Giving me a smile that was not meant to make me feel better, I took a step back. Paul took a step closer to me. “Let’s say I have—connections.”
Sweat began to bead at my