Chapter 11
A FRIENDLY ENTOURAGE
CASSIDY
“Where are we going?”
I’m not sure why it took me this long to ask, but as our car pulls away from the hotel, I realize leaving everything up to these two clowns may prove problematic.
“To grab some dinner,” Declan responds, not looking up from his phone where he’s been texting someone rapidly since we stepped onto the sidewalk.
I wait for him to elaborate and when he doesn’t, I turn my attention to Ren who’s sitting on my other side, staring out the window. Nudging him with my elbow, I wait for him to look at me before saying, “I thought we were scoping out where we’re going to do the big day.”
He lifts his chin toward Declan. “He told me not to worry about it.”
Looking back at Declan I watch him send a final message before darkening the screen and pocketing the phone. Then he meets my gaze as he says, “Don’t worry, Cassidy. All of that will be taken care of.”
Torn between relief and worry, I ask, “Taken care of by whom?”
“By my wife and her friends.”
“I don’t want anything extravagant.”
Declan smiles and nods, but says nothing, so I add, “I mean it. I want something simple, and to the point. Nothing drawn-out or overly romanticized.”
Declan’s expression doesn’t change, but this time he responds, “And so it will be.”
Not buying it for one minute, I look to Ren for help, but he just shrugs and says, “It’ll be whatever it’s gonna be. May as well just go with it.”
“Oh God,” I mutter, immediately looking around for an escape. “If they try to put me in a puffy white dress, I will call the entire thing off, I swear it.”
Declan’s hand on my forearm interrupts my ranting, his warm gaze lessening my anxiety slightly. “They won’t do anything you don’t want them to, Cassidy. I promise.”
Relaxing slightly, I sit back in my seat, my hand settling easily over the back of Ren’s where he’s placed it on top of my leg. Soon, the car slows, then stops and I look out the windows, frowning. “Where are we?”
Declan opens his door, one foot out as he replies, “This is where we’re meeting my family.”
He’s out of the car in the next breath, disappearing out of sight. Ren’s hand turns over in mine as he opens his door, then he’s exiting the vehicle, pulling me with him.
Straightening, I look around, quickly realizing we’re at a private air strip. There are two jets on the tarmac, a group of women scurrying away from one, and a lone figure slowing walking our way from the other.
The women reach Declan first, likely because he was headed in their direction, and I instantly recognize the women he embraces as his wife, Issa.
One of the women from her group breaks away, her long blonde hair flowing as she races toward the lone figure still making his way slowly toward us, her incoherent shout getting his attention.
He picks up speed until he’s running toward her then he scoops her up, stopping dead in his tracks as she wraps her arms and legs around him.
My eyes burn, the heartfelt emotion palpable in the air, and I find myself leaning into Ren, grateful for his warmth at my side.
After a few long moments, the couple eases apart, and after a brief exchange, they continue toward where Declan and the other women are waiting. The man hugs both women, then stops in front of Declan, a pained expression on his face.
Declan pulls him close, wraps his arms around him, and after a moment the man returns his embrace. Feeling like I’m suddenly intruding, I turn to Ren and ask, “Who’s that?”
He leans in close, his voice low. “That’s Tony.”
Glancing back, I see the two men still embracing, Declan obviously speaking into Tony’s ear as the other man nods. “Did something happen?”
“Many things, I’m afraid.”
I frown, not sure what to make of his cryptic response, but not inclined to press, given I know nothing of these people other than Declan and Issa’s very public back stories in the entertainment industry.
What I do know is no one in their right mind would even dream about messing with Marissa Hughes.
I’m pulled from my thoughts by Ren nudging me, and I turn to find Declan and his group standing a few feet away. “Cassidy Logan, Rennick Rafferty, may I present my family.”
I smile at his sudden formality, turning fully toward him as he continues, “You know my wife Issa,” he waves his hand toward her with flourish, then to the redheaded woman next to her, “And this is her right-hand woman, slash soul sister, Jessica Ferro.”
Both women give Declan a look, and he grins in response before directing his attention to the man and woman who embraced out on the runway. “And this is Tony and Carolina Andersen. My brother from another mother and his much too good for him wife.”
“That’s fair,” Tony responds quietly, earning a good-natured laugh from Carolina who says, “It’s a sliding scale.”
I give each person a nod and a small smile which I can only hope comes off as friendly as I intend it. Ren nods toward the women then shakes Tony’s hand, the two men exchanging gruff greetings before Ren resumes his position next to me, his hand warm on my lower back.
It’s no secret I don’t do well with newcomers, especially newcomers in groups, so Ren’s presence beside me is helpful.
Issa approaches us, her expression open and friendly, shiny red lips smiling, her brown eyes glittering with humor as she says, “It’s so nice to meet you both.
I’m thrilled to be able to help out with your big day. ”
Ren opens his mouth, likely to say something stupid, so I stop him with my elbow in his side. He gives me a dirty look as I respond, “It’s so good of you to put your own life on hold to help us out.”
She waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, it’s no bother at all. We love weddings, don’t we, Jess?”
Jessica pops up beside her, the sun setting her hair in red gold as she smiles broadly. “Oh yes. Especially when the circumstances are a tad more ideal than our own weddings.”
Issa laughs loudly. “So not coerced, you mean?”
“Exactly,” Jessica responds with bark of laughter. “Maybe not under the threat of imminent death.”
They giggle, and Carolina adds, “Or to save yourself from having to marry some old creep with a sadistic streak.”
They all crack up, incredibly amused by some inside joke I am entirely certain I don’t even need to understand. Still, I stare at them, completely dumbfounded, and after a few more laughs, they sober, and Issa says, “A nice, calm, ceremony based on love and understanding.”
Grimacing, I give Ren a look, but he just shrugs, so, having no idea what to say to that, I remain silent. Luckily, Declan interjects, “Come on, doll face, you know our ceremony was based on love and understanding.”
Issa purses her lips, her expression stern, and then Jessica responds, “You mean love and understanding from you, the only person in the equation who knew what was going on.”
He smirks, lifting a shoulder dismissively as he adds, “If I remember correctly, I had some help at the time.”
Issa levels me with a smirk of her own as she says, “Don’t believe a word this man says. He’s as shady as they come once he gets his mind made up.”
Declan reaches for her, obviously intent on some kind of playful bantering, but she spins away then shoos him as she says, “No funny business, Mr. Hughes. Us ladies have a hot date.”
“We do?” I ask just as Ren says, “You do?”
Ignoring us both, Issa takes my hand, pulling me toward a new car that arrived while we were making introductions. I hesitate for a moment, unsure what I’m supposed to do, but Ren gives me a small push, so I go along.
Jessica and Carolina climb into the back, and Issa pauses at the door, still holding onto my hand. “Do you trust me, Cass?”
Startled, I frown, once again entirely unsure how to respond.
Issa squeezes my hand as I stare back at her, a slow smile growing on my lips at the warmth coming from her dark eyes.
Her smile turns radiant as she releases my hand, climbs into the car and slides over to the far side of the seat, making room for me.
I pause, looking over my shoulder at Ren, who remains standing beside Declan, an odd expression on his face. Catching me watching him, he nods, motioning for me to get moving, so I turn away, climb into the back of the car, slamming the door behind me.