“Yeah, get a limo to pick us up. I want to go all out on this.” He took a deep breath and gave her the rest of the details as they came to him. It might be an elopement, but it would still be a real wedding for his Ree. When he finished on the phone he went in the bedroom and tucked a few things into a bag. He had plans and he wanted to do this right. He wanted to see how Ree liked what he had in mind.
Chapter 14
Sabrina’s world was spinning. It had been ever since Sean had stepped in the door and stood by her side as he’d confronted his mother. She had never doubted that he would stand up to his mother, but it hadn’t occurred to her that he might take her side and not just be neutral. Sabrina had been too stunned to speak until after the older woman had stormed out. She was still stunned. Ree? Where had that come from. Not that she was complaining she liked it and the way his slow drawl seemed to curl around it made her stomach flip every time he said it.
After his mother had left and he’d suggested they go to Vegas she’d wanted to protest about it being impractical. About having dinner half done in the fridge, but the look in his eyes had made her bite her tongue and agree. She couldn’t wait to say I do. Especially after the way he’d stood by her and told his mother, his mother, off for her. When he’d said pack, she’d jumped. She’d tossed her dress and a few toiletries in a bag, and added a couple extras, just in case and was ready by the time he called for her. Now, she sat in the back of the limo that had picked them up and wondered what was next.
“I’d offer you Champagne, but I know you’ll refuse. How about some sparkling cider instead?” Sean opened the bar refrigerator and pulled out a bottle with a smile.
“Why not?” She shook her head and smiled. He’d gone to the trouble to have it stocked, and she had no doubt he’d requested it because what bar stocked that? “You didn’t have to do all this,” she said as she watched him open the bottle and pour two Champagne flutes of the bubbly amber drink.
“I want to.” He handed her one glass and slid back to his seat beside her, the other still in his hand. “To us. To a long life together, to a house filled with children and laughter and to you.” He clinked his glass against hers and took a sip. Sabrina wasn’t sure what he meant, but she sipped anyway. She wasn’t in the mood to question him. Not now.
The trip to the airport didn’t take as long as she thought and soon she was seated in a jet the size of the one she’d arrived in the day before, but the interior of this one was different. More plush fabric and dark wood than the previous plane. She felt Sean’s eyes on her as he watched her look around the small space. It dawned on her that his bathroom was larger.
Sean had spoken to the pilot as they had boarded, and it only took a few minutes before the small craft was moving. Before long they were taking off, she leaned back in her seat and tried to relax. Flying didn’t bother her, but take-off and landing, where the craft tilted and accelerated really fast or slowed quickly always made her stomach jump. As soon as the sound of the engines changed she closed her eyes and tried to keep her fingers from gripping the arms of her chair so tight. When the plane leveled off some she opened her eyes to find Sean smirking at her.
“Afraid of flying?”
“No. I’m just not all that fond of take-off.” Something about his look made her think he didn’t believe her. He released the catch on his seatbelt, stood and went to the back of the plane for a few moments.
“Want something to drink?” he asked when he returned. “I don’t have any cider stocked in here, but we’ve got water, soda and coffee.”
“Water is fine.” She watched as he disappeared into the small galley, unable to keep from noticing the way the jeans he wore cupped his finely sculpted ass. He caught her looking and gave her a grin as he came back with two bottles of water.
“We’ve got about three hours to kill, any ideas on that?” He handed her a bottle.
“We could play a game. Got any cards?” She glanced around hoping he would say no.
“Sorry, no cards.” Amusement glinted in his eye.
“I could read.” She pulled out her phone and held it up.
“And ignore me?” He stuck out his lower lip in a fake pout.
Sabrina was enjoying the little game and wondered how long it would go on before he said what he was really after.
“We can talk. Tell me,” she shifted in her seat and took a sip of her water, “you said you’re in construction, but what exactly do you do?”
Sean pinned her with an intense look as a low growl rumbled from his throat.
Unable to hold it back any longer, Sabrina laughed. A full belly laugh that took her several seconds to calm. When she’d gotten over her laughter and looked at him again she found him leaning back in his seat, watching her with one lifted brow.
“Enjoying yourself?”
“Immensely.” She fell into a fit of giggles at the disgruntled look he wore. By the time her giggling passed he was smiling and shaking his head at her.
“Well, at least you’re having fun.”
Sabrina unbuckled her seatbelt and stretched over to kiss his cheek. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t help myself. The longer it went on, the more comical your expression got and I had to see how long I could keep it up.”
“Longer than I’d like, it seems.” A smile crept across his face, despite having been the butt of her joke, he seemed happy. “Now, about that three hours, well, a little over two and a half now.” He looked at his watch.
“I don’t know. What do you have in mind?” She had an idea what he was thinking, it was part of why her messing with him had been so much fun, but she wanted him to say it.
