Chapter 17 The Second Wedding #2
“You got it as bad as I do,” he heard from behind him. Steve was there, a goofy smile on his face, a drink in his hand that he extended to Brad. He’d relied a lot on Steve to help him understand a woman like Sophie and why she was worth all the complication and figuring out.
Brad shook his head to the drink, but the smile didn’t leave his face. “You’ve got no idea, Steve.”
Steve waved his arm across all the wedding guests that filled the living room behind him. “You forget, dude. I do, indeed, have an idea.”
“Touché,” Brad said, laughing. “It’s just that this woman has been there the whole time, and I only just found her.”
“Yeah, but you found her. Don’t you think I get that too? I wasn’t thinking it was gonna happen for me, then, BAM!”
“True. And you’re right, but do you get the feeling like you’ll never have enough time with Jackie? That you could have a hundred years with her, but it still wouldn’t come close to being enough?”
Steve slapped Brad on the shoulder. “Yep, you got it as bad as I do. Or it must be the wedding vibes, am I right? Your mom and sis killed it, by the way. This was pretty damn awesome, Brad.”
“It was. Congratulations, bro,” Brad said, his mind a million miles away from the wedding.
All he saw was Sophie, his future. She laughed, her head thrown back like it was the night they’d met.
Less and less she covered her mouth when she laughed, and Brad knew it was because she, on some level, felt the same way he did—safe and seen for who she really was.
He hoped there wasn’t a day that she lived she didn’t feel that from him.
“Thanks, Brad. For everything. This whole thing wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for you. In a million ways.”
“You bet. And same to you.” Brad nodded towards Sophie.
Steve nodded and patted Brad on the shoulder before walking away, laughing and grumbling about being left with a “crappy lemon drop.” Brad knew he was being antisocial, but if everyone knew what was on his mind right then, he was sure they’d give him carte blanche.
Someone cleared their throat behind him. Drew was there, looking dapper but a little too formal, as usual, in his custom-fitted suit and brown leather dress shoes.
“How you doing, man?” Brad asked him. He was used to seeing the guy around by now.
He’d gone by a few times to bring Sophie lunch, and Drew had always been welcoming, if not too much so.
Brad could only hope that would mellow out in time.
He didn’t know how many more times he could turn down Drew’s good whiskey at ten in the morning.
“Good. Lovely job you’ve done here. And, um, with Sophie. I’ve never seen her this happy.” Brad glanced over at Sophie, her brows furrowed in concentration as she spoke to Steve’s dad.
“She’s an amazing woman, Drew,” Brad said, his voice even and calm. Where was this going?
“She is. I’m glad she has you. I wanted to apologize for taking her away that night at Steven’s home, New Year’s Eve. I had an urgent matter only she could help with, but I know how it must have looked.”
“Soph explained. Thanks for what you’ve done for her. Her work is everything. And don’t worry about that night. She and I had to stumble through quite a few misunderstandings before we could get an honest shot at this thing—that was just one small bump in our road.”
“Good. Well then, that settles that. I do, um, have one more matter to discuss with you, but it’s a little awkward for me.”
Brad crossed his arms over his chest. This oughta be good.
“Go ahead,” he told Drew.
“Well, my sister is the biggest fan of your new series, and when she found out I was coming to this wedding and that you would be here, well…” He trailed off, pulling a hardcover of Brad’s third installment of Jewel Thief and a pen from behind his back.
“Would you mind signing this for her? It would make me a hero at the next family dinner.”
Brad laughed, a loud guffaw that caught the notice of a few onlookers. God, did he need that laugh to loosen him up.
“You bet. In fact, come with me.” Brad walked out the front door, Drew right on his heels like Penske normally was.
He took Drew to the side of the porch where his boxes were stored and pulled a copy of book four from the open box.
“Don’t tell a soul, but give her this and tell her it won’t be out on shelves for another two weeks.
” Brad signed the front cover of the book and handed it over to a slack-jawed Drew.
“Tell her to come with you next time and we can snap a few photos.”
Drew looked like he might hug Brad.
“Thank you so much, Bradley. You’re doing me a huge favor. I won’t forget it. Think of me if you ever need any help with the law.” Drew walked away before Brad could remind him he already had a lawyer in his life, one who was much more attractive, much more his speed.
She moved through the crowd and realized he could do that forever—just watch her do what she was good at, happy just to orbit her. Damn, she was incredible, wasn’t she?
