Page 18

Kit

Carrying one of the few boxes I have, I slowly make my way up the steps to Beau’s house, our home as he keeps telling me, and watch the hustle and bustle of activity. Some of my husband’s teammates are helping move the few pieces of furniture I’m taking with me.

Honestly, there wasn’t a need for me to bring anything, but Beau wanted me to know it was my house too, so I brought the things I thought I would miss.

After putting the box inside with all the others, I come back out and take in the scene unfolding before me. Karate Kid, Jackson, and Teddy are strategizing how best to get my grandmother’s china and buffet cabinets in the house.

Karate Kid says he’s the one who’s best at hitting all angles and that they should listen to him. Jackson and Teddy tell him how silly that is, especially since Jackson’s family owns a moving business.

I shake my head at the ridiculousness of it all when a pair of arms wrap around me and a chin rests on my shoulder. I let out a contented sigh.

“How are you feeling about all of this?” Beau’s gruff voice sends tiny shivers down my spine. I’m excited for our first night under the same roof.

Turning around in his arms, I slide my hands up his chest and then around his neck. The flash of heat in his eyes at my touch fills my body with warmth, and my mouth curls up. His arms tighten around me, pulling me closer.

The smile he’s beaming my way makes me grateful he’s supporting me, and the affection shining in his silver gaze makes my pulse hum through me.

Three weeks ago, I was set to marry a man I quietly doubted was right for me, only for fate to intervene and end up in the arms of the man standing in front of me.

“Okay, love birds,” Jackson’s exacerbated voice carries from the bottom of the stairs. “Do you mind breaking this up while we move the china cabinet in?”

My eyes widen in surprise as Beau lifts me off the ground and carries me out of their path before placing me back down onto the porch.

“That’ll work, too.” Teddy chuckles as he walks by with the first side of the cabinet.

“This reminds me of the two of you in Las Vegas,” Karate Kid snickers as he walks by, carrying the other end. And I turn my gaze toward them. “Except for your outfit, of course, Kit.”

My cheeks flame as I remember my outfit that day. It was a beautiful wedding gown that I picked out with my mother and sister when we thought I’d be having a traditional wedding.

“But if I remember correctly,” Jackson’s teasing tone draws my attention to the bottom of the stairs where he’s leaning against the railing. His eyes dance. “You literally threw your bridal self at our man Beau here.”

My cheeks burn, and I tuck my face against Beau’s vibrating shoulder. “Best night of my life,” he responds, kissing the top of my head.

Embarrassment fills me as I hug him tighter. If I could crawl into his skin so that no one could see me right now, I would.

“What do you think about the two of us having a real wedding?” Beau mumbles softly. “You know, one that you actually remember.”

“BD,” Teddy yells. “Catch.”

I open my eyes to see Beau reaching up and grabbing a velvet box from the air, a smirk on his face. My brows furrow, and my forehead pulls.

“Are you serious?” I ask, tears stinging.

He opens the black velvet box, and inside is a simple cushion-style engagement ring with a matching wedding band.

“Ohhh.” My mouth falls open as the diamond sparkles in the daylight, and I shift my gaze to his.

“I don’t need to get married again.” His voice is husky. “But I don’t want you to regret not having a wedding.”

“A wedding is just one day,” I push through a tight throat. “Every day after that is what matters most.” I reach up and run my fingers over his cheek. When he leans into my palm, my insides melt.

“I love you,” he whispers, wrapping his arms around me. He captures my lips with his and lifts me off the ground. When I let out a sigh, he deepens the kiss and all but takes my breath away.

It takes a moment for the catcalling from the sidewalk to push through my bubble, but Beau’s snort brings it into focus.

“Now it’s really like Vegas,” Teddy shouts, Karate Kid and Jackson cheering.

My face starts to heat, again, and Beau chuckles. “Don’t you have something you could be doing right now?” Beau scoffs at his teammates.

