Official Website of USA Today bestselling author Tawdra Kandle
The Love Song One Bonus Epilogue
Hunter
“Do you think this is really going to work?”
I looked up from my song notebook, where I’d been scribbling words for the last half hour. Tori was watching me expectantly, her forehead knit together and her eyes shadowed.
“Do I think what is going to work?” I set down my favorite songwriting pen and studied my fiancée. “Dinner tonight? This song I’m trying to write? Our impending marriage?”
She rolled her eyes. “Dinner tonight is Mom’s fried chicken, so pretty sure it’s a given that it will be fabulous. I also trust that your song will be incredible because your songs always are. And our impending marriage . . .” She got up from her chair at the kitchen table and came over to sit in my lap. “That’s one thing that doesn’t worry me one bit, Hunter Jaymes. I know you love me. I know I love you. Our future is shiny bright.”
“Good to know.” I dropped a kiss onto Tori’s forehead. “So what is worrying you, then? What do you doubt is going to work?”
“This whole wedding deal.” She threw up both hands. “Do you really believe that none of our guests will spill the beans? You honestly think we can pull off this secret wedding without the press getting wind of it?”
I considered what Tori said. “You know, yes, I do think we can do it. I think it’s going to work. The only people we’ve invited are folks from Burton–and they’ve all known you for your whole life, basically. None of them are going to breathe a word. Other than that, it’s my family–also known for their discretion–and West and Tish. They’re not blabbing to anyone. They both know better.”
“That’s true,” she conceded. “But it feels too good to be true. I keep having nightmares where I’m walking down the aisle with my dad and mom, and suddenly, a photographer leaps out in front of me, blinding us with flashes.”
I frowned down at her upturned face. “Are you really that worried, babe? Because if this wedding–having it here, I mean–is stressing you, giving you bad dreams, then let’s do something different. We can elope. Go away by ourselves, just the two of us, and make our vows on an island at sunset. All you have to do is say the word, Tori, and I’ll make it happen.” I trailed one fingertip down the side of her face, making her shiver in the way that I loved. “I don’t really care how it happens. I only care that you become my wife.”
Tori gazed up at me in silence for one long moment. “That’s beautiful, Hunter,” she whispered. “And I know you’d do it for me. Because you’re always making all my dreams come true.”
I chuckled softly. “I do try, honey. Nothing I have in this world means a damn thing without you. All I want is to spend my life making you happy. Bringing you joy.”
“You do, every single moment of every single day.” She snuggled against me, sighing. “Which tells me that if you feel confident we can get married here on my family farm without it being a media circus, I believe you. I trust you.”
“If I thought we were taking a risk, I’d change plans immediately,” I assured her. “And I’ve had West and the PR company keeping their collective ear to the ground, just to make sure there’s no buzz out there. So far, so good.” I used my finger to tip her chin up so that I could look down into her eyes. “So what do you say, Tori Westin? Will you marry me the day after tomorrow at sunset, with our nearest and dearest as witnesses?”
Her luscious lips curved into a beautiful smile. “I will, Hunter Jaymes. Just try to stop me.”
Bending my head over her, I kissed my woman until she could have no doubt of the depth and breadth of my love for her.