One Midnight Kiss: A Billionaire Fake Fiancée Holiday Romance
One Midnight Kiss: Epilogue

One Year Later

Fox’s hand clasped mine. The moment was surreal. It felt like we had known each other’s souls forever. The last year had been amazing. After a couple of months of talking about our wedding, we finally decided to go small. Neither of us was interested in a grand affair. It really did feel like a waste of money. He had a shitload of it, but neither of us were the type to just blow money because it was there.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the priest said. “You may kiss your bride.”

Fox looked at me with a passion I knew was reserved only for me. He cupped my face gingerly and leaned in, his lips meeting mine in a soft, yet passionate kiss.

“Finally,” he murmured against my lips once we pulled apart, a broad smile on his face. His happiness was contagious. I had not stopped smiling since I woke up that morning.

“Finally,” I agreed.

He took my hand once again. We turned to face our guests, which numbered just over twenty. I took a moment to survey the scene. The lodge was perfect, like something out of a snow globe.

We had chosen to lean into the winter wonderland idea. We made the journey to Leavenworth, and it was well worth it. The place was blanketed in snow, the pine trees dusted in white beyond the windows. The lodge was toasty with a fireplace blazing on one wall. White chairs in perfect rows with a white runner down the middle. I looked at the faces of my loved ones and felt my heart swell.

It was exactly what I’d hoped for, intimate, cozy, and real. This was the opposite of the grand, ostentatious affair that had been my first wedding.

This time, I was in a sleek, white gown—simple, elegant, with long white gloves reminiscent of the look I’d worn to the Paris ball when all of this started. I had chosen it for myself, without any input from a stylist or a meddling mother. This was my day, our day.

Fox had known the look I was going for, but he didn’t get to see me in the dress until I walked down the aisle. The element of surprise had nearly knocked him off his feet.

Applause erupted around us. I could hear Wilder whooping louder than anyone. Christa was trying to quiet him, but it wasn’t working. Dave was sitting in the front row in a seat of honor after giving me away. He had cleaned house at the office, getting rid of the people who spread unprofessional rumors about me, including that prick Aaron. After that, Dave and I were all good again.

“Ready?” Fox murmured close to my ear, that familiar smirk curving his lips.

I laughed. “So ready.”

He scooped me up, just like that, and ran back down the aisle with me in his arms. I squealed, throwing my head back in laughter as our guests laughed and cheered.

“Don’t drop me!” I hollered.

“Never,” he said.

“Fox, put me down!” I half-laughed, half-protested.

“Not a chance,” he said, his breath warm against my ear. “You’re mine now. No takebacks.”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” I said, looping my arms around his neck as he spun us in a slow circle, like we were the only people in the world.

He carried me into the empty bridal room and kicked the door shut behind us. He put me down gently, still laughing, his hands resting on my waist as he looked at me with so much warmth and love in his eyes that I felt my breath catch in my throat. That was the thing about Fox—he had a way of making me feel like I was the only woman in the world.

“Are we going to spend our entire reception in here?” I joked, looking up at him through my lashes.

“Maybe,” Fox said, moving closer to me until we were practically chest to chest. “This is the only place I want to be.”

I watched as he reached out and moved a loose curl from my face. “We have the rest of our lives.”

He pressed his forehead against mine, the heat of the moment enveloping us. “And every moment will be like this,” he whispered. “Perfect.”

I smiled, feeling the truth of his words deep in my soul. Two years ago, I hadn’t dared to hope for such completeness, such profound joy. Yet here we were, heartbeats in sync, dreams aligned.

A gentle knock on the door interrupted our seclusion. “Mr. and Mrs. Samuelson, everyone’s waiting for you,” Christa said with a laugh. “No starting the honeymoon early.”

Fox groaned playfully. “We have fed you and entertained you. Leave us alone.”

“Don’t make me call your brother,” Christa warned.

“Alright, alright,” I called out. “We’re coming.”

Fox gave me a reluctant smile and opened the door, looping his arm around my waist. We walked back into the main hall. The whoops and cheers erupted again as our family and friends caught sight of us. The room was aglow with warm yellow lights, the fire casting playful shadows over everyone’s faces. The wooden beams of the lodge overhead were strung with fairy lights, adding a touch of magic to each moment. Soft white gauze was draped across the ceiling.

Our song came on over the speakers. We made our way to the dance floor, which was surrounded by tables adorned with snow-white cloths and centerpieces made of pinecones, candles, and sprigs of holly.

The world seemed to melt away as we moved together, perfectly in tune with each other and the music. We glided gracefully like we were floating on air.

Our guests watched us, some dabbing their eyes, others whispering about how stunning we looked together. It wasn’t just a dance. It was a declaration, a celebration of our union that went deeper than the mere exchange of rings.

I glanced over and saw Fox’s parents. They were freshly returned from their year-long trip around the world, beaming at us from their seats. They had become something like family to me, in the way that parents could when they actually showed up and cared.

