Page 2 of Wedding Whitney
“Babe, I wish you’d tell me these things so I can help. We’re in this together, you know.”
“I know.” I smile. “You’ve just given in to so many things already. The big wedding, spending time with my obnoxious family, the testing…” I glance at him. “I know you don’t want to do the testing.”
“I want whatever you want,” he says softly. “I love you, Whit. If it makes you more comfortable to have testing done now, then I’m fine.”
“You seemed annoyed when I brought it up, so I want you to know we can cancel the appointment and do it later. When we’re back in Anchorage.”
“Nah.” He shrugs. “You want to do it, so we’ll do it. It’s all good, babe.”
“I know it makes you nervous,” I say softly, “but I just want to know so we don’t have to think about it. When we’re ready for a baby, we can go for it. Or come up with a different plan.”
“I know. And it makes total sense, which is why I’m doing it. I’m a little gun-shy after everything that happened with Addy, but you’re right that it’s better for us to know. That way, we can adjust our plans accordingly.”
“We’re not adjusting any plans!” I say, laughing as I nudge him. “Everything is going to be fine. Believe it or not, I’m doing this for you.”
“For me?” He brings my hand to his lips and brushes kisses along the inside of my wrist.
“Yes.” I follow the movement of his mouth, goosebumps covering my skin because his touch is always so sensual. “Because I want our marriage to be everything your first marriage wasn’t.”
“It already is,” he says, holding my hand against the side of his face. “You’re my soulmate, Whitney. She wasn’t. That’s really all there is to it.”
“Have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“I think so? But you can always tell me again.”
“I love you, Mr. Carruthers, and I am so excited to become your wife.”
“I’ve waited to hear you say that for nearly five years,” he says.
“Hard to believe how far we’ve come since that night in Boston.”
“And worth every second of the wait.”
“You’re a romantic.”
“I try.”
Does he ever.
One of a million reasons I love him.
Chapter 2
Jake
I knew Canyon Ravenworth, III—my future father-in-law—was going to be pissed when he found out Whitney wants her grandmother to walk her down the aisle, but I didn’t expect yelling at the dinner table. Lillian arranged a quiet family dinner for us—me, Whitney, her parents, and Lillian—so we can casually drop it into conversation. She hopes Canyon will be surprised and just let it go, but instead, he goes off on Whitney.
“This is by far the most selfish and thoughtless thing you’ve ever done,” he says, pointing a finger at her. “And you’ve done quite a few.”
“Calm yourself, Canyon,” Lillian shakes her head at her son. “The two of you haven’t had a relationship in years and you’re not paying for the wedding. It’s perfectly legitimate for her to ask me.”
“You always find a way to make yourself the center of attention, don’t you?” He scowls at his mother. “You never had any daughters, so you had to steal away mine.”
“I’ve stolen no one,” she replies calmly. “You have never had any patience for girls, not when she was a child and certainly not now, so why would you assume her loyalty would be to you?”
“She’s loyal to you because you’ve dangled a board position under her nose for years. What she doesn’t realize is that everything will change once you’re gone.”
“Well, lucky for her, I don’t plan on going anywhere for a long time. Now, let’s not argue anymore so we can enjoy our dinner.”
