Page 95 of Dandelion Sighs

“I’m sorry.” Violet put a hand on my arm. “I really am. Maybe she just needs more time.”

More time. Yes. It wasn’t like we were done with each other completely. We could still date. Would we? I’d just know she didn’t trust me or believe me. A fledgling relationship could survive that.

Fuck me. I fought to stay standing instead of crouching down and sinking my head into my hands. Nausea bloomed inside me. I might puke in the flowers lining the walk.

“Maybe she doesn’t,” Alder said.

I lifted my head. He was grinning and looking behind me. I spun around. All the pain vanished.

“I’m sorry.” Sheridan sprinted over the lawn, a pretty green sundress swishing around her legs. A vision I must’ve conjured. “I didn’t think you’d really be here, like for real, so I went to your house first.” Her feet hit the pavement and she sped up. “Then I didn’t know there was a parking lot back here and⁠—”

I jerked her into my arms, not as smoothly as I’d like, but I needed the end result more than I needed to breathe. “You came.”

“I did. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I was in a huge rush and I might’ve crashed and…I’m here.”

She finished talking before I smashed my mouth to hers. Picking her up while kissing her, I swung her around. She was here. She was in my arms. That meant she believed me. I loved this woman, and I wanted to spend my life with her.

I could do this all damn day, but I set her down. There was one thing I had to do before we continued on with our day. Letting her go only to dig in my pocket, I put some space between us. Then I dropped to a knee.

She gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. “Jasper,” she said around her fingers. “You have a ring?”

“Made it on Sunday.” Polished and round. I carved it myself. “I’ll get you a diamond, I promise.”

“No,” she said quickly. “This is perfect.”

She was perfect. “Sheridan. I love you so damn much. These last two days have been hell. Will you please, please marry me?”

“You really mean it.” She gripped my hands, searching my eyes. “You really do love me.”

“Of course. Your mom picked me out because she knew I’m yours.”

Tears glittered in her eyes. “Yes, Jasper. I will marry you. Right here. Right now.” She squeezed my hands. “Put this ring on me when I say I do.”

I jumped up and gave her a quick kiss. Then, with my arm around her, I started for the courthouse. Alder was grinning.

Violet tucked her phone away. “I’ll send you these pictures after the ceremony.”

“Thank you.” Time to make Sheridan Bishop my wife.

Sheridan

Jasper laid me down on the bed and came down on top of me. We were both naked. Alder offered to take us out for lunch, but Jasper asked for a rain check. Then we’d sped home in our vehicles, and he’d given me the remote for the garage. For our garage. It was a rental, but still, no more cot for me. Though that wasn’t why I’d married him.

I loved my husband. So much, and it was the best feeling in the world. I cradled him between my legs. His erection was pinned between us, hot and ready. I wanted just a moment. Holding out my hand, I admired the care taken on the wood used for my ring. I had inspired him to make this.

“I love you, Jasper Duke.”

“I love you, Sheridan…” He lifted a brow. “I don’t want to assume.”

I laughed and hooked my legs around his waist. “Sheridan Duke has a nice ring. Don’t you think? The Dukes running Bishop’s?”

A slow grin spread across his face. “You didn’t call REG?”

As if I had needed another sign he had really wanted to marry me—he hadn’t asked about Bishop’s Landing until now. He hadn’t inquired about my decision, and he hadn’t mentioned his aunt. Only Alder had after we were married. He said he’d talk to Linda so Jasper and I could celebrate. He was my favorite brother-in-law.

I rocked into him, the need expanding that had been simmering inside me since the ceremony and growing during our mad rush to get into bed together. The thrum between my legs matched my heartbeat, and with the way he was lying on me, our heart rates matched.

“I didn’t call them. I filled out the pros and cons, but on the pros side was you and me.”