Chapter 10 #2
“Oh yeah, sorry. I got a little carried away, I guess. Life is different here on the mountain. You’ll see. It’s like life is just better. Maybe I should have them print bumper stickers that say Life is better on Gallant Mountain, because it sure is.”
“Jac!” I’m not annoyed, but I’ve never seen her like this. She’s always so focused; I used to tease her about it being the lawyer in her. But I’ve never seen her this relaxed, even in college. If I had any doubts about Andrew being good for my bestie, they’re gone now.
“Sorry,” she says with a giggle. “Aaron already left for the courthouse to make the arrangements. Andrew and I will drive you down.
“Now, here’s the sneaky part. The others are staying here to distract your brothers. Adrian is making breakfast, then Adam, Aaric, and Asher will all show up to eat. If they ask about you and me, the plan is to tell them we’re sleeping in after all the craziness yesterday.
“Andrew said his brothers aren’t thrilled about missing the wedding, but they are more than happy to put one over on your dickhead brothers. Oops, I probably shouldn’t have said that part.”
As her words sink in, I put down the mascara wand so I don’t poke myself in the eye. “His brothers would do that for me? I know they’re close, but they don’t know me at all. I could be horrible to Aaron.”
Jaclyn steps into the bathroom doorway and waits for me to look at her.
“Are you serious? You’re a treasure; they are lucky to have you join the family.
They supported Andrew, too, even though they thought I was behind the whole JNG mess, remember?
I mean, it was only like three days ago.
I guess there’s something in the air and they all fall in love at first sight.
Crazy, right? But all the brothers married their wives right away. It’s like they’re afraid to let us go.”
“Really? I had no idea…”
She shakes her head. “I didn’t, either.” Then she lowers her voice to a whisper. “And you know what else? Rebekah and Emma are pregnant, and Hannah just had a baby. They have this thing about breeding.” Jaclyn blushes and looks away.
Breeding? I guess it’s not just Aaron, then. Wow! I’m not sure whether I feel better or not knowing all of this, except that everyone seems happy. Maybe it’s mountain magic or something—I could work with that. New series, maybe?
“Are you done yet? What do you want to do with your hair? I can put it up if you want, or do a French braid? Or…”
Once I’ve shoved all my makeup into the toiletry case, I step back and look in the mirror.
Not bad. I don’t have foundation, so I can’t do a thing about all the love bites on my neck, but maybe the dress will hide them.
The rose eyeshadow helped soften the dark circles under my eyes.
Then I added a couple of layers of mascara and my cherry lip gloss.
At least for this wedding, I’ll look like me and not some overdone doll my mother would have created for the huge Italian church ceremony she wanted.
“I don’t know. What dress am I wearing?” Jaclyn disappears from the doorway as I pull my lip between my teeth and bite down, only to have my eyes water at the pain.
That’s what I get for drawing blood yesterday.
Grabbing the tube of lip gloss, I add more and remind myself that Daddy will definitely spank me for biting my lip if I do it in front of him.
Do I hate that idea? Not really, but I sure as hell don’t want him to do it in front of anyone else.
Jaclyn reappears with the blue dress I’d packed for her. “This is what I figured, since it’s your dress. I wore it when I married Andrew. You don’t mind, do you? We’ll be twinsies in our wedding photos.”
My eyes well with tears. I’d forgotten all about sending that dress with her.
God. Was it only a few days ago? It feels like weeks.
It’s a beautiful dress. I haven’t worn it yet, so it’ll still be something new for me, and I guess borrowed too since I gave it to Jac.
And it’s blue—that covers everything they say you need for a wedding, all with one dress.
“You’re right, it’s perfect. Hmm, so how about a French braid, especially since my hair is still wet. It’ll take forever to blow-dry.”
“That works. Let’s do that first, then put the dress on. I’m sure Andrew will be banging on the door any minute to hurry us up.”
Bringing my brush, comb, and a hair tie, I follow Jaclyn into the bedroom. We sit on the bed, and I turn my back to her so she can get to work. “Are all of them so impatient?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me, but I don’t know them well enough yet to tell.
I know they worship their wives, and they know how to cook.
I was floored the first night when we had dinner.
Last night’s dinner was amazing, too. Andrew said it’ll be our turn tomorrow, but you know how well I don’t cook.
