“I wanted her to see that she was different. That she wasn't a mistake or one in a line of many. She means something to me, and like you, I’ll never let her go.”
I sit back in my seat. “I’m happy for you.”
“And I’m happy for you, too. That you found your girl early. You didn't make a mess of women along the way.”
I bark out a laugh. No, I never made a mess. Though at times with Dove I can be a little messy and out of control, but I like it. I love the things she makes me feel.
“There’s more,” I tell him. My father doesn't own the law firm anymore. He stepped aside when he retired. He knew as well as anyone that if he still owned part of it he would try to keep working. He needed a clean break. It’s worked, but I’m still not sure how he’ll feel about what I’m about to say. Either way, it must be done for my own sanity.
“I won’t be taking cases any longer from the firm.” His mouth drops open a little at my words. “I’m not shutting it down. I just won’t be taking on the divorce cases anymore. I’m opening a pro-bono division that I’ll be heading, and hand-picking cases I want to take on.”
“Son.”
I raise my hand to stop him. “I don’t want to do it anymore. I haven't for a while, and now that I have Dove there’s no way I’ll be able to keep doing the job I’m doing now and get myself to get out of bed in the morning with her lying next to me.” I don’t add that when I told Dove about making this change she was so excited she wanted to help. So much so she offered to quit her job at the florist to help me. I’d been trying to get her to do since I made her mine. I need her next to me.
My dad shoots back his whiskey, then stands and places the glass on my desk. “Jenna has made me see I haven't been living life as I should. I worked myself hard. Not that I regret it, I just wish I’d worked hard on something I was passionate about.” His eye meet mine. “I’m happy you're going to do that. I also don’t want you to regret the years of cases you’ve done already. Think of them as the years you spent fighting to make sure you had the capital to do what you're about to do. It makes me damn proud of you.”
For the first time since I was a kid I feel a closeness with my dad. I knew he was proud of me, but hearing him say it makes all the difference. It also makes me feel a little less dirty about some of the cases I’ve taken.
“How things have changed,” I say.
“A good woman will do that.”
“Oh, I know the perfect wedding planner,” I hear Jenna say as she and Dove walk into my office. I stand and make a beeline for Dove, pulling her into my arms.
“She better be able to plan a wedding in a week,” I tell her before I lean down and kiss Dove softly. She melts into me like always and I forget for a moment we aren't alone. When I pull back, Dove’s lips are swollen and her eyes are filled with lust.
My dad clears his throat and I have to fight back a growl.
“You can’t kiss me in front of your parents,” she gasps, her cheeks turning red. My cock jerks at the sight. I hope she never loses that blush. I’m guessing she won’t. Even with all the things I’ve done to her body, her face still flushes when my cock is deep inside of her.
“I’ll kiss you whenever I want. You’re mine,” I remind her, and she rolls her eyes.
“A few weeks? Really?”
“You’re lucky she isn't married already,” I tell Jenna, glancing over at her.
“Like father like son,” she mutters as my dad comes to her side and pulls her into him.
He reaches his hand out to Dove. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Might as well call me Dad.”
This makes her smile as she reaches out and takes his hand. I’m glad he’s making this easy on her. I wasn't sure how this would go tonight with me unloading on him, but it had gone better than I could have imagined.
“I’m Dove,” she says, beaming at everyone.
“Welcome to the family,” he tells her.
Fuck, I’m happy this went so well. Dove’s parents have been shit. When she called and told them she was engaged they didn’t take it so well. I still need to take a visit out to their house so we can try and fix things. I’ll do anything to make Dove happy. I don’t know how such assholes could raise a perfect, sweet creature. I want to hate them and tell them to fuck off, but because of them I have her.
I lean down and kiss Dove below her ear. “You look beautiful.” She’s wearing a black dress that hugs her chest tight, with lace over her cleavage, but I can still see it if I look hard enough. Her lips are painted a cherry red to match a bow that’s tied in her blonde curls. She leans into my touch and I give her another kiss below her ear.
“Maybe we should order in.”
“Here we go,” Dove says, giving my chest a playful smack.
