Chapter 3
PEPPER
The next morning, Pepper sat with Stone, Rafael, and Lisa on the high-speed train headed for Tours.
Sophie and Nico had texted that they’d arrived in Tours earlier after their time in Bordeaux.
Trey and Autumn would arrive later today.
David, Lisa’s twin, was coming over with Maggie and Jackson, along with the children.
There was a symmetry to the festivities ahead.
All the most important people in Pepper and Stone’s life would be there to help them celebrate and usher them into a new era.
An era where she would be Stone’s wife. She still couldn’t believe it was true.
Pepper, Maggie, and Lisa had been best friends since their first day as drama students at NYU.
Stone’s best friends and business partners, the Wolves, as they called themselves, would be there as well.
The four of them dissected Lois and Pierre’s relationship for a good hour as they sipped cafés au lait and nibbled on croissants.
As bewildered as Lisa was, they had her laughing by the time they pulled into the station in the town of Tours.
Nico and Sophie were waiting on the platform when they disembarked.
Pepper tugged on Stone’s arm. “Look at them.”
Nico had his arm around Sophie’s shoulders. They looked happy and relaxed.
“I guess that’s what three weeks in France does for you,” Stone said.
“That and a bunch of sex,” Lisa said, giggling.
“Do you think they finally did it?” Pepper asked.
“Stop gossiping, you two,” Rafael said. “It’s obvious they’re together.”
“We’ll get the scoop out of Sophie,” Pepper said to Lisa as they crossed the platform.
Sophie had always planned on spending a few weeks before the wedding in France.
As the owner of a bar and grill and a wine bar, she wanted to meet with French vintners and choose wines for her menus.
However, when The Oar burned down, she’d decided to tack on a few extra weeks.
That hadn’t been surprising. The unexpected had come from Nico.
For at least a year, he’d been dodging Sophie’s advances.
They were twelve years apart in age, and he’d insisted she was too young for him.
However, after he rescued her from the fire, things had changed between them.
The next thing they knew, he’d asked the rest of the Wolves for some time away from Wolf Enterprises.
He was going with Sophie to France. That was the last they’d heard from him, other than a few texts with heart emojis.
There were hugs all around. While the men loaded the bags into the car, the women huddled together.
Pepper studied Sophie. She was gorgeous in a light blue sweater, leggings, and riding boots.
Tall and tanned with long blond hair and a face like a Swedish supermodel, the woman could have been in the movies had she been so inclined.
Today, however, her beauty had taken on another level.
Her skin was dewy and flushed. Turquoise eyes were clear and bright.
Golden tresses shone under the thin October light.
She and Nico were definitely doing it. No one looked like that unless they were having very exciting nights. Probably mornings, too.
The three of them walked arm in arm to the car. “You girls were right about this sex thing,” Sophie whispered. “Holy crap.”
“I knew it,” Pepper said. “You have the sex glow.”
Lisa blushed and tucked her chin. She’d always be a nice Midwestern girl, on the outside, at least. “I take it France has been good to you?”
“Nico Bentley’s been good to me.” Sophie raised her left hand to show off a sparkly engagement ring.
Pepper and Lisa gasped in unison. “You guys got engaged?”
“On a bridge overlooking the river Seine,” Sophie said. “It was so romantic.”
They’d reached the car by now. Nico was leaning against the side of a long sedan. Apparently, he’d told the guys the news, as they were high-fiving and patting him on the shoulder.
“You old dog,” Pepper said as she pulled Nico into a hug. “It’s about time you came to your senses.”
“No one ever claimed I was smart,” Nico said.
“We have all kinds of things to tell you,” Sophie said. “But first, is there any news on the arsonist?”
Rafael shook his head. “They’ve got no leads as far as I know. Although they’re not sure they were correct about it being connected to your brother’s group of friends. I’ve got a few friends on the local force, and they’re now thinking it was random.”
“That makes me feel better,” Nico said.
“Agreed,” Rafael said. “I have good news for you, though. Sophie, since you’ve been gone, the property’s been cleared of all the debris. City council pressured the cleanup company to get it done. A burned building in a tourist town is no good.”
“The minute you’re ready, we can start building,” Stone said.
“Or getting the permits started, anyway,” Rafael said. “But we can get you up and running by summer. We’ll put The Oar as top priority.”
Sophie bounced on her toes and grinned. “That’s such great news.”
“Jump in,” Nico said. “I can’t wait for you to see your castle, Pepper.”
Ten minutes later, they pulled up to the former castle. Tucked between pines with wide lawns and a swimming pool, the chateau was like something out of a fairy tale, complete with turrets and stone walls.
“Oh, it’s perfect,” Pepper said.
Stone lifted her off her feet and twirled her around. “Finally, I can make you an honest woman.”
Rafael and Nico had already set their bags on the gravel driveway.
“Where’s your wedding dress?” Sophie asked.
“We had it sent over,” Pepper said. “The front desk promised to hang it in Lisa’s room. I don’t want my groom to see it before the wedding.”
Stone chuckled as he picked up both of their bags in his giant hands. “Baby, I’d marry you if you wore nothing but a bedsheet, but like I’ve said before, our wedding day is about you.”
How was it possible to love a man as much as she loved Stone Hickman?
They all walked up the steps and through the main entrance of the chateau.
Two staff members were behind the desk. A woman in her thirties wearing a blue suit welcomed them with the customary bonjour.
The younger of the two, in a silk blouse, did the same.
A butler came out of what appeared to be the back office and rushed over to handle the luggage.
Even with the renovations that had turned the original foyer into a reception area, the integrity of the building remained intact.
A sitting area with plush burgundy chairs and a small bar was directly ahead.
To the right, the room expanded into an area that looked like a parlor, with several elegant couches and tables.
Across from the reception area, steep and narrow stairs led up to the second floor.
They said goodbye to their friends, all agreeing to meet up later for dinner. She followed Stone up the spiral staircase to the second floor. Their room was at the end of a long hallway. Stone used a clunky key that may have been around since the French Revolution to open the door.
She squealed with delight at their plush and colorful room.
Windows looked out to a swimming pool and beyond, a hayfield.
She opened French doors to a small balcony.
Visible in the distance, another castle stuck up from between treetops.
Autumn colors of red and orange from clumps of trees were interspersed with soft yellow fields.
Stone joined her. For a moment, she worried his bulk might be too much for the narrow balcony, but the boards didn’t even creak.
“Is it what you dreamed of?” Stone asked.
“It’s perfect.” She ducked under his arm. They stood together, soaking in the scenery. After a few minutes, she glanced up at his broad face. “Have I driven you crazy with my micromanaging this wedding?”
He chuckled. “Not at all.”
“Not even with the custom-made groom and groomsmen outfits?”
“Nah. The boys and I look good.”
She’d had them made by one of the finest tailors in San Francisco—a connection through Lisa’s stylist. Stone was wearing a dark blue suit with a light gray vest. The groomsmen would be in suits made of the same light gray as the groom’s vest. All would have matching dark-blue-and-gray-striped ties and chocolate-colored shoes.
“Everything’s exactly how I wanted it to be. Thank you for being patient with me.” Months of detailed planning had kept her, Lisa, and Pepper’s mother busy.
“Baby, it’s no problem. I’m just glad the time is finally here.” Stone pecked her mouth with his. “Making you my wife is all I care about.”
“It’s so silly, but I cannot wait for you to see my dress. I’m going to feel like a princess.”
“You’re my princess.” He laughed. “And I don’t mean that in a demeaning or chauvinistic way.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know you don’t. But how about we have a little premarital sex before the big day?”
“You had me at sex.”