Unlike mine.

I had gotten a card in the mail from my parents—one of those generic ones with glittery script that read Best Wishes on Your Special Day. It was insulting. They hadn’t called. They hadn’t come. And honestly? I was okay with it. More than okay.

When my old life fell apart, I’d been forced to lay the groundwork for something new. I hadn’t realized it at the time, but running away to Seattle was the best decision I ever made. I was happier now than I’d ever been.

I didn’t need or want them. They had shown me who they were. All of them. They were not the kind of people I wanted in my life or the life of the family I would be building with Fox.

After the dance, we took our seats at the table. Dinner was served amidst laughter and clinking glasses. I loved that it was more like a large family gathering. It was nice and intimate. We were all able to talk instead of us feeling like we were being pulled in a million different directions.

The speeches were heartfelt and humorous. Dave’s toast had everyone tearing up one moment and bursting into laughter the next. Wilder shared embarrassing stories from their childhood, making Fox shake his head in mock exasperation but with a grin that couldn’t be wiped away.

Christa waddled over, her belly huge with her and Wilder’s first child. She was due any day now. The glow on her face outshone every light in the lodge. She was happier than I had ever seen her. Wilder trailed behind her, grinning like the proudest father-to-be.

“Congratulations, you two!” Christa said, pulling me into a hug that was awkward thanks to her belly, but still full of warmth.

Wilder pulled Fox into a hug. “You did good, bro,” he said, slapping Fox on the back. “You did really good.”

Fox looked at me and smiled. “Yeah, I did.”

We mingled for a while, sharing laughs, clinking glasses, and basking in the joy that seemed to permeate every corner of the room. Fox’s hand never left mine, like he needed to keep touching me just to make sure this was real. I didn’t mind a bit. I loved being next to him.

Christa and Wilder were dancing next to us.

“You two look like you want to get out of here,” Christa said. “I’m afraid you’re going to ignite the room on fire.”

I glanced at Fox, who was already giving me that look, the one that made my knees weak. “Maybe a little,” I admitted.

“It’s your wedding,” Christa said. “You can do whatever you want. Go, have fun. We’ll hold down the fort.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. “Is that allowed?”

“Positive,” Christa said, shooing us away with a grin. “Get out of here. Enjoy your night. I remember our wedding. We couldn’t wait to get out of our reception.”

Fox didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed my hand and practically dragged me out of the hall. We made our way out into the cold night air, the sound of laughter and music fading behind us. We walked through the snow, my heels sinking into the fresh powder, but I didn’t care. It was magical. I had him by my side, which made it perfect.

We reached one of the luxury cabins Fox had rented out for the occasion, tucked away in a quiet corner of the property. He opened the door and looked at me once again. He flashed a grin. I knew exactly what he was going to do.

He reached down and lifted me up, carrying me across the threshold. The warmth of the cozy cabin enveloped us both as he set me down gently for the second time that night. Fortunately, it was a gas fireplace. He didn’t need to bother with wood. He turned it on and immediately flooded the area with warm light. The crackle of the fireplace added to the atmosphere, making it feel even more like a scene out of a fairy tale.

Fox stepped back and admired the setup he had arranged: rose petals scattered everywhere, a bottle of chilled champagne on the table beside two fluted glasses. He seemed pleased with himself, his eyes sparkling with excitement and love.

“I wanted our first moments as a married couple to be unforgettable,” he whispered.

“This is perfect,” I said. “You thought of everything.”

“I tried.”

“It’s my turn to surprise you,” I said. “You stay right here while I slip into something more comfortable. Will you unzip me?”

“I’ll do anything you want, for as long as you want.”

Fox lowered the zipper on my dress. I stepped away, feeling the fabric fall away from my skin, and disappeared into the adjoining room. My heart raced with a cocktail of excitement and nervous anticipation.

When I emerged, I found Fox pouring the sparkling water into the champagne glasses with his back to me. The sleek, satin nightgown I’d slipped into clung to every curve.

He turned around and looked at me with a smile. “Stunning. I’m the luckiest man alive.”

He walked up to me, his hand immediately finding the small of my back, pulling me close. He kissed me, slow and deep, like he had all the time in the world. I melted into him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

He pulled back, just enough to look down at me, his hand slipping down to rest on my stomach. “You know, no one seemed to notice you weren’t drinking tonight.”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. I covered his hand with mine, squeezing gently. “I think we might have gotten away with it,” I murmured. “We will not be the subject of scandal. Our baby will be born to married parents.”

He grinned, looking almost boyish in the firelight. “Good. Let’s keep it that way for a little while longer.”

I tilted my head up, brushing my lips against his. “This time next year, we’ll be ringing in the new year with one extra person.”

The expression on his face was tender and fierce all at once. He pressed his forehead to mine. “I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too,” I replied, feeling the truth of it settle deep in my bones.

We had everything we needed. And one more on the way.