Page 132 of Imperfect Arrangement

With that, he leans back again and turns to Quill. “Bug, how do you feel about attending a wedding?”

I stare at him, my mouth parting in sheer stunned disbelief. Is he really doing what I think he’s doing?

Quill gasps, her whole face lighting up. “A wedding? Will it be at Blooming Quill?”

“I think that would be the perfect place,” Ray replies smoothly, his serious gaze locking on to mine.

“Whose wedding is it, Daddy?” Quill blinks between us, completely unaware of the bomb her dad has decided to drop.

“How about me and Willow?” He just casually announced our wedding plans like he was discussing a grocery list, and he hasn’t even properly proposed yet!

My heartbeat is a damn drum solo in my ears as I glance at Quill, waiting for her reaction. She’s shocked. Her little mouth is wide open, her eyes bouncing between her dad and me like she’s trying to process what just happened. Then, slowly, her expression shifts from surprise to something…hopeful.

“You’re marrying my dad?”

While I was prepared for a slow, delicate transition into this family, Raymond Teager apparently had other plans.

He doesn’t even blink as he replies, onmybehalf, “She very much is.”

My stomach flips.This man.

I turn back to Quill, deciding I’ll deal with Raymond later because, right now, it’s our bug who matters most. “Even though your dad absolutely sucked at the proposal”—I shoot Ray a pointed glare before softening my expression as I look at Quill—“I’d love to marry him…but only if it’s okay with you.”

She throws herself at me, her little arms wrapping around my neck with all the force her tiny frame can muster. “I’d love that, Willow!”

The impact of her words seeps into my bones, and I suddenly can’t remember what life was like before this little girl and her crazy dad wormed their way into my heart.

“Would it be okay if I call you Mom?”

I swallow, my throat thick. “I’d love it if you called me Mom, Bug.”

Quill smiles so big it nearly splits her face in half.

Ray kneels onto the bed and opens the familiar velvet box. “For a second, I wondered if I should get you a new ring. But then I realized, I don’t want to change how we started.”

“Me neither,” I whisper.

“Me three!” Quill giggles, and we all burst into laughter.

Ray takes my hand, his thumb skimming my knuckles, slow and deliberate. “Miss Pershing, now that you’ve seen me in every way, do you agree to make what started as our imperfect arrangement our perfect forever?”

My heart nearly combusts. I don’t even hesitate. “I can’t wait to do that.”

Ray slides the ring onto my finger, which is no longer a cover story but our new reality. Then he rises to his feet, that signature smug smirk settling onto his face.

Oh no. I know that look.

“Okay,” I breathe out, “now can you remove the cuffs?”

He tilts his head, completely unfazed. “Not until Friday.”

“What?” I squawk. “That’s two days from now!”

“I know. Your mom and mine have already started planning the wedding. Ours will be the first official wedding at Blooming Quill.”

“Ray, that’s insane! We can’t get married in two days. There’s so much that needs to be done!” I start pacing as much as the chain will allow, flailing my free hand.

He shrugs, completely unbothered. “Good thing we own a wedding estate with expert staff who can pull off any dream wedding in forty-eight hours.”