Chapter 22
Emilia
I feel like everyone is acting slightly odd as we arrive for dinner. Plus, they’re all dressed nicely. Usually, several of us are, but rarely is everyone cleaned up.
Sometimes, Regan and Tiago come straight to dinner after taking a group out on a hike. Hell, sometimes they come down from the third floor after Tiago’s been painting all day. He’s covered in colorful specks, and she’s barely covered, as if she spent the day naked. As his muse. Which she does.
The others have been known to work late or just don’t always feel like showering before dinner. But tonight… There’s something in the air. Everyone is smiling, almost giddy.
That’s when it dawns on me. We haven’t even claimed our seats yet when I spin around to confront Haden.
For a moment, I don’t see him, and I’m confused. He was right behind me. But in a split second, I realize he’s just no longer standing. I lower my gaze to find him on one knee. He’s beaming, and he’s holding out a jewelry box.
It’s not exactly unexpected, but I didn’t know whether he would ever actually propose or simply expect me to show up at the wedding. And I hadn’t thought he would do something like this, something so planned, in front of everyone.
But it’s perfect, and while my family starts squealing and clapping—the women anyway—tears well in my eyes. I fist my hands against my chest.
Haden clears his throat. “Emilia…” He pauses for everyone to quiet. “I think I’ve loved you from the moment I first set eyes on you four years ago. I wasn’t willing to admit that to myself, and I certainly wasn’t willing to tell your brother…”
Chuckles fill the room.
“This past week, I’ve had the sense knocked into me. I can’t remember what my life was like before your sunshine filled it. It was dim and unrecognizable.”
I’m so choked up that my tears are falling freely now. He’s making this so special.
“I’ve spoken to your brothers and cousins. I’ve asked them for their blessings. I’ve promised them to love and honor you for the rest of my life. Will you please agree to be my wife, my partner, my lover, and the mother of my children?”
I’m trembling so hard I can’t move. It takes me a moment to nod and then say, “Yes.”
Haden opens the box, and I gasp when I see the stunning pink stone surrounded by what looks like a dozen smaller stones in the same hue. It’s so beautiful, I’m afraid to touch it.
Haden pulls the ring out of the box and holds out his hand. “Come here, baby.”
I manage to get my feet to move closer to him and give him my left hand.
He kisses my knuckles before sliding the ring onto my finger. And then he sweeps me off my feet, his arms around my waist, our foreheads together.
“I love you, Emilia. So much it hurts. I can’t wait to make you my wife.”
I kiss him passionately as if we’re alone.
The women clap. The men groan.
When Haden lowers me back to my feet, my sisters all gather around to see the ring.
Claire takes my hand. “Those are the most beautiful stones. What are they?”
“Pink diamonds,” Haden responds.
Brody pats him on the back. “Well done. I know how rare they are.”
Haden grabs my arm and hauls me back into his embrace. He kisses me again. His lips come to my ear. “Thank you.”
I giggle as I turn in his arms. “I love you.”
He nuzzles my nose. “Let’s eat.”
I don’t know how I manage to chew and swallow, but eventually I do. Throughout dinner, I keep looking at my hand and grinning. The ring is so gorgeous. I can’t believe how perfect this night is.
Instead of anyone excusing themselves early, we all stay in our seats, making dessert last longer than usual. People start asking when we’re going to get married and where.
Haden tells them, a week from today, right here. I suspect he’s discussed this with my brothers and cousins.
Ryder snaps his fingers. “Shit. I got so caught up in the proposal that I forgot to tell you all that Blaze called this afternoon. He’ll be joining us before the end of the week.”
“Who’s Blaze?” Melody asks.
Tiago answers, “He’s one of our cousins.”
Haden’s had a hand on my thigh for a while, and he gives it a squeeze and glances around at the men. “Remind me of the family tree again. I can’t keep up.”
Dallas chuckles. “It’s not too complicated.
There’s just a lot of us. Amos and Carolyn Wilde had four sons.
The oldest is William—Ryder and Tiago’s father.
They have a sister, Lydia, who has chosen not to move here.
The second is Richard—he’s Brody, Emilia, and my father.
Then Charles. One of his sons is Blaze. And the youngest is Edward.
None of his kids have shown up to claim a stake yet. ”
Haden nods. “Got it.”
Melody sighs. “Maybe someone should draw up a family tree and put it up in the library, so we’ll know who to expect in the future.”
“That would be helpful,” Arianna agrees.
Reagan turns toward Tiago. “You could paint something.”
Tiago nods and kisses his wife. “Sure. Right after finishing the nude I started this afternoon of you bent over the chaise lounge with—”
Reagan screams and slaps a hand over her husband’s mouth.
He chuckles as he pulls her into his lap.
Suddenly, Gretchen bustles into the room. She looks flustered, and she’s wringing her hands together. “I’m so sorry to interrupt you all.” I’m shocked when she looks at me. “Stanford called from the gate. He says a man just pulled up, claiming to be your husband.”
I gasp. “Me?”
Gretchen looks like she’s going to faint. “Yes.”
Haden jumps to his feet so fast his chair falls over and bangs against the floor.
I can’t move. I’m so confused. “My husband?” I repeat. She can’t be talking to me.
Gretchen nods. “Yes.”
“I don’t have a husband,” I say, stating the obvious.
Haden sets a hand on my shoulder. “Did you get a name?” he asks Gretchen.
“Oh, yes. Sorry.” Gretchen reaches into the pocket of her apron and pulls out a piece of paper. “Leonard Winters.”
Haden looks at me.
I’m shaking my head. “I don’t know a Leonard Winters.”
All the men start talking at once.
I push to standing. This is so weird.
Brody rounds to speak to me. “You’re sure you don’t know him?”