“I heard about this club, I thought we might like to join.”
“Oh, a club?” She knew exactly where this was headed, but again, teasing him was so much fun.
He frowned. “Not this again.” He leaned forward and covered her mouth in a hard kiss that she didn’t hesitate to return.
She loved it when he got aggressive. Soon they’d both shed their clothes and by the time the plane landed, Sabrina was glad she’d thought to pack extra underwear, though, truth be told, Sean would probably be just as happy if she went without.
Chapter 15
Sean stood in front of the woman in a nice suit dress, his Ree standing face to face with him, her hands clutching his. She was beautiful with her hair pulled away from her face, but falling a little rumpled, reminding him of the flight. She gazed up at him, a smile on her face that reached her eyes and made them shine.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
He didn’t hesitate. The weight that had been sitting in his stomach since he’d gotten her text about his mother finally disappeared. Sean pulled his Ree into his arms and looked down at her.
“You’re mine now.” He covered her lips in a gentle, almost chaste kiss then lifted his head.
“I don’t want to go anywhere.” She wrapped her arm around his waist. “Not without you.”
They signed the paperwork and took photos. An hour later they were back in the limo that had picked them up from the airport.
“You look relieved,” Ree said as the car pulled away from the curb.
“I am.”
“Why?” she frowned.
He pulled her close. “I was so afraid you were going to leave. From the moment I got your text about Mom, I couldn’t shake the fear that she was going to scare you away.” He dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “But it’s too late now. We’ve done made it legal it’s gonna be a lot harder for you to shake loose of me.” He grinned like he’d won the lottery, and in a way, he had.
Ree looked at him and frowned, shaking her head like she thought he’d lost his mind. “Why would your mama scare me off? She was just being a mama bear protecting her cub.”
“And I can’t wait to see you doing the same for ours.”
“I’ll probably be even worse.” She gave him a half smile.
“And I’ll love every mi
nute of it.”
A dark shadow crossed over her face and she turned away. “Please. Don’t say it unless you meant it.”
“Mean what?”
She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Love.” She sighed. “I know this is a business arrangement, not a love match, but let’s at least be honest about it.”
He took her chin between his finger and thumb and turned her back to look at him, waiting until her eyes lifted to his fact to speak. “Sabrina Callahan. This might have started out as a business arrangement, but somewhere in between talking over dinner and laughing in the tub, I fell. I fell hard.” He shook his head. “I didn’t think it was possible and I didn’t realize how deep those feelings ran until I thought you might leave.” Panic flooded him as tears pooled in her eyes and spilled out to run down her face. “What? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She pulled away, took a tissue from near the bar and blotted at her eyes. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Then why are you crying?” He’d never understood how women seemed to cry at the drop of a hat, seemed like he hadn’t gotten any better at it either.
“Because I love you too,” she huffed. “I thought I was ten times a fool for falling for you,” she looked up and gave him a watery smile, “at least I wasn’t the only one.”
“I’m glad you aren’t. Now dry those tears and come back here. We’ll be to the hotel soon and I have big plans for you.”
“Hotel? I thought you had more meetings tomorrow?”
“Screw the meetings. I’d rather spend a few days with my wife.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“Me too.”
The limo pulled up in front of a small version of the Eiffel Tower and stopped.
“This will have to do for now. Someday I’ll take you to see the real one.”
“I’d love to see it, but you don’t have to do that,” Ree said.
Sean took her hand in his and squeezed. “I’ve got big plans for us. Not just for tonight, but for the rest of our lives.” He glanced up at the towering building in front of them. “Come on. I can’t wait to get started.”
Ree looked up at the hotel standing in front of them, then back at him. “Me either.”
The next book in the Billionaire Bachelor series is Alex, check it out now!
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Books by Melissa Stevens
Kitsune Series:
Change
Fight
Hunt
Live
The Kitsune Collection
(with Change, Fight, Hunt and Live in one volume)
WMC Series:
Escape
Jade's Peace
Risking Alex
Demented Souls:
Ruger
City of Sin:
Released by Desire
Redeemed by Desire
Revealed by Desire
The Dragon Chronicles
(with Released by Desire, Redeemed by Desire and Revealed by Desire)
Diamond Bridal Agency:
Justin
Sean
Alex
Novels:
Robin’s Nest
Choosing Happiness
About the Author
Melissa Stevens is an Arizona native who has spent her entire life living across the southern half of the state. She prefers small towns and rural life to feeling packed into a city, often writing about the small towns she love. With more than fifteen books available, Melissa spends much of her time working on the next story.
She lives with her husband and four children and can often be found lost in thought as she talks to her imaginary friends as much as the ones that walk and talk the same earth she does.
Follow her on Facebook and her website to get the latest updates and find out what she’s working on now.
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