Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
They left, and I nestled into Nick’s side.
“Who knew all of this would happen when you wrote this book,” he mused.
“I know. The final draft was way different from the first one.”
“Oh yeah?”
I nodded. “You never would have filmed in Port Albany. The wedding would have happened in Vegas.”
“Vegas?”
I sat up, pulling my hair from the clips that held it back. “They eloped.”
“What changed your mind?”
“It didn’t work for them. I realized Roxie wanted the big white wedding, and I had to give it to her.”
“Because that’s what you want too?”
I shocked him when I shook my head. “No. I’d be fine with Vegas. My husband and I. The thought of the whole thing, all the people looking—even if they are mostly my family—it just doesn’t do it for me. I want small, private, and fast.”
“Your parents would be so upset.”
I laughed. “They wouldn’t be surprised. I always told them that. I said they could have a party after. As long as they could celebrate, they’d be fine.” I began to stand. “One day.”
He grabbed my hand, his gaze intense. “How about today?”
“What?” I asked, confused.
“Let’s be Roxie and Duncan. That’s who you wrote about when you crafted the book, Mila. Us. I saw it in every word. Let’s give them the original ending.”
“What are you saying?”
He stood, cradling my face in his hands. “Marry me, Shortcake. Tonight. We’ll fly to Vegas, get married, and spend the night. We can be back in the morning. Give our story the ending you first wrote.”
I felt the rush of tears. “You want to marry me?”
“I want it all with you. We’ll get married and head home together. Face your father. Have a freaking party to end all parties. Start our life. You heard Gloria. A new page. A new story for us.” He paused. “Please.”
I could only say one word.
“Yes.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
MILA
Andi glowered at me from across the aisle on the plane. “Your father is going to kill me. When we started this, I promised to make sure you were okay. When he finds out you got married, he is going to use some of those power tools of his to dismember my body.”
I laughed. “He’ll be fine. I’m not saying a word until we get home.”
She sighed. “Who knew my little shy Mila could cause all this stir?” She leaned forward, mock glaring at Nick. “This is your fault.”
He grinned at her, leaning over and nuzzling my cheek. “I’ll take full responsibility, Andi. You’re safe.”
He smiled at me, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “You okay, wife?” he whispered, making me shiver. He’d been calling me that since the minister pronounced us married two days before.
We’d been on the last flight out that night, arriving in Vegas just before midnight. Nick had already been busy on his phone, and he pulled me to a limo and we went directly to a chapel. He’d thought of everything. A pretty bunch of flowers. A hotel room for the night. He’d dragged me to the jeweler’s in the lobby, and he picked out a ring—a simple, heavy platinum band. He made me leave the store after getting my ring size, and he slipped a beautiful band on my finger when we said I do. The pavé diamonds caught the light and reflected the brilliance.
“I’ll buy you a big diamond if you want,” he promised.
“No. I love this.”
He kissed me. “I love you, wife.” He smiled against my mouth.
We went back to the hotel and spent the night celebrating. He was loud and vocal. Demanding and sweet. Loving and relentless.
We celebrated so much, I had trouble walking the next morning. I was still a little achy.
Jacob, Andi, and Tom met us at the hotel suite in LA in the early afternoon. Tom let us know MJ had sent her lawyer and all the papers had been signed. Jacob smiled.
“I will work out all the details and make sure you’re protected.”
“Thanks.” Nick put out his hand to shake, and Andi yelped.
“What the hell is that on your finger?” Then she grabbed my hand. “Mila!”
He grinned, wrapping his arm around my waist. “We eloped last night.”
I had never seen Andi speechless before.
She hadn’t shut up since she recovered.
The plane touched down, and I felt the nerves in my stomach kick in. Despite what I told Nick, I knew my dad would be sad about my eloping. He was sentimental and old-fashioned.
I hoped he wouldn’t be too upset. I knew I’d already caused enough of a stir with the film, Nick, and everything else.
Nick lifted my hand in the car, kissing my ring. “We’ll get married again if they want,” he promised me, knowing what was on my mind. “I’ll marry you a hundred times, Shortcake.”
I smiled. “Once was enough, Hollywood.”
“We’ll see what your father says about that.”
My parents, uncles, and aunts were all waiting for us at the Hub. We dropped our luggage at the house and wandered over. I saw all the people inside and groaned. “We’ll get it over with all at once,” Nick assured me. “Think of it this way—your dad can’t kill me with all those witnesses.”