I frown. “The name isn’t familiar.”
“Jesus,” Haden mutters.
Dallas joins our circle. “We’ve talked about this possibility.”
“Talked about what possibility?” I ask.
“Impostors showing up. People hoping to make easy money by claiming they have a right to it for some reason or another. It happened to Tiago. Ex-girlfriend claimed her kid was Tiago’s. She was hoping for a payout.”
I resume sitting because my legs won’t hold me up. What a mess. Who would do such a thing?
Haden bends down and cups my face. He gives me a quick kiss. “I’m going to the gate. You stay here.”
“I’m going with you,” Dallas says.
“Me, too,” Brody adds.
The three of them march out of the dining room, heading for the front door.
I’m drawn to follow them. Curiosity consumes me. But when I jump up and hurry to catch up, Ryder stops me with an arm around my waist. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I try to wiggle free. “With them. Let me go.”
Tiago steps in front of me, hands on his hips. “Not a chance. Let Haden and your brothers handle this.”
Reagan wraps her hand around Tiago’s arm. “Let’s at least move to the front porch.”
He sighs but finally nods in agreement.
I mouth a “thank you” at Reagan as we all hurry toward the foyer. When I get there, I open the huge front door and step outside just in time to catch my brothers and Haden driving toward the gate in one of the golf carts.
It’s too far to see anything specific at the gate. From here, all we can see are the lights on the gatehouse and car lights that indicate a vehicle is at the entrance.
Arianna and Melody flank me, each wrapping an arm around me.
“Do not take one step off this porch,” Ryder orders.
“We won’t,” Melody says. She glances at me. “They’ll take care of it.”
I’m nervous. “What if the person is crazy? What if he’s armed? How the hell do they even know me?” I gasp and glance back and forth between my sisters-in-law. “That’s probably it. Someone did a bit of digging and decided to claim me because I’m the only female, single Wilde who has shown up.”
Arianna squeezes my arm. “Not for long.” Her voice is cheery. She’s trying to lighten the mood. “We should go shopping for a wedding dress. How about tomorrow?”
I nod, but I’m not really focused on her or anyone else. I know she’s just making small talk to help me relax.
My nerves are shot. All I can do is stare in the direction of the gate and wait.
After what seems like forever, the golf cart comes back into view. There’s only one man in it, though. Haden.
He pulls to a stop at the bottom of the steps and looks up at me. “Come here, baby,” he says gently.
I startle. It takes me a second to move. Finally, I slowly descend the steps as my man gets off the golf cart. When I reach him, he pulls me into his arms and hugs me before lifting me up and setting me sideways on the seat. He reaches around me to grab a piece of paper and holds it in front of us.
I stare at it. “What is this?”
“A marriage license.” His voice is gentle.
I jerk my gaze up to his. My hands are trembling. I start shaking my head. “This can’t be real, Haden.”
Haden steps in front of me, blocking me from everyone else. He sets one hand on the back of the seat and the other on the steering wheel. “Did you go to Vegas last summer, baby?”
My heart races. “Vegas? Yes. I went with my girlfriends.”
Haden points at the paper. “This man says you and he got drunk one night and ended up at a chapel.”
My eyes pop wide. I can’t breathe. My head moves from side to side again. “No. No, Haden. It didn’t happen.”
Haden leans into me. He cups my face with both hands. His jaw is tight. “Shhh. Take a breath, baby.”
I can’t. I try, but I can’t get any oxygen in. Tears run down my cheeks. “Haden, I swear. It’s not true.”
He kisses me even though I don’t return it. “It’s okay, jitterbug. I promise. It doesn’t even matter if it is true. If it happened and you don’t remember it, we can get it annulled. You’re mine. He has no claim on you or your inheritance.”
I start shaking my head again. “No. Haden. No. I’ve never been drunk in my life. I don’t even like alcohol.”
“He says he was a bartender at one of the clubs you went to. That he bought you drinks and the two of you went out after he got off work.”
“No.” That did not happen. I’m not crazy.
“Oh, he also said you would remember him as Lenny.”
Lenny…
I think back on that weekend and then gasp.
Haden lifts a brow. “Ring a bell?”
“Yes. There was a bartender named Lenny. He did buy me drinks. He was hitting on me. I did not encourage him in any way. I had a few sips of one drink. My girlfriends drank the rest.”
“Is there any chance you left with him or drank more than you thought or even that he roofied one of your drinks?”
“No.” My head is going to hurt if I don’t stop shaking it.
Luckily, Haden has his hands resting on my shoulders, his fingers threaded in my hair. He’s not letting me turn so far that I get dizzy.
“He’s lying.”
“Okay.” Haden seems relieved. His shoulders and face relax a bit.
“You have to believe me,” I sob. More tears fall. How could that asshole come here and fuck things up with the man I love?
“Emilia, look at me,” Haden orders.
I sniffle, trying to focus on his eyes.
“Good girl. Now listen to me.”
I nod. “Yes, Sir.” It seems important to obey him more now than ever.
He smiles. “I believe you, Emilia. If you say it didn’t happen, it didn’t happen.”
“My girlfriends could confirm it. We were together the entire weekend. We had a pact not to let any of us leave anywhere with someone else. It was kind of a joke. We teased that we were returning to Texas not married to a stranger.”
Haden chuckles. “Okay, baby.”
“What about this?” I hold up the paper.
“Easily forged. I’ll get to the bottom of it, don’t worry.” He bends his knees a bit so he can look me in the eyes. “I want you to go to our room and get ready for bed. I’ll be up in a bit. Can you do that?”
“Yes, Sir.”
He kisses my forehead. “Good girl.” He lifts me from the golf cart and turns me toward the house. “Go.”
I don’t hesitate. If there were ever a time I needed to obey him, it’s now.