At some point Rayford and Taylor must’ve left the room, but I didn’t hear them go. I was too busy drowning in Bianca.
“What about your inheritance?” she asked breathlessly, breaking away.
“It was get married or work for the company, remember? Not that I care about the money anymore. It was just time for me to let go of the past and grow up.” I stroked her satin cheek. “You’re responsible for that, you know. I never would’ve reconnected with my parents if it weren’t for you.”
Bianca rested her forehead on my chest. “So you don’t need to get married after all.”
A little tremor went through her. It made me smile.
“Technically, no,” I whispered. “But I want to.”
She lifted her head and stared at me. Her eyes glimmered with moisture.
“And I noticed you’re still wearing your engagement ring, so I think you still want to, too.”
A tear crested her lower lid and slid down her cheek. In a broken voice she said, “I just want you. Rich, poor, smiling, growling, bearded or clean-shaven, I just want you, Jax. There’s nothing in the world I want more than you.”
My happy sigh slipped past my lips, barely audible. “Be careful what you wish for, sweetheart,” I murmured, my heart singing. “If you think I’m a beast, you haven’t seen this beard when it really gets going.”
Bianca’s eyes were dreamy. She went up on her toes, wound her arms tightly around my neck, and whispered into my ear, “I can hardly wait.”