“Laugh all you want, future husband,” she warned, her gaze locked on mine, strong and sure. “I don’t intend to be second in your life, but this one time. If I didn’t love my cousin as much as I do, your brother would be standing his ass right here with me, hearing the same speech.”
I laughed, full-on, shoulder-shaking, and gut-tickling mirth. What made the situation all the funnier was the seriousness in her expression. Funny or not, she meant every word she spoke. I also noticed she had stated it all without raising her voice. Her easygoing tone didn’t take away from the impact of her words.
“Understood,” I finally replied. She stepped away to greet Desiree as I made my way to the stage to tell the pastor that we wouldn’t be needing his services until a later date.
Khane met me at the foot of the steps, giving me another hug before whispering another sincere, “Thank you,” in my ear. His eyes shined with genuine happiness, the sight making my heart swell.
Seeing my brother glowing with happiness filled me with a joy I had never experienced before. He appeared to be an entirely different person, like a part of his spirit had been returned to him—the part our father had stripped away from him fifteen years ago when he took his eye.
The sight of Khane with Desiree reminded me of the devastating mistake I had almost made. She truly made him happy, and thankfully, I had been able to let go of my ego and anger long enough to realize it.
He and Desiree continued to receive congratulations and clung to each other’s hands like they never wanted to be separated. A laugh escaped when a man congratulating them went to put a hand on Desiree’s waist, and Khane knocked it away without calling attention to Desiree or the man’s wife.
Anyone crazy enough to ever lay a hand on Desiree was dead. I had phoned Angel Ramirez twice already, checking to see if he was still breathing.
Initially, I had assumed Desiree was playing a game with Khane because she was upset about the arrangement she had been dragged into, but the sight of them together dashed away my last shred of doubt.
“I’ll admit, fire raced through my veins when I thought you were about to embarrass my cousin on that stage, but I believe you made the right decision with those two.”
The delicate tone of her voice didn’t match the tough personality she’d allowed me to take a peek at earlier. Mecca had a quiet ease about her that didn’t match how hellish I sensed she could be.
“Did I? Make the right decision?” I asked, eyeing her with suspicion.
“Look at them. There’s enough happiness flowing off them to strangle and kill everyone in this building. They are actually in love with each other. The fact that I can see it, sense it even, is astonishing.” She appeared as awed by the notion as I was. “I can also rest assure that if anyone tries to come for my cousin, he’s going to gift them with a toe-tag.”
She released a low whistle, glaring at them with a pitying expression now. “I’m happy for them, but that is one devastating emotion I’m glad to be immune to.”
“I fully agree. I was willing to allow myself to try with Desiree, but I do believe I dodged a bullet. Never again.”
She cocked a brow. “Never say never, future husband. My irresistible charm has gotten me stalked a time or two.”
I laughed. Mecca had unknowingly cheered me up during a time I assumed I’d be consumed with anger and bitterness. Strangely, all I felt was relief.
“We’ll see,” was all I said. I didn’t have another brother to lose Mecca to, so unless she changed her mind, I would have a wife soon. However, I believed it would be wise not to introduce her to my cousin Tywin until after we were married if I could help it.
Why the hell was I smiling about getting married again so soon after the disaster I’d just avoided?