“You always take care of me,” she protested.
“Not well enough this time.” Guilt filled him. “And I didn’t mean what I said, little darling.”
She bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes again. Christ, he hated when she cried. He really hated that he was the cause.
“Don’t cry, baby,” he crooned.
“Sorry.”
He wiped her cheeks again.
“I didn’t mean to force you into a wedding you didn’t want. We don’t have to have the wedding at a church. And I don’t need the horse and carriage. And you can wear what you want—”
“Hey, look at me. Look at me.” He waited until she raised her eyes. “I want this wedding, Charlotte.”
“But you’d be happy with a quick ceremony in Vegas, you don’t want all this other stuff—”
Clint placed a finger on her lips. He deserved an ass-kicking for making her feel this way. “I want what makes you happy. I will admit, I was surprised that you wanted a big, church wedding. But I’m happy when you’re happy. I was just venting because I hate ties.”
“Ties?”
He nodded. “Ties.”
“You don’t have to wear a tie.”
“But that’s what you want.”
She shook her head. “I used to dream of my wedding when I was a kid. I would dream up a fantasy because my homelife was so crap. I guess I also thought that a big wedding might make up for the fact that I don’t have any family here. But I don’t want it if you won’t enjoy it. I would never force anything on you, Clint.”
Fuck. It was official. He was a jerk.
He cupped her face between his hands. “Listen to me. All I want in this life is for the people I love to be happy and safe. This is what you dreamed of so it’s what you’re gonna get. And I’ll get what I always wanted. You, tied to me forever. I get to put a ring on your finger and ensure that everyone knows you’re mine. I’m a demanding bastard. I know that. I get my way in most things. I want you to have your every desire, little darling.”
“Don’t wear the tie,” she whispered. “Please.”
“All right. No tie. See, done. Perfect.”
“Really?” she whispered. “Are you sure?”
He leaned in and kissed her. Then he moved his hands away from her face. “I’m sure.”
After studying him for a moment, she let out a deep breath, nodding. Relief filled him.
She chewed her lip, looking worried again. “Except how can I get everything done if I’m stuck here in bed for a couple of days?”
Looking at her pale cheeks and listening to her husky voice that told him her throat was feeling sore, he thought it would likely be longer.
“I told you, I’m going to do it all.”
“But you have enough to do.”
“Then I’ll rope in some help. I’ll go get a pen and paper and you can write down everything that needs doing.”
She gave him a skeptical look.
“I can do this. I’ll take care of the wedding. And I’ll take care of you as well. That’s my job, little darling.”
4