Page 106 of The One for Forever

“Yep. And now, we can party.”

We’ve rented a big white tent for the reception. Fairy lights are strung all around the rafters, and moonlight reflects on the waves. Tonight is a mix of formal and casual. Elegant centerpieces and dressy clothes paired with burgers and beer. Rex confessed that he hates champagne, and the truth is, I’m indifferent. We do what’s right forus, and we don’t care what anyone else thinks because we know our loved ones have our backs. Just like we have theirs.

I wanted tonight to be all about celebrating with our friends and family. And they do us proud, keeping the party going on the dance floor until late.

But finally, the guests trickle to their ride-shares to stay at a nearby hotel. As for Rex and me, we’re spending the night here at the beach house.

Our first night as husband and wife. I get giddy every time I think those words.

“You ready, Mrs. Easton?” Rex asks me. He’s even sexier with his bowtie undone and hair disheveled.

“I’ve been ready since…” I think about it. “The night of the gala about a year ago. When I saw you in your tux.”

“Only then? Not before?”

I shake my head. “No. Because that’s the first night I really started getting to know you asRex. I thought I loved you before that, but I had no idea.” I reach up to run my fingers throughhis hair. “The real you is so much better than anything I could dream up.”

He scoops me into his arms and carries me through the patio doors. But he makes a detour, setting me down in the place I least expect.

We’re in the garage. His workshop.

“I want to show you what I’ve been working on.” Rex takes my hand and pulls me to his worktable. There are wooden boards laid out in various sizes, including a lot of long, thin ones. Definitely a complex project underway. “This is what I started when you first visited the beach house. When you were healing from your concussion. I didn’t know what it was at the beginning, just that it was for you. Well,us.”

“And what is it now?”

He puts his arms around my waist. “A crib. Or I should say, it will be. Once it’s finished. Good thing we have time.”

“Oh, Rex.” I turn and kiss him, my ribcage nowhere near big enough to contain the muscle inside it. I have so much love for this man.

And I get to be with him. Get to call him my husband and soon, I hope, the father of my children. How did I ever get so lucky?

“I’ve been picturing this night for a while,” he says, voice deep and low. “How it’s going to feel to have nothing between us.”

“Me too. I can’t wait.”

“Should we get started?”

“I’m not stopping you.”

Rex picks me up again and carries me to the master bedroom, where he lowers me to the edge of the bed.

I suck in a breath. There are vases of white and yellow roseseverywhere. And candles, though tonight they’re LED ones.Smart move. Neither of us wants any interruptions if a stray flame ignites something.

The scents of rose and salt perfume the air, and I can just make out the crash of the waves into the shore from our backyard.

Rex goes down on one knee, lifting my gown just enough to slide my flip-flops off my feet. No heels for me. This was a beach wedding after all, even if we went with fancy attire.

He brushes a few grains of sand from my skin, his calloused hands so gentle. An eager shiver runs down my spine.

“Ready to make a baby with me?” he asks.

That shiver cascades into a lightning storm, dancing along my nerve endings. “Please.”

He leans forward, still on his knees, and palms the back of my neck. He guides my mouth to his.

We’ve been planning this part of our honeymoon for months. We’re going to stay right here in the beach house and, if all goes well, start a new addition to our family. We both got checked out, and Rex’s swimmers are working fine. I’m fertile too. I haven’t gone so far as to nail down my ovulation schedule, because we didn’t want to stress ourselves out unless that’s needed. We had all the details we could handle just with planning the wedding.

But this’ll be our first time making love without any protection. Another level of intimacy I can’t wait to enjoy on the way to growing our family.

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