Merry With a Scrooge (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

15. Vail

Vail

I’m running on only a few hours of sleep and yet I feel more energized than I have in months.

Fuck, maybe years.

Laney has been quiet since we got to the airport and boarded the chartered plane. We’re somewhere over Arkansas and I can’t stand the silence any longer.

“Talk to me.”

Her gaze finds mine and I can’t decipher any of the emotions swirling in her eyes. “You didn’t tell Quade before we left.”

Fuck! I forgot all about him. My mind solely focused on getting to Kavan. “I’m sorry. The second you told me about the adoption, the drug use, I couldn’t think of anything else.”

She gives me a nod then pulls her bottom lip between her teeth. The move isn’t meant to be sexy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t.

I want to unbuckle my seatbelt and drop to my knees in front of her so we’re eye level and promise her whatever she needs from me she has it.

It takes everything in me not to do it. As much as I want to kiss her, to offer all that I am we need level heads right now and kissing Laney is the quickest way to insanity.

“What are you thinking?” I ask because I know there’s something swirling around in that head of hers.

“Vegas?” One delicate brow arches and the corresponding side of her mouth tilts up to match.

“Yeah. Um…” I hold her gaze even though the urge to look away is strong. I won’t hide from her. Not anymore. “You suggested we get married, then said you weren’t ready but when you told me about my ex being involved with drugs, I…”

“Being married would help get full custody.”

“It would. But that’s not why we’re going to Vegas.”

“Why are we?”

“Because I want a claim on you. One your brother, or anyone else who wants to get in the middle of us, can’t remove.”

“You want to claim me?”

“Yes. But I want you to claim me too. I want to wear your ring and tell everyone I’m yours.”

“My family might get upset we don’t have a big wedding.”

“Will you be upset?”

“No. I’m not one for being the center of attention. Never dreamed of a big white dress or a fancy party even when I was younger and into fairytales.”

“You didn’t?”

“No.” Her gaze softens, her smile a sweet curve of her mouth. “I only ever wanted to marry the man I loved and build a family.”

“Do you want to do that with me?”

“Yes.”

“But not yet.”

“It’s not that I’m not ready to commit to you, to us, it’s more than I’m worried you’ll regret it later.”

“Never.” My belt is off and I’m on my knees in front of her like I imagined. I have her face cradled in my hands and I lean forward until our foreheads are pressed together. “Never in a million years will I regret marrying you. Even if ten years from now you decide you don’t want to be married to an old man and ask for a divorce, I will never regret being your husband.”

She pulls in a deep breath, and I watch her breasts rise beneath the top of her dress, almost groan as the lush curves lift toward me, toward my mouth.

I want to bury my face in her cleavage but now isn’t the time.

“Okay.”

My head jerks back as my eyes shoot up from her chest. Our gazes lock and I can’t catch my breath with what I see in hers. “Okay? As in yes? You’ll marry me today?”

“What would you do if I said no?”

“I’d tell the pilot to skip Vegas and head straight to LA.”

Her smile has my stomach fluttering. Fluttering! Fuck, this woman has a hold on me like no one and nothing else.

Except Kavan. But his hold is different. He’s my child. Laney is my soulmate.

And I’m not a romantic, at least I’ve never thought of myself as one. But my stomach is fluttering and I’m staring into the eyes of my soulmate.

“Don’t tell him to skip Vegas.”

Her words have me sucking in a breath, holding it, and I have to force words out of my throat. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“And Quade? You know he’s going to be the most vocal about this.”

“He can be as vocal as he wants. It’s not his life. I don’t need his or anyone else’s permission—or approval—to marry you.”

“I will make it up to you.”

“What?”

“This quickie wedding without our families. The absent on-one-knee proposal and engagement. The Honeymoon we’re not going to be able to take.”

“I don’t need any of those. This might be rushed because of Kavan but we would be here in a few months, a year at most.”

“Really?” That she thinks we’d be heading to a church within a year is a boost of confidence the decision to get married now needs.

“Yes. I know this part of us is new, but I trust you know your own mind and heart, and what you’ve told me is the truth. I don’t see why we should wait when we’re both looking in the same direction for our future.”

“You won’t regret this. I’ll make sure you don’t, even if it takes every day for the rest of my life, I’ll prove your trust in me isn’t misplaced.”

“I don’t need you to prove anything.” Her smile is soft, her gaze softer. “I just need you to love me.”

“I do.”

She laughs. “Save those two words for later.”

I grin. “If at any time you feel overwhelmed or you want out, just say the word and I’ll do whatever I need to.”

“I love you.”

Her words send a shudder through me. Make my heart wobble in my chest. “ Laney .”

“I think I’ve always loved you. Well, since the moment I understood romantic love. You were my dream and even when I thought you would never return my feelings, the ones I had for you didn’t die.”

“I wish I’d been brave enough to?—”

Her hand covers my mouth. “No. I think we both needed the extra years to grow.”

“How did I get so lucky to have you?”

“I could ask the same.”

“I’m not that much of a catch. Look at the situation I’ve got myself in.”

“In-Famous magazine says differently.”

“Oh fuck. Please tell me you didn’t read that bullshit.”

“It’s not bullshit. Remember I have access to your files. I know every one of the facts they shared about you is true.”

“I had nothing to do with that article. Felicity wanted me to do it so we could then share our wedding photos.” I frown. “For money.”

“She really is a prize catch, Vail. I don’t know how you can stand to let her go.”

I know she’s joking. I hope she’s joking. She has to be joking.

“Relax.” Laney laughs. “Gosh, you should see your face.”

“Hey!” I narrow my eyes and when she’s closed her own, I reach out and tickle her.

One of the benefits of being friends with her brother is I know all her weakness—including her ticklish spots—because even now, when she’s a twenty-five-year-old woman, Quade isn’t above teasing her.

“Stop! Stop!”

Laney’s laughing hard and twisting in her seat. Afraid she’ll hurt herself with the seatbelt I stop and unbuckle it.

“I love that sound,” I murmur.

“What? The sound of me almost peeing my pants!” She straightens in her seat and with a hand on my shoulder shoves me away.

I’m laughing now as I topple over on my ass. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“I haven’t gone to the restroom since before we had lunch, and I had two of those handmade lemonades before we got back to Love Beach. So yes, it was that bad.”

When she stands up I have to scramble back. “Where are you going?”

She eyes me over her shoulder as she walks away. “To pee! Before I wet my pants!”

I grin. I know she’s exaggerating. But I love the way we are together. Now that I’m not holding back. Now that she’s given me more than a chance with her.

For months we’ve bantered. Some of it has been more heated and on those occasions I was forced to pull back. Get myself under control.

And now I don’t have to.

Because in a couple of hours Laney Bennett will be my wife.