Beyond These Walls (The Walls Duet #2) by J. L. Berg Read Free Book Online Page A

by the way.”
    “They’re beautiful, Jude. Thank you.” She took them in her hand, leaning forward to inhale their sweet smell, before taking my hand.
    “You hired a limo?” she exclaimed as we reached the curb.
    “Well, it is a special day.” I grinned.
    Shaking her head, she reached her free hand into the pocket of my jacket and pulled me closer. “You’re too much, Mr. Cavanaugh.”
    “Just about right, I’d say.” Unable to stand a second longer without her taste, I bent down to kiss her, savoring the warmth and tenderness.
    “Just a few more of those left as a single man,” she joked.
    “Are they different as a married man?” I shot back, opening the door for her.
    “Guess we’ll have to find out.” She leaned forward again, brushing her lips against mine. “Tomorrow,” she added with a smile.
    “Tease.”
    She bent forward, putting one foot in the car before freezing. Her head popped back up, looking at me in surprise. “Oh my gosh!” she shouted, fully tumbling into the car.
    I laughed, following close behind but with a bit more grace, and I found her in the loving arms of her mother.
    “I didn’t think you’d be here until tonight,” Lailah cried.
    Molly smoothed back the light blonde strands of hair around her face. “We managed to catch an earlier flight,” she said. “Marcus has already checked in at the hotel.”
    “This is amazing. Now, you can spend the rest of the day with us!”
    “Actually, I’m going to have to bow out,” I said as we all settled into our seats.
    Lailah’s eyes met mine, as she placed the large bouquet of flowers in her lap. “What do you mean? You’re not working this afternoon, are you?”
    “No,” I answered. “Surprisingly, Roman did manage to make it in on time today, like promised, but I do have a few last-minute errands I need to make.”
    Her gaze narrowed. “And you can’t do those last-minute errands with me?”
    “Nope.” I smiled.
    “Hmm,” was all she said.
    Laughing, I leaned forward to place my hand on her knee. “You really hate surprises, don’t you?”
    “Yes.” She pouted.
    It was cute but didn’t sway my decision for a second.
    “Sorry, not changing my mind.”
    “Jerk.”
    “Do you see how she treats me, Molly?” I joked.
    The limo pulled up to a random curb about five blocks away from my destination. Lailah suspiciously looked around, trying to guess where I was headed. Molly just shook her head and grinned.
    “Stop trying to figure it out,” I whispered before leaning forward to steal one last kiss for the road.
    Her lips lingered against mine for a brief moment before I pushed the door open and stepped out.
    “I’ll see you tonight.”
    She blew me a kiss, and I shut the door. The car pulled away from the curb, and I stepped onto the sidewalk.
    “I love you!” Lailah’s voice rang through the city noise.
    I turned to see her smiling face, full of life and exuberance, hanging out the moonroof of the limo. She waved her flowers back and forth like a flag.
    I cupped my hands over my mouth, and amid the sea of people walking past, I shouted back, “I love you, too!”
    “See? You’re not the only one who can be surprising!” she yelled before the limo rounded the corner and disappeared.
    I chuckled under my breath and shook my head.
    No, definitely not. Lailah always managed to keep me on my toes, and there wasn’t anyone else I’d rather be with.

    With my secret errands done, I returned to our apartment with just enough time to shower and get ready for the rehearsal dinner that Molly and Marcus were hosting in our honor.
    We’d decided to forgo the traditional rehearsal the day before the wedding, agreeing that our simple service wouldn’t really need to be practiced. Plus, I wanted the first time I saw her walking down that church aisle to be real.
    The apartment was quiet as I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. Lailah had packed an overnight bag and booked a hotel room