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.