We leaned forward at the same time, meeting for the briefest kiss.

“Hey, no kissing the bride until I say so.” Conner crossed his arms. “Now, do you have the rings?”

Pippa’s hand shot up, holding the knotted vines I’d done as a temporary measure. If by some miracle we got off this island, I’d buy Estelle the best ring I could afford (which admittedly wasn’t much after spending most of my life in prison) and if we didn’t get rescued, then I’d carve her the best jewellery I could from a coconut shell.

Pippa (bless her heart) had tried to give me her mother’s ring. She’d said, between rolling tears, that her mother would want it to be worn.

My eyes had threatened to water like hers, but I’d curled her fingers around the diamond and kissed her forehead. I’d told her that the ring was hers. One day, it would be an heirloom for her daughter and it should be treasured.

“Okay, we have the rings.” Conner rubbed his face. “I guess, um...the power vested in me...by um, our island and the turtles, I pronounce you man and—”

“Wait!” Pippa bounced on the spot. “You didn’t ask if anyone objects.”

Estelle burst out laughing.

I struggled to hold in a chuckle. “Seriously, kid, you’re ruining my ego here.” I slung my arm over her tiny shoulders. “Do you object to me marrying this woman and having a baby with her and giving you a little sister or brother to play with?”

A calculating gleam entered her gaze. “I don’t object if it’s a sister. If it’s a brother, I do.”

Estelle laughed harder. “Sorry to disappoint, Pippi, but I can’t guarantee that and we have no way of knowing.”

She pouted. “Oh. Well, in that case. No, I have no objects.”

“Objections?” I squeezed her closer.

“Objections. No, I don’t have any of those, either.”

Conner smirked. “Honestly, and you call yourself smarter than me.” He ducked as Pippa whacked him with Puffin.

We couldn’t get married without the stuffed cat as our official witness.

He ducked. “Watch it!”

“Can we perhaps get back to the wedding?” I arched an eyebrow, doing my best not to laugh.

“Fine.” Conner grinned. “For the record, I have no objections. However, seeing as I’ve had a crush on Estelle since we crashed, I’m not going to let you put a step wrong; otherwise, I’m stealing her.”

My smile fell.

What?

Estelle giggled nervously. “That’s nice of you to protect my honour, Conner, but I’m sure Galloway won’t mess up.”

Conner and I never stopped glaring.

I didn’t expect it to happen, but the competition I’d feared had borderlined reality.

Conner meant what he said.

Just how deep do his feelings go for Estelle? And why didn’t I pay attention?

Dropping his gaze, Conner said, “Do you take Estelle as your wife?”

It wasn’t exactly the line I’d taught him to say, but it would do.

The sooner she was married to me, the sooner Conner could get over his little crush and respect that Estelle was mine forever. I pitied him that he was alone when no doubt his libido was through the roof, but I also didn’t want to fight with him.

And I would if it came down to it.

Something about living on an island made animalistic tendencies rise to the surface.

“I do.”

Looking at Estelle, Conner’s face softened. “And do you take Galloway as your husband?”

Estelle only had eyes for me.

She gave me a heart attack and resuscitated me all at once with a single glance.

“I do.”

Rubbing his nose, Conner announced, “In that case, I now pronounce you married. You may French kiss or do whatever it is that you do.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” Grabbing Estelle by her nape, I yanked her close and kissed her.

I kissed her until my trousers were tight and lungs were empty.

I kissed her and wiped away everything that’d happened.

I kissed her with a promise that we might not have a priest or official document but this was as real to me as any ceremony.

We were married.

Until death did us part.

And even then, I’d put up a fight to keep her.

.............................

That night, once the kids were in bed, and we’d eaten an amazing dinner, Estelle and I headed to our bamboo sanctuary that’d become our date night and sexy time hang-out.

There, I made love to her.

I stripped her bare.

I kissed every inch.

I licked her all over.

And when I entered her, I did it as her husband.

I vowed that we were one now.

And no matter what happened, I would take care of her.

.............................

DECEMBER

The day of our fight and consequential marriage helped clear the air completely.

November trailed into December, and we respected each other’s feelings. We were careful to be open and honest about how things were. And somehow, we became closer rather than drifted apart.

Estelle still hated when I laid down the law, ordering her not to do something. And I did my best to hide my desire to lock her in a protective bubble, settling for treating her like filigreed china instead.

She didn’t like my bossiness but tolerated my demands for her to take it easy because she knew it came from a loving place. A completely infatuated place.