10. Deacon
She’d nailed exactly why I was anxious to get back to Australia. I found myself tempted to tell her she should visit. Stupid. An invitation like that would send her the ultimate mixed message. My retreat there was my escape, not something I shared with anyone else.
Checking the GPS, I grimaced at the short distance remaining and the clock running down to the start of the difficult part of the evening. “Five minutes until showtime. Ready?”
She sat up and checked her makeup in the visor mirror. “Guess so. How will you introduce me?”
Good question. “Best to be vague and simply say you’re my date.”
My sigh filled the car when we got to the gate of the private entrance. A large number of fans were already lining the road, and they went wild upon seeing me pull up. Cameras flashed from every angle. It wouldn’t have surprised me to learn Nina had called to have them all here.
Andrea crouched low in her seat. “If they see me, I’m sure they’d have plenty to say about you bringing me here given my marital status.”
“I don’t give a fuck about what people think or say. What I care about is how you’re feeling.” After passing the gate, we cruised up the private driveway and pulled into the valet area. Before opening my door, I turned to her. “And that means if this becomes too much for you, you say the word. Okay?”
She nodded, her doe eyes making me want to throw the car back in drive and take her far away from the hurt, the unfair judgment, and the life she’d thought she’d had only to be betrayed by the one person who should’ve protected her the most.
The sound of the valet opening my driver’s side door interrupted, causing us both to enter back into the real world. She pasted on a smile while I thanked the valet and hurried around the other side in order to assist Andrea out of the car.
The way she gazed up at me, with her lips parted, made my heart beat up into my throat. When the hell was the last time I’d been nervous with a woman? Yet here I was, almost giddy at the excuse to touch her. The shake in her hand had me pulling her close. “You’re stunning, and I’m proud to have you as my date.”
There it was. A genuine smile pulled from her lips. “Thank you.”
We were at the Vibiana, a former cathedral turned event venue in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. I nodded at my two guys, part of the security team I’d hired to ensure this occasion stayed private and the public stayed outside the gate.
We were greeted by a woman in a business suit wearing a headset and a smile. “Mr. Miller, this way, please.”
“Wow, this is lovely,” Andrea whispered, looking around the historic halls as we were led to a large courtyard that had been decorated for the ceremony.
“It is.” My mother had told me all about the place over the last couple of weeks, obviously excited to be involved in the planning.
Our guide led us to the rows of white chairs. There were a few people already seated, but most were standing around talking since we still had some time before the ceremony. Surveying the courtyard, I didn’t see any familiar faces.
“You can take any two seats in this row when it’s time,” the usher said. “The bar is open in the back, and the ceremony will start in approximately thirty minutes.”
“Thank you.” Once we were alone, I found myself taking Andi’s hand again. What could I say? I enjoyed an excuse to touch her. “Want something to drink?”
“No, thank you. How are you doing?”
Her question took me off guard. I was accustomed to powering through obligations without anyone caring about my feelings. “I’m fine. If anything, having you here with me has made it easy to forget I’m counting the minutes.”
“We can stay as long as you’d like.”
“I promised my mom I’d stay until after dinner. Then I say we blow this place and get milkshakes at the Take ’n Shake.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Sounds like it’ll be the best part of our date. What flavor you going for?”
I was about to answer when a woman dressed in a long gown approached. I assumed she was a bridesmaid. “Hi, I’m Jen, and I’m sorry to interrupt, Deacon. Your mother sent me to have you come back for a quick word.”
“Oh, okay.” I turned to Andi. “Want to come meet my mom?” I hadn’t introduced a woman to my mother since high school when I’d needed her to drive us, yet introducing Andrea to her felt natural.
“Oh, um, she indicated she needed a private word with you,” Jen interrupted, seeming embarrassed to have to clarify.
Andrea squeezed my fingers. “It’s all right. Go talk with her. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay.” I followed Jen down one of the side corridors. She seemed nervous, so I started casual conversation. “How’s your day been?”
“Fine. Um, follow me.”
She led me into a large room, and through a door opening off of it. I started to feel like I’d been taken into a maze, and when I walked into a large dressing room, I recognized I’d been duped. This was the bridal suite. Jen didn’t stick around but scurried back out the door we’d come in from. “Sorry,” she whispered.
Despite having a good idea what was going on, I still stood there in shock when Nina came out from behind the elaborate dressing screen wearing only her bridal-white corset and stockings with lacy garters.
She’d always been a striking woman with her long blond hair and svelte, supermodel frame, but my dick didn’t stir. Instead I was anxious to get back to Andrea with her big green eyes and delightful smiles. “What do you want, Nina?”
Her injected lips attempted to make a pout. “How can you be so cruel?”
“It’s your wedding day, and yet you’re standing in front of me in your underwear. Why?” I already knew the answer, but I hoped if she were forced to say it, she’d realize just how crazy she sounded.
“Because this is your last chance.” She put her hands on her hips to emphasize the ridiculous ultimatum.
My head was already shaking no. “It’s not going to happen. I came here in support of Bryce, who loves you and believes you’re ready to spend the rest of your life with him. If that’s not the case, then you owe it to tell him that before walking down the aisle.”
If she had any moral compass, she would feel guilty, but instead her temper snapped. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. But mark my words, you will regret losing me.”
Now wasn’t the time to tell her how much I wouldn’t. Instead I wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible, especially since I could see Nina was ready to cause a real scene. “All the best to you.”
Outside the suite’s door, Jen had been joined by another bridesmaid. Both of them stood in the hall wide-eyed as I strode out and didn’t bother to look back. Great, I could already imagine the rumors. I headed straight to the courtyard where more people had gathered.
Andi remained in her seat. “Hi,” she greeted with a big smile only to have it falter. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, now that I’m back.” My hand automatically took hers. This was quickly becoming a habit.
Her eyes searched my face. “Everything all right with your mom?”
“It actually wasn’t her I was led back to see,” I whispered, my adrenaline pumping from the confrontation.
“The bride?”
“Afraid so.”
“Oof. I gather it wasn’t to thank you for coming and she wishes you all the best because her upcoming wedding day is the happiest day of her life, and she only wants everyone else to feel the same?”
My lips twitched in a smile. “You’d be correct.”
“Will you tell your stepbrother?”
“When they started dating, I tried to warn Bryce about her, and he accused me of being jealous. A conversation today would be disastrous.” I was tempted to leave.
“Could be she’s hoping you’ll cause a scene by leaving and twist it around like you tried to prevent the wedding and didn’t get your way.”
Andrea’s perception was spot on, and it immediately brought me a sense of much-needed calm. My ex wanted drama, and I refused to give it to her. “Thank you for reminding me not to react.”
She squeezed my hand. “I can be your calming goat today, and you can be mine tomorrow.”
“My what?”
“Calming goat. You know, ‘baa.’”
A chuckle burst from my lips. She was adorable, and her random outburst allowed the residual tension to float away.