Page 30 of Big, Burly Bodyguard

My thumb brushes her knuckles. “I promise to give you freedom, honesty, and my whole heart. Today. Tomorrow. Always.”

The officiant nods and turns to her. “Evie.”

She inhales, steadying herself, and looks at me like I’m the only person in the room.

“Mitchell,” she says softly. “You gave me something I never thought I was allowed to have. Room to discover myself, to simply be myself without guardrails or restrictions.”

Her fingers tighten around mine.

“You saw me before I knew how to see myself. You helped me find courage where I thought there was only duty. And when I asked for one small choice, you gave me everything.”

My chest tightens painfully.

“I choose you,” she says. “Not because I have to—but because I want to. If I couldn’t marry you, be your wife, I might as well return home and marry Harold.” She releases a small laugh. “Because no one but you could ever make me feel so adored. I promise to walk beside you, to trust you, and to build a life that belongs to us alone. One where love is a decision we make every day.”

She smiles, bright and sure. “I give you my heart freely. Completely. And forever.”

The officiant clears his throat, smiling. “By the power vested in me⁠—”

I barely hear the rest.

“—you may kiss your bride.”

I do hear that, and I don’t hesitate. I cup her face in my hands and kiss her—slow, reverent, certain.

She kisses me back just as surely, her hands sliding around my body, holding on like she knows exactly where she belongs.

When we part, she rests her forehead against my chest. Then she glances up at me, smiling through happy tears.

“Hi, husband,” she whispers.

I laugh, low and disbelieving.

“Hi, wife.”

And for the first time in my life, everything feels exactly right.

chapter

fourteen

Evelyn

I can’t stop smiling.

The world feels different after you say I do.

Brighter. Quieter. Like someone turned the volume down and all I can hear is the two of us.

He walks me over to his truck, and instead of opening the door, he presses me against it.

“I can’t believe I get to keep you,” he says.

That makes me giggle. “I keep waiting for someone to stop us,” I admit softly. “To tell me this was all a misunderstanding. Or a dream.”

Mitchell cups my cheek. He’s looking down into my face as if I mean everything to him. “I checked,” he says. “Pretty sure it’s legally binding.”

Then he lowers his head and kisses me.