Bad Boy's Bridesmaid(32)

"It's not that I don't trust you." She rested her hands over my arms,  tightening her fingers in my shirt. "I asked you once to give me space  until the wedding."

"Do you still want space?"

"No. But I need it."

"Why?"

"Because I'm falling for you, Nate. And the only way I'll catch myself is if-"         

     



 

"You don't have to catch yourself. I'll grab you. I'll keep you safe." I edged closer to her. "Give me the chance."

"I can't … " Her palms flattened on my chest. She didn't push me away. "Things are going to get crazy."

"Why?"

"Because now that Great Aunt Mildred died, the family has to come in for  the funeral." She shrugged. "We have two hundred and fifty on the  wedding guest list, third quarters of them are our family. They're all  from out of town."

I didn't get it, but Mandy had a bad habit of thinking a couple steps ahead of where her feet were hitting. She glanced at me.

"They're all coming now. For the funeral this weekend," she said.  "They're not able to take time off again in three weeks to come back for  the wedding. We've lost over a hundred people from the guest list  already."

Shit. Now I understood. No wonder Lindsey was bawling in the other room.

"I mean, we have Bryce's family." She shrugged. "But God, I don't want  to know what happens if we put Mom in a room with Mr. Washington. And I  know-you and Dad said not to worry, but … "

She wanted to edge away. I didn't let her. Her hands warmed my chest so  perfectly. How was this woman so soft and gentle in everything she did?

Mandy frowned. "I need space. I can't manage my family and figure this out at the same time."

"Why not? Let me help."

Her voice wavered. She looked at me, her eyes a beautiful honey sweetness that glistened as she gnawed her kissable lip.

"We need to talk. Really talk, about a lot of things."

I wasn't going anywhere. "Then let's talk."

"Not here."

"Yes, here." I bumped my forehead against hers. "I'm serious, Mandy. If  you think you're walking out of this kitchen without agreeing to come  home with me tonight … "

"Nate, what I have to say is important. And it's not something we can  just … it's going to change everything. Especially how you feel about me."

If she feared I'd bolt because she said she had feelings for me, she was wrong.

I never expected I'd find someone who tempted me to stick around, to  talk, to get involved. I'd figured every other man who trapped himself  was following convention, damned to a life of responsibilities and  emotional servitude to a woman who'd control his life.

Jesus, I was wrong.

Mandy wasn't a trap. If anything, I bound my own hands and handed her the rope.

"Nate, when I slept with you that first time … when we were together?"  Mandy's words trembled. "Something happened. And I really wish … no.  That's not it. I'm happy that it did, but I don't know if you'll … damn  it. This is so hard."

Fuck it. We'd talk later.

In that moment, I realized how I could solve all our problems.

I grabbed her, tugging her close for a victorious kiss. She melted into me, and the heat of her body pulsed right to my cock.

But I wasn't fucking her tonight. We wouldn't have the time.

I had an idea, and it would save the fucking day.

The wedding was in trouble, and Mandy was too preoccupied trying to fix  it that she didn't have time to sort through what she felt for me. That  ended now.

I dragged her to the living room. Lindsey hadn't stopped crying, Bryce  rubbed his temples, and Sandra argued on the phone with another family  member cancelling their rsvp.

They quieted when I faced them.

"Your family is going to be in town this weekend?" I asked.

Lindsey sniffled and nodded.

"And Bryce, your family is local?"

He nodded. "Yep."

"Fine. Have the wedding this weekend."

Mandy collapsed against the couch. "What?"

"We'll do it this weekend. Everyone will be in the area. It's supposed  to be good weather. You can get married at my dad's church, and we'll  have the reception outside in the pavilion. Everyone can be there, and  we'll get it done right."

I expected Lindsey to freak. So did Mandy. No one was more surprised  than her when Lindsey bounded to her feet, leapt before me, and wrapped  me in a hug.

"Nate, you are a genius!"

Mandy squeaked. "No, he's not!"

