“Yes, I know but I’ll be fine staying with Dillon and Pam tonight. Tomorrow will be here before you know it.” She then paused and looked up at him, searched his gaze. “And you think we’re doing the right thing, Jason?”
He smiled, nodding. “Yes, I’m positive. After the ceremony we’ll contact your parents and provide their attorney with whatever documentation needed to kick your trust fund back in gear. And I’m sure word will get around soon enough for whoever has been making those threats to hear Bella Bostwick Westmoreland is here to stay.”
Bella Bostwick Westmoreland. She liked the sound of it already but deep down she knew she couldn’t get attached to it. She stared into his eyes and hoped he wouldn’t wake up one morning and think he’d made a mistake and the proposal hadn’t been worth it.
“Everything will work out for the best, Bella. You’ll see.” He then pulled her into his arms and kissed her again.
“I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU man and wife. Jason, you may kiss your bride.”
Jason didn’t waste any time pulling Bella into his arms and devouring her mouth the way he’d gotten accustomed to doing.
He had expected a small audience but every Westmoreland living in Denver was there, except Micah, his brother who was a year older and an epidemiologist with the federal government, as well as his brothers Canyon and Stern who were away attending law school. And of course he missed his cousin Gemma who was living with her husband in Australia, and his younger brother Bane who was in the navy. Jason also missed the twins, Aiden and Adrian. They were away at college.
When he finally released Bella’s mouth, cheers went up and he glanced at Bella and knew at that moment just how much he loved her. He would prove the depth of his love over the rest of their lives. He knew she assumed after the first year either of them could file for divorce, but he didn’t intend for that to happen. Ever. There would be no divorce.
He glanced down at the ring he’d placed on her finger. He had picked her up at eight that morning, taken her into town for breakfast and from there a whirlwind of activities had begun with a visit to the jeweler. Then to the courthouse to file the necessary papers so they could marry on time. Luckily there was no waiting period in Colorado and he was grateful for that.
“Hey, Jason and Bella. Are the two of you ready for dinner?” Dillon asked, smiling.
Jason smiled back. “Yes, we are.” He took Bella’s hand in his, felt the sensations touching her elicited and knew that, personally, he was ready for something else, as well.
BELLA CAST A QUICK GLANCE over at Jason as they stepped on the elevator that would take them up to their hotel room in the tower—the honeymoon suite—compliments of the entire Westmoreland family. She realized she hadn’t just married the man but had also inherited his entire family. For someone who’d never had an extended family before, she could only be elated.
Dinner with everyone had been wonderful and Jason’s brothers and cousins had stood to offer toasts to what everyone saw as a long marriage. There hadn’t been anything in Jason’s expression indicating they were way off base in that assumption or that it was wishful thinking on their parts.
All of the Westmoreland ladies had given her hugs and welcomed her to the family. The men had hugged her, as well, and she could tell they were genuinely happy for her and Jason.
And now they were on the elevator that would carry them to the floor where their room was located. They would be spending the night, sleeping under the same roof and sharing the same bed. They hadn’t discussed such a thing happening, but she knew it was an unspoken understanding between them.