ceremony.”

I spooned more passion fruit in, trying to digest his long list of things he’d planned for me.

“Where do I get the dress? Is there a boutique nearby?” The idea of picking out my wedding dress brought me back to the dreams of my childhood, when I used to cut pictures of them out of magazines.

“In the suite. I am going out, so you don’t have to worry about me.”

“What, here?”

“Yes, they’ll bring an assortment for you to choose from. If you don’t see any you like, they’ll bring up some more.” Wow. Would I ever get used to the different life of a billionaire?

“What are you going to do all day?”

“Think about all the ways I’m going to fuck my wife.”