Hopefully, no one will hold it against me. ”
“Aaron told me a little about how the meals work last night when he heated leftover food for me. The kebabs were amazing. I guess our men will have to help us in the kitchen. Because I’m not much better, no matter how often my nonna tried to teach me.”
We giggle as we reminisce about some of those cooking stories as she finishes my hair. “All done, and it’s nice and tight. Since it was still wet, it made it much easier. Dress time.”
We hop off the bed to get the dress, and I look for underwear that will work with it.
“Hurry up, girls. This is your five-minute warning,” Andrew yells through the bedroom door.
“Okay, Daddy,” Jaclyn responds, then her face turns bright red. “Oh my God, I can’t believe I said that in front of you.” Then she turns away in embarrassment. I’m glad I won’t be the only Gallant wife calling her husband Daddy.
I grab her shoulder and turn her to face me, making sure I’m smiling. “Hey, don’t worry. I call Aaron that, too. He was very insistent that I do it all the time. I was dreading the first time I had to say it in front of others. But I guess it won’t just be me, huh?”
“Really? You too? I’ve heard Emma say it, too. I don’t know about the others. I’m not used to it yet; it still feels strange. But he lets me call him Drew, too. Maybe Aaron will let you come up with a pet name for him that’s just for you?”
“Hmm, maybe.”
“We’ll figure something out,” Jac says as she pulls on my towel. “C’mon, if we don't move it, you’ll be getting married in that—though I bet Aaron wouldn’t mind at all.”
She’s right; he already told me that. But nope, not happening if I can help it, and I rush to pull my lingerie on and let Jac help me zip the dress.
“Are you ready? Aaron keeps texting, asking where we are.” Andrew’s still talking as we pull open the bedroom door. “Wow! You look almost as beautiful as my wife did in that dress. Aaron is going to eat his heart out when he sees you.”
I don’t even know this man, but my skin still heats at his compliment. “Umm, thank you. And thank you for helping us today.”
“I’d do anything for my family, and soon you’ll be part of it. Besides, sticking it to your brothers is quite entertaining,” he jokes as he leads us through the cabin and out the front door where his truck is waiting.
“Daddy, you shouldn’t tease her; she’s nervous about all of this,” Jac says as he helps her into the truck, then opens the back door and helps me in as well.
“I’m sorry, Cheri. I’m only teasing. But they are a little over the top, aren’t they?”
“You won’t get an argument out of me. I call them jerk-burgers all the time. But all kidding aside, they’re going to be furious about this. My parents. too.”
I almost nibble on my lip, but stop as Andrew’s gaze connects with mine via the rearview mirror. It’s like they all have some kind of Daddy-dar or something.
“I’ll be okay, Cheri. Aaron won’t let them hurt you. Besides, by the time they figure it out, it’ll be too late; you’ll already be married.”
“Unless they figure it out early and get there before we say our vows. Or they could try to make us get an annulment…” I worry my parents will put a stop to my happiness for the sake of a business deal.
“You can’t get an annulment, Little girl. You and my brother had sex last night, right?”
Um, how does he know that? Did Aaron tell him? I’m blushing again. I can feel the heat all the way down my neck, and it’s annoying as hell. Will my face ever be free from blushing as long as I live here? I might have to get some concealer, so I don’t always look like I’m on fire.
“How do you know that?” I sound like I’m squeaking; my voice is so high-pitched.
“My brother wouldn’t take the chance of your family starting something.
So even if he would have preferred to wait till you were married, like we all did, he is always thinking ahead.
It will be good to remember that, Little one, because he’s always three steps ahead of the rest of us.
You won’t be able to put anything over on him. ”
Of course, he is. It doesn’t worry me. There’s nothing about Aaron that I don’t like. Not his quiet scrutiny, and definitely not the sadistic Daddy Dom in bed. If I wrote my perfect man, it would be him. Maybe wishes can come true.
The ride down the mountain feels different from yesterday’s trip up with Abbie. Merda. Yesterday? So much has happened since then, and now I’m driving to my wedding with my bestie and her new husband. Bizarre, much? I bet neither of us had this on our bingo cards this year.
I listen to them chat. It’s so cute how they interact, but it’s an excellent distraction. It’s so much better than replaying what Aaron said this morning, or the mess we’re going to have with my family. But I guess that’s a problem for Future Cheri—Future Married Cheri. Oh shit.