“Is he the jealous possessive type, too?” Jenna laughs as she says it.
“That’s putting it lightly.” Dove pulls from my hold and I reluctantly let her go. She walks out of my office and my eyes go to her ass, then to her legs. Her legs aren't covered enough for my liking, but I don’t know how she’ll feel about my caveman act right now.
Jenna follows her out, and the puppies and my dad and I are all hot on their heels. I watch as Dove grabs her coat and slides it on. I run my hands through my hair. At least I booked a private room for our dinner tonight at the restaurant. I won’t have to deal with every fucker in the place looking at her.
I grab my own coat as we head out to the elevator. Once inside I pull Dove back to me once again. She and Jenna talk about the wedding and I listen so I can make sure she gets everything she wants. She will. I don’t care what it costs or how much extra I’ll have to pay to get it all done yesterday. It will be worth every penny. I need her branded as mine in every way. Ring on her finger, my last name attached to her name, a baby in her belly.
I fight back a groan when an image of her swollen with my child enters my mind. When the elevator opens we walk out and onto the busy sidewalk and I see my driver waiting.
I freeze when I hear a catcall. I turn to see two young men looking at Dove. My body goes rock solid and my vision goes red. The must feel my stare because their eyes come to mine. I go to take a step toward them and I watch their faces turn stark white.
Dove grabs a hold of me and I want to pull away, but I would never push her off me. The two boys take off running and I turn, grabbing Dove.
“We’ll reschedule,” I tell my dad and Jenna before grabbing my girl and throwing her over my shoulder. She lets out a squeak but doesn't fight me. I stride back into our building and hit the elevator button. It opens immediately. The doors have barely closed and I have her pinned to the wall with my mouth on hers. I need to remind myself she’s mine so this jealousy that's coursing through me gets under control.
She moans into my mouth, giving me what I want. She always has. She knows I need this, and like the perfect girl she is, she gives it to me without question. Her sweet innocence is always there. I’ll spend my life protecting it. Protecting her. Because without her I’m hollow inside. With her, I’m filled with love and light.
Maybe one day I’ll be worthy of her.
Epilogue
Dove
Wedding Day…
I stand in front of the mirror feeling like I’m in a fairy tale. My dress skirt is made of tulle and flows out all around me. The bodice is covered in light pink jewels, leaving my arms bare. The dress fits tight to my breasts, so I don’t have to wear a bra. Only a small portion of cleavage peeks out. I know that’s going to drive Beau crazy, but it only makes me smile.
He has done everything to make this day perfect for me. He even got my parents here somehow. They called me two days ago to let me know they would be attending. I wonder why they had a change of heart, but I have a feeling it has to do with Beau. Or maybe they finally put two and two together about who I was marrying.
When I’d first called them to tell them I was getting married it had not gone well. My father demanded I come home, while my mother sobbed. She sobbed harder when she found out I was already living with my fiancé. At the time I’d only given them his first name. Then the papers exploded with our engagement. Everything about me was out there for the world to see. My parents were always about appearances. I didn’t know which way they would go when they found out about Beau. They must have had a change of heart, because they’re here.
“Damn, you look good.” Tia stands behind me and I glance at her in the mirror. She helped me get into the dress to begin with. I love how much she’s been into helping me with the wedding. Without her, Jenna and Katie I’m not sure how we could have pulled this off so fast. Luckily we talked Beau into giving us a couple extra weeks. He only complied when I agreed to run to the courthouse and get married that day. No one knows about the secret wedding. I kinda like it that way. He somehow even got me a passport and new ID with his last name on it the day after that. He must have friends in high places.
“Thanks.” I beam. Tia has been Team Beau since he came pounding on our door that morning. Maybe a small part of that has to do with the fact that he’d bought the building we lived in, then gifted it to Tia as he had movers get all my belongings from there. He told her it was a gift for keeping me safe after I left my parents’ house. I rolled my eyes, but inside I was a pile of goo. Beau has that effect on me. I don't understand how people could ever call him cold, but maybe only I get this side of him.