Free Clarity (The Seductors #3.5) by B.L Wilde Page A

hands.
    “What was I thinking? I knew you’d let me down!”
    “Ollie, please. I’ve got this. It was one drink.”
    “This is the most important night of my life, Alex. If you mess this up, I swear…”
    “I’ve got it, honestly. One coffee and I’ll be good to go.” He turned toward an attractive brunette. “Nat, can you please get me a cup of coffee?”
    “Just this once, I will.” She glared at Alex before storming off.  
    “That’s the new PA?” I inquired, trying to hide my smirk. Natasha couldn’t have been more his type if she’d tried.
    “I’m working on her. I’ll get under her skin soon enough.”  
    “I need you on stage in twenty minutes. I take it that you’ve practiced the songs that I want you to perform?“
    “Yes, now go and enjoy the party. I’ll be on in twenty minutes, I promise. The band is setting up now. I can’t wait to meet this woman of yours. She must really be something.”
    “She is.”
    “I’m happy for you.” Alex patted me on the back and I calmed down a little. “Love is a rare thing for some. I’m glad you’ve found it. Now go get her, tiger!”
    I patted my jacket pocket as I walked back into the mansion. The ring was still there.
    “Where have you been?” Jade mused, greeting me as I joined her in the study. “Claire said I couldn’t leave the study until you came to get me. What are you up to?”
    “I was getting your last birthday surprise ready. Come on.” Taking her hand in mine, I led her through the mansion toward the back door. I needed to relax. I could do this. Marriage was a common thing, but to me, this was more than Jade becoming my wife. This was me being able to tie myself to her in every single way.
    “Oh. My. God, Oliver, what have you done?” Jade gasped as we stepped outside and noticed the lit up tent at the end of the garden.
    “Come and see, Beautiful,” I whispered, kissing her knuckles softly before guiding her toward the party.
    Watching the emotion on Jade’s face as she greeted all her friends and my family made my heart swell.
    “I can’t believe you did this,” she whimpered, her eyes wet with tears once we’d greeted all the guests.
    “Happy birthday, Beautiful,” I grinned, pulling her toward me so I could kiss her deeply. The band began to play a song I knew well, which was my queue. “May I have this dance?”
    “Like you need to ask,” she giggled, placing her hand in mine.
    Leading her on to dance floor, I gave a nod to the guitarist. It was now or never. I pulled Jade close to my body, taking a deep breath.   
    “I have one more surprise, and it’s going to involve a song and question that you have to answer yes or no to,” I whispered into her ear. The music changed and morphed into the intro of the song I’d requested Alex to play at the same time he stepped onto the stage.
    Jade frowned at me. “What are you talking about?” She hadn’t noticed the song or Alex yet, but it was about to become real to both of us. I dropped down onto one knee, taking the ring of out my pocket and holding it up to her as Alex began to sing.
    Screams came from every direction, and in that moment, I wasn’t sure if it was because the crowd had noticed Alex Harbour on stage, or because I was proposing to Jade.
    “Oliver?” Jade gasped, tears streaming down her face. “Are…you…? Is…this…?”
    “I had some big speech prepared, but now that the moment is here, I don’t think I need it. Will you marry me, Jade?” I gazed up at her, waiting for an answer. She had to say yes. I couldn’t picture my life with anyone else.
    “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you,” she sobbed, sinking down onto the floor in front of me. Once we were at the same level, she fell into my arms, kissing the breath out of me.  
    “At last,” I sighed against her mouth, holding her tight.
    “Holy shit! You hired Alex Harbour to play, too?” Jade finally noticed him when she glanced over my shoulder. “Talk about the perfect