Chapter 8 Bridezilla Strikes Again #3
He didn’t need a GPS to guide him to his destination, able to make the trek with his eyes closed. Busy suburbs turned into small towns, then small towns into a single two-lane road nestled on either side by open grassy fields as far as the eye could see.
He glanced over his shoulder to see Addie soaking in their surroundings and could only imagine the thoughts going through her head.
Her helmet bumped against his as she leaned over his shoulder and shouted, “Please tell me your perfect venue isn’t in the middle of a cow pasture.”
“Technically, no. Just do me a favor and keep an open mind.” He smiled at her indecipherable mumble and slowed his speed as a familiar white farmhouse came into view.
He hung a left at the private driveway. Addie’s fingers tightened around his waist as he slowly rolled the bike down the gravel lane. As they reached the house, a familiar figure stepped onto the porch, and next to him, an exceptionally excited black-and-white sheepdog.
“Figured that engine belonged to you when Dottie started pawing at the back door, begging to be let out.” Emilio Santiago, a longtime friend of Phoenix’s parents, smiled warmly as he approached.
His gaze shifted toward Addie as she climbed off the bike.
“And you brought a beautiful lady friend with you. Should I be worried that you kidnapped her?”
“Wouldn’t be far from the truth,” Addie quipped, sexy grin in place.
Phoenix chuckled and accepted the older man’s bone-crushing hug. “Emilio, this is Adalyn Whitlock. Addie, this is Emilio Santiago, renowned horse trainer and resident comedian.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Santiago.” Addie smiled.
“Just Emilio, please.” Emilio turned toward Phoenix. “Not that you need a reason to visit, but I can’t help but be curious what brought the surprise. Everything okay with your folks?”
“They’re happy and in love and about to hit another milestone anniversary. I know this will come out of left field, but can I show Addie the barn? She’s helping pull off the impossible for Nai and East’s vow exchange and I had an idea.”
Emilio scratched his white beard and chuckled. “You kids and that old barn. Sure. You know the way. But if this idea is what I think it may be, you should know that space has been a catchall for all the odds and ends around here. Anything we don’t know what to do with gets put in there.”
“I’m sure it’s not that bad but consider me warned. We’ll swing back up to the house before we head out.”
“Make sure that you do.” Emilio clapped him on the shoulder before calling Dottie and heading back inside.
Phoenix led the way down toward the back barn, counting to ten before Addie opened her mouth.
“You get an A-plus for mystique, Mr. Rock Star. Consider me intrigued. Now it’s time to tell me what we’re doing here,” Addie demanded.
“Nai and I practically lived here in the summer when we were growing up, helping Emilio around the farm and with the horses. Nai deemed this barn her magical spot.” He nudged his chin toward the looming building that, judging from the exterior, had definitely seen better days.
“It was her quiet place to think. An escape. And when East came out here on the weekends, they disappeared into the barn to … you know.”
She rolled her eyes. “And we’re here because…?”
“Because this is where East and Nai became East and Nai.” Phoenix stopped at the barn door and turned toward her, more than a little nervous as he waited for her response. “Is it a bad idea?”
A soft smile gently curved the corners of Addie’s mouth, and the sight of it sent his heart into a gallop. “No, it’s not a bad idea. It’s actually—”
“Romantic?” Phoenix grinned knowingly. “Perfect? Perfectly romantic?”
Addie rolled her eyes, but chuckled softly. “And you really think your sister would prefer this place to somewhere like The Globe?”
“Without a doubt.”
Addie turned a thoughtful look to the barn door. “Some of the most magical ceremonies happen in the unlikeliest of places.”
He clutched his chest in mock surprise. “Was that you telling me in a roundabout way that I’m right?”
Her lips twitched. “I’ll reserve judgment until we see what lies on the other side of these doors. Let’s not forget Emilio’s warning.”
Phoenix shrugged. “It can’t be in that much disarray.”
Red flakes sprinkled to the ground as he lifted the rusted barrel latch and yanked the door open.
Addie stepped next to him, mouth slightly agape. “You’re right. This isn’t in disarray. This is—”
“Pure chaos.”
Old tack and rusted machinery filled the large space, mixed in with discarded furniture and stacks of boxes that nearly reached the rafters.
Phoenix’s bright idea was mangled in an overabundance of cobwebs. “Guess this was a bust. Back to square one.”
“Not necessarily.” Addie stepped deeper into the barn, her gaze swiveling.
“Do you see what I see?”
“Dirt and muck can be cleaned.” She peeked under the tarp and found a rusted tractor that definitely hadn’t been moved in years. “And objects can be relocated.”
Phoenix arched an eyebrow. “What are you saying?”
She turned toward him with a coy smile that quickly stole his breath as it broadened.
“I’m saying that you better have been serious about helping with the planning, and that help better include physical labor.
We just found our venue. Let’s go talk to Emilio.
I’d like to run some ideas by him and see what he thinks. ”
“You’re serious.”
“Absolutely. Now, if only I could get my hands on Naiomi’s wedding journal, then things will have completely turned in the right direction.”
Addie turned and headed toward the house, giving Phoenix a prime view of her perfectly lush ass. He let himself admire it for a few moments before shifting his focus back to the present and jogging to catch up with her.
Nai’s wedding journal.
Hell, it had been years since he’d laid eyes on it, but he’d always been able to find it no matter where she hid it when they were kids. It shouldn’t be too damn difficult to find it now.
And if having it put another smile on Addie’s face like the one she’d just flashed him, he’d gladly tear through his parents’ place.