Page 30 of Until You’re Breathless (Insatiable #1)

Wesley approaches the podium and the music stops.

He clears his throat. “Welcome, all of you. I’m so glad to be here in North Carolina, to celebrate this opportunity.

A fine opportunity to do business with a company that is all heart.

That’s what I take pride in because that’s what’s important.

My team and I share the same values, and I wanted to do business with like-minded individuals, which is what we are lucky enough to have with Lawson Enterprises.

And that’s why we’re here tonight. To celebrate.

Because what is life without celebration? ”

Clapping, hooting.

“It also doesn’t hurt that there’s an open bar, right?” Wesley jokes. Then he looks over at Bowie.

“Oh, great. Here it comes.” I murmur to her and she elbows me.

“When I was growing up, my father told me to never trust a woman. They’re emotional, they only want to bear children, spend your money, or sleep with your best friend.

It’s obvious that I learned how untrue that is, since I have a lovely wife that supports me in all my endeavors, but I’ve recently learned that not only are women supportive, but there are plenty that are so hardworking, they put some men to shame.

” He says with a chuckle, which receives some chuckles in the room.

“What I’m trying to say, since I’ve gone off script here, is that Bowie Ritter is a marvel.

This woman is the backbone of Lawson Enterprises, and one of the main reasons why I chose to partner with them.

Do not underestimate the power of a woman.

Mark my words. We’re going to build incredible cars that will change the world.

” He raises his glass and we can hear people say, ‘hear hear!’

Once the clapping ends, Wesley steps out of the way, so that Bowie and I can make our short speeches.

She goes first. “I’m very humbled by your remarks, Mister Hopkins, but I assure you that our success is built from all the people in this room, make no mistake.

I’m happy to have joined Lawson Enterprises, and I have so many ideas, some that have already come to fruition, and others that are just in their infancy.

But you’re right about one thing, sir, and that is that we’re going to build vehicles that will be lifechanging.

So, let’s all mark this new beginning with a celebration!

” She raises her glass and gets the same response as Wesley did.

When the clapping ends for her, I step up to the podium.

I clear my throat first before speaking.

“When I started this business, I had so many dreams, and I was happy if even half of them came true. But this has turned into a lifetime of dreams coming true.” I look over at Stevie, who is at the ready.

“But recently, it’s been about new beginnings, like the one that we’re celebrating here tonight.

” I give Stevie the cue. “But since you’re all here tonight, Bowie and I wanted to celebrate something else together. ”

I look over at my brothers and my parents, who are sitting at their tables.

They’re confused, which is to be expected.

But once they see the venue crew bringing out a floral altar, and they see the pastor walk in from the door behind the DJ, the first thing I see is my mother’s hands go on her face.

Once mine and Bowie’s family has caught on, they’re standing up, whistling, hooting, and making so much noise, you’d think we were at Times Square on goddamn New Year’s Eve. Jinny being the loudest.

The whole room is clapping as the venue crew lay down a silk runner that leads to the altar, and Bowie signals to her father to come walk her down the aisle.

He practically runs to her, giving her a big hug, and I look at my mom, who is wiping her eyes with her fingertips, beaming with pride.

I signal to my brothers to join me at that altar, and they just about fall all over themselves, probably because they’ve already been into the sauce, but whatever.

Axl runs over, too, and I let him, since he’s about as close as you can get to being an honorary brother.

Bowie points Jinny to the other side of the altar, and she barrels her way there, practically dancing.

Gotta say, this is the funnest wedding I’ve ever been to.

Everyone is making it what it is: a good time.

The DJ gives the pastor a microphone and he speaks into it.

The first thing he says is. “This is my first spontaneous wedding, and I have to say, they’re highly underrated. ”

Fist pumping, animated growls, shouts of encouragement, similar to what you’d get if this was some sort of Olympic event. The DJ takes over for a second. “Are we ready?”

The entire room shouts a resounding, “Yes!”, and the pastor gives Bowie and her dad a nod, indicating that they can start walking down the makeshift aisle.

I watch my bride take steps towards me, smiling from ear to ear, and I’m mirroring her.

Halen playfully punches me in the arm. “Way to go, man.”

I grin at him. “Thanks. Now shut the fuck up so that I can get married.”

He chuckles. “Be my guest.”

Bowie arrives at the altar, and her dad kisses her on the cheek.

As soon as the pastor tells us to take each other’s hands so that we can say our vows, it all becomes a blur to me.

All I can think about is how beautiful she is and how fucking lucky I am.

Her eyes are on me the whole time, as we recite our vows, until the moment that I place the ring on her finger.

When we finally kiss as a newlywed couple, my heart skips a beat.

It’s real. She’s now my wife. I’m her husband.

We get to spend the rest of our lives together.

I’m so happy when he says. “You may now kiss your bride.” That I lift her up in the air and swing her around once, kissing her as I go.

She squeals with glee, and then when her feet are planted back on the floor, I give her a New York style kiss, and dip her, supporting her back with my hand.

Stevie hired a fucking fantastic photographer, who’s like a goddamn ninja, and he gets in there to snap a shot of us kissing like that.

After we sign the official documents, I walk up to the podium and say. “Now we’ve got two reasons to party!”

And it’s the best fucking party. The party of the century.

Guess who ends up in the goddamn tabloids the next day, dancing on a table with Jinny?

...Axl, of course.

I offer to buy my new wife an engagement ring the next day, too.

You know what she said?

She’d rather have a fucking cock ring.

...yeah, I married the right girl.