“Congratulations Sir and Mrs Oakes,” Timothy said, shaking our hands.
“Thank you Timothy,” I told the young man warmly “I appreciate you taking the time to attend the ceremony.”
Grayson smiled and took my hand, kissing the palm of it with his lips, making me shiver. “Well now wife,” he said as Rachel smiled smugly at me “I believe that we should have a celebration breakfast with champagne. What do you say?” he asked, raising a brow and surveying Rachel and Timothy “naturally you two will join us?” he asked.
“I would love to” Rachel gushed “I’m going to miss Flair when she moves out” she added, elbowing me.
“Rachel” I hissed.
Grayson smiled, leading me out of the small room “Ah yes” he said, as we headed outside and to the nearest limousine, all of us piling in “I believe that we should have discussed this beforehand, but there’s no time like the present” he said blandly as the limo started to move “I gather that you don’t have any objections to moving into my house Mrs. Oakes?” he teased.
I took a deep breath “None Mr Oakes” I said solemnly “but there is one provision that I fear you must adhere to if I’m to move in with you.”
Rachel began to giggle as Grayson looked confused. “Oh boy, I wondered when she was going to bring this up” she whispered to Timothy who was watching with curiosity.
Grayson leaned back in the chair and surveyed me calmly, a small smile on his lips.
“I’m sure we can come to some sort of arrangement,” he said blithely “providing that what you are asking for is not within the realm of impossibilities.”
“You’re going to regret saying that” Rachel breathed, making Grayson shoot her a look.
I took a deep breath “I readily agree to move into your house Mr Oakes, as your wife, but there is one thing that I fear I must ask of you. Your house has adequate room and a backyard as well” I continued as Grayson frowned at me, wondering where I was going with this “and there are many animals at the local shelter that require homes. While I may not have been able to provide a dog a safe home in an apartment, now that I have a large home and adequate backyard, I would like us to adopt one from a rescue.”
Grayson’s lip was twitching. He had not anticipated this from me. I fixed my eyes on him. This meant something to me. I had pleaded with Johnathon when we married to get a dog, or a cat. He had refused and no amount of persuasion had worked. I loved animals and it had broken my heart not to be able to have any. I should have asked Grayson before now, but I was hoping that by asking him, I would see another side of him that was different to Johnathon. Grayson was frowning, but not in anger. He was considering my request and carefully. Rachel held her breath. Timothy looked worried.
Finally he spoke and it was with a grave voice, “As a wedding gift to you Mrs Oakes, we shall visit the local rescue and pick out a dog together that is in need of a home. I would like a say in what kind of animal we take in, I gather that is reasonable to you?” he asked, his eyes sparkling.
I flung my arms around him beaming widely. As wedding gift went I could not ask for anything better than this. “Thank you” I mumbled, as his arms wrapped tightly around me, breathing in his masculine scent, nuzzling against his chest, “you have no idea how much this means to me.”
He chuckled as the limo drew to a stop in front of a restaurant “I think I have the gist of it” he said agreeably “now let’s go celebrate our marriage Mrs Oakes and be aware” he dropped his voice “that I am quite looking forward to our wedding night” he added as I felt my heart beginning to race in response.
Without another word I let him lead me into the restaurant, my mind whirling.
Grayson POV
She was beautiful. A goddess. Even dressed in a simple maxi dress, with her hair loose down her back, I had never seen somebody as pretty as her. She was a natural beauty and I could feel myself becoming aroused as we went through the motions, speaking the words that would bind us together as man and wife. I should have been more concerned about tying myself to a woman for the next few years, even if it was a contract marriage, but Flair’s presence soothed me. She felt like home. All I had to do was look at her and I could feel myself becoming relaxed, all my worries drifting away.
We stopped at a restaurant for a celebratory breakfast with champagne. It wasn’t anything overly fancy, but she seemed to enjoy it. Timothy was beaming at me, holding up a glass as he proposed a toast. “To Mr and Mrs Oakes,” he said warmly as I glanced at my new bride who was flushing quite becomingly “I wish you every happiness in your future and that you find the love and happiness you have both been looking for with each other.”
“Thank you, Timothy,” my wife said sincerely, taking a sip from her champagne glass.
I nodded at my assistant, while Rachel took a sip of her glass. I snuck a look at my wife, not daring to believe she was mine.
Johnathon really was an idiot, letting a woman of this caliber go for a woman like Charlotte, I mused to myself, sipping at my champagne. Either the man was blind, or he was that desperate for money, he was willing to do whatever it took to get his greedy little hands on it. I leaned forward and touched Flair’s hand, causing her to bite her lip and glance at me shyly. I smiled, enjoying her reaction.
“You look beautiful Mrs Oakes” I complimented her “and I was rather hoping that we might manage to get you moved into our home by the end of business today?” I asked shrewdly.
She looked a little taken aback. Her friend’s eyes were gleaming. “We can do that Flair,” she said excitedly “it won’t take long. You don’t have that much stuff anyway. Especially since Johnathon…” she trailed off, looking away as Flair blushed.
“Especially since Johnathon…?” I prompted, glancing at my wife, who bit her lip and looked as though she wished Rachel had not said anything.
“Since Johnathon, the bastard, only let her take her clothes and jewelry with her,” Rachel said snidely, while Flair stared uncomfortably at her hands.
“It doesn’t matter” Flair whispered as I looked at her with anger in my eyes “all of the paintings and decorative things were his. He didn’t like my taste” she explained hurriedly.
More like the bastard didn’t let her decorate their home so she would be comfortable, I thought with anger. I fought to keep my expression calm and smiled pleasantly at my wife, who looked a bit surprised. “Well that’s great,” I told her warmly “because I’m actually seeking to redecorate the home and I think that as my wife, you should have a say in how it looks and feels. I want you to be comfortable in the home you are living in” I told her, watching her eyes begin to sparkle and a smile curve on her lips.
“Really?” she asked with a slight stammer “because our tastes might be different and I don’t want to overstep,” she said, starting to slump in the chair.
Johnathon had really done a number on her self-esteem I thought studying her. Rachel looked annoyed on her friend’s behalf and even Timothy looked slightly uncomfortable. I spoke up “Our tastes might differ but that’s whats great about choosing colors and paintings together. It means I get to know more about you and you get to know more about me” I said nonchalantly “besides, you act as though it can’t be changed later on. I think I will be surprised by what you come up with. My home is more masculine I’m afraid, but I’m sure you will bring some warmth and light to it.”
She looked excited now. I squeezed her hand and she gave me a genuine smile that had my heart racing. Damn. If I thought I could hold back my feelings with her, then I was in for a shock. All I wanted to do was make this woman happy.
“I do have one request though Mrs Oakes,” I said solemnly.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.