“You’re a popular guy, big brother,” Paige said, sliding up beside him, linking her arm in his, taking him out of his thoughts of Sophie for the umpteenth time that night.
He marveled at how Paige had somehow won the genetic lottery and inherited their dad’s height and mom’s build, making her look more like Tinker Bell’s kid sister than his.
Her close-cropped pixie cut added to the effect.
“I am. Banberry’s resident schmoozer, you know me.” He nudged her with his elbow, which grazed her shoulder.
“Walk with me,” she said. He nodded and followed his sister out to the side porch, where pastel pink organza wrapped along the posts and railings, adding an ethereal feel to the already majestic landscape. She looked at home there.
“What’s up?” he asked her. Something was different about Paige. He couldn’t place it, but the best way he could figure it, she looked more peaceful, more content than he’d ever known her. He wasn’t so much worried about the change, but curious.
“I’m pregnant. We’re pregnant, Owen and I.”
Brad saw the difference he’d been trying to articulate in her cheeks.
They were flushed, her eyes were brighter, her skin clearer.
She looked luminous. Brad’s feet were glued to the ground, his eyes suddenly hot with tears.
He was going to be an uncle. Paige was going to be a mother.
After everything she’d been through, Brad wasn’t sure they’d ever get to experience that.
“Paige…” he started, but the words lodged in his throat.
He tried to clear it but only managed a guttural sound that rivaled a low growl.
“This is perfect. You’re perfect. Does Owen know?
” By that point, Brad had closed the gap between him and his sister and wrapped her up in his arms, all but smothering her.
He sobbed into her hair, no longer caring what the guests inside needed.
“He does,” Paige said, pulling back. Her eyes were damp as well, and she dabbed at them with the sleeve of her top.
“Holy shit, I’m going to be an uncle.” Brad’s hands ran through his hair, lingering there. Paige giggled.
“And now that you live next door, you can babysit,” she teased.
“Bet your ass. Man, Mom’s gonna flip about being in town now,” Brad said, a sly smile playing on his lips.
“Yeah, keep your mouth shut, brother, or I’ll strangle you. We’re going to tell them on Sunday at the family dinner.”
Brad mimed zipping his lips shut. He felt a twinge of jealousy that his little sister was adding to her family while he was just starting over, but it was overruled by the hope that filled his chest at the way his family was growing as well.
There was so much time in front of him and Sophie to build their life like his sister had been trying to do for two years.
He couldn’t be happier for Paige and Owen.
This day was lining up to be number one in his memories by a long shot. And it wasn’t even close to over yet.
Sophie caught Brad’s eye through the window, and he grinned ear to ear.
It was cheesy, the way his body reacted to her so viscerally, but he didn’t care if he was the biggest sap in the room.
She excused herself from talking to Steve’s dad, who was clearly flirting with her—like father, like son, Brad thought to himself—then she snuck out the front door, crossed the three paces to him, threw her arms around his neck, and waved at Paige.
“Hey, you! You and Marge did a great job on the decorations.”
“Thanks, Sophie. I’ll help you clean up the pink craziness later tonight.”
“Don’t be silly,” Sophie said. “Brad and I will take care of it tomorrow. You just enjoy the day.”
“I will. I’m going to go find my better half. Love you, guys.” Paige winked at Brad, mimed shushing him with a finger in front of her lips, and went in search of Owen, leaving Brad and Sophie alone together on the porch. She kissed his earlobe, sending shocks of electricity up and down his spine.
He was halfway hard from that one kiss and groaned. Across the foyer he saw Steve’s dad frown and walk towards the bar. Brad chuckled to himself and vowed that after the ceremony, he’d introduce Steve’s dad, John, to his aunt Ruth, who was also single and much closer to John’s age.
“You have no idea what you do to me, Kellerman,” he said. His voice came out as a low growl, and she trembled beneath him.
She simply nibbled on the spot she had just kissed, making it so he had to discreetly adjust his pants in the front to hide the bulge she’d made. There was no longer anything “half” about his erection.
“If you keep this up, I’m going to have to take you to the coatroom,” he whispered.
“There is no coatroom,” she replied. Her voice was breathy and let on that, though she might not be able to physically show it, she was as turned on as he was. “I do have access to the bridal suite, though,” she told him.
“That’s my childhood bedroom, missy.”