Chapter 12
They should have eloped, or he should have stuck to his guns about having a simple ceremony at City Hall. It would have required minimal fuss, and then they could concentrate on the children, his new hotel, and her finishing the school year. Instead, Carter took in the three-ring circus surrounding him as people rushed around to get everything ready before they were to stand at the altar to say their vows.
Once he woke up from his nap next to Zahara, he had gone and finished getting everything moving for them to get married in front of the justice of the peace. He had Isa get the paperwork going for them while he looked at potential dates for the civil ceremony. It wouldn’t take long for them to get a license.
He had then called his parents and hers to let them know that the wedding was going to be a quick, simple ceremony at the courthouse. He had been suspicious when his mother met his news with silence followed by a quick “Congratulations!” Then she had asked for Zahara’s mother and half-sister’s number so that she could speak to them about the marriage ceremony.
“Mom.”
“Well, it would be bad manners of me not to reach out to the mother of my soon-to-be daughter-in-law and her siblings, now, wouldn’t it? It would be so awkward to meet them at the courthouse when we haven’t even said hello. Don’t you think?”
His mother had begun to sniff, and he had groaned silently because he knew he was about to be made to feel guilty. “I just want to say hello, son. At least give me that, especially since I won’t get to see my first-born son get married in a church, or go dress shopping for a wedding gown with my daughter-in-law and her mother, or throw you a wedding shower, or hear you say vows of love in front of a—”
He had crumbled then, knowing she had laid it on thick for him. “Alright Mom, here are their numbers,” Carter had said with a sigh, sending her the numbers for Selena, Zahara’s half-sister, and her mother Lily and father Troy. He had hoped that he wouldn’t get blindsided by his mom teaming up with Zahara’s.
“You got blindsided, dear brother.” Carter came out of his reverie when he felt the heavy hand of his brother Leaf clap him on the back. Leaf moved to stand beside him at the altar in a charcoal suit, white shirt, and a yellow carnation in his lapel. Carter’s groomsmen were not wearing ties like he was—charcoal grey to match his suit—and he had the same yellow carnation pinned to his jacket. Yellow was Zahara’s favourite color for flowers. She loved carnations, as well as lilies, which was why there were lilies attached to the sides of their guests’ chairs. Carter had fought not to have a runner for the aisle, as he didn’t want her to accidentally trip on it, even though she was wearing flats with her dress.
He just gave his brother a cold look as the idiot stood there with a satisfied grin on his face. His brothers loved to rejoice in anything or anyone that put a spoke in Carter’s plans. They found him too controlling in everything, including his emotions, but in this cutthroat line of business they were in, you could not let emotions rule you, and as the eldest son, everything fell on Carter’s shoulders. There were fleeting moments when he felt like he was suffocating, but then the exhilaration of running the company, building something new, and growing the family empire kept him wanting to not give up all that power. Now that his priorities were about to change with a wife and children, he was going to have to let go of the reins somewhat to take care of his family.
“Glad it is you and not me. Mother wasn’t this bad with Deana and my wedding,” Leaf gloated.
“That’s because you got married the first and second time by Elvis. There was nothing she could do with that, plus she thought it was SOOO romantic. Two lovebirds that couldn’t wait to be married even when they had just met.”
“Yes, and look how happy we are. No fuss, and it was just between the two of us the first time. This is almost a full-blown wedding, and I know this was not what you had in mind when Mom suggested inviting a few guests.” He put his arm around Carter as a photographer started taking pictures of the two men. They both smiled for the camera and then stopped when he moved away.
“You try saying no to Mom when she wants something and is determined to get it.”
“Hmm, so that’s where you get it from.”
“Shut up,” Carter growled. “Plus, Lily and Mom showed up at the new hotel site when I went there to look at the grounds, and they ganged up on me.” He flushed because he had felt like a little kid being scolded for doing something wrong.
“Well, look on the bright side. You have to admit that Mother and Lily pulled off an amazing feat in under a month to get this place rented, outfitted, and everything in order for your big day today.”
They looked around at the people setting up the finishing touches around the room as the wedding guests mingled outside having drinks before the ceremony began.
