Page 107 of Everlasting Vows

And it’s all I’ve ever wanted.

To have her look at me as if I’m the beginning and ending of everything.

The way she used to.

She says something to Jase, Simon, and Murphy, then steps away from them, toward me. It’s as if we’re drawn together like magnets, our eyes connected, our souls tethered. Smiling softly at each other, the distance between us disappears, and I take her hand in mine.

“Can I steal you away for a moment?”

She nods once, and I loop her arm through mine to lead her out of the tent. The air is cooler out here, making Abbi shiver, so I remove my jacket and drape it over her shoulders. She captures both sides of the front and holds them together with her free hand, then dips her nose into the lapel and draws in a deep breath.

“You always smell so good,” she murmurs.

I lean down and bury my nose in her nape, taking a deep breath. “Not as good as you.” She chuckles as my short beard rasps against her sensitive skin, her breath visible in the night air.

I press my lips to the warm, soft skin there as I lead Abbi further away from the party. The music still plays, though it’s softer away from the tent. I guide Abbi down the few steps into what will soon become a fire pit for us to enjoy on nights like this.

The song changes to the soulful tune of Let’s Stay Together, and I take Abbi into my arms, swaying us to the music. She rests her cheek against my chest, wrapping her arms around my torso, and we move together, in sync with the bass line and Al Green’s silky-smooth voice.

We enjoy the moment in silence, the only witnesses being the stars in the clear, moonlit sky. My tight muscles release and my heart thumps double-time having my wife in my arms. I’ll always treasure the privilege of being with her like this after coming so close to losing it.

I press my lips to the top of her head, and she pulls away, looking up at me with her warm brown eyes that I could drown in for all eternity.

“It’s been a great day,” she sighs with satisfaction.

I kiss her again. Just because I can. “With you at the organizing helm, it was always going to be a great day.” I trace my eyes over every millimeter of her face, noting the sense of accomplishment in her gaze.

Her smile is blinding.

It’s everything.

Al sings about loving whether times are good or bad, and it reminds me why I brought my wife out here. I press a soft kiss on her lips, our breaths visible between us. Cupping her face in my hands, I tilt her chin up a little, allowing our eyes to latch together.

“I wanted to thank you, not only for making today so special for Prue and Luke, but for always making our family your priority. For everything …”—I swallow past the lump in my throat—“every part of yourself that you gave up to raise our kids, create a home, and be the best mother and wife we could ever hope to have.”

Her eyes grow glassy and she shakes her head a little. “Nix,” she murmurs.

“You give so much of yourself for us, and I was selfish for a long time. I took everything you gave like the selfish bastard I am … and I took you for granted.” Pain lances my voice when I think of all the years I took and took from the woman in front of me without a second thought. I pinch her chin between my finger and thumb as she tries to look away from me. “Now it’s my turn to give you my everything. You’ve always had my heart and soul, but this time ’round, I give you all of me: the good, the bad, the downright ugly.”

Her hands slide from around my waist, and she brings them up between us, gripping my shirt. A tear slips over her bottom lashes, and I lean down to kiss it away. Her bottom lip trembles as her eyes deep-dive into mine, seeking my truth.

“Watching our daughter get married and seeing the love between her and Luke took me back in time to our wedding day. I was so in love with you. It felt bigger than I could fit inside my body. But it was only a smidgen of how big my love for you would grow over the years.” Another tear drops over her lashes as she blinks and blinks. “And I know as much love as I have for you today, it will only be a smidgen of how much I’ll love you when we come to the end of our days.”

I release my hold on her and dip my hand into my pocket, pinching the chain between my fingers to drag it out of its hiding place. I’ve been waiting all day to give this to her and now feels like the best time. The right time.

I spin her around and cradle her from behind as I show her the gift I bought for her. Her gasp breaks the silence as she reaches up to touch the heart-shaped diamond with the tips of her fingers.

“Nix,” she murmurs, looking at me over her shoulder. “You didn’t have to do this. I was happy to give mine to Prue.”

I shrug. “I always promised to get you a bigger one.” The diamond she had was pitiful, but it was all I could afford at the time. Even though it was tiny, Abbi loved and cherished it as if it were the heart-shaped diamond Richard Burton gifted Elizabeth Taylor for her fortieth birthday. And while this one still isn’t on par with that famous diamond, it’s more than double the size of the one I gifted her on our wedding day.

“I’ve never needed anything more than what you gave me, Nix. You’ve always been enough for me. You’re all I want,” she says softly, each word deliberately chosen. “But thank you. It’s beautiful.”

My emotions expand outward, and tears sting the backs of my eyes because I’ve always known I was enough for Abbi … that she didn’t need or want all the extra bullshit. That was all me and my insecurities. I swallow my emotions down and clasp the necklace around her neck, then turn her around to face me again. I fidget with the heart, ensuring it sits just right against the dip between her collarbones.

I close the distance between us and gently take her trembling lip between my teeth. I soothe the sting with a soft kiss and, without taking my mouth from hers, I pledge. “From now until the end of time, I’ll bow at your feet, and I promise with everything I am I’ll treat you like the queen you are. I’ll never stop showing you how precious you are to me. I love you, Abs.”

Her hands come up around my neck, and she tightens her hold, eliminating every breath of space between us. “I love you, Nix.” Her soft declaration soothes me in ways that reach deep inside me, and the space between our lips disappears when I take her mouth in a heady kiss to seal my promise to her.

Our tongues meet, our breaths join together, and I kiss her with every ounce of love I feel for her. We linger in the moment, extending our kiss, deepening it, savoring it. We taste and explore each other beneath the gazebo in our very own sanctuary. And as we kiss, I imagine kissing her for the rest of my days, until we’re old and gray, with grandkids and great-grandkids surrounding us in this very spot.

When the need for oxygen becomes too much and we pull away from each other, panting to catch our breath, I see my future clearly in her soft smile. And I know in the deepest recesses of my being that we’re going to be okay.