Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 21996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21996 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
I can’t either. We take the elevator downstairs and as we go to the front of the building his mom steps to the side. My stomach falls when I see Ben standing there in his sheriff uniform. He looks like he hasn’t shaved in a few days, and his eyes are dark and full of malice.
I move behind Dane, wanting to put as much distance between us as possible. His whole body locks up when he senses my fear, and he moves forward even more to block me and his mother from Ben.
“Is he why you’re scared?” Dane asks over his shoulder to me, but I don’t answer him. My fear makes it impossible for me to speak.
“Willow, come here,” Ben snaps at me, and his voice sends chills across my skin.
Before I know what’s happening, Dane is thundering toward Ben and someone is shouting. I realize half a second late that I’m the one screaming. Suddenly I hear a loud crunch. I close my eyes and open them slowly to see it all happened so fast.
Ben is on the ground and his face is pouring blood. “You don’t talk to her like that,” Dane barks, and I start to cry. Ben is going to get Dane in trouble. You can’t just hit a man in uniform and not expect some consequences.
Dane pulls out his phone as security from the building rushes over. Sooner than I thought possible, cops are showing up and taking away Ben. He’s covered in blood and moaning about assault.
It all happened at the speed of light. It was almost as if Dane was expecting this to happen. I’m shocked and don’t know how to react, but Dane keeps me in his arms the whole time. While his security team is talking to the cops that showed up, I tell him all that had happened with Ben and why he was after me. I can feel the anger rolling off him in waves, and I hate that I’ve caused all of this.
“We aren’t getting married,” he says after a moment of silence, and it makes me cry even harder.
I’ve lost everything that I ever wanted, and all my dreams have come crashing down.
“Sweetheart,” he says, putting his hand under my chin to make me look up at him, “I’m not going to marry you until you get your family out here. We’re doing this right.”
I can barely process the joy I feel at his words. He kisses me so sweetly and I know that he’s truly my soulmate. When he carries me back up to our home, he makes slow, sweet love to me, and I know that this is the happily ever after I always wished for.
Chapter 9
Dane
It’s been a week of absolute bliss. Seven days of constant smiling, laughing, and holding Willow in my arms while we get ready for the big day.
I rented out a vineyard near her home town and she brought her whole family out here to stay so we could spend time together before the wedding. I’ve gotten to know her best friend, Bebe, who I can tell cares for Willow almost as much as I do. I’m thankful she’s got such a strong support system because even though everyone was skeptical of her marrying a man they didn’t know—and so soon after meeting him—they were willing to trust her judgment.
Tonight’s the official ceremony because Willow told me that she thought it would be special to get married under the stars. The place laid out bales of hay for us and strung up lights all around the trees. A small orchestra plays music as the guests take their seats. My mother and Willow’s mom are sitting at the front. I wait for my bride and try to ignore the anxiety of being away from her. I want to run into the barn and carry her out, but it was important for her father to walk her down the aisle. So instead of pacing, I remain still as the music slows and the officiant comes out to start the ceremony.
I hold my breath as the barn doors are opened and Willow walks out wearing her new wedding dress. She said she liked the old one, but I didn’t like the memories of her in it while I punched out the sheriff. She finally agreed, but I made sure she picked this one out. I may have helped convince her when I set up a date for her and Bebe to go to the city to shop until she found the perfect one.
She walks on top of the rose petals that have been scattered for her, beaming at me all the while. Her long blonde hair falls down her shoulders in waves and her face is framed by her veil, pulled away and pinned to her hair. Her dress is full, like the one she wore to the benefit, but the top is different. It’s got long sleeves and a sweetheart neckline that shows off the pink diamond necklace I gave her last night. I wanted her to have something special to wear today that reminded her of our first date. That pink dress will always be burned into my memory, so what better way to celebrate it?