Chapter 21
James huffed and collapsed against the counter. “I guess the secret’s out.”
“What secret, baby?” I advanced into the kitchen, taking the plate that James offered me but feeling too queasy to eat any of it. I set it on the table and lowered myself into a chair. “And why was Shiloh the one to spill it?”
“When Hannah and I started working on the guest list,” he began, “Raleigh said that he wouldn’t be able to make it.
Both of them leaving the Hopyard over Valentine’s Day just wasn’t feasible.
Hannah was the one to ask if we could get married in Vegas instead, and I was all for it.
” He sighed. “I know you, and I know how you love a grand gesture. It’s why I staffed up so much recently—Shiloh wanted to be there to see the look on your face when you figured it out. At least… they did.”
Despite the events of the night, I couldn’t help the smile that made my lips twitch. “You and Hannah organized an entire destination wedding? Just for me?”
“And Shi, and Kian. Your parents are in on it too.” He checked his phone. “In fact, their flight should be landing in a few hours. Your mom wanted to fly in early so she could sight-see.”
“That means the slot machines are in for one hell of a ride.” The news was a balm over my injured feelings. I shook my head in disbelief, then lunged into James’s lap. “God, I love you.”
I silenced his reply with my lips on his. He grunted into the kiss, letting his hands fall to my hips.
“Please don’t tell Hannah that her whole secret TLC plan unraveled,” he said between assaults from my mouth. “We’ve been working so hard to keep it quiet.”
“Of course.”
I relaxed into James’s lap, letting him feed me a bite from my plate. I could get used to this…
“So,” I began.
“I don’t like the tone of that voice, Ryder Clark.”
I ignored him. “How close were you to breaking?”
James laughed. “Closer than you’d think.
I hated not being able to tell you that Raleigh was in on it all.
But between planning, training Kian, finding Dani, learning about your family history, navigating things with Shiloh, whoever attacked you outside of Victoria’s, and all the supernatural shit that’s been happening… ” He trailed off.
“Aw, is the big, strong vampire ready to admit that he’s tired?”
“Bastard,” he growled, pinching my thigh. “But yes, I’m—”
I shut James up with another chaste kiss, and he urged me back into my own seat so I could finish my food.
As I ate, I grilled him on the rest of the details—which he was suddenly tight-lipped about.
The only thing he would tell me was that the venue was outdoors, and Raleigh offered up the Hopyard for drinks after the rehearsal.
For a while, we were able to press past the heartbreak we’d experienced that night and enjoy being engaged.
The thought of our betrayal of Shi still sat heavy, but as much as I hated to admit it, James was right: The only thing we could do right now was give Shiloh their space.
They were upset, and they lashed out. Even I could see that.
And if the past were any indication, if and when Shi was ready to talk, they would come to us.
It wasn’t as comforting as I wanted it to be, but it was something.
When my alarm went off Monday afternoon, I groaned and slammed around on the nightstand until I silenced the incessant blaring. I was on my sixth day of seven days straight before we took our time off for the wedding.
We were scheduled to fly to Vegas on Thursday, two days before the wedding. That would give us plenty of time for James to officially meet my parents, and to catch up with Raleigh and Angel before things got too hectic—I just had to get through my last two shifts first.
As excited as I was, I was also exhausted. James and I had stayed up until well past sunrise planning last-minute details and trading kisses in bed, thumbing over our freshly polished rings.
James promised to bring me coffee in exchange for me letting him stay in bed a little longer, so I headed to the bar.
Shiloh had the day off, and I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about missing them.
Since the fight, we’d only gotten a smile if someone was watching.
They hadn’t been as cold to us as I’d feared—Kian was none the wiser—but I missed their stolen glimpses, the secret smiles they reserved only for us.
I was working with Kian up front that day, and James would be settling paperwork in the office since he wouldn’t get a chance to do so for a while.
When I arrived, Kian’s car was already in the parking lot. Unwilling to brave the longer walk in the cold to the back door, I unlocked the main entrance. Kian had already disabled the alarm, and, thankfully, already turned up the heat.
I flipped on the lights in the front room, then made my way down the hall and toward the office to put my jacket away.
As I approached the door, Kian’s soft voice filtered out of the kitchen.
Once I realized he was on the phone, I continued to the office—until I heard Hannah’s name, and it sounded like Kian was soothing her.
“Han, trust me. If anyone knows how you feel, I do.”
