Page 140 of The Auction
Killian opens my door, scanning the street like he’s part of the Secret Service. The place is deserted—no cars, no photographers, no crowd. My feet root to the ground. I don’t want to go inside. I don’t want to walk down an aisle in front of strangers to give my life away.
His hand is gentle but firm on my arm, urging me forward. Inside, the sunlight from behind us fades, replaced by the dim glow of chandeliers. My eyes adjust, focusing on the set of heavy double doors ahead. Closed, hiding what’s waiting for me behind them
A tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it.
Music starts.
I close my eyes, swallowing hard. But then… Ihearit. Really hear it.
It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do…
My chest tightens, breath hitching.
“No,” I whisper.
One step. Then another.
Hey baby…
I shove the double doors open, my heart in my throat.
I think I wanna marry you.
The church is empty. Not a single soul—except one.
At the end of the aisle stands the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.
Jaxon. Dark jeans. Black T-shirt stretched tight across his chest.
For a split second, pain flickers across his face. Then relief takes over.
“Hey, Cricket.”
The second those doors open and she’s there it’s like I can finally breathe.
For a heartbeat, neither of us moves. She stands frozen in the threshold, the veil trailing behind her like a shroud, white silk pooling around her feet. Her eyes are wide and glassy, like she doesn’t trust what she’s seeing. Like she’s afraid if she blinks, I’ll disappear.
Then the flowers slip from her hands. They hit the stone floor with a dull thud, petals scattering in every direction. She gathers her dress in trembling fists and starts toward me—stumbling at first, her heels catching on the fabric, but pushing forward anyway.
I don’t wait for her to reach me. My body moves before my mind catches up, closing the distance in long, unbroken strides.
She all but collides with me. I catch her before she can lose her balance, her arms locking around my neck with a desperation that claws at my chest. She’s shaking—so hard Ican feel it in my bones—and I pull her in tighter, crushing her against me until I’m not sure where she ends and I begin.
Her breath hitches against my throat, and then the dam breaks. The sobs are violent, wracking through her small frame, each one tearing something out of me. I press my mouth to her hair, inhaling her scent like I need proof she’s real.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” she whispers, the words splintering apart in the middle. “I thought—God, Jaxon, I thought you’d never find me.”
“I’ve got you,” I murmur, over and over, holding her like the world might try to rip her away if I loosen my grip. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you, baby. I’m here.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, the confession rushing out on a breath. “I should’ve told you everything sooner. I should’ve trusted you. I?—”
“Shh.” I slide a hand to her jaw, tipping her face up until her tear-streaked eyes meet mine. They’re red-rimmed and shining, but they’re still Cassidy—still the girl who’s been under my skin from the second I saw her on that stage.
Fuck. Since the moment a little boy with ghosts in his eyes stepped foot on Emerald Ridge Farm.
“None of that matters. Not now. You’re here with me. That’s all I care about.”
“I love you,” she says, almost like she’s afraid she won’t get another chance to say it. Her voice trembles but doesn’t break. “I’ve loved you forever, Jaxon. Since before I even knew what love really was. I wanted to say it that night—when you said it to me—but I was scared. I didn’t want to risk losing what little I had of you. And then everything happened so fast and I thought…” She swallows hard, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I thought I’d never get to tell you at all.”
