Page 127 of Vow

His cousin quieted as he glanced at Haven, and took her presence in for what seemed like the first time. It wasn’t like John could miss Haven, but you know … Siena was there.

“You don’t mind, do you?” Andino asked again.

John smiled, and shook his head. “No, man. Of course, not.”

“Good. I want you to meet the girl I’m going to marry, you know.” Andino shrugged, and shifted from foot to foot. “Properly fucking meet her, John. Not hear things about her from someone else, or see her in passing. Actually meet her with me. Take some time to sit down and have a real conversation with her. I talk about you all the time, and she’s a little out of the loop about me and you. Kind of a big fucking deal to me, and everything.”

John cocked a brow, and glanced at his cousin like he was seeing him all over again for the first time. Andino almost laughed out loud. “Seriously?”

Andino nodded. “Yeah, man.”

“I thought …” John trailed off like he was considering his words before settling on saying, “I mean, the family didn’t have a high opinion of her a few months ago, and all. I thought they had made it clear she wasn’t acceptable, or some shit. You kind of gave me the impression you didn’t know what the hell you were doing about them, her, or the rest.”

True.

Nothing John said was a lie.

Andino still had the same answer for that as he always would, now. “It’s not about them.”

It took his cousin a second, but John was John. He was quick to roll with the punches when it came to Andino—it’s just how they were. John laughed, and clapped Andino on the shoulder before pulling him in for another one-armed hug. Andino laughed, then, too, and gave his cousin a nod.

Their silent way of chatting.

John seemed a hell of a lot more relaxed in those moments, and Andino was grateful. He knew this place was supposed to be good for John. Something to let him focus on himself, and getting to a better place. Andino wasn’t supposed to bring outside stressors and problems into these grounds. He’d worried bringing Haven here might do exactly that as John really didn’t know the woman, and all of that.

It seemed Andino worried for nothing.

Thankfully.

“Give me some time with Siena,” John said quietly, pulling away from Andino’s embrace. “It’s been too long.”

Andino nodded, and stepped away. “You got it, John.”

John only needed to hold out his hand without saying anything for Siena to dart away from Haven’s side. Once the two were face to face again, it seemed like Andino and Haven disappeared to them.

Andino didn’t mind.

For now, anyway.

John and Siena headed down the walkway, and Andino moved to stand next to Haven’s side. Wrapping an arm tight around her waist, he pulled his girl in close, and kissed the top of her head. She tipped her head back, and smiled sweetly up at him.

“We’ll have to give them some time,” Andino said. “Or he’ll never forgive me.”

Haven shrugged. “That’s okay. It sucks when you love someone, but can’t be with them. I don’t blame them for wanting to have five minutes.”

Andino smiled. “Yeah, me either.”

Turning her around in his arms, Andino dropped a quick kiss to Haven’s grinning lips. She used the pad of her thumb to wipe away the small lipstick stain left behind on his lips. Not that he gave a damn about it.

“And I love you,” he told her. “Entirely, Haven. More than anything in my life. I love you. I will spend the rest of my life telling you that as often as you will allow me to. I hope you know that.”

Because someone had almost made sure he wouldn’t be able to tell her. So, Andino was going to make damn sure she never questioned how he felt about her, and them. He was never going to let her feel anything less than the most important thing in his life from this point forward.

No matter what.

Her gaze softened. “Good because I expect it.”

“Demand it, woman.”