“I understand why you lied.”
“But you love me for who I am, not for what I do. You loved me before you knew.”
“I’ve always known the real you. That was the lie you could never tell. You gave me you that first night and now I’ll give you all of me every night after. I love you that much.”
“I didn’t do this back in L.A. but I should have.” He bends down, kissing a path down the center of my body, giving me goosebumps all over again, until he’s on one knee before me.
My breath catches and my hand covers my mouth as I look down.
“I can’t promise you a smooth road. I can’t promise you we won’t be tested or that your life wouldn’t be easier if you had chosen someone without my baggage, because I know it would be. What I can promise you is that if we have faith and trust in each other, nothing else will matter, none of it. I know now that you came into my life when I needed you most,” he says, then pauses, looking down briefly before his gaze reaches mine again. “You saved me from more than what you signed on for. You saved me from myself. This ring…” He holds the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen in the palm of his hand, offering it to me. “…is a thank you, but it’s also a vow I will live by and respect as much as I do you. Will you marry me?”
My hair and makeup is already done when we walk into the Clark County Marriage License Bureau. Dalton is holding my hand tight, both of us aware our secret is out the minute we walk in here. We take the forms and stand off to the side, huddling together to fill it out.
When we leave, we hop in the waiting car and head for the chapel. Once there, I go to the dressing room and slip on the short lacey dress I think he’ll love. I attach the flowing tulle skirt that is open in the front and opt to leave my neck bare, no straps or necklaces.
When I hear a knock on the door, I look in the mirror one last time, suddenly realizing, this is it. This is the day I’ve dreamed about my entire life, and I’m marrying a man that those dreams never did justice to. I slip on my heels, dab a little gloss on and fluff my hair, leaving it down, how he likes it most.
Dalton is in the small chapel room, waiting for me. The marriage officiant clears his throat and Dalton looks up. Shifting, he pulls his hands from his pockets and comes to me. There’s a smile on his face, his love shining through as he looks at me. Taking my hands, he leans in and kisses my cheek, then whispers, “You’re beautiful.”
I lean my head against his, loving the moment we’re sharing. “You look so handsome.” We walk back to the minister together and when he begins to speak, I take a peek at Dalton. He’s the epitome of cool, even when it comes to wedding clothes—his dark grey pants and jacket fitted to accentuate his great body. The white shirt is classic and the black tie, thin but not too trendy.
The vows are traditional, sweet and to the point. Both of us have already shared our deepest thoughts privately. We don’t drag it out. We just want to be married.
When Dalton doesn’t kiss me right away, the minister smiles and asks what he is waiting for. Dalton replies, “I’m not waiting. I’m memorizing.”
Our lips meet in a soft embrace. When we part, I open my eyes and look into my husband’s for the first time. Emerald—the color of his happiness.
While snuggling in the back of the car, I say, “Last time I was in a Town Car with you, we steamed it up in the middle of traffic.”
“Wanna steam up another?”
“Nope. I’m gonna make you wait.”
“You never made me wait before,” he says all cocky. “And now that you’re my wife, I have to wait?”
“Yes. I know it makes no sense. But we haven’t done anything traditional in our relationship… maybe we can at least wait to get to the room so I can say I waited until our wedding night.”
He laughs. “You mean lie? Cuz, I remember quite vividly having sex with you many times before our wedding night.”
“Yes.” I hit his leg. “Anyway, it’s not a total lie because I’m definitely going to make you wait until we get back to the room now.”
Still chuckling, he nods. “If that is what it takes to make you feel more appropriate, you got it.”
I slide across the slick seat and smile when I lean my head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”
Why am I nervous? We’ve had sex a million times—in every way and position possible, but this time, I’m nervous. With a full stomach from the dinner he had waiting for us, I take a deep breath and leave. I walk out of the bathroom, not wanting to over think this nerves thing, and I see Dalton half-dressed… or technically undressed. His back is to me as he stands with his arms crossed, staring out the large window that overlooks The Strip.