Rachel produced a navy suit and brown leather shoes that looked like Beck’s. “It’s yours. I broke into your house while you were at the gym.”
“Oh? Great.” But he couldn’t stop smiling. He’d changed into a suit and then he was going to hold and kiss Eve. She’d really agreed to marry him? All he could think was he would see her soon. If she was ready to marry him today he’d happily recite vows, but if she needed more time he’d give it to her. All that mattered was Eve and Paisley in his life, no matter how much time it took to get there, no matter if the hyenas ate the money. Eve. He smiled just thinking about seeing her again. The burden of missing her lifted off his shoulders and he was ready to soar with her by his side.
* * *
Eve waited very impatiently in a shady spot by a garden fountain, surrounded by all of her family and the preacher from Caleb and Emily’s church. There was a small area set up with chairs and a backdrop for the wedding. She hated that she still felt fear and uncertainty. Would being in Beck’s arms settle all her fears or would being in Beck’s arms cloud her thinking? The pressure to marry him today so they could donate all that money to the children instead of the hyenas was wearing on her.
Was Beck even coming? What would he think of all of this? What if he didn’t want to marry her anymore? She had acted pretty crazy running away from him like she had. Would he understand? Did he really love her and hadn’t wanted to rush her as his grandfather had insisted?
Mar let out a low whistle and Eve whipped around. Beck strode confidently out the patio doors of the clubhouse and toward them. His eyes sought her out and he stuttered a step. She bit at her lip as he said, “Ah, Eve,” and then he was running her direction.
Eve’s heart threatened to burst out of her chest. He was here! She started toward him too, gathering up her lacy wedding dress in her hand.
“My Beck!” Paisley raced in front of Eve and held her arms up to Beck.
Beck swooped her off the ground. “Princess Paisley!” He gave her a tight hug but kept hurrying for Eve.
“I’ve missed you, my Beck,” Paisley said.
“You look so pretty, Princess,” he told her, but then he reached Eve. He wrapped his free arm around her, pulled her in tight, and kissed her soundly. It was just as she’d hoped, all the fears settled, everything was right now that she was in Beck’s arms. She loved him. She wanted to shout it to anyone who would listen, but most of all say it to him loudly, quietly, before she kissed him, after she kissed him. She pushed all the worries aside and deepened the kiss.
Loud whistles and cheers interrupted them. Beck pulled back and searched her gaze. “Eve.”
She smiled up at him, her lower lip trembling. Beck’s smile slipped and his lovely dimples disappeared. He turned to Seth who was close by. “Can you please hold the little Princess for a minute?”
“Sure.”
Seth took Paisley but she cried out. “I want my Beck.”
“Just a minute, pretty girl,” Beck said, “I need to talk to your mama.” He glanced around at the gathered family. “Thank you all for coming today, making the sacrifice to be here for us.” He nodded to Isaac in particular. “But…” Eve’s stomach dropped at that but. “There isn’t going to be a wedding today. I’m not ready.” There were gasps and hushed whispers and Eve wanted to crawl in a hole. Beck wasn’t ready. Beck didn’t want her.
“Excuse us, please.” Beck kept an arm firmly around Eve and escorted her around the fountain and toward some beautiful flower gardens. Her family would keep Paisley entertained but she could only focus on Beck’s words. No wedding today.
Eve had felt all lit up being close to him again, but now she was sick with worry. Why had he run to her and kissed her as if she were his world when he wasn’t ready? Why didn’t he want to marry her anymore? He’d told his grandfather the hyenas could keep the money. She loved that he didn’t care about the money but now she was so confused.
He stopped when they were far enough away they wouldn’t be overheard and turned to her. “Eve… I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you right up front about Papa trying to push me into marriage.”
She nodded. So they were starting there? “Thank you. I wish I would’ve known, but…” He’d said he wasn’t ready to get married today but he still seemed to want her. She was going to be truthful and convince him how much she loved him. Maybe there’d be a wedding soon. She could respect his need for more time just like he’d been willing to respect hers. “Maybe knowing about the money would’ve made me run earlier. I’m so sorry I ran away from you rather than working it out. I won’t do that again.”
He smiled softly and cupped her chin with his hand. “We’ll fight things out good and proper and you won’t run away?”
She laughed. “That sounds dreadful, I hate confrontation. But yes, I’m done running.” She swallowed and asked bravely, “You aren’t ready to be married today but do you still… want me?”
Beck’s jaw dropped. He blinked quickly at her and said fiercely, “Eve! Of course, I want you! You’re all I want.” He pointed back to where their family was waiting. “I said I wasn’t ready because I’m not going to pressure you. We can take years if you need, but never doubt that I want to be with you, only you.” He smiled softly. “And Paisley too.”
Eve was blinking quickly but still, the tears were coming. “I love you so much.”
He swept her into his arms and kissed her soundly. “I love you too.”
She looked at him, so filled with love for this man. He would’ve waited years… for her. Apparently Jacob’s angels did know a thing or two. “We’re getting married today,” she said firmly.
“The money doesn’t matter,” he insisted.
“It’s not about the money.” She kissed him softly. “It’s about you and me. I adore you. I don’t want to spend one more second apart from you. I want to marry you, this minute.”
He kissed her and kissed her and kissed her. When he finally pulled back her hair was a mess, her lips were swollen, and she wanted to never stop kissing him.
His eyes got serious, so blue, and deep and delectable. She was going to stare into those eyes every day of her life. She’d never thought she could be so happy. “Just to make sure—you want to marry me for me, not to give billions of dollars to famished, hungry, sad children who need it desperately instead of the disgusting hyenas who will just turn the savanna into a frat house?”