My Unexpected Vow: California Billionaires Book 2 by Harlow James (top 10 inspirational books txt) 📕

I reach across the table, grabbing her hand and waiting for her eyes to meet mine. “I was a jerk to you while we were growing up. I know that, and I’m so fucking sorry, Waverly. I’m sorry I never saw you before this. I’m sorry I never let myself see you. But I’m seeing you now, and I don’t think I could ever go back to a world where you’re not the center of it.”

Her face softens and the light from the candle on the table flickers in the glassy reflection of her stunning green eyes. With her long blonde hair framing her face and her smooth pink lips smiling at me, I swear I can feel Cupid’s bow pierce right through my heart and call me a goner.

“Wow. Laying it on thick tonight, aren’t we?”

“I’m speaking the truth, Waverly.” Without hesitation, I release her hand, stand up and position my chair so I’m closer to her. She sits there stunned until I settle back into my seat and grip her hand once more. “Now tell me all about how you fell in love with design.”

She licks her lips and then fills me in with her love of drawing and creating that sparked as a kid. I get so lost in discovering this whole new side of her that we completely forget to decide on what we’re eating. When the waiter comes by once more, we finally take a minute to pick something that sounds good and then go right back to our conversation.

“Your entire face lights up when you talk about it, Wave,” I say, reaching for my wine. “That’s what tells me you were meant to do it. And by the way Midnight Cowboy is turning out, I’d say I’m right.”

“I can’t wait to see the finished product in a few weeks. Then Ian will be hiring and training the staff to prepare for the opening, right?”

“Yes. The opening is on schedule too, which is pretty amazing in my line of work.”

The waiter brings by our salads and by now our stomachs are rumbling and the wine has gone to our heads, so we dive right in.

“So, do you ever see yourself having kids?”

I nearly choke on my lettuce as her question registers in my brain. Fighting not to have a coughing fit in the middle of a restaurant, I clear my throat and then force myself to swallow. “Damn, going straight for the tough questions, aren’t you?”

“Well, yes, and no. I think I deserve the answer to the question, though. Technically, it’s something you should ask someone before you marry them, and since we kind of did things backward, I think it’s important to discuss it now.”

The idea of children is one that was never truly prevalent in my mind, given that marriage wasn’t something I even considered intently before now. But suddenly visions of Waverly pregnant with my child stir up a caveman instinct inside that is raring with the need to be acknowledged.

“I’m not opposed to kids, I just never really thought about them.”

“At all?”

I shrug and take another bite of my salad, confident I can keep it down now. “No. But I didn’t know if I’d ever get married either and look how that turned out.”

She smiles but then grows serious again. “Why do you think that is? Your parents have such a wonderful marriage. It’s not like you had an example like I did to look up to.”

My heart hurts momentarily for her and Wes. I know what their family was like, how awful their dad was and still is at moments, even after his transgressions, how absent their mom is from their lives. “Truthfully?” She nods. “I’ve never dated anyone that made me think that far ahead. My focus was always on work, and no woman made me want to entertain that idea. Until you.”

Her mouth falls open. “Seriously?”

I drop my fork and then reach up to grip the back of her neck and pull her close to me, our lips mere inches apart. “Seriously, babe. You’ve changed things for me. You’ve changed me. Waverly, my world was dull and lacking color until you got me drunk and made me marry you,” I joke, which she takes lightheartedly, thank fuck. “But now that it has, it’s opened me up to possibilities. I know we said six months, but I feel like I finally have you now. However, I don’t want to put pressure on this either. So let’s just take it day by day, see how we feel, and then make the decision about our future when it feels right.”

Her lips meet mine in a soft and reverent kiss that has me taking in as much oxygen as my lungs will allow. I meet every nip of her lips against mine and the gentle pass of her tongue before we part and remain decent in public.

“I think I can do that.”

“I think I can do that too.”

* * *

“Well, I definitely have to give you points for originality.” Waverly stands beside me, her hand planted firmly on her hip. “I’ve never been taken to Staples on a date before.”

“But you know it’s like the Mecca of office supplies, right?”

She lifts a brow at me while narrowing her eyes. “Yes …”

“So, we’re here to pick out some pens for you.”

Her head cocks to the side. “I have pens.”

“Yes, pens with caps that you never put back on. But, since compromise is the key to any happy marriage, or so I’ve been told, we’re here to find you a pen that eliminates that little quirk of yours that drives me insane.”

Her bottom lip and shoulders fall at the same time. “You’re serious.”

“As a heart attack.”

Reaching for her hand, I lead her inside and straight to the aisle that is solely full of different types and brands of pens. “Now, you have to pick clicky ones.”

“Clicky ones?”

“Yes, you know the ones that you click the top of that makes the