Page 110 of Fair Trade
I turn the microphone back on and test it quickly before announcing, “It is my greatest pleasure to announce the newest co-owner of the New York Monarchs, Luisa Álvarez-Stonehaven.” She smiles as she shakes her head. “Oh, she’s also the majority owner, possessing 51 percent.”
Luisa gasps. “Nick!”
I smile mischievously at my wife as I muffle the mic behind my back. “Have you learned nothing, wife? Always remember to read the contract thoroughly. Never know who or what you’ll get stuck with.” I wink. “Now let’s hurry along. I have plans to sleep with my new boss tonight. Can’t wait to see what all the fuss is about.”
Epilogue
It’s my wedding day.
For real this time.
And I’m spending it in the beautiful mountains of the Dominican Republic.
My family and I have made so many trips down here to enjoy the sun, sea, and sand, but we’ve never ventured up this way.
But now that Daisy is the sole owner of this quaint little house nestled on the cliffside of Jarabacoa, we get to enjoy moments like this for the rest of our lives.
And I would like for it to start immediately, since my betrothed has gone full traditionalist on me and had us sleeping in different rooms last night, stating that I was to experience every aspect a typical bride on her wedding day would.
But there is nothing typical about flying your entire wedding party and guests on your husband’s plane.
Excuse me, our plane.
And I’m sure not every groom rents out an entire floor of a nearby hotel so guests can mingle and not worry about a place to stay, since Nick’s mother’s former home is a three bedroom.
But none of those silly facts matter now.
Because I’m about to be a wife. Again. But I swear this time feels different, so bear with me.
You see, this time I’m wearing a white dress. It’s flowy and comfortable and it even has pockets, which is the holy grail for dresses.
My hair is down in loose waves, and since we’re getting married in the lush backyard, surrounded by greenery, we’ve decided to forgo the shoes and just do the damn thing barefoot.
I check my natural-looking makeup one last time in the mirror and hear a smacking noise behind me as I spot Nick barreling through with his hands covering his eyes.
“Ouch, that hurt. Who decided to put a wall there? I swear this place isn’t up to code. We probably should have done a run-through before we flew everyone out here. But there’s nothing we can do about it now. Let’s hope I don’t have a massive goose egg in our wedding photos.”
“Nick…” I try my hardest to hold in my laugh. “Are you… nervous?”
“What? Me? Nervous? Psh, nonsense. I could marry you in my sleep… in fact, I’m pretty sure I have. We were in Vegas, and you decided—”
“Husband, come here,” I coo softly.
He looks hesitant. “But—but I’m not supposed to see the bride yet. And I’m following all these rules, though most of them feel quite archaic, if you ask me. But it’s just… today is a big day. And you’re the person I talk to when I need to work through the good, bad, and mundane. Who else am I going to tell that I caught Mateo and Isabella fooling around behind the old chicken coop? Or that Daisy keeps nagging Luke to reapply sunscreen, eventhough we’re canopied in the shade. Of course he did as she asked, which is another thing I want to talk to you about.”
Okay, I guess the man has clearly suffered enough separation anxiety if he came over moments before I’m due to walk down the aisle to give me some last-minute chisme. I move into him, and his arms wrap around me instinctively, his eyes still steeled shut.
“I swear I’m not looking.” He nuzzles my neck. “Hmm, you smell nice. I didn’t see any rules about kissing. So I’m going to kiss you here.” He kisses my neck before moving up to my cheek. “And here.” Then down to my lips. “And right here.”
I kiss him back, and I feel the anxiety drain out of him.
When we separate, I nudge his chin with my nose. “Want to hear about a more modern wedding tradition?”
“I’m scared to ask, but go on.”
I rest my chin on his chest as I stare up at him. “It’s called a first look. Where the groom gets to see the bride before the wedding so they can have their initial reactions to themselves before officially meeting up at the altar. This is mostly done to get the wedding photos out of the way, so people can go straight into the reception afterward.”
“And… do you want me to call over the photographer now?” he hedges.
