Page 59 of Wife By Accident

Leo’s eyes widened. “Olivia Keller, did you just propose to me?”

“It’s not a proposal if we’re already married.” She looked up at him, her expression fierce. Finally, she was asking for exactly what she wanted, regardless of the consequences. If she was going to be in Leo’s life, she wanted him to be her husband. It was a final way for him to show that he trusted her now, and that he was serious about this. “So?”

“Yes,” Leo swept her into his arms. “A thousand times yes.”

Relief flooded Olivia as she melted into him. This was exactly what she hadn’t dared to dream of: Leo. Hers. A new life. A bright future. Love, at last.

Then Leo kissed her, warm and passionate and full of hope, and Olivia knew that she’d made the right choice to trust him again. And she’d made the right choice that day in Vegas, when she’d gotten married to a complete stranger.

How lucky was it that her surprise husband had turned out to be the love of her life?

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER: OLIVIA

Olivia swept her hands across her lacy white dress as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like the kind of bride she’d dreamed of being as a young girl, with a gorgeously fitted dress, her hair woven with flowers, and just the right amount of makeup.

“You look beautiful,” Rachel said. Her sister, in her green bridesmaid’s dress, looked a little teary.

“Thank you,” Olivia smiled at her sister.

“And can I just thank you again for renewing your vows so that I could be here this time,” Rachel added.

Olivia laughed. “You’ll have to thank Leo. He was the one who wanted to celebrate our one-year anniversary with a huge party — and the one who insisted he wanted to remember getting married to me this time.”

Rachel rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “I’ll never get over that story.”

“Ready, Aunt Olivia?” Lily, looking adorable in a light pink flower-girl dress, peeked around the door.

“So ready,” Olivia agreed. She and Rachel exited the room that had been commandeered as a dressing area and stepped into the warm evening. The sun was just beginning to set over the gorgeous rooftop venue they’d selected — in Vegas, because it seemed right to bring their marriage back to where it had begun. The music began, and Olivia watched her bridesmaids and Leo’s groomsmen, all friends of theirs, walk down the aisle. Next came little Tommy, now three years old and taking his job very seriously, holding a large pillow topped with rings. Then came Lily, scattering flowers with a practiced air and a skip in her step.

Finally, Olivia walked down the aisle, arm in arm with her dad. The whole time, her gaze was fixed on Leo, who was waiting for her under the flowered archway. He looked incredibly dashing in his tuxedo, but the most handsome thing was his warm smile and the sparkle in his blue eyes as he looked at her.

“Hi there,” he said as Olivia reached the altar and took his hands.

“Hi.”

“You look breathtaking.”

“Thank you.” She smiled up at him. “I’m sorry Kyle couldn’t be here.”

“Well, he would have loved you,” Leo said, squeezing her hands. “And I like to think that, since he kind of brought us together, he is here. In a way.”

“I like to think that, too.”

The ceremony began. It was a simple yet touching affair, with Leo and Olivia each reciting vows they’d written. Olivia smiled as she thought of their original wedding video, which Leo had shown her, in which they’d slurred through generic vows while holding tight to each other’s hands. Just like they were holding on now.

When the officiant said, “You may kiss the bride,” Leo swept her off her feet into a deep, passionate kiss.

If any part of Olivia had worried that the spark between them would fade over time, she would have been wrong. The more time they spent together, the stronger their connection was. They’d seen something in each other that first night, a year ago, and it had only built since then.

Nowadays, Olivia had to travel a few times a year for her new job with Elizabeth Pierce to take photos of icebergs or rainforests or urban jungles — and Leo traveled with her. He’d managed to take a step back from work, though he was still very involved, so that they could spend more time together. It was everything she’d dreamed of and more.

After the ceremony came cake and dancing. Rachel approached them with two glasses of champagne so they could toast the happy couple — themselves.

“Congratulations!”

“Thank you!”