Page 125 of The Stranger

“Remember that costume jewellery my mother had you try on the day of your sister’s engagement party?” he asks.

“Yes.”

A sheepish grin is his only reply.

This moment hasn’t been done on a whim. It was a perfectly calculated plan. It has nothing to do with the rumours at work because he didn’t know they were even a thing back then.

“Come, future wife,” he commands, threading his fingers through mine. “Our feast awaits.”

“Feast?”

He leads me towards the kitchen and my eyes bug out of my head when I see the seemingly endless number of platters, laden with fresh food, laid out before us. A variety of fruits, pastries, quiches, croissants, muffins, breakfast sliders … the selection is extensive.

“Are we expecting company?” I ask.

He leans down and brushes his lips against my forehead before picking up a plate and passing it to me. “You should know by now my mother does nothing by halves.”

“I adore your mother.”

“And she adores you right back. We both do.”

I’m still grinning as I pop a big juicy grape into my mouth.

How did I get so lucky?

While I continue to pile my plate with all the deliciousness, Spencer retrieves a bottle of champagne out of the fridge and grabs two wine flutes.

“You realise it’s not even eight yet?” I say as he removes the cork from the bottle.

He lifts one shoulder. “It’s not every day you get to toast a momentous occasion like this.”

After pouring a small amount into each glass, he holds one out to me. I place my plate down and take it from him.

“Thank you.”

I hold my breath as he raises his glass in the air. “To the gorgeous, heartbroken woman who manifested an online love story with a stranger, that turned out to be one worthy of the pages. May our days be filled with laughter, our nights with shared dreams, while our hearts remain forever bonded by the beautiful adventures that await.”

Cue the tears.

Chapter 37

Spencer

“Have you given much thought to the type of wedding you want?” I ask my beautiful fiancée as we take a walk hand-in-hand down to the stream that runs through the middle of my estate. It’s a word I wasn’t sure I’d ever use, and one I didn’t realise I’d enjoy saying as much as I do.

“Something small,” she answers. “Just family and a few close friends.”

“Family, as in yours?”

She winces as she playfully pokes my stomach. “I have to invite them. I want my mum there. As for the other two …” She lifts one shoulder. “Unfortunately, the three of them come as a package deal. I don’t think my mother will come without them.”

I blow out an exaggerated breath. She’s a better person than I am because I have no intention of inviting my father. I haven’t heard from him since I bought him out of the company, but that does not perturb me. I want nothing to do with that man.

I have no qualms about her family being there. I’m more concerned they’ll say or do something to upsetDelilah on her special day. If they do, they will be feeling my full wrath.

“Whatever you want, sweetheart,” I say, bringing our conjoined hands up to my mouth, so I can lay a kiss on her knuckles.

“Do you think I’m pathetic for wanting them there?”