24. Austin

CHAPTER 24

AUSTIN

When we walked back into the room from the hot springs, Greer's phone was vibrating. I closed the door behind us while he went to pick it up. I needed to find the box I'd asked the front desk to have delivered to the room.

"Someone wants your attention," I said, tossing my bracelet onto the dresser.

"It's my attorney."

"Ah, I thought it might be your sister."

Greer smiled at me over his shoulder. "Katherine still has a distinct ringtone. When she calls, you'll know it's her."

He picked up his phone and scrolled through the messages. I watched as his brows drew together as he read.

"Is there a problem?" I asked, opening the dresser drawer.

He continued to read as he answered my question. "I'm not sure yet. They're getting ready for the Combine next month, and we need a little wiggle room with the salary cap."

I smiled, thinking about Carter. "Owner problems," I said, kissing his shoulder.

He smiled, but continued reading as I went to start the shower. I stripped out of my T-shirt and bathing suit as the water warmed up for my third shower of the day.

Rubbing my hand over my jaw, I looked in the mirror at my reflection. The man looking back at me was almost unrecognizable now. I was truly happy for the first time in my life, and it showed on my face. I was a lovesick fool for the hot-as-fuck silver fox out there on his phone.

Dreamboat was going to give me so much hell when we got home, and I didn't care one bit.

I was toweling off when Greer finally walked into the bathroom. His hair was a mess of waves, and his eyes sparkled. "You're already finished?"

"Yeah, I need to check in with GQ." My friend was the furthest thing from my mind, but I needed a few minutes alone in the room to get ready for tonight.

He smirked, then put his hands on my hips. "He'll have to wait a minute."

Pressing my back against the wall, I caught his face in my hands. Greer was as strong and fit as I was, so when he took the lead like this, it made me feel all kinds of things I couldn't quite put my finger on. All I knew was I wanted to kiss the fuck out of him for the rest of our lives.

But to get that life, we had to get out of the room. I pushed him back and kissed him once more. "There is nothing I want to do more than wrap my body around yours. But we have dinner reservations first. Then I'm all yours."

"I like the sound of that. But I think maybe I need to be all yours tonight. I'm ready to experience everything with you."

"And I'm ready to give it to you. Like I said earlier, I want to take my time with you. So, first things first for now."

He nodded and ran his teeth over his bottom lip. "Yeah, okay."

Greer pulled away and stripped off his clothes as I watched. I was a lucky, lucky man. When he got in the shower, I went to check my messages. Opening my phone, the message I'd been waiting for was ready to be read.

Looking it over quickly, I tossed my phone on the bed and got dressed for an evening we'd remember for the rest of our lives.

Thirty minutes later, we walked hand in hand into the main lobby, toward the restaurant. Greer thought I'd made a reservation, but as it turned out, I'd made other plans for us.

"What do you say we get a drink and maybe an appetizer from the bar?"

"I thought you made reservations for us?"

I tried to play it cool, but it was nearly impossible. "I did. Just not here." I leaned in to speak into his ear. "It's a surprise, so just go with it, okay?"

He bit his lip again as he studied me. "Okay," he drew out. "I can do that."

"Good," I replied, kissing his cheek. "Let's get a drink."

We needed to kill about thirty minutes to give the hotel staff time to do their thing. The event planner was more than helpful and came up with an idea I thought he'd love. When we'd finished our drinks, we walked out of the resort and back toward our suite.

"You're dying to ask questions, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," he laughed. "But I can be patient for you."

"You won't have to wait long."

After climbing the stairs to our room, I stopped outside our door. Turning to look at him over my shoulder, I knocked on the door, then stepped aside for him to allow him to enter first.

"Why are you knocking on the door?"

Before I could answer him, MariaJose, the event planner, opened the door. Greer looked back at me with a puzzled expression, and I couldn't contain the smile any longer.

"Good evening, gentlemen," she said, fanning her arm to the side for us to enter. She nodded at me and slipped out the door, letting it close softly behind her.

"Austin?" Greer turned and looked around our suite, where every available surface held vases of beautiful tropical flowers. The balcony door was open and adorned in flowers where the sun was setting beside the volcano. Candles flickered from around the room, creating a beautiful atmosphere for our wedding.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the ring I'd bought for him. When he looked back at me, I got down on one knee and proposed to the love of my life.

"Greer, you mean everything to me, and I want to do this right. I want to remember this night forever. Will you marry me?"

He stared down at me on bended knee, his eyes sparkling with emotion. Time stood still as I waited for him to answer.

He laughed and wiped his eyes. "Yes, baby. I'll marry you."

I rose to my feet, placed the ring on his finger, then took his face in my hands. Placing a brief kiss on his lips, I pulled away and went to the door.

"Where are you going?" he asked, confused.

I smiled. "To get the officiant. He's in the hallway."

Why I hadn't thought to record this was beyond me, but the look on Greer's face was one I'd never forget. "Tonight? We're really doing this tonight."

I knocked lightly on the door and stepped back to him. "Yes, unless you can think of a reason not to." I took him in my arms. "I don't want to wait any longer."

"But you don't have a ..."

"Yes, I do," I interrupted. "I have a matching one in my pocket."

I tilted my head and waited for him to respond. "Okay, then. Let's get married."

Grinning like the lovesick fool I was, I took his hand as MariaJose and two men entered the room. She'd explained to me that her father-in-law could marry us under Costa Rican law as long as we had two witnesses.

"This way please," she said, gesturing to the balcony.

I took Greer's hand and followed them outside.

"Are you ready?" he asked with a smile on his face.

"Yes," we answered in unison.

We stood before a judge and two witnesses, vowing to love and honor each other for as long as we lived. When it was my time to speak, I was overcome with emotion.

"I love you more than I will ever be able to express in words. I've taken you with me through every deployment and war zone, tucked away in my heart, hoping for the day I'd be able to let the idea of you go. But that was impossible. I've loved you even when I hated you. And now, I just want to love you."

A tear slipped down my cheek as Greer reached up to wipe it away. It was easy to see the emotion filling him.

"You are the love of my life. My heart wanted you long before my brain got on board. But you felt like an impossible dream I'd never have. Finding our way back to one another proves we're meant to be. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you."

"By the power invested in me, I declare you husband and husband. You may seal your union with a kiss."

I looked away from the judge and into my husband's eyes. Clasping his face in my hands, I brought his face to mine. "Finally," I murmured, then kissed him.

Greer returned the kiss, then sighed as we pulled back. I'd never have to let him go again or spend another day apart.

As everyone signed the paperwork, the judge explained that the license would be filed with the American Consulate, and we would receive our official certificate in a few months.

"Congratulations," MariaJose said, hugging both of us before leaving. When she opened the door, our dinner, a bucket of champagne, and a small wedding cake were wheeled in on a cart.

My husband's eyes went wide as the surprise unfolded. "I can't believe you did all this."

"I didn't. She did. I just told her what I wanted to do, and she came up with the rest."

He continued to look around at everything, as wonder filled his expression.

"I wanted this for just us. And I thought we could spend our wedding night here in this beautiful place that brought us back together. Just you and me."

"It was perfect, babe. Just us."

A grin spread across my face. "Can I be the one to tell Katherine? I want to watch her go ballistic."

"Sure," he laughed, wrapping me in his arms. "And I guess I'll be the one to tell Carter."

We were going to have a beautiful life.