Chapter 20 #2
Gregory laughed. “Our bodyguards knew. Nick or one of the others would tell us when you were heading out and where to. When you were parasailing, we headed that way and got to watch you way up in the sky, but we made sure we were gone by the time you were walking the beach and playing in the water.”
“You heard what I was thinking!”
“Hell, I guess. We were at the ice cream shop when you ladies were headed there, coming in from the beach. None of your bodyguards warned us because they didn’t realize we were there or that you all were headed there.”
“Where else did you go?” she asked as everyone carried in packages from the grocery store and the guys began setting up to grill the food.
“We went to the birding reserve and saw the alligators, injured owls, and tortoises.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun.”
“The parasailing looked like fun.”
“It really was, but your sister doesn’t like heights and looked a little sick.”
“Yeah, she gets that way. I hate to admit I do too.” Gregory made strawberry daiquiris for everyone. “Where are we going for our honeymoon?”
“The Florida Keys? I’ve never been there, but I love white sand beaches and aqua water.”
“Okay, that’s where we’ll go. I’ll make all the arrangements.”
She was glad for that. She was always afraid that when she made big plans, she would screw things up.
Like even the wedding, which she was trying not to overthink.
She could have hired a wedding coordinator, but she was so used to doing everything herself on a limited budget that she realized she didn’t like giving up control over things that concerned her.
Her family knew how she was so they didn’t even suggest she get a wedding coordinator.
“If you need me to help with anything concerning the wedding, just ask me,” Gregory said, handing out daiquiris to everyone, though he gave a mocktail to Katrina.
Sascha frowned at him. “Now”—she set her drink down on a table and ran her hands up his T-shirt—“you are reading my mind.”
“And?” He put his glass next to hers and wrapped his arms around her back.
She smiled up at him. “It’s…weird. Katrina said she felt the same way when Prescott could read her mind. When we can do it, it feels right. When someone else can do it to us—”
He laughed, his dimples appearing, and he kissed her mouth. “It will feel natural after a while.”
She hoped so!
They all sat outside on the deck overlooking the pool while the guys grilled the dinner. Then everyone began to eat their dinner.
Katrina leaned over to Sascha and asked, “Are you staying with Gregory the night?”
Sascha smiled. “No. Despite our getting together over dinner, dancing, and miniature golf, I want to be with you all for our bachelorette party. After this, I will be with Gregory all the time, except when he’s off managing his businesses or I’m working as Sascha the Sensation.”
“Except I bet you anything that he will be at all your fairground events in the future. Just like Prescott is with me.”
“And you are.”
Kat laughed. “Yeah. I never believed I would enjoy it that much after I substituted for you.”
Once they were done eating, and though she was reluctant to leave Gregory that night, they kissed and hugged, and then the ladies all returned to their house with their bodyguards.
The bodyguards checked out the home, and finding it clear, Sascha, Lucy, and Rose all put on bathing suits and got into the hot tub for a short while.
The other ladies sat on the back deck overlooking the ocean.
It was dark out now and about time for bed, but this was so nice.
They listened to the waves crashing on the beach and felt the sea breeze sweeping through their hair. Sascha glanced in the direction of where the ice cream shop was down the beach and the guys’ house just beyond that.
“Are you wishing you had taken Gregory up on his asking you to stay with him tonight?” Kat asked.
“Nope. It’s our time. It’s beautiful here, and I’m thrilled we came here.”
“I agree,” Mrs. Landry said. “I heard you were going to the Keys for your honeymoon.”
“Oooh, the Keys,” Lucy said. “Now that’s a place I would love to go.”
With Damon? Sascha suspected not.
“I’ll have to get Prescott to take me there before I get too big,” Kat said.
“Hmm,” Mrs. Landry said. “Sounds like a nice spot for Montague to take me too.”
“Same with me with Jimmy, of course,” Aunt Meg said.
Then Sascha and the others got out of the hot tub, wrapped themselves in towels, and finally said good night to one another, hugged all around, and retired to their bedrooms, showers, and beds.
As soon as she slipped into bed, Sascha got a call from Gregory, and she laughed. “Hey, you, are you missing me already?”
“Of course I am. Always when we’re not together.”
“Everyone overheard we’re going to the Keys for our honeymoon, and they want to go there too.”
He chuckled. “That’s funny. What are you doing tomorrow?"
“Spending the morning at the beach, swimming, walking along the beach, enjoying the Gulf. What about you?”
“The guys all want to go parasailing.”
She laughed. “You’ll have fun.”
Then they finally told each other, “I love you.” And goodnight.
But in the middle of the night, Sascha saw a man in a mask coming at her, his hands reaching for her throat. She struggled to get free of the bedding and kneed him in the jewels, and he cried out. Where were her bodyguards? Where was Gregory?
Sascha tried to speak, but she couldn’t get any words out. As soon as he recovered from her kneeing him, he came back to strangle her. She screamed.