“I’m sure it would have,” he said gently.
“I was just thinking that you said you had waited for me since Razer had met Beth, and then I thought that … What if I wasn’t what you wanted? You might’ve become disappointed.”
“You did a lot of thinking while I was in the shower.”
“I know.” She nodded.
“Lily, you only saw the Northern Lights in pictures. It’s different having expectations of something you don’t know anything about. I grew to know you over the years; what a warm, loving woman you are, how you can’t stand anyone hurt, and how strong you were to survive a childhood which would have seriously fucked-up anyone else.
“Angel, I didn’t have expectations. I knew I wanted that sweet girl whose beautiful soul I could see in her eyes. The more I grew to know you, I wasn’t disappointed—I was captivated by everything I had learned. It was like unwrapping a pretty Christmas package and finding a work of art inside which was priceless. So, no, I wasn’t disappointed.”
“You’re definitely not what I expected. Giving me flowery speeches on Valentine’s Day, a trip to Alaska to make my dream come true, even being a nice guy and giving Georgia’s brother her job so he would be able to support his kids and hers while she’s in prison.
“The first time I saw you, all I could think about was how scary you looked with all those tattoos. Then they ended up being the reason I fell in love with you,” Lily said ruefully.
“You fell in love with me because of my tats?” Shade asked, surprised.
“I understood their meanings.” She reached up, touching the stars on the side of his neck. “The stars are your guide, so you always know what’s important. The compass, so you never lose your way home.” Her fingertips brushed the one on his collarbone. “‘Strength and Loyalty’ means someone strong enough to always protect me.” Her hand glided down to the tat scrawled across his chest. “‘Only Death Can Stop Me,’ someone who will always be there for me. When I realized their meaning, I realized I had found him.”
“Who?” Shade’s asked tenderly.
“I knew I had found my cowboy.” Lily circled Shade’s neck with her arms, touching his lips with hers in a kiss which showed how much she had come to love him.
Shade lifted her into his arms, laying her down on the blanket in front of the fire. She smiled as she opened her arms to him, his beautiful wife staring up at him with dreams in her eyes. He was no dream man—that was for fucking sure—but he loved her, and he finally had her.
“Why do I always feel each time with you is like the first?” he murmured against her throat.
She rubbed her cheek against his. “Are you sure you’re not going to get tired of me after a few years?” she teased.
“Fifty years of being married to you wouldn’t be enough,” Shade said, pulling down her top so he could trace the cleft between her breasts with his tongue.
“Fifty years is a long time.” She ran her fingers through his hair.
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“I can prove it.”
“How?”
His lips smoothed away the frown on her forehead. “Ask me again in fifty years.”
Chapter 74
The cell phone rang as he was running a towel through his damp hair. They had been home from Alaska only since the night before, and it seemed like everyone had something they wanted to say or needed from them. When they had gotten home, they had been surprised by an excited Razer and Beth, who told them Beth was pregnant with twins. Now it seemed like Evie had news to impart.
Shade picked up the phone. “What’s up?” he asked, leaning casually against the dresser as he watched Lily frantically dress for work. It might have been their first day home from their honeymoon, but he had already started the routine of making her late for work, again.
“Guess who your sister has a date with next Saturday?”
“Who?”
“Lily’s ex, Charles.”
Shade disconnected the call without saying goodbye then punched in Penni’s number.
“Hey, bro,” she answered.
“That date you have next Saturday? Cancel it,” Shade said ruthlessly without explanation.
Lily bent over to put on her shoes, and Shade narrowed his eyes on her ass.
“With Charles?” Penni asked.
“That’s the one. Cancel it, now.”
“Okay,” Penni agreed. “Anything else?”
“No, that’s it. Be safe,” Shade told her then hung up.
Lily stood up straight, blowing her hair out of her eye with frustration.