Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
IVY
The doorbell rings just as I get to the bottom of the stairs. I have no idea where Xander is. I got lost in painting in my studio this morning, and I haven’t seen him in a couple of hours. So, I head over to open the door and smile when I see Cassie standing on the other side.
“Hey, come on in! No one else is here yet.”
“Good. I’m going to get set up so y’all can graze all day.”
“You might be my new favorite person.”
Cassie smirks as she walks past me to the kitchen. I’ve known this woman for a long time, and I know that she’s a highly sought-after personal chef. Xander has started having me put in my own food orders alongside his.
It’s been a month since the gala in Denver and since my man surprised me with the studio.
To say I love my new workspace is a huge understatement. Rarely a day goes by that I don’t spend time in there. It’s the perfect spot.
And the fact that Xander thought to give it to me makes it all the more special.
“Also, I’ve been obsessed with the chicken salad with crackers you’ve been making me for lunch.”
“Oh good. I love that one too. I eat it all the time.”
She’s already bustling around in the kitchen, and as she makes a few trips out to her car to get more supplies, I go in search of my man.
He’s not in the gym, which is good because today is supposed to be his rest day. I climb the stairs and find him in the bedroom, pulling a black sweater over his head.
It’s definitely almost winter. It’s been cold as hell outside.
“Hey.” He grins and takes my hand, pulling me against him. “I didn’t want to interrupt genius time.”
Smirking, I loop my arms around his torso and tip my chin up for a kiss. “Cassie’s here and getting started in the kitchen. The others should be here soon.”
He nods and kisses me again. “My brothers are picking me up in a bit too,” he says and ghosts his knuckles down my cheek.
“Still going into Bitterroot Valley to watch some football at the Wolf Den?”
He nods. “Yeah. I haven’t seen the brothers in a few weeks, and Zack’s in town.”
“Fun.” My hand drifts up his chest, but he quickly catches it in his own and brings it up to his lips.
“Don’t start something now, Red. Or I’ll cancel the whole fucking day and keep you in our bed.”
“Right.” I shake my head, but his eyes narrow, and I know that all I’d have to do is say the word and he’d make good on his promise. “Your sister is excited for us to work on the wedding. We’re getting crafty today and sampling the dinner menu, thanks to Cassie being here. So we’re not canceling.”
“That means I’ll be without you for hours.”
“You’ll survive.” I pat his cheek, and when I hear the doorbell again, I turn to leave, but he growls and yanks me back to him. “Your sisters are here.”
“They’ll walk right in,” he replies before covering my mouth with his and kissing me like he won’t see me for a year. Even after living with him for all these weeks, it still feels fresh and new.
It feels unbelievable.
“I’ll miss you today,” he whispers before kissing my forehead.
“You’ll have too much fun.” I grin, and then, with his hand in mine, pull him out of the bedroom and downstairs where we find an already-full house. “Hi, everyone!”
Darby and her sister Charlie, who is the premier wedding planner in the state, are chatting with Cassie in the kitchen.
Ava and Harper are chatting with Indigo in the living room.
And there’s already a pile of bags in the dining room, which I know are full of things for us to put together.
“You’re the best for letting us spread out in your house,” Ava says to Xander as he pulls her into a hug. “Wedding stuff takes up a lot of space, and your house is the biggest.”
“You know that you’re always welcome here,” Xander replies and kisses the top of her head. “As long as I don’t have to help out with this, I don’t care at all.”
“The party’s here,” Zack announces as he, Easton, and Tucker stride inside.
“Food!” Easton makes a beeline for the kitchen. “Hey, Cass.”
“Hi, Easton. Stop eating the food.”
“No way.” He scoops something up on a piece of bread and pops it in his mouth. “Too good.”
“Why are you here?” Cassie asks.
“I knew you missed me.” Easton winks at her while chewing, and Cassie rolls her eyes and smacks his hand when he goes in for more. “Ow!”
“Go. Away.” Cassie picks up a spatula and chases Easton out of the kitchen.
“I’ll arrest you,” Easton warns her.
“Yeah, whatever.”
Cassie shakes her head and goes back to checking whatever is on the stove.