I tiptoed back to the entrance of the kitchen, where it sounded like Kian was making coffee. “I know it sucks, and I know my accident threw a wrench in things. But as soon as we’re back on our feet, we can start saving for our own wedding. I promise.”
I didn’t stay to hear anymore of the conversation, already feeling guilty about what I’d overheard. I thought back to when Hannah offered to help us, and I remembered the flash of emotion I’d seen cross her deep blue eyes.
She’d been pouring all of her energy and spare time into helping us plan our own wedding, I never noticed she was grieving the one that she didn’t get to have.
Shaking it off, I hung up my jacket and stepped out of the office just as Kian left the kitchen. “Morning.”
I snickered. “It’s past noon.”
“Still counts as morning if I walked in my door at two a.m.”
“Pour that out,” I told him, indicating his mug. “James will be here any minute with the good coffee.”
“Thank heavens.”
Kian returned to the kitchen, then padded silently into the front room as I finalized the bank deposit. He hovered, straightening bottles that didn’t need it and wiping down surfaces that were already sparkling.
“Spit it out, Kian,” I said with a smile.
He leaned against the bar next to me. “It’s not an easy question to ask.
Especially days before the wedding.” I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, and he blurted, “Do you really think the twin vampires will hold off until after the wedding? I can’t shake this feeling that they're going to try to attack us or something and ruin everything.”
“No,” I answered honestly. “If you ask me, neither of them can be trusted. I understand your feelings, but I trust James, and he says they wouldn’t dare. Especially with new information that’s come to light.”
“You mean the witch thing?”
“Yeah,” I said, relieved that Hannah had already told him. “That’s exactly what I mean.”
Kian stifled a yawn. “Can you use your powers to make James hurry up with that coffee?”
I laughed, pulling my phone from my pocket. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Throughout the day, my mind spun with the conversation I’d overheard that morning.
James picked up on my unease, but he didn’t pry.
Not until after the doors were locked and Kian was finishing up the cleaning.
While he was distracted, I slunk into the office and collapsed onto the couch with my head in my hands.
He rose from the desk, crossing the room to drop into the seat next to me. “Talk to me, love.”
“I think Hannah’s disappointed about not getting a wedding of her own,” I mumbled into my hands. “I overheard Kian consoling her this morning.”
I heard the frown in James’s voice. “I picked up on that, but she assured me that she wanted to do this, so I didn’t push the issue.”
“I wish there was something we could do to help.”
James rubbed a soothing hand across my back. “Maybe we can give her and Kian a big ceremony, when the time comes.”
“I don’t think I’d survive that,” I said dryly.
“I held those fabric samples in my hands and named them for Hannah, and I still couldn’t tell you the difference between the shades of red.
” Instead of rushing home, we sat in silence for several long moments, simply enjoying being with each other.
“They’ll both be there in Vegas, watching us get married and wondering when they can have theirs,” I mused.
“If only we could give them the same opportunity.”
“Do you really want to do that?” James asked, bringing my fingers to his lips.
“Not at the expense of our wedding,” I said, hating at how selfish that sounded. “I’m marrying you next Saturday come hell or high water.”
I could practically feel James’s butterflies, and I glanced over to see that adorable look on his face.
He was silent for a long moment, the only sound in the room the soft ticking of a clock above his doorway.
“What about a double wedding?”
My head snapped to look at him. “You’d really be okay with that?” I asked.
“Of course I would, love—especially if it’s what you want. It isn’t just anybody we’d be sharing the day with. Hannah is your daughter. Soon, she’ll practically be mine too. I can’t think of any better way to celebrate that, if you want to give them that gift.”
“Not to mention,” I said, growing excited at the idea, “think of how much fun it’ll be to turn the tables and surprise her!”
James chuckled, standing and tugging me up beside him. “But first, can we go to bed? I’m exhausted.”
I fumbled for my phone in my pocket, acting like I was going to record him. “Hold on, can you say that one more time?”
“Asshole,” he muttered, grinning.
I stood, dodging a swat to my ass as I opened the office door and called out for Kian, who was busy cleaning the bar top.
Leaving the door open, I returned to my seat and let James lean against me. Kian shuffled into the office, exhaustion evident on his face. It had been a tiring week for all of us.
“I hope we’re not overstepping,” James began, “but Ryder overheard your conversation this morning.”
Kian’s hazel eyes widened. “You can’t tell her you heard that! She’s so happy for you two, and she’s been working so hard—”
“It’s okay,” I cut in. “But we have an idea.”