She dropped her fork.
From the other side of the table, her mother cast her a concerned glance.
Jax chuckled. “Smile, princess.”
She gave her mother a reassuring nod.
Jax stayed by her side the entire evening, and after her father gave his toast, Jax stood.
“I hope it’s okay if I say something.”
The crowd laughed. No one expected that Jaxon Mills would have resisted the siren’s call of an open microphone.
He faced her, as did everyone else in the room.
“In a man’s life, if he’s lucky, he meets a woman who completes his heart.”
Her eyes filled with tears and her mother patted her arm.
“He finally understands why no other relationship worked out, because there’s only one person for him.”
Willow reached for her champagne and took a drink to swallow the lump in her throat, but it refused to budge.
When the room fell silent, he finished. “You’re my one, Willow. The more I know you, what a good person you are, the more I love you. You’ve made me the happiest man on the planet.”
With that, he tossed the mic onto the table.
To prevent tears from escaping, she pressed her hands to her face. With purpose in each step, he strode toward her.
In front of everyone gathered to celebrate their union, Jax tugged her to her feet. Then, making her gasp with shock, he swept her off the floor and into his arms.
“You’ll have to excuse us,” he said to the crowd. “I’m taking my wife upstairs.”
“Jax!” She kicked her legs helplessly. “You can’t do this.”
“Darling wife, I’ve waited long enough. If you want me to keep my hands off you until we’re alone, you might want to stay still.” His eyes were dark with promise.
She stopped squirming.
“Excellent choice.” He summoned the elevator. “I meant what I said back there, Willow. I love you.”