Page 107 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Plan on Wednesday unless I get back to you. I’ll call you tomorrow. I love you.”

“Love you back. Good night.” I ended the call and breathed out.Is this the right thing, God? It feels right. Make it clear if we need to wait. But please…don’t ask us to wait.

I scrubbed hands over my face and then pushed up off the couch. I needed to get online and see about a dress. I didn’t need, or want, a big silk ballgown, but I needed something a little fancier than a linen sundress.

I just needed it to be able to get here by Tuesday.

27

WES

Istood on the sand just out of reach of the water that was in the process of going out. Sunshine’s pastor stood beside me, holding his Bible, and grinning widely. The sun was beginning to paint colors on the clouds as it sank into the horizon.

The slap of a screen door made me turn.

My breath caught. She was beautiful. Her dress glowed in the sunset, the white setting off her persistent tan perfectly. A breeze caught the edge of her skirt and I got a glimpse of her long legs.

I swallowed.

Sunshine crossed the sand in long, steady strides.

Music. There should have been music. Although, maybe the swish of the waves and the call of the birds was enough.

I reached for her hand. She laced her fingers through mine and we turned to face the pastor.

“Marriage is hard.”

I chuckled at the pastor’s opening words.

“It is.” He opened his Bible. “But it’s worthwhile and good as well. Every morning, wake up and choose to love your spouse. Choose to forgive your spouse. Choose to choose your spouse.”

I listened as he transitioned into reading First Corinthians chapter thirteen. I met Sunshine’s gaze and held it.

The pastor closed his Bible and nodded to Sunshine.

“Wes, I love you. The pastor is right that marriage is hard, but I promise to choose you and our life together every day. More than once a day if necessary. I’ll be with you when it’s easy and when it’s hard. Through sickness and health. And if poorer happens, I’m not walking away. I’m yours, for as long as we both shall live.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and blinked as tears burned the back of my eyes. I absolutely was not going to cry at my wedding. If the guys found out, I’d never hear the end of it. “Sunshine, your name is fitting because it’s what you bring to my life. Even when things get dark, I will choose you and work with you to make it light again. I love you with everything I am and am grateful that God brought us together. I am yours, for as long as we both shall live.”

The pastor looked at Sunshine. “Do you have a ring?”

Sunshine pulled one hand free from mine and slipped it into the pocket on the side of her dress. The light glinted off the shell inset in the circle of platinum as she slid it onto my finger. “With this ring, I thee wed.”

I savored each word as she said them. Then it was my turn. Her engagement ring was more like a wedding band, but I’d found a skinny circle of diamonds that would be the perfect addition.

I slid it onto her finger. She gasped.

The pastor chuckled.

I finished the words that went along with the ring exchange and held Sunshine’s hands while the pastor prayed a blessing over our life together. Then, finally, the words I’d been waiting for all day.

“You may kiss your bride.”

I didn’t need a second invitation. I stepped forward and pulled her into my arms. Our lips met and my fingers curled, bunching up the waist of her dress.

Sunshine chuckled and eased away as she began to laugh. “Easy there, cowboy. We have our whole life ahead of us.”

The pastor cleared his throat. “If you want to get the license, I can sign it and I’ll get out of your way. I promise to get it filed tomorrow.”

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