Chapter 24
Emilia
“I can’t believe you’re getting married today!” Arianna squeals the moment I step into the kitchen.
I shouldn’t be surprised that everyone knows. After all, Haden went for his usual run early this morning. He would have told Brody, and then word would have spread like wildfire.
All four women are at the table, and they leap up and rush over to me. They have to shove Haden out of the way to surround me.
“What are you going to wear?” Melody asks.
“You’re about the same size as any of us if you want to wear one of our dresses,” Reagan says.
I hadn’t considered that. “We’re just going to the courthouse. We don’t have to get super fancy.”
Haden grabs the back of my hair and tips my head up. His eyes are narrowed. I don’t think he liked that. My panties get wet from the look on his face.
He leans down to look me in the eyes. “You’ll stay here in the house and let everyone help you. Gretchen is already bustling. These Wilde women will make a lovely wedding happen this afternoon. I’m going into the city to get a few things, including a dress.”
Brody laughs. “That’s so unconventional, dude. You seeing the dress before your wife,” he jokes.
Haden smirks. “Nothing about my relationship with your sister is conventional. I’m picking the dress. End of story.”
Brody holds up his hands. “All I know is she’s yours to take care of now. Dallas and I can wipe our hands of her,” he teases.
I roll my eyes.
Haden kisses my forehead and lets me go.
“Exactly. Mine.” He is so possessive. A normal woman would run.
Not me. I’m elated. Possessive Haden is so damn sexy.
And he’s getting more bossy by the day. I’m a lucky woman because it turns out I like my man so dominant that I don’t have to worry about a thing.
Haden fixes me a plate like he does every morning and sits me in the breakfast nook with my sisters.
“Eat, baby. I don’t want to find out you nibbled.
Finish what’s on this plate and have lunch, too.
If I ask around and discover you didn’t eat today, your ass will be too sore to sit in my truck to ride to Thomas McAndrews’ office. ”
“Yes, Sir.” I don’t hesitate to submit to Haden, not even in front of my sisters. I know they all have submissive tendencies and bossy, dominant husbands, but I don’t think any of them are as submissive as me.
Haden never told me I had to call him Sir in front of people.
He mentioned it one time. That was it. At no point did he say it was mandatory, nor have we discussed when it’s expected and appropriate for me to speak reverently to him.
It flows naturally off my tongue. I know he appreciates it when I’m polite and acquiesce to his orders.
When I call him Sir, it tells him I’m well aware of my place in our relationship, and that I’m actively agreeing to his demands.
Doing so in front of everyone apparently pleases him even more because he’s smiling widely.
“Speaking of McAndrews,” Dallas says. “Did you already call him this morning?” he asks Haden.
“Yep. He’s expecting us at four.”
Thomas McAndrews is the local attorney who has many roles in this town. For one thing, he’s the executor of the will. But more importantly, today, he will officiate our wedding.
I twist around and grab Haden’s hand before he can walk away. “What about the sheriff? And the fact that it might be recorded somewhere that I’m married?”
Haden squeezes my hand. “McAndrews is working on verifying that the document is completely fraudulent. I’ve already sent him a copy. I’m not worried, baby.”
I’m glad he’s so confident. I’m freaking out inside. “But…”
Haden narrows his gaze. “You worry about what you want Gretchen to serve for dinner after the ceremony and flowers and hair and makeup and things like that. Leave the rest to me.”
“Yes, Sir.” I release a long breath. He’s right. This is half the reason I’m marrying the man. He will take care of the ugly parts. I don’t need to spend the day panicking because he will fix everything. Food, flowers, hair, makeup. I can manage that with the help of my sisters.
Gretchen and Isabel look frenzied. They’re rushing around the kitchen like there’s a fire. I suppose there is. I feel kind of bad for starting it. Another woman is with them, but I’m not sure who she is.
As soon as the men depart, Gretchen hurries over to us. She’s holding a coffee pot but starts chuckling and sets it on the counter. “I guess no one at this table needs a refill.”
Her face is so expressive. She’s incredibly pleased. I’ve decided that the busier things are around here, the happier she is. She thrives on the hustle and bustle. She’s going to start clapping when babies arrive.
Gretchen motions for the new woman to join her. She’s about fifty with dark hair and eyes. Her hair is pulled back in a bun. “This is Gloria,” Gretchen says, introducing her. “Isabel’s mother. She’s going to help us make this wedding happen today.”
“Nice to meet you,” everyone at the table says at once.
Gretchen chuckles. “What flavor cake do you want, dear?”
“Oh, you don’t have to go to any trouble. Cake isn’t necessary.”
She gasps and sets a hand over her heart. “Blasphemy. Cake is mandatory. You tell us what flavor, and we’ll make it happen.”
I smile. “Thank you. Lemon is my favorite.”
“Then it shall be lemon.” She turns around so fast it’s like a storm blows through the room. Isabel and Gloria follow her.
It’s going to be a crazy day.