Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“Aiden,” he greeted me with a smile, then his pleasant gaze shifted to Bianca. “This must be the woman you are so desperate to marry that you blackmailed me into giving you a special license.”
Bianca gasped, and her head whipped in my direction. “You what?!?”
“For fuck’s sake,” I sighed and clarified, “I did not blackmail anyone. I asked a friend—possibly former—for a favor.”
Scowling at Dillon, I growled, “Why is everyone picking today of all days to give me shit?”
“Because it normally rolls off your back, and seeing you get riled is better entertainment than I’ve had in years.”
“You’re a son of a bitch, you know that, old man?”
Bianca hissed, “You can’t talk to a judge like that, Aiden. He can put you in jail!”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Dillon deadpanned.
“We can reminisce another day about your habit of tossing lawyers who disagree with you in jail.”
Bianca looked thoroughly confused, and I couldn't blame her. Plus, I was getting impatient. “I assume you have it?”
“Yeah,” Dillon said with an amused grin. “Shall we?”
“Make it quick,” I muttered.
Dillon called Brian into his office to act as our witness before he got up and walked around his desk to stand in front of us. I captured Bianca’s hand and nodded for him to go ahead.
After only a few words, Bianca interrupted Dillon. “Um, I think we need to back up for a second.”
My chest squeezed tight. Had she changed her mind? It didn’t matter. We were getting married. I’d spend as much time as it took to convince her.
“What’s the problem?” I queried, trying to keep my voice light.
“For starters”—she yanked her hand from mine and put both of hers on her hips while glaring at me—“I think you forgot something extremely important.”
My brow furrowed as I tried to think of what she might be referring to. Then I remembered the box in my pocket and did a mental eye roll at myself. You’re an idiot, Bryant.
“You’re absolutely right,” I conceded. I dug into the pocket of my slacks and withdrew a small, black velvet case. “I know you deserve more than a quick wedding at the courthouse, and I promise we can do something later if that’s what you want. But I need you to be my wife, kitten. I can’t wait another second.” I flipped up the lid, and the sunlight streaming into the room made the round, four-carat diamond sparkle. It was sitting on a platinum band that had small emeralds—the exact color of her eyes when she was in the throes of passion—spaced at intervals all the way around. A matching ring was nestled in the velvet with it, as well as a more masculine version.
“It’s gorgeous, Aiden,” she breathed.
I took the rings out and handed the plain bands to Dillon before stowing the box back in my pocket. Then I reached for Bianca’s left hand, but just as our fingers touched, she snatched it back.
“Bianca,” I growled in warning. “Give me our hand.”
“I’m still waiting,” she said testily, one of her feet tapping on the floor, making Brian chuckle.
“I’m not,” I grunted, glaring at the clerk over my shoulder before returning my attention to the woman who was going to become my wife any minute now. “We are getting married right now.”
“I didn’t say we aren’t,” she replied, her eyes narrowing.
“Then give me your hand.”
“I don’t believe I heard anybody ask me to marry them.” She turned big, innocent eyes on Dillon and blinked. “Did you?”
Seeing as how she was young enough to be his granddaughter, I understood why he crumbled under her act. “No”—he patted her hand sympathetically—“I didn’t either.” Then he glared at me. “Why haven’t you asked her to marry you yet, jackass?”
I mirrored his expression and snarled, “Because that would give her the opportunity to say no.”
He took that in for a minute, then nodded. “Oh, well that makes sense. Let’s begin again.”
“Wait!” Bianca snapped before frowning at Dillon and muttering, “Traitor.”
I rolled my eyes and grabbed her hand, refusing to let go when she tugged it back. “Be still,” I barked, and though she shot me a look that promised retribution—turning me the fuck on—she did as I’d directed. I slid the engagement ring on her finger, then pulled her close. “We are getting married, Bianca. Now. This is not up for negotiation. I will not have the mother of my children walking around without my ring and last name.”
She huffed, “I may be the mother of your child—”
“Children,” I corrected.
“Whatever. But that’s not enough of a reason to marry someone.” Then her shoulders drooped, and she sighed. “I want to marry you, Aiden. But not enough to be bound to a man who is only marrying me because he knocked me up.”
What the fuck?
“Where did you…?” I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts so I would say this right. “I don’t know what gave you that impression, kitten. Yes, I want my baby to have my name and to be there for every moment of your pregnancy. And I won’t deny that the baby has weight in why I want to marry you.” I put a finger under her chin and raised her face so I could look directly into her stormy green pools. “But those are mostly reasons that I gave you to convince you to marry me today. Because the truth is, I meant it when I said that I can’t wait another second to make you mine, kitten. In one night, you became the center of my world. I can’t fucking breathe when I think about you not being mine.”