“You ready for this?”

Stone gripped my shoulder. I smoothed down my tie and folded my hands in front of me. The sun was just breaking day, the lake taking on a pinkish hue.

I turned my attention toward the back door of the house.

“Should’ve done this a long time ago.”

The minister cleared his throat while his wife stood poised with her camera.

“We’ll do the short version,” he said.

“As short as you can,” I confirmed. I remained glued to that door, my heart thudding in my chest, even as a calm washed over me. Vivian was finally going to be my princess in every sense of the word.

These last few days had taken all my self-restraint to be patient and give Vivian the wedding she deserved, even though once she said yes, I wanted to get married immediately. But the time had given me a chance to reflect. I wasn’t happy with where things were with Muriella, but with Vivian, everything was crystal clear. I’d been wrong to push her away. It was a mistake I’d never make again.

That proverbial clock in my head had been smashed. Time—however much of it was left—no longer mattered. Here. Now. That’s what counted.

The door popped and creaked as it slid open. I straightened, straining for even a glimpse of her.

Muriella stepped onto the back deck first. Her gaze immediately went to Stone before shifting toward the house. She offered a hand, and Vivian’s arm appeared as her fingers slid into M’s. My pulse quickened.

A slippered foot gave way to a sleek leg. I swallowed thickly. White satin taunted me until I finally saw her face.

My legs shook when we locked eyes. Hers shimmered like my necklace around the column of her throat. Fierce possessiveness gripped me. We’d waited long enough. I wanted her now.

She led M down the steps of the deck. As soon as her feet hit the grass, she took off at a sprint. I met her halfway. She leapt into my arms, her legs locking around my waist.

Her lips crashed onto mine. We hadn’t spoken any vows, but this was us. This was her way of telling me she was mine and always had been.

“I love you.” Her fingers wove into my hair as she nuzzled my nose.

“Uh, lovebirds, we haven’t gotten to that part yet,” Stone called from behind us.

I ignored him and whispered in her ear. “You really are my everything.” I tightened my grip on her back. Her eyes softened and shimmered.

“Can we get married now?”

I carried her over to where the minister, Muriella, and Stone stood waiting for us. I set her on her feet and took both of her hands in mine.

“The quick version please,” Vivian instructed.

“We’ve already established that.” I squeezed her fingers.

“Shall we begin?” the minister asked.

“Yes,” we answered in unison.

Stone snickered. Even Muriella cracked a smile.

The ceremony began, but I didn’t hear any of it until Vivian vowed to be mine. Two simple words bonded us together for eternity. When I spoke them, I felt a subtle shift inside of me, like all the pieces finally locked into place, and I was whole.

Vivian didn’t wait for permission to kiss me. Her mouth met mine as the minister pronounced us husband and wife.

“No escaping now,” I murmured. No more desperate ground. My whole life had seemed like one battle after the other, but I’d won, and I’d savor this victory for eternity.

“That goes for you too.”

“I never really went anywhere.”

“Now you really can’t.” She nipped my bottom lip. I picked her up and carried her toward the lake. “D? What are you doing?” Wary eyes darted toward the chilly water.

“We’ll be inside later,” I called over my shoulder.

“Wait. We didn’t get pictures,” she protested.

“You want them?” I stopped walking.

She touched my cheek. “You will too one day.”

I motioned everyone to the shoreline. We posed until Vivian was satisfied, and I realized once again she was right. These were photos I could hide for her to find.

I smiled to myself as she twined her fingers with mine and led me along the edge of the water away from everyone.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked me as we walked.

“I never thought I’d have this. That I could need someone the way I do you and feel it as a source of strength instead of weakness. What you’ve given me, I—”

She cut me off with a tender kiss. “It’s nothing compared to what you’ve given me. When you asked if you could seal that envelope for me, I had no idea that moment would change my life.”

She touched my cheek and I leaned into it. Then she looked up at me. “You know, we never talked about what else was in that letter.”

“Are you okay with it?”

“No.”

I bristled. “We don’t have a prenup, so technically, I guess it’s half mine again, but you know I don’t see it that way.”

“I can’t believe you gave me and Muriella everything.”

“Except this.” I gestured toward the house. “That’s yours.”

“You know I treasure this place, but you’re avoiding the issue.”

I kissed her forehead. “No issue. I needed to take care of you. That was the only way I knew how.”

“Your money isn’t what I need.”

“I thought it was all I had to give.”

She rested her palm over my heart. “This is all I’ll ever want.”

“You have it.”

“Muriella doesn’t want the money either.”

My gaze wandered toward the house. “I won’t take it back. It may be my only chance to do right by her.”

“She’ll come around.”

“She hasn’t yet.” I dug my fingers into her hips. “I’m getting impatient.”

“Maybe Stone can get through to her.” Her brow wrinkled, unsure.

“I only know of one other person who wronged her. She’s never forgiven them, and rightly so.”

Vivian worried her bottom lip between her teeth. “This isn’t the same.”

“But she’s stubborn. And this has gone on for days.”

The woman who had needed me since she was a teenager no longer did. Now that she barely spoke to me, I realized I’d always needed her far more than I’d admitted.

I smoothed my thumb over the crease in Vivian’s worried forehead. “I’ll never forgive myself for putting her in such danger and driving her away.” My grip on Vivian tightened.

Determination filled her eyes. “We’ll just have to figure out a way to make her forgive you.”

“Together.” I dropped my forehead to hers.

“Together. Always.”

Time had just begun.

.