Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
He is always breathtakingly handsome with his lady-killer jawline and those piercing blue eyes. But seeing him in khaki-colored pants and an open suit jacket with a white dress shirt with the top button undone might be the death of me. My heart skips more than one beat.
Dipping his head down, he runs a finger over his mouth as if he’s willing a smile to retreat behind his shield.
Jason gently nudges me to keep moving. I hadn’t realized I’d stopped.
Foxx looks up, our eyes meeting across the distance. A calmness washes through me. No doubts arise, and no last-minute panic or urge to run away takes over. Instead, I’m confident that this is the right answer. I’ll just have to enjoy it while I can and prepare myself for it to be over.
But not yet. Right now, I’m living this up.
Foxx gives me the sincerest smile I’ve ever seen on his handsome face.
Between the leaves and breeze, it’s as if time stands still just for us.
Jason and I stop just before the minister, where he turns to me and wraps me up in a big, brotherly hug.
“I am so proud to be here with you, and I’m so proud you’re my sister,” he whispers.
“If you don’t stop trying to make me cry, I’m going to drop you right here.”
He chuckles and places a kiss on my cheek. Then he takes my hand. “Here you go.” He offers my hand to his best friend. “You are the only person in the world I’d trust with my sister.”
“I won’t let you down,” Foxx says.
Jason smiles. “Take care of her, my guy.” And with that, he finds a seat next to Maddox.
Foxx’s fingers lace through mine. They’re sturdy and strong. “You’re gorgeous, Bianca.” He grins bashfully.
The minister welcomes everyone and dives right into the ceremony. I try to pay attention to what he’s saying and stay connected to the happenings around me. But it’s hard to concentrate on anything besides my soon-to-be husband.
Foxx strokes the top of my hand with his thumb, watching me with the quietest reverence.
I smile at him, wishing we were alone so I could talk to him. I haven’t seen him since three this morning when he snuck over to check on me. The girls thought it was wildly romantic, and I played along with that. Really, he just wanted to make sure I was safe.
But despite knowing the truth—knowing Foxx is playing a game of charades right along with me—it would be easy to forget it. The sweet smile. The loving way he’s holding my hand. The glimmer in his eyes is so real that I’m impressed he can fake it. It all adds up to a vision of one very real wedding ceremony.
The ring I slip on his finger, thanks to Astrid’s quick thinking, is platinum. Foxx’s brows shoot to the clear sky as I slide it down his digit.
“How?” he asks, amused.
“Astrid. Don’t worry about not having one for me. Blame her.”
He chuckles. Then he stares me in the eyes without any resistance in his baby blues. He reaches in his pocket and retrieves a perfect, simple band. He slides it on my finger as he promises to love me for better or worse until death do us part.
“How?” I ask him.
He grins. “Maddox.”
“It’s perfect, Foxx.”
“Do you think so?”
I return his smile. “It’s exactly what I would’ve picked for myself.”
“By the power vested in me by the State of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister declares. “Foxx, you may kiss your beautiful bride.”
“Jess, get your chicken before it gets in the cake,” Banks says from behind us.
Everyone turns to see a big orange bird perched on the back of an empty chair, poised as if it will dive into a cake on a card table. Another one with black in its white feathers, scurries down the walkway nibbling at the rose petals.
“You can’t manage to contain your birds for a ten-minute wedding ceremony?” Kixx asks, standing to help Jess.
“I’m not denying them the right to free-range because Foxx decides to get married,” Jess says, making everyone laugh.
Everyone except Foxx.
His displeasure over the chickens tightens his jaw. As much as that tic does things to me—things he better be ready to quell as soon as we get out of here—I don’t want him tense.
“Hey,” I say, touching his face so he’ll turn to me.
“I’m sorry Jess’s chickens interrupted your day.”
“It’s okay. It’ll make today more memorable.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see an expanse of orange feathers. It’s followed by a loud roar of profanities, laughter, and shouting.
I keep my gaze locked with his until his grin returns.
“Actually,” I say, pressing my lips together. “It’s not okay.”
He lifts a brow.
“You’re going to need to apologize for that when we get out of here,” I say. “And once won’t be enough. This hurt me deeply.”