Terms + Conditions: A Second-Chance, Marriage of Convenience Romance (Strangers Book 3) by Jensen Parker

Author:Jensen Parker [Parker, Jensen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Made for More Publishing, LLC
Published: 2025-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

THEN

September 2019

AS I STEP UP to the altar staged in front of the fountain, the adrenaline works double time, coursing through my system. I wonder if this is how everyone feels when they’re about to get married or if it’s just me…I think it’s just me. Elizabeth has been so calm and collected throughout this entire weekend. I don’t know how she does it. Years of training, I guess?

From what she told me of her mother, Ethel Cain was kind and loving, but could be just as cold as Brina when she deemed necessary. She liked things a certain way. And she liked Elizabeth a certain way, but it was rare for her to show that side. I suppose going from her mother to Brina wasn’t too big of a jump, except living with Brina, she was missing the love and support she was used to. Instead, the Villa children were expected to be a certain way regardless of anything else.

Through the trees of Forsyth Park, I can see Nina talking to someone on the pathway leading to the main stretch—Elizabeth—and my heart beats faster, if that’s even possible. One more turn, and I’ll be face-to-face with my soon-to-be wife. Wife. That sounds weird to say.

The wedding march starts, and my heart lurches out of my chest. This is it. It’s happening…

My breath hitches when they turn the corner. Elizabeth looks breathtaking. Warm, honey curls flow down her back and shoulders; a veil rests gently on top of them. Long sheer sleeves cover her arms, and the V-neck is classy but gives the dress a certain edge. The white material hugs her curves in all the right places, leading into a small train flowing behind her with each step. I meet her brown eyes, and there’s a small uptick in the corner of her mouth.

Holy shit, we’re going to do this…

A hand squeezes my shoulder, but when I glance back at Nick, he’s staring ahead…at Nina. His gaze never leaves her, not even when she and Elizabeth reach the altar, and she gives me a stern glance.

“I know where you live, Joshua,” Nina warns, earning a laugh from the crowd.

“Love you too, Nin,” I say and kiss her cheek, taking Elizabeth’s hand.

I know I’m not supposed to, but I kiss her temple and she takes a centering breath.

“You look beautiful,” I whisper and meet her gaze. The fire I’m used to isn’t there, replaced by a level of uncertainty I’ve only seen twice since we started this whole arrangement. “You ready?”

The real question is, does she want to do this? If she told me no, I’d happily walk back down that aisle and help her escape. Help us both escape. Fuck the repercussions.

When I snuck down the hallway to her room this morning, Elizabeth opened the door with a weary smile and said, “Bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, y’know.”

“Something tells me you can’t get rid of me that easily,” I joked.

I expected some kind of smart-ass remark in return but got nothing.

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