Chapter One #2
“I knew it!” he roars. “I fucking knew it! You’re going to let her ruin our day. She agreed to this venue. You insisted we ask her, and she agreed.” His tone is gruff, and as I stare at him from the window above, I can see his fists clenching.
“She didn’t agree. She went along with you because you were so adamant. If you’d listened to either of us, you’d know that she needs a low-stress environment. Her body is—”
“I’m not going to plan an entire event around your mother. Today is about us. We have a camera set up so she can watch. I love you, you love me, so let’s get this show on the road. We’ve left people waiting for too long.”
“Yeah,” I say, completely numb.
“I mean it, Pepper. We can’t leave people waiting any longer. Get down here.” He disconnects the line before I can answer, which I’m grateful for, considering I don’t know how to respond.
Well, that’s a lie. I do know how to respond, but I’m in so deep now, I don’t know how to say it. Plus, he’s not all bad. I think it’s the wedding that’s stressing him out. The whole thing has turned him into a groomzilla.
I draw in a heavy breath and start pacing in front of the large picture windows that look down on the courtyard.
If folks could see me up here in my tower, they’d probably laugh their butts off.
I was so adamant about getting married young.
I told everyone I knew how Nathan was the one, how much we had in common, how perfect he was for me.
That was a year ago. Now, I’m not sure I’d even trust him to clean the pan before he makes me dinner. He sure as heck has proven I can’t count on him for comfort.
My phone rings again. This time it’s my mother, and though I know I should get downstairs, I really want to hear her voice, so I answer the call.
“Mom!”
“Sweetheart, is everything okay? Nathan just texted me and said you’re delaying because you miss me. Is that true?”
“Yeah.” I exhale softly as I say, “How are you feeling?”
“You’re not okay. What’s wrong?”
“I’m good, really. I just… I wish you were here.”
“I am, practically.” She moves the camera to show me the sparkling gold dress she wore for the occasion. “Just don’t expect me to do much dancing tonight, okay? I’m staying off my feet for a while.”
This gets a grin out of me, which feels good.
“No dancing, got it.” I nod and grab another cookie from the basket, white chocolate chunk this time. Every bite is better than the one before. “How are you feeling?”
“No, we’re not doing that right now. It’s your day. How are you feeling, peanut? For real.”
“Really?” I sigh, stuffing another bite of the cookie into my mouth. “I wish you were here to do all the mom things, and I’m pissed that Nathan set all this up so you couldn’t come. I don’t know if he’s the right guy for me, Mom.”
“He didn’t set this up so I couldn’t come.
He set this up so you two would have a beautiful wedding.
” There’s a heavy pause on the line before she speaks, the only sound filling the room coming from the air conditioner.
“Is this about me, or is this about that big, tattooed guy from that picture you posted online last week?” She sighs as she says, “We all get tempted by a bad boy, peanut. That’s okay.
You’re stressed. I’m sure a wild night out sounds fun, but you can’t build a life with a man like that. ”
“What?” I gasp. “You mean Rhett?” I shake my head and deny any attraction to the giant covered in ink, though he is clearly an attractive man.
Dark grayish beard, big muscles, rough hands.
If you’re into the hard-working type, Rhett is your guy.
“Mom, no. He’s…” I sigh, my cheeks heating.
“He got my number off the flyer I put up in the hardware store. He wanted some help painting a few rooms.”
“Then why did you post a picture with him?”
“When I told him I was out of work, he took a picture of us and posted it online as an attempt to promote my little side gig.” I shrug.
“It was no big deal, but it really pissed Nathan off. I guess he’s got bad blood with the guy.
It’s too bad because Rhett’s seems to know everyone.
I think I could’ve made some easy money and maybe gotten my name out there. ”
“So, you’re not doing the job anymore?”
I shake my head and stare down at the floor, then up again as I hold the phone out in front of me. “No. It’s fine, though. I’ll figure it out.”
“If I were you, I’d go see the bad boy about the paint job anyway. You’re trying to start a business. Connections are important.”
“They are,” I say, heart thumping as I try to forget the conversation Rhett and I had last week. I was dropping off some paint samples, and he noticed how tired I looked.
Nathan never notices how tired I look. In fact, he doesn’t notice when I change anything at all. I know I shouldn’t have sunk into the conversation with Rhett, but I did. I did, and all the sudden three hours went by, and he knew way too many of my feelings, and I knew way too many of his.
The worst part is it felt good. So good that I went home and fantasized about him. About him holding me, touching me… doing things to me.
I stuff the rest of the cookie into my mouth and recenter my gaze on the screen, jamming down the myriad of sexual thoughts I’ve been having about a man I’ve known for less than a few weeks.
Clearly, this whole thing is exactly what Nikki said it was… cold feet.
“You look gorgeous, peanut. You’re just burnt out.
When people get burnt out, they have a hard time with decisions.
I’ve always known you as a strong, independent woman.
That’s why you want this painting business.
Don’t let anyone get in your way, not even your husband.
” She winks, the wrinkle beside her nose crinkling. “I’ll be watching. Love you so much.”
“Love you more, Mom.”
The line disconnects, and I go into game mode.
This is it. I have to go downstairs now.
No more calls.
No more cookies.
No more interruptions.
I’m going to do this.
I’m going to marry Nathan.
He’s rough, but he’s a good man.
I can’t question our whole relationship because some guy had a conversation with me that felt good.
God, that would be crazy, especially now that I know he and Nathan are rivals.
I can’t question my decision to marry a man because he enjoys the finer things in life and wants us to have good memories.
I roll my eyes in spite of myself, suck in a deep breath, grab a rocky road cookie from the basket, and swing open the tall white door, only to see a massive wall of a man standing before me.
He’s well over six feet tall, broad-shouldered, covered in tattoos, with a thick, salt and pepper beard. He wears jeans and a black T-shirt, the cuffs on his biceps straining with every slight movement.
My pussy throbs uncontrollably.
Oh my God, why is my pussy throbbing?
My pussy can not throb like this!
“Rhett?”
He glances back as though he’s checking for ghosts, then bends forward, hauls me up onto his shoulder, and carries me fireman-style through the service door and out the back of the venue.
I’m kicking and screaming, flailing and cursing, but for the life of me, I can’t get this man to stop, and honestly, I’m not sure I want him to. Keep Reading in KU