I look around and feel my eyes widen when I see that Zack and Indie are in the corner talking. He’s leaning on the wall by her head, and they’re both frowning, and it looks . . . serious.
But then Indie scootches away from him, leaving Zack standing there, looking like he wants to punch the wall.
What. In. The. World?
“We’re out,” Tucker says and pulls Darby in for a kiss. “Have fun, Duchess.”
“Oh, we plan to.”
Xander doesn’t even care that we have an audience as he dips me back and kisses me hard on my mouth, making me smile against him.
“See you later, Red.”
“See you later.”
Easton takes another bite of something, earning him a glare from Cassie, and then they’re gone like a tornado moving through the house, leaving surprising stillness in their wake.
“They’re so . . . noisy,” Ava says, shaking her head.
“This is so fun,” Harper says, rubbing her hands together. “Okay, boss lady, what are we doing?”
Charlie grins, obviously enjoying that title. She’s the prettiest woman, with the signature Lexington family blue eyes and dark hair. She’s in a burnt orange sweaterdress that looks amazing on her.
Darby always says that Charlie is the fashionista in the family.
“We have some party favors to assemble,” Charlie says. “Which I was happy to do, but this is way more fun. And of course, Cassie is letting us sample all of the food options for dinner, from appetizers to the main course.”
“And Noah, the baker of the century, has sent over cake samples for everyone too,” Cassie adds just as the bell rings again, and I walk over to open the door, grinning when I see Juliet Blackwell.
Jules is one of Darby and Ava’s best friends, and she owns an awesome restaurant in Bitterroot Valley.
“Sorry I’m late,” Jules says. “It’s been a crazy morning, but I’m here, and I’m ready to be put to work. Hey, Indie.”
“Hi.”
I love that everyone is here and that they’re my friends. In the past couple of months, I went from having basically no friends to having a whole community of people, thanks to Xander.
It’s just one of the many reasons that I love him.
“Before we eat,” Charlie says, “I have a surprise for Ava.”
Ava’s eyebrows lift. “What?”
“Your dress came from the seamstress, freshly altered and pressed, and you can try it on for everyone.”
Ava’s eyes go glassy as Charlie rushes out to her car and comes back in carrying a big dress bag.
“You can use this guest room,” I say, leading them down the hall. “Help yourselves.”
I leave Charlie and Ava and return to the others just as Cassie starts putting food out on the huge island.
“The actual dinner at the event is a sit-down,” Cassie says. “Not buffet style, but I’ve prepared everything today to be eaten at your own pace.”
We’re all listening raptly as she explains what everything is when Charlie says from behind us, “Get your tissues ready, friends.”
We turn, and the room goes completely quiet.
Because Ava Hendrix is one gorgeous woman.
Her dress is the palest pink lace with a deep V neckline that accentuates her cleavage but isn’t at all inappropriate. The waist is cinched, and the bottom molds around her hips and ass, and holy shit.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a more beautiful bride,” Harper whispers as people sniffle around us.
“Absolutely stunning,” Jules agrees.
“That lace,” Indie breathes.
Ava bites her lip and glances down at herself and then back up at us.
“It’s not too much?”
“Baby, if that’s too much, he can go find less,” Darby says, slowly shaking her head side to side. “Because this is absolutely perfect.”
Ava nods and then wipes a tear from under her eye. “And it’s not too cliché?”
“What the hell?” I ask with a frown. “What could possibly be cliché about this masterpiece of a dress?”
“The wedding is in February, and Chad thinks it’s stupid because of Valentine’s Day. Like, he’s really made a fuss about it. And this dress is blush, and am I just a walking Hallmark card?”
Several of us exchange looks.
“Aves, you’re getting married on the twenty-second. And aside from that dress, which is not an obnoxious pink at all, there are no Valentine colors in sight,” Harper says.
“Agreed,” Charlie says emphatically. “This entire wedding is pure class. Your colors are cream and black, Ava. There’s nothing cheesy about this wedding.”
“Okay.” Ava takes a breath and nods. “Okay, good.”
I don’t like that she looks scared. Or worried that Chad might say something horrible to her about the dress or the timing.
Or any of it.
I don’t really know Chad all that well. He’s much older than me, and I don’t think his family is from the area. But it doesn’t sound like I’d like him very much.