Page 71 of Book Bae

I love you for always and forever,

Myraj N.

My heart thudded with thoughts about the gift that she had left in my dressing room this morning. I wasn’t sure how she had gotten her hands on it, but I knew that it had cost her a pretty penny, and I appreciated her efforts even more than I appreciated the gift she had given me.

Between the launch of my new romance series, Myraj returning to work, raising our children, and planning a wedding, life had become extremely busy for us. Karen had gotten the help that she needed, and while she hadn’t regained or even petitioned for custody of Malachi again, she did get to keep him overnight, one night of each month. It had done wonders for their relationship, even as he had grown closer to Myraj.

With everything that had transitioned over the last year, the efforts of our hard work had culminated into a beautiful day. I watched as my li’l G walked down the aisle in his midnight blue suit, holding the rings on the satin pillow in one hand, and holding my niece, Peony’s, hand with his free one.

Peony, Joshua’s daughter, was also four like Malachi, and she was charismatic. She beamed and waved at everyone like she was on a parade float or in the Miss America pageant, while my son looked around nervously at everyone on either side of the aisle. Our guests pointed toward me as we had instructed them to on their arrival. When he turned his gaze back to me, a bright smile popped out on my son’s face.

“Daddy!” Malachi called out.

I kneeled and beckoned toward him. When they arrived at my side, I tugged on one of Peony’s little curls, and it sprung back into place. “You look so beautiful today, princess.”

“I know, Uncle Micky. Mommy said I had to look especially pretty today, not my usual pretty. You like my dress?”

“I do. It’s a beautiful silver dress.”

“Mhm. Silver looks good on me. Daddy said it,” she declared.

My groomsmen and the bridesmaids laughed with me.

“You look handsome too, Malachi.”

He beamed brightly at me. “Thank you, Daddy. It’s a lot of people,” he declared, his eyes growing wide and somber and his mouth turning down as he looked behind him.

I turned his head forward and made sure his gaze was on me. “Hey, you did your job, and you did a great one. You just have to hold onto this pillow until we get the rings, and then you’re free. You’ve got this, li’l G. Okay?”

“Okay, Daddy.” He grinned brightly at me again and took his place beside me.

I looked out on the sea of guests all dressed in aqua blue, Myraj’s favorite color. Symone, Jade, and Yashika made up her bridal party and were dressed in silver. My groomsmen, Mason, Lance, and Xavier were all in midnight blue, my favorite color.

The arches, runners, and chairs on this section of the private beach were decorated in silver, white, and midnight blue.

The violinist and saxophonist played Kenny Lattimore’s “For You,” and we all turned to look back. My heart constricted and tears stung my eyes as I saw my beautiful bride being led down the long silver runner scattered with white rose petals. She rode on a white horse that had a diamond encrusted bridle. When I told her that she could have whatever she wanted, I meant that shit, including the fairy-tale wedding of her dreams.

The one-of-a-kind wedding gown was designed by Christina Dorché. The Chantilly lace and crystal embellishments came with a pretty price tag, but it looked good on her body, the way that it fit up top and flared at the bottom.

Her dress and shoes shimmered in the afternoon sunlight because of the crystals. It was a dramatically elegant dress with long, off-the-shoulder sleeves, and her cleavage was perfectly accentuated with the sheer bodice and the sweetheart neckline. Floral appliques traced the body of her gown and flowed effortlessly over her figure down to an elegant chapel-length train.

Two attendants stood by to help her down from the horse, and one of them gave her hand to her father, and he walked her toward me. I heard the attendants in their seats oohing and ahhing, and I knew it was in response to her backless gown and how it dipped low in the back. She wanted something elegant and sexy, yet still giving her the allusion of a princess, and that was exactly what Christina Dorché had accomplished with this modern design that was still sensual.

Nakaria had introduced Myraj to the designer the minute we told her that we were engaged. Christina had worked tirelessly with Myraj over the last year to design the gown of her dreams that had timeless couture detail, and my baby looked exquisite in it.

Mr. Nicholson clapped my shoulder with one hand, while holding her hand with his other one. He leaned in and whispered, “She is the most treasured gift God has blessed this world with besides His Son. As long as you remember that, you’ll never go wrong.”

I nodded and replied, “She is my greatest gift, my treasure, my reason for living, and she’s mine alone; she does not belong to the world.”

“You get the picture. My soul is good,” he remarked.

I pulled back, and Mr. Nicholson smiled and patted my shoulder before he placed her hand in mine.

“You are more beautiful than I ever imagined you would be,” I declared.

“When did you imagine it?” she asked in a breathless whisper.

“The night I gave you the fairy-tale night of your life.”