"We'll have the wedding this weekend! The dresses are ready. The tuxes  are altered. We can order tables and chairs and make more decorations.  Christmas lights and candles!" She turned to Mandy. "Remember wedding  scenario D? Outdoor Fairy Haven? It's back on."

Mandy collapsed in the easy chair. "Back on?"         

     



 

"Call Dad. Tell him you need the rest of the week off." Lindsey grinned at Bryce. "We're going to get married now!"

Problem solved. I arched an eyebrow at Mandy.

There. It should've impressed her. She asked for help. I delivered.

That didn't explain why she groaned and bolted to the bathroom. She  really didn't handle stress well, but it wouldn't matter once the  wedding was over.

I never felt this way about a woman before, and I wasn't going to waste  the opportunity. Nothing was going to change my feelings for Mandy.

Nothing.





17





Mandy





We had two days until the wedding, and that was being generous.

Two days to schedule the ceremony and reception around a funeral, but at  least we could post the little flags on the cars and convoy to the  party in mass.

After a full day of last-minute details-buying shoes, setting salon  appointments, securing decorations, and soliciting the help of anyone  with the last name Prescott who wasn't actively mourning-I couldn't move  anymore.

Slipping away for an hour to go to a doctor's appointment was like  escaping a POW camp, and the only rest I had during the day was that  first instant my feet hit the stirrups.

I saw the baby for the first time.

That little spec of static with the wub-dubbing heartbeat made it the best day of my life.

I still had the picture in my pocket, completely secret. I didn't even  call Rick and tell him my blip of a baby was the most beautiful thing  I'd ever seen.

I didn't want to share it with Rick. I wanted to share the moment with Nate … and I was too afraid to pick up the phone and call.

Now my feet ached. My head hurt. My stomach couldn't heave anymore.

For the first time, pregnancy kicked my butt, and the only thing I  wanted was a soft blanket, a bowl of strawberry ice cream, and Nate. I  successfully wrapped myself in the blanket, but I was too exhausted to  move. The ice cream was a fading fantasy.

And Nate?

Oh Lord.

He would have tasted better than any dessert.

It was only two more days of the secret, and then I could tell him  everything … including the other words I might say. Something as scary as  the pregnancy beat my heart a little faster, but it was just as amazing  and exciting and risky.

I didn't dare admit it to myself, but every time I saw Nate, every time  he touched me or smiled at me or whispered those naughty words to get me  into bed, I stumbled that much deeper into my little pit of mistakes.

First, I had to tell him about the baby.

Then, if there wasn't a Nate shaped hole smacked through my wall and a  father-to-be sprinting to the west coast, I'd reveal the real truth-why I  was so afraid.

I could handle the pregnancy myself.

But I couldn't lose him.

My phone vibrated. I groaned, tempted to throw the damn thing against  the wall. But I recognized the caterer's number. I had to take the call.

"Hey Mandy, it's Jeff." The caterer talked quick. "Got some good news. We can do your order for Saturday."

Thank God. And it only took a budget twice what we anticipated.

"You have no idea how glad I am to hear that," I said. "And you can bring extra tables and chairs?"

"Absolutely. We'll take care of the set up too if you get us into the venue ahead of time."

"Is it wrong to say I love you?"

"My wife probably wouldn't like it-"

"Well, she's a damned lucky lady." I rubbed my eyes. "Okay, so that's  dinner for two fifty, the tables, the chairs, the cutlery, the paper  products."

"That's right. Two hundred and fifty vegetarian dinners-a wild mushroom  polenta with a porcini sauce or grilled vegetables with green goddess  dressing and a Greek salad."

I sucked in a breath. Oh, just when I thought I was getting ahead, life had to kick me into the dirt.

"Vegetarian dinners?" I hated to ask the question. "Do you have … non-vegetarian options?"

"Well … no. The bride requested vegetarian selections."

"For herself," I said. "Lindsey's the vegetarian. Everyone else is a straight-up carnivore."

"Oh."

"Oh no."

"Well, we can't change our options now. Unfortunately, there's too  little time to buy and prep the ingredients for a new menu … " He cleared  his throat. "If you cancel … we'd have to keep the deposit."