Page 88 of Escorting the CEO
But since I’d already ruined everything, I threw myself at my fiancé, who wasn’t fake to me anymore.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and stared up at him. “Thank you. It means the world to me that you brought my family here.”
His smile went all the way to his eyes, even though they were teary. "It’s my pleasure, Rory. I want you to be happy. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”
“I want to do the same thing for you,” I said, sniffling. “For real.”
“For real,” he agreed.
The officiant cleared his throat and leaned forward. “Are you two ready?”
“Yes.” I beamed at Rhodes.
“Yes.” Rhodes beamed at me.
The guests erupted into cheers.
AFTER ALL
RHODES
Rory recited her vows first.They were no less beautiful or less meaningful because they were the traditional ones.
Then it was my turn.
“I wrote something—I know it’s last-minute,” I said, shoving a folded piece of paper at the officiant.
“This is about you. Clearly, you two can do whatever you want,” he teased. He smiled as he smoothed my vows out. “Please repeat this first part after me. I, Rhodes Barrington, take you, Rory Harris, to be my lawfully wedded wife…”
I repeated the words while holding tight to Rory’s hands. Even with her mascara smudged beneath her eyes, she was the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen.
Once we’d finished, it was time for me to speak the words I’d written that morning.
I swallowed hard.
“Rory, you were the plot twist I never expected—my greatest adventure,” I began, my voice a little hoarse. “Opening my heart to you has been the most challenging and the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done.
“To be honest, I never thought I would fall in love. I didn’t think that could happen to me. But as soon as I started gettingto know you, something changed inside me. You opened me up to the possibility of truly loving someone. I didn’t ever feel like it was safe to do that, but you make me feel safe because you are good. So good.”
My eyes filled with tears. I squeezed her hands, and she squeezed back, giving me the courage to continue.
“You’re my home now. My sanctuary. I love you, Luke loves you, and Philips told me I would be a fool to let you go. So I won’t. Not now, not ever.
“I promise to work on our love and always put you first. I’m not afraid of the hard times, because I know we will face them together, and there is no one better to have by my side. You taught me something important, Rory. It’s that we aren’t defeated when we lose—only when we stop trying.
“You have my solemn vow that I willneverstop trying for you and for us. You are my person, my love, and my life. I am yours, now and forever.”
I heard Philips sniffle behind me, and I knew I’d done good.
Rory looked up at me. “I love you,” she said.
Probably the biggest smile of my life broke out over my face.
“I love you, too.”
The reception was moreraucous than I’d expected. Abigail Furst led the charge, leading the board in The Cha Cha Slide and another phenomenon I’d never experienced, The Wobble.
Rory made me dance, too. We held hands with the kids, Josie, Bo, and Luke, laughing and forming a fast-moving circle for so long I got dizzy.
