Rafael sighed. “Ryan, Devon and Cam support me. You support me. That’s all I need. When I left, they were trying to work out a way to salvage the deal. I’m guessing they’ll look for an alternative location. I really don’t care. I told them I wasn’t going to lose you and my child over money. You and our baby mean more to me than anything else in the world. I mean that.”

“After the spectacle you just made of yourself, I believe you,” she teased.

“I’m tired,” he admitted. “And so are you. Why don’t we go back to your cottage, climb into bed and get some rest. I can’t think of anything better than having you back in my arms.”

She leaned into his embrace, wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes as the sweetness of the moment floated gently through her veins.

Then she tilted her head back and smiled up at him, feeling the weight and grief wash away. For the first time in days, the thick blanket of sadness lifted, leaving her feeling light and gloriously happy.

She took his hand and tugged him down the aisle to the doorway leading to the outside. As they stepped out, sunlight poured over them, washing the darkness away.

For a brief moment, she paused and tipped her face into the sun, allowing the warmth to brush over her cheeks.

She looked up at Rafael, who was staring intently at her. His love was there for the entire world to see, shining in his eyes with brightness that rivaled the sun.

It was a look she’d never grow tired of in a hundred years and beyond.

“Let’s go home,” she said.

Rafael smiled, took her hand and pulled her toward the waiting car.

* * * * *

CHAPTER 1

“Almost enough to make you believe in the fine institution of marriage, isn’t it?” Ryan Beardsley said as he watched his friend, Raphael de Luca, dance with his radiant new bride, Bryony.

The reception was taking place inside Moon Island’s small, nondescript municipal building. It wasn’t exactly where Ryan imagined any of his friends would host a wedding reception, but he supposed it was fitting that Rafe and Bryony would marry here on the island where so much of their relationship had been forged.

The bride positively glowed, and the swell of her belly added to her beauty. They stood in the middle of the makeshift dance floor, Bryony tucked into Rafe’s protective hold, and they were so focused on each other that Ryan doubted the world around them existed. Rafe looked like he’d been handed the universe, and maybe he had.

“They look disgustingly happy,” Devon Carter said next to him.

Ryan chuckled and looked up to see Dev holding a glass of wine in one hand, his other shoved into the pocket of his slacks.

“Yeah, they do.”