Page 98 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Uh-oh.” Austin gave a mock shudder.

“Quiet, you.” Kayla glowered at him and took a huge bite.

I smiled as the group bantered their way to a restaurant decision. It didn’t take long, but it was clear they had a list of favorites that they worked through. Before too much time, everyone was on their way down the aisle and out the doors.

We paused when we reached the pastor.

“Wes, good to see you. Who’s your friend?” He turned his gaze on me.

“This is Sunshine King. She’s visiting from the Caribbean, but I’m hoping to persuade her to relocate.” Wes beamed at me.

I shook the pastor’s hand. “He’s not going to have to work too hard.”

Wes looked at me, pleased surprise on his face. “Yeah?”

One corner of my mouth quirked up. “Yeah. I want a future with you. And you live here. I don’t have anything holding me in the islands anymore. At least nothing with a stronger pull than a life with you.”

Wes chuckled. “That was easier than I thought it would be. Now I just have to convince you that we don’t need a long engagement.”

The pastor smiled. “Feel free to call my office this week to set up premarital counseling sessions.”

“I might do that.” Wes glanced at me.

My mouth went dry and my heart beat a rapid, island rhythm. “I…it’s a good idea. I may have to do some virtually.”

“We can make that work.” The pastor looked between the two of us and nodded once. “Keep me posted.”

“Sure. Thanks.” Wes tugged my hand. “Have a good afternoon.”

My mind was spinning as we walked down the steps from the church and into the parking lot toward Wes’s car. “What just happened?”

Wes stopped and turned to face me. He rested his hands on my hips and his forehead on mine. “You have to have known this was where I was headed. We don’t have to get married today. But I want that. Soon. Maybe love at first sight doesn’t happen to most people, but I can’t laugh it off as impossible. Not anymore.”

I closed my eyes. His words swam around in my mind and I absorbed their meaning, and the sincerity behind them. And it felt true. And right. “Neither can I.”

25

WES

Her words pierced every part of my soul and let in light that I hadn’t realized I was missing. I pulled her in and held her tight against me before lowering my mouth to hers. I didn’t count heartbeats or seconds or minutes. As far as I was concerned, time could stop and I would just live in this moment.

A car horn blared and a voice shouted, “Get a room.”

I broke away and whipped my head around, scowling.

Noah hung out the side window of Jenna’s car laughing like the moron that he was.

“Don’t give him the bird in the church parking lot.”

Sunshine’s laughing voice pulled me out of the dark thoughts of murder that I’d been thinking toward Noah.

I snickered. “Probably not the best idea.”

“Come on, guys. Kayla’s hangry. I don’t want to be responsible for her deciding to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting.” Jenna leaned over and called through Noah’s open window. “You can make out later. Promise.”

Heat flamed across my cheeks worse than the worst sunburn I’d had. I cleared my throat. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Pfft.” Jenna flicked her fingers at me and drove off.

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