Always Mine (Honey Mountain, #1)

by Laura Pavlov

“I like the sound of that.” My voice wobbled. He opened the box and took out the gorgeous ring. “Will you be my wife, Honey Bee?” “You don’t even need to ask.” The words broke on a sob. “Yes, of course. I’ve loved you my whole li...

“So, you were going to propose before the fire?” “Yeah. I wanted to do it on my birthday because I realized that the best gift I’ll ever receive is you. No fucking doubt about it.”

Tragedy had a way of reminding you how precious life was. Reminding you about what mattered most. About what was most important. Love and family were everything.

All I cared about was the bride. Marrying the girl that made me whole. The girl who gave me the happiest memories of a fucked-up childhood, and the brightest hopes for the future.

So, Charlotte was my maid of honor. I’d be Everly’s. Dylan would have Everly stand beside her, Charlotte would have Ashlan, and Ashlan would have Dylan as her maid of honor. It made it easier knowing that it was already decided.

I held on to my father’s arm as we strode down the grassy path toward my future husband. His hair was down and blowing in the slight breeze, and those gray eyes found mine. Just like they always had. I had flashbacks of standing up in front of the class in third grade to give a presentation about Abraham Lincoln and finding those same gray eyes out in the classroom that calmed my nerves. Those same eyes that comforted me the day I lost my mother and he held me tight as I cried for hours. The same gray eyes that found me in the midst of a blaze that nearly killed me and Mabel.

When I used to dream about my wedding day, I never pictured a groom. I’d dated Jansen for so long and never once did I imagine him standing at the end of the aisle as I walked toward my future husband. I guess in a way I’d always known there was only one man who truly loved me the way I longed to be loved. I’d been too afraid at the time to admit it was him—but I think I always knew.

But it was the man who stood before me that truly stole the air from my lungs.

I honestly couldn’t tell you a word that Pastor Grady uttered from that point on. All I saw was Niko. He was all I’d ever seen if I were being honest.

Niko faced me. No paper. No notes. He held my hands in his as his gaze locked with mine. “You’re my past, my present, and my future, Honey Bee. I promise to love you until I take my last breath and beyond.”

“I think I’ve loved you my whole life, Niko West. You’re my safe place, my heart, and my future. My hero, my prince, and my protector. And now I get to call you my husband—” My words broke on a sob, and he pulled me against him, wrapping his arms around me. “Damn straight, wife.”

Kissing me like we weren’t standing in front of all of our friends and family. And I didn’t mind one bit. I loved that he didn’t care. That he wanted today to be about us. That’s all that mattered to him. Not the flowers or the food or the cake. Me and him. As it should be.

“Welcome home, Honey Bee.” I continued to shake my head in disbelief. “I was already home. Home is anywhere I’m with you.” And that was the truth. Because Niko West was my husband, my best friend, and my forever.