Page 157 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
I replay my words in my mind and groan. This is why I don’t use words. My actions will always speak better than I can, so I thrust the papers into her trembling hands.
Jesus fuck. I hope I’m not screwing this all up.
I don’t even breathe while she reads, I just stare at her face. The tiny line forming between her brows has a direct connection to the volcano in my chest. And when her chin wobbles, I think my knees will give out.
“What did you do?” she whispers.
“The best way for me to show you that I’ll always see you as my equal, as my partner, is to make you my partner in every way possible.”
“Thane Scotland Wilder. What. Did. You. Do?” Each of her words is punctuated by a shaky breath. “Why is my name listed as an equal partner in Wilder Minds?”
I allow my smile to finally break free. “I told you, Charlotte. You’re my partner. In business, in life, and in love. Now and always.”
“Now and always,” she mumbles. “Thane.” She grabs my tie and tugs me down, so we’re eye to eye. “Wilder Minds is a billion-dollar entity. You just casually gave me half of a billion-dollar company? This is exactly the kind of thing we need to communicate about first.”
I pull her close and whisper in her ear, loving the way she shivers against me. “I promise to do my best, sweetheart, but don’t even think about fighting me on this. I did this as much for me as I did for you. I never thought I’d have a partner, someone I trusted more than myself. And now that I have you, I want this partnership in every way I can get it.”
Kissing the top of her head, I take the papers from her hands, smooth out the edges that she’s crumpled in her grip, then tuck them back into my pocket. With her hand in mine, I turn us back to the judge as she mutters about boundaries.
I’m about to be a married man, and I know my life will never be the same again.
EPILOGUE
Lottie
“Mrs. Carver,it was a very small ceremony held at the courthouse. No one was invited.”
“Well, dear. I just assumed we would all get to participate in your special day.”
“You know what you get when you assume?”
I elbow Thane in the gut and say, “That’s what today is for, Mrs. Carver. This is the celebration we wanted.”
“You’re not even wearing a wedding dress though.” The woman is pouting. “I had all boys, you know. I was looking forward to this.”
“And you will have a great time at the party,” Thane grumbles. “Trust me, Rafe went all out. Why don’t you go find the refreshments table? He put out a spread of very fancy tea sandwiches, and he’s paired them with various teas.”
“Oh. Oh, my. That does sound lovely. I’ll do that, Thane. You’re a good boy.” She pats his arm on her way by.
“Tea sandwiches?” I ask.
He glowers out over the crowd that’s in our backyard. Rafe has missed his calling as a party planner. Everything is perfect. From the massive marquee tent to the flowers and the band, it’s everything I would have chosen for myself and more.
“He did that to fuck with me. Who has tea sandwiches anymore?”
I stifle my laugh, but it makes his frown deepen.
“It’s only the cocktail hour. He has real food coming. Do you get cranky when you’re hungry?”
“Pitifully so.” Kara ducks behind me to avoid her brother’s scowl.
We’re standing on the new patio of our new home, waiting for Boone to let us in while all our friends and guests enjoy the cocktail hour.
“You can probably put Hercules down. There are enough people here that she won’t be able to get into anything,” I say.
“No,” Thane barks, then pinches the bridge of his nose. “Do you see how many people are out there, drinking, dancing, and completely oblivious? All it would take is for one person to step on her, and they’d completely crush her. I’ll hold her.” He finally turns toward me. “Thank you though.”
The smile I’d been biting back escapes full force. “Are you ready to admit you love her now?”