I turn to find the three of them leaning against the black pick-up truck we borrowed for the move, arms crossed against their chests and broad smirks on their faces. My lips curve up faintly.

“Okay, boys,” I say to the three of them. “The sooner you finish, the sooner I can get some alone time with my husband. Do you think you could make that happen for me?”

Teddy and Jackson start to head toward the back of the pick-up, but Karate Kid just stands in place, staring at me and Beau.

“Ouch!” He shouts, putting his hand on his head over the place where Teddy slapped him. “What did you do that for?”

“Let’s get moving so we can give them their alone time,” Teddy murmurs.

“I thought we were getting pizza for helping them move,” Karate Kid complains.

Hoots of laughter erupt from everyone.

“ We are,” Jackson answers, pointing to himself, Teddy, and Karate Kid.

Tiny points of heat dot my cheek, and I shift my attention back to Beau.

Being here with him now fills me with a burst of happiness. I squeeze my arms around his neck and feel his arms tighten around me.

“We’re almost done, you two,” Jackson jests. “Just give us ten minutes.”

Placing my feet on the ground, Beau gives me the sweetest kiss before following them into the house.

An hour later, I’m sitting on the couch in the living room, taking in my new home. I delight in the fact that not only did I get married, but I moved into a house I’ve always loved, with the man I never thought I’d see again.

I chuckle at all the boxes we’ll need to unpack. Beau wasn’t kidding when he said he still had boxes sitting around. It’s going to take us a few weeks to get everything in its rightful place.

It’s actually perfect. We get to make this house a home together, and I love it.

The front door opens, and Beau walks in, carrying a pizza. He ended up going to get a pie for us.

“I got half black olive and half pepperoni,” he says, placing the box on the dining room table.

My eyebrows lift, and my cheeks pull up. In high school, my family would get pizza every Saturday night. Beau worked at the pizzeria, answering the phones. Every time I’d call, I’d pretend not to know who was taking the order, but I always knew it was him.

“You remembered?”

A grin spreads, and there’s a gleam in his eyes as he walks over to the couch, mimicking my high-pitched voice as he pretends to be me ordering pizza in high school. “Hi. I’d like to place an order for two pies. One plain and the other with half black olives and half pepperoni delivered to 124 Oak Tree Road.”

A giggle falls from me as I cover my mouth, watching him walk toward me. When he reaches me, he puts his arms on the back of the couch beside my head, eyes twinkling.

“Of course I remembered! You would act like you didn’t know who was answering the phone, and it would drive me crazy.”

I grin, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth and sliding my palms up his arms.

“I know. It was the most fun I had all week.” I smirk, tugging him toward me.

“Aren’t you hungry?” He asks, beaming at me as he lowers his face toward me.

“I am,” I say against his mouth. “But I’m okay eating later if you are.”

Beau hops over the back of the couch, sitting in the seat next to me, and pulls me onto his lap. Cupping his hand around my cheek, he brushes the sweetest of kisses against my lips.

“I guess that’s a yes.” I smirk. When he doesn’t answer me. I pull back and ask. “Is that a yes?”

He growls as he pulls me closer making me chuckle. “It’s always a yes,” he says, gruffly.

I pull back. “Always?”

“Kit!” he grumbles, rolling his eyes and trying to pull me close.

“So testy,” I tease, running a finger over his jaw.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he whispers. His lip curving under my thumb.

“At least you’ll die happy.”

His laughter rumbles, and he runs a finger along my chin before pushing a strand of hair behind my ear, sending tingles throughout my body. “At least I’ll die happy, " he confirms.

His smile makes my stomach flip and butterflies furiously flap their wings. I cup his face, and my chest expands. He wraps his arms around me, and I sink into the cocoon he’s creating.

Leaning in, I press my lips against his and whisper.

“That makes two of us.”

The End.

I hope you fell in love with Beau and Kit, I had a ridiculous amount of fun writing their story!