Carter checked his watch; it was almost time for the music to start playing and for everyone to gather in the room and take their seats. His mother had at least not gone overboard and had kept the decorations simple and stylish, keeping Zahara’s wants and wishes in mind.
He also wanted to get this over and done with because he hoped things would get better between him and Zahara after this thing. He didn”t like that she only spoke to him when she needed to or when he was talking to her. The only real time they spent together was going to doctor”s appointments to keep monitoring her health and their children”s health. She allowed him to hold her at night and place a protective hand on her belly. She didn”t even smile anymore when he talked to their children. She would just stare off into space, keeping her emotions hidden from him. He was getting frustrated with the distance between them.
He hadn’t realized how much he needed her teasing, the insistent chatter, her boisterous laugh, her touches every time he was near because she couldn”t help wanting to feel connected to him. He even missed her stubborn, argumentative nature; the way she returned into his body and threw her arm around his chest while they slept. He missed being able to hold her and kiss her, but he knew that this was best for all of them right now and what he needed to do to protect his family. Everything would be okay after they got married.
Carter did not want to lose Zahara like he lost Delilah. He felt that if he had married Delilah, she would not be dead and would still be around today. By getting married in a hurry and not waiting, he felt that he was somehow protecting Zahara and his growing family. Because if anything should happen to Zahara, his world would be destroyed.
He watched as the event staff finished setting up, and the wedding planner then approached him and Leaf standing by the altar.
“It’s time, Mr. Brooks. Everything is all set up, and we are ready to have the guests come in.”
He nodded. “Please get someone to find my father and brothers at the bar and let them know it”s time to usher in the guests and have them seated before joining me and Leaf here.”
“How is the bridal party doing, are they ready?”
The wedding planner spoke into her mic, and he heard someone on the other end responding. “Yes, her bridesmaids Coco, the friend from high school, and her sisters Ari and Selena are all done. Your mom and her mom Lily are just helping the bride with the finishing touches, but we are good to proceed.”
Two of the wedding planner’s helpers opened the door to one of the ballrooms at the hotel where the ceremony was to be held, and Carter spotted his brothers Michael and Ben helping to usher the guests in. Their friend Ambra and her sister were at their sides. Ambra was wearing a beautiful light-purple chiffon dress that looked a little big on her. It was a lot of material, but the colour suited her dark skin. Her sister was wearing a red mermaid dress that showed of her dainty figure, the colour also complementing her colouring. Carter’s father walked down the aisle toward him and then came over and gave him a hug.
“You look handsome son, and you too Leaf,” Carter Sr. said as he turned and shook Leaf’s hand before turning and taking his seat.
He then spotted Zahara’s father walk in; a tall, dark-skinned man with salt-and-pepper hair. He had his hand on Zahara’s younger brother’s back, guiding him to the front row of seats where the family and close friends of the bride and groom were to be seated. Troy gave him a nod, and then a fierce expression flashed across his face. His look said, Remember what I said to you.
The night before their wedding, all the men had gone out for a drink at a local bar. Zahara’s father had approached Carter when he was at the bar buying drinks.
“Carter, I need you to understand something. I practice at the shooting range every day, and my favourite gun of choice is all types of handguns. Do you catch my drift? I don’t want to see my baby cry at your hands, or it will be me and you, and I don’t care if you are married. If she needs to come home because she is being mistreated, my baby and my grandchildren will always have a home with me.”
Carter had stiffened in outrage that Zahara’s dad would think he wouldn’t do right by his daughter, but then he also got it, because when his girls were born, he would feel the same way.
“I promise I will always do right by your daughter and my children.”
Troy had eyed him for a second and had then nodded before taking his beer and the other drinks the bartender had just laid out in front of Carter, going back to the others at the table.
Zahara’s brother-in-law Calum entered next. He was a very imposing figure. The man was tall and broad, with black hair, violet eyes, and a scar that ran down the side of his face. His eyes were his best feature in his homely face. He was in a tuxedo but wore his Stetson on his head proudly. Next to him was Vera, Monica, and Monica’s husband Malcolm—all related to Zahara. Zahara’s sisters were part of her bridal party, and he would see them when they walked down the aisle before Zahara.
