Page 4 of Bridles and Bribery

“Why me, Dave?” Heat crept across her cheeks. “You’ve dated far classier, more educated women than me.”

He gave a huff of surprise. “I haven’t dated as many women as you seem to think I have.”

“Why?” Their appearance in the rooftop courtyard was already several minutes overdue, but she wanted to know. She needed to know.

He shrugged. “My mom has been married no less than five times. Widowed by my dad and divorced from the last four. My best friend, Gil, spent thirty-something years in a rotten marriage. Guess I didn’t see any point in putting myself through the emotional wringer like that.”

Sympathy constricted Jillian’s throat. His answer to her question was yet more proof of just how seriously he took the lifelong commitment they were about to make to each other. “Which brings us back to my question. Why me, Dave? What does a high-powered lawyer like you see in a lowly receptionist like me?” She’d been dying to know forthe entire month they’d dated, and now felt like the right time to clear up that mystery.

He gave her an incredulous look. “What we do for a living doesn’t define us, babe.”

She couldn’t have disagreed more. “It kind of does.”

“We can spend the rest of our lives debating that, if you’d like.” A dry chuckle escaped him. “Right now, the best answer I can give you is this. You’re the first woman who made me fall in love with her.”

She joined in his chuckling. “Madeyou?”

“Yep.” His expression softened again. “Whatever you did to me, I was powerless to resist it. Still am.”

She shook her head at him, still laughing. “I’m not sure what I did.” There was nothing else he could’ve said that would’ve reassured her more.

He sobered. “You’re the most honest person I’ve ever met, Jills. I think this conversation is proof of that. And honesty is very important to me.”

The tension between her shoulder blades uncoiled. “I was worried I might scare you away with my honesty.”

“Never!” He cuddled her closer. “You’re also the most genuine woman I’ve ever met. Until a month ago, Gil was the only person on the planet I trusted implicitly. Now I have you.”

She reached up to touch his cheek, reveling in the sincerity ringing in his words.

“You’re about to become my wife. My family.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “My closest friend for life. Gil’s probably going to be jealous.”

Though she knew he meant it as a joke, she didn’t smile back this time. She was too busy mustering the courage to voice one last concern that had just popped into her head. “I also want to make it clear that I don’t need to become astay-at-home wife to be happy. As much as I appreciate your offer to let me quit my job?—”

He drew back, scowling. “I thought we agreed you’d turn in your resignation yesterday.”

“I know we talked about it, but?—”

“But you didn’t do it?” His eyebrows rose questioningly.

“Not yet. I’m taking some vacation days this week.” She had a ton of them saved up. There hadn’t been many reasons for her take time off before meeting him.

“Fine.” He didn’t sound too happy about it. “That’s something else we can debate later on. But if you think for one second I’m going to let my pregnant wife wear herself to a thread on the night shift, you’d better gear up for our first knock-down-drag-out argument.” His smirk took the sting out of his threat. “Right after our wedding.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “You’re only saying that because you know I wouldn’t stand a chance against you in a debate, esquire.”

“Guilty as charged.” His voice was dry. “How about we reach a compromise and skip the arguing altogether? Just find something else to do besides the nightshift, okay?” He covered the hand she still had pressed to his cheek. “I don’t care what it is. Go back to college, if you want. Take online classes. Write a book. Start a podcast. Adopt a whole litter of kittens. Anything that makes you happy that doesn’t force us to live like two ships passing in the night.”

She leaned closer to touch her lips to his again. “If that’s your way of saying you want to spend more time with me…”

“Yes, please.” He kissed her back, lingeringly. “As much as possible. I’m sick and tired of coming home to a big, empty house.”

The disgruntled note in his voice made her heart sing. “I’ll turn my resignation in tomorrow,” she promised.

“What’s wrong with today?” he grumbled.

The elevator pinged to announce a visitor. The doors rolled open while Jillian was replying. “Well, for one thing, we’re supposed to be getting married.” Correction. By now, they were supposed to alreadybemarried.

“David Bowen Phillips!” His mother’s imperious voice pierced the room. “Is there a reason you and your bride aren’t already on the rooftop?” She stomped into the room, waving them toward the elevator. “I think it goes without saying that everyone else is growing impatient.”

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