125. Natalie

Chapter 125

Natalie

“I will handlethe press on this,” I tell the room, forcing myself not to shift on my feet as I continue to stand at the head of the table, opposite where my father is seated, surrounded by our board members.

“And that’s supposed to make us feel better?” Arnold crosses his arms.

I make eye contact with the cranky old man. “Yes. I know what I’m doing.”

He huffs. And I inhale, ready to snap at him.

“Wife!”

The shouted voice outside the conference room startles us all.

Before I can move, the double doors fling open.

And Luke walks in.

“Luke?” I breathe.

He’s disheveled in jeans and a wrinkly T-shirt, fresh snow dusting his hair.

His eyes are locked on mine. “Natalie⁠—”

“It’s okay.” I fight through the crack in my voice, my emotions finally breaking through. “I already told them.”

He takes a step toward me. “Told them what?”

I swallow and force myself not to look away. “I told them the truth, Luke.”

“The truth,” he repeats, stepping closer. “That we met in Mexico. That the first time I saw you, laid out on the weight bench, reading a book, I knew I had to have you. Or did you tell them about the time you shoved me out through your balcony pool so your dad wouldn’t catch us?”

Murmurs dance around the previously silent room.

Luke takes a step closer.

“Did you tell them about all the text messages? All the phone calls?” Luke is only a few feet away now. “Did you tell them about the dance party, how we didn’t know it was a wedding ceremony, but how it was the best thing I’ve ever done?”

I press my hands to my chest, my heart beating wildly beneath my palms.

“Did you tell them how fucking perfect we are together?” His tone is… passionate.

And then I see it, the folder in his hand.

“What?” I whisper.

“You heard me, Princess.” He closes the rest of the distance between us, pulling the papers out of the folder. “I’m not getting married again.” He drops the folder to the floor, then rips the papers in half. “Neither of us is.” He tears them again. “Because we’re not getting a fucking divorce.”

Luke tears the papers again before tossing them onto the conference table.

Then he lowers to one knee.

“I love you, Green Eyes.” Luke lifts his left hand and pulls a pink silicone ring off his pinky finger, leaving the other one in place on his hand. “My Little Royal.” He holds the ring up between us. “I haven’t done a good job of showing it, but I think I loved you long before I accidentally made you my wife.” He reaches out with his free hand. “Please put this twelve-dollar ring back on your hand and tell me you’ll give me a chance.”

Instead of reaching for the ring, I reach for his shoulders.

My legs can no longer support me, and I lower to my knees.

Chairs creak around the room.

“Are you serious?” I whisper.

Luke nods. “I looked them up online. Only twelve dollars.”

A small laugh bubbles out of me, but it’s followed by a sob.

“Don’t cry.” Luke slides the ring back on his pinky and cups my cheeks with his palms.

“But I saw—” I think of those damn text messages.

Luke brings his face closer to mine. “My cousin is an idiot. He’s known all along that I never wanted to leave you. That I didn’t want to lose you. He was trying to motivate me to tell you. If I’d have known you saw…”

“You really love me?” My hummingbird leans forward with me. Needing to hear him say it again too.

“You should never have to ask me that. And that’s my fault. You should feel it.” He lowers one hand to press against my chest. “You should know it. Because yes, Natalie. I love you. So fucking much.”

I blink, but it doesn’t stop the tears from falling.

He brushes one away with his thumb. “Now tell me what you crossed out, Princess. Tell me what you can’t pretend.”

The doubts drop away, crumbling into nothingness as they hit the floor.

Because I believe him.

I feel it.

I grip his forearms, balancing myself against his strength so I can tell him what I was too afraid to write in that letter.

“I can’t pretend like I’m not in love with you.” My grip on him tightens. “And I thought… I couldn’t stay if you didn’t love me too.”

Luke swallows. “Will you tell me again?”

I know what he’s asking.

So I nod. And I tell him.

“Luke, I love you. And that night in Vegas was the best thing that ever happened to me too.”

Someone sniffs.

Someone clears their throat.

But I don’t know who because my eyes are closing, and Luke is pulling me closer.

When our lips meet, something inside me shifts.

It’s like we’ve been waiting a lifetime for this.

Because maybe we have.

He kisses me with all the emotion I saw in his eyes.

And I do the same.

I let him taste how much he means to me.

I push all my love toward him.