A humorless laugh escaped his mouth and all I could do was stand mute, my heart breaking.
“I knew better,” he said. “The contract was meant to keep all of these kinds of things at bay. No mess. No emotions. You were supposed to be an element I controlled within my world.”
My head hung and my pulse pounded through my temples. He must have taken the opportunity to move closer when I wasn’t looking because I felt his heat surround me, chasing that nagging chill away. Then he did the most unexpected thing—he hit his knees before me.
“Megan, you are my world.”
He looked so defeated, so sad. His hands fisted in his lap, as if trying not to reach out for me.
“I don’t know how or when it happened. But it did. You. Are. Everything.” His voice cracked just enough to send a sharp sting of pain racing through my blood.
I shook my head. It hurt. All of this hurt too much. “Preston…you can’t just…”
I stepped back and his hands shot out and grabbed the back of my thighs.
“No, no don’t do that,” his plea was so low I could barely hear it. I’d never seen such pure fear mar a man’s face. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. So, so sorry. I can’t. I can’t lose you.” He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around my waist and pressed his face against my stomach.
“Either of you,” he whispered.
Tears fell so hard I couldn’t stop it. Large drops tracked down my face and plummeted onto the top of his head.
“I love you, Megan.” His arms encased me harder. “Whatever it takes to prove that to you, I will do. There’s so much I’m not ready for. Not good at…but I’ll try.”
“I just wanted to make you happy. Give you, help you get, everything you wanted,” I whispered. “I didn’t get pregnant on purpose.”
His breath fanned over my belly on a long exhale. “I know. And what I want is you.”
“Why?” I whispered, more defeat washing over me. “I can’t help you anymore. Your father made it clear that if you don’t get married tomorrow, you won’t get the three percent.”
That must be the reason he came back, to talk me into leaving today and the wedding—
“I don’t care about the three percent.” He buried his face in my stomach and splayed his fingers over my lower back. “I don’t care if I lose the whole empire. All I care about is you. Our baby. Our family. Your father is important and I’m staying here until he’s well.”
“Meg-Pie?” My father’s sleepy voice called out from behind me.
Preston rose to his feet and I spun to face him.
“I’m here, Daddy.”
He smiled and his eyes opened further, looking at me, then Preston.
“And who is this young man?”
I glanced at Preston. “That’s the man I’m in love with.”
My father smiled and raised his hand to Preston. He clasped it gently and shook. “Sir.”
“Well,” he sat up slightly in bed and I gripped his forearm. “You’re as fussy as your mother,” he playfully growled at me. “Let me sit up here so I can look at the boy.” He looked at Preston for a long moment then at me. “This is the one you’re set to marry?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Preston jumped in.
“If she’ll have me, sir.” Preston reached for my hand and I let him. Twining our fingers he whispered in my ear, “I’ll wait as long as it takes. Do whatever you command. But understand that I’m not letting you go.”
“Well, that sounds like a man who is worthy,” my father chuckled.
I laughed a little and Preston took me in his arms and kissed every last ounce of pain away. Hugging him tight, I pulled him as close as I could.
“I love you,” he whispered against my mouth.
“I love you too.”
“I’m glad.” He smiled. “Because we both know I’m not above bribery.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
“You look beautiful, Meg-pie.”
I clutched to my father’s arm and smiled up at him. “Thank you, Daddy.”
The violin started playing, our cue. My dad gently cleared his throat, which sounded more like a low sob, and looked down at me. There was a misty sparkle in his blue eyes. Recognition.
It had been a few weeks since he woke up in the hospital, and since then, he was having more good days than bad. Something I was beyond grateful for.
“I don’t care what is happening today,” he said. “You will always be my baby girl.”
Batting my lashes against the rising tears, I nodded. Right now, my father knew who I was, and in that first step down the aisle, he was walking me toward the man I loved. This moment was the one I had thought of from the time I was a little girl. This was the moment I clung to when everything else seemed lost.
It was a moment of clarity.
I was walking toward a promise of something better. Something real. And that promise was in a crisp black tuxedo with the most hypnotic green eyes. Preston’s gaze never left mine as my father took me closer and closer to the altar.
In that moment, everything was perfect.
***
“Please God don’t make me do the funky chicken again,” Emma groaned.
Kate and I just laughed. We had taken a break from dancing and sat at the table. The reception had been in full swing for hours and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Charlie and Darlene didn’t bother showing up to either the wedding or reception, which was fine with me. Despite having to push the date back a few weeks, many of our guests still made it.
I looked around and took in every sight and sound of the magic in the room. My parents were dancing together and the smile on my mother’s face made me light up inside. Across the room, a pair of dark emerald eyes watched me. Even at a distance, I could feel Preston’s heat snare me.
“Is it just me, or does the man look even sexier with a wedding band on his finger?” I sighed, openly ogling my husband.
Husband. The word would take some getting used to. But it was definitely growing on me.
“I think Emma is more taken with the guy Preston’s talking to,” Kate teased, elbowing Emma’s side.
“Please,” Emma said and took a long swallow of champagne. “I’m not taken with anyone.”
“Oh, I think you are,” Kate said. “Who is that anyway?”
“That’s Preston’s friend, Rhys Striker. Emma, you’ve met Rhys.” I wiggled my brows at her.