When they had all sat down, Carter could clearly see the tension between Zahara’s father Troy and Calum, Vera, and Monica. He also saw Calum scowling at Vera and wondered what was going on there. The wedding planner went to grab Troy to go back outside for him to walk Zahara down the aisle.
He must have voiced his thoughts out loud, because his brother Leaf responded. “Long story. After you left, things went sideways between Vera and Calum’s ranch manager Grayson. The family is not happy with her at the moment.”
Carter shrugged. Not his problem right now. He focused on the rest of the guests and saw that Michael’s friend had made a grand entrance, coming to the wedding solo. He scowled. He didn’t like the games she was playing with Michael’s head and hoped that he would let his interest in the blond heiress go. But he saw Michael’s face light up when he spotted Summer, and he watched as his brother hurried over to greet her, kissing both cheeks before bringing her over to the family’s side of the room. Carter frowned and was about to go over when his brother next to him muttered, “Let it go. Now is not the time to cause a scene, and Michael will do that. Hopefully, this will pass, and he will realize she is not interested in him.” Leaf echoed Carter’s earlier thoughts.
“I know I haven’t been around the family a lot, but what is going on with Ben and his fixation—”
Carter turned to see why Leaf had stopped talking, and when he saw his expression, he knew why. Carter turned and saw Deana making her way inside. She was a tall, slim woman with light-brown skin, curly dark hair, and violet-blue eyes like her half-brother Calum. She was a striking woman, and she and Leaf made a handsome pair. Leaf was enthralled with his wife, and the feeling was mutual. The minute they were in each other’s vicinity, they only had eyes for each other. Leaf’s gaze was eating his wife up, and her walk became sultry as she continued down the aisle. Her hips shifted the material of the dark-green pleated halter-neck dress, revealing her skin through the small oval opening in the front and a side slit that parted when she moved to show her shapely legs.
Carter felt his brother move, and he elbowed him in the side. “Later. You have a room booked at the hotel; you two can disappear after the toasts.”
His brother wore a sulking expression on his face because he wanted to be with his wife instead of up here with Carter. The man was so in love with his wife.
Carter watched her grin as he chastised his brother. Then, as she reached the aisle where her brother and family were sitting, she almost tripped on her dress before righting herself and taking her seat with a sheepish expression. Deana needed a safety net around her. She was very clumsy, which was surprising because the woman was also a walking weapon and used to work for a secret organization. That’s what had started all this, now leading to Carter marrying Zahara after meeting her at the ranch.
Carter spotted Dr. Peterson entering with his date, and they both nodded their heads at each other before he took his seat. The doctor had recommended that they give the girls steroids to help increase their growth, just in case they needed to go in and take them out early. So far everything was still going amazingly well. He was concerned, but Zahara was taking this well and said she had confidence and believed in the doctor and his capabilities. Hearing that had soured his mood because he did not want to see Zahara admiring anyone of the opposite sex. Once he had accepted that she was his, he found he was feeling very possessive about his soon-to-be wife.
His attention shifted, and he noticed that the small ballroom was becoming packed. The murmur of voices were loud in his ears, and he felt a hand touch his arm. He turned to see the wedding planner at his elbow.
“We are ready now.” He nodded and turned his head to see the officiant on top of the wedding altar. He motioned for his younger brothers to join them, then he straightened his tie and fussed with the carnation on his lapel.
“Don’t be nervous; she will think you are the most handsome man in the world and that she is very lucky to have you,” Leaf whispered at his side as the room began to grow quiet.
He gave Leaf a weak smile. Everyone thought she had finally agreed to marry him, but instead, he had used blackmail to get what he wanted.
Carter then saw the door open, and in walked his mother and Zahara’s mom. Their arms were linked together. His mom wore a yellow chiffon dress that complemented her dark hair and blue eyes. She gave him a wink as they got closer. Zahara’s mom was wearing a light-pink two-piece satin suit with matching shoes and a hat with flowers and a small veil covering her brown hair. Lily could have been a model, and Carter could see where Selena got her looks from. Zahara was the perfect combination of both her parents.
Everyone was finally seated, and then the bridal march began to play. Carter tensed in anticipation of finally getting to see his bride.