Chapter Twelve
Aiden
This morning, I was done with tradition.
Spending the night away from Ella, and knowing she was close by, was a torture I have no intention of ever repeating.
New rule: when we”re in the same place, we share a bed.
Not seeing the bride before the wedding is ridiculous. I”m not superstitious, and won”t buy for a second that it”s bad luck. And as our ceremony is at sunset, there are plenty of hours left to not see my bride… when she gets ready, for example.
”I”m not happy about this,” Rhia grumbles as she sets down her mug of coffee.
The four of us have just finished breakfast and are lounging on the terrace overlooking the bay.
”But I am,” my Sunshine chimes in, kissing my cheek with a bright smile.
”And that”s all that matters to me,” I tell her, leaning over and whispering in her ear, ”I missed you last night. I don”t like falling asleep without you in my arms.”
El gets off her chair and plants herself on my lap, her arms winding around my neck. ”Same. It felt wrong to be in the same place but not in the same bed.”
See, my bride and I think alike.
”It”s never going to happen again,” I vow, and seal that promise with a kiss.
When I let her come up for air, I turn to Rhia who”s still scowling at us.
”Do you know the reason why grooms were not encouraged to see their brides before tying the knot?”
”Oh, here we go again,” Rhia laughs, shaking her head.
Ella and I both love riling her best friend up with random fun facts. And of course I”ve done my research on wedding trivia.
”Historically, during the times of arranged marriages, the couple often didn”t meet before the wedding day to prevent the groom from backing out if he didn”t find the bride attractive. This is clearly not the case for us. So, we”re all good.”
”Hmm, I wonder if that worked the other way too?” Rhia muses.
The sound of an approaching helicopter has us all turning our heads toward the sea.
”Ah, that will be Father Josef and our chef,” I say, getting up from my lounger, taking Ella with me and setting her on her feet.
I hold my hand out to her. ”Future Mrs. Burg, are you ready to greet the man who will make you officially mine?”
She beams up at me, taking my hand. ”So ready.”
”You two go get him. We”ll clean up,” Rhia suggests, and I glance over at El”s mischievous best friend. Her alone in a kitchen with Lex… how much cleaning will get done?
But I won”t spoil their fun.
”Sure. You have about half an hour before we”re back,” Ella tells her, giving her a wink.
Yep, she knows as well as I do what these two will get up to. A night apart has made them frisky.
Ella and I should take a detour on the way to the helipad. I”m similarly afflicted.
But instead, El bounces down the steps to the sand where the buggies are parked, twirling and spinning. ”I”m getting married today,” she singsongs at the top of her lungs.
Her good mood is infectious.
This really is the best day.
Laughing, I scoop her up into my arms and continue the twirling and spinning. When I put her on her feet again, I pull her closer against me and crash my mouth to hers.
”I can”t wait for you to be officially mine,” I pant when we come back up for air.
”I”ve been yours for a long time.”
”True, but after today, the whole world will know it. You”ll be wearing my ring and carrying my name.”
”Ella Burg. It”s short and sweet. I love it. Couldn”t think of a better name.” She reaches for me again and shows me with her lips just how excited she is to become my wife.
God, I could kiss this woman forever!
Groaning, I pull away. ”I wish it was bedtime already, and it was just the two of us again.”
She giggles. ”No way. I”m not missing out on all the fun. I”m planning on enjoying every minute of today. Now, come on, we have a priest and a chef to pick up.”
El swings her leg over the seat and turns the key in the ignition. Speeding off down the beach, the wind blows her hair back, and her shirt flutters in the breeze. It doesn”t take me long to catch up to her, and together we make our way through the small forest toward the center of the island where the helipad is located.
The chopper just touches down as we pull up.
Perfect timing.
Today really is working out brilliantly.
Then the door opens, and Father Josef disembarks. He”s ghostly pale, sweat beading on his forehead.
Alarm bells go off in my head.
He didn”t mention motion sickness or fear of flying when we organized everything with him a few weeks ago.
My eyes scan the helicopter.
Fuck!
I pull Ella behind my body.
”Ade? What are you doi-?”
I don”t let her finish. ”Stay behind me,” I bark.
Still, her head shoots out to my left to see what”s going on, but I push her back behind me, never taking my eyes from our visitors.
Then the reason the blood has drained from the Reverend”s face steps off the helicopter.
And it”s not the chef we hired.
No, this man wears a tailored suit and radiates power.
More importantly, though, he”s pointing a gun at us.