Private Disclosures
Page 20
Oh shit. I went too fast. This wasn’t the place to do it, we haven’t even moved in together, and I’ve only just shown her the place where I grew up.
I’ve completely misread the situation. Again.
But then a light comes into her eyes, more of a glow, and she says, “Yes.”
That’s it, just yes. But it’s more than enough.
I kiss her then, in front of the children’s home, the street, the entire world. And I don’t feel a bit exposed.
When we break off after I don’t know how many minutes, she smiles up at me, all soft and fond. Like I’m her Prince Charming or something. “I’m not taking it back,” she says. “Even if you end up hating how much time I take to do my hair.”
“It’ll never happen.”
“Or hate my cooking.”
“Again, it won’t happen.”
“I will take up more than my fair share of the closet.”
“Good.” We start walking to the car again, our hands swinging between us.
“And the shower shelves. You’ll be lucky to have space for a bar of soap.”
I lift our hands and press a kiss to her knuckles. “There’s nothing you could say that would keep me from loving you. For always.”
She smiles like she’s just won the lottery. Or something even better than that.
But I’m the one who’s really won. Everything I could ever want.
Epilogue
I never expected that my wedding would be the biggest event ever in Silicon Valley history—I was thinking something smallish in our family church back home, with most of the guests being my high school friends.
But I was imagining those things back when I thought I’d marry Kaleb. Once that was over, I stopped dreaming of weddings.
When Dev proposed, I dreamed again. I started small—the Officers’ Club in the Presidio, an off-the-rack dress, the guests our closest friends.
But somehow the wedding planning turned into a snowball. And then a snow boulder. And finally an avalanche.
I’m not upset. I’m more amazed that so many people want to celebrate our marriage. And see and be seen with us, to be honest. I won’t lie—it’s kind of flattering.
So here we are, on day three of the celebrations, finally getting to the actual ceremony. There was a party in Mountain View the first night, with all the tech-world royalty in attendance. Except, of course, Arne Fuchs, who’s serving a very long sentence in a very secure federal penitentiary. Fuchs is locked up, Emily and Elliot came home, and the rest of us… we’re all great.
Last night we had a massive ball at the opera house for family, friends, and business partners to celebrate our upcoming wedding. Tonight it’s much smaller. More intimate. Just about a hundred people, our most beloved friends and family, gathered at Stern Grove to watch us exchange vows.
I haven’t seen Dev all day, and I’m eager to finally walk out of this dressing room and begin the rest of our lives together. I’m also eager for him to finally see my dress.
In the end, I didn’t go off the rack. I found a seamstress who does the most amazing retro dresses, all designed by her, and commissioned a custom dress. The ivory silk is heavy, but it clings to my curves in a glamorous, slinky way. I look like a star from the Golden Age of Hollywood, only a touch more modern, a touch sexier. I’ll have to find a place to wear the dress again; it’s too beautiful to only wear once.
The wedding planner—one of them, we had to hire two—pokes her head into the dressing room. “Are you ready?”
I’ve never been more ready. But all I say is yes.
My mother helps me gather up the veil, which trails several feet behind me. I wanted an extravagant, ridiculous veil to go with this dress, and I got it. The front hangs all the way to my knees. I’m probably going to have to help Dev flip it back.
Or maybe not. He’s a very handy guy.
“You’re so beautiful,” Mom says as we leave the dressing room. Her eyes are bright with tears and she can’t stop smiling.
“Thank you.” I squeeze her hand. “It’s because I’m so happy.”
“We are too, honey.”
My parents like Dev, although they don’t love him like I do. No one loves him like I do since no one knows him like I do, not even the Bastards. I’m the one he let inside his life, his heart. He’s made connections with others, real connections, and repaired the ones that he broke or let die… but what’s between us is unique.
Dad is waiting for us just outside. He’s very handsome in his suit as he offers one arm to me. My mom takes my other arm. I wanted both of them to walk with me down the aisle.
Someone gives the cue to the string quartet and the music begins, low and quiet at first until it swells to fill the air.
“Here we go,” Dad says.
The wedding is under a massive tent lit by a thousand glittering lights. It’s like the stars are out during the day. As we come to the end of the aisle, everyone stands.
I look past them all to find Dev. When our gazes meet, it’s exactly like that moment all those years ago when I saw him outside the garage. It’s recognition and attraction and yes, love, only a thousand times deeper because of what we’ve been through since then.
He’s not smiling, which somehow makes him look even more handsome. It’s not his blank look either; it’s reverence and a joy too deep for mere smiling. His suit is as dark as his hair, the white of his shirt dazzling. He’s wearing a tie, which he never does, the same shade of gold as his eyes, only deeper, darker.
I can hardly breathe he looks so good.
And then we’re moving down the aisle, Dad and Mom and me. I meet the eyes of several people in the crowd, grinning at all of them.
I see Mark and January first. Mark is holding their daughter Ginny, who’s asleep on his shoulder, while January leans against his other shoulder. Mark, who used to be the playboy of Silicon Valley, is deeply content.
Then comes Logan and Callie. Logan’s holding Jake’s hand and Callie’s holding Aurelie’s hand, the kids a bridge between them. Their marriage is one of the strongest I know.
Finn and Doc are seated just in front of Callie and Logan. Finn’s smiling so hard I think he might bust out laughing at any moment. Doc is in his arms, tucked under his chin so that her blue hair is caught in his beard. Her brother stands next to them, looking very fit. Finn got him into weightlifting apparently.
We take a few more steps, and then I see Grace and Paul. Grace’s hands rest on her pregnant belly while Paul’s got an arm looped around her shoulder. They both look impossibly elegant, even among the elite of San Francisco.
Elliot and Emily are in the second row from the front, holding hands. While Dev proposed almost immediately after we got together, we wanted to wait until it was safe for these two to come back for the wedding. Emily’s something of a national hero now, and her face has been on dozens of newsmagazines. Elliot isn’t quite so famous, but we all know he’s Emily’s rock.
When we reach the altar, everything falls away. Because there’s Dev, waiting for me.
He hugs my mother, whispering something in her ear, then shakes hands with Dad. They both go find their seats, leaving the two of us alone in front of everyone.
I reach up, push back the strand of hair that’s fallen over his forehead. I kept meaning to remind him to get a haircut before the wedding, but I realize now that would have been a mistake. His hair is perfect like this.
He takes my hands in his, holds tightly. The judge is saying something about love and joining and coming together to celebrate, but I don’t hear any of it. There’s only Dev and the way he’s looking at me, like I’m everything he’s ever wanted. Like I’m a dream come true.
I feel the exact same way.
Thank you for reading—I hope you loved Dev and Anjie’s story! If you want to share the love, you can leave a review here.
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More Bastard Capital Stories
Enter the world of Bastard Capital: Unrivaled men. Unimaginable wealth. Unlimited power.
* * *
Books in the Bastard Capital Series
* * *
Secret Acquisitions (Book One, Mark’s story)
* * *
Unfinished Seductions (Book Two, Logan’s story)
* * *
Competitive Instincts (Book Three, Finn’s story)
* * *
Intimate Mergers (Book Four, Paul’s story)
* * *
Hostile Attractions (Book Five, Elliot’s story)
* * *
Private Disclosures (Book Six, Dev’s story)
About the Author
Raleigh fell in love with billionaire romance as a teenager thanks to Harlequin Presents. She fell in love with San Francisco in her twenties thanks to how charming the city was. And she fell for a coding genius thanks to how charming he was.
Naturally, she had to put all of the things she loved into her romances.
You can find her online at www.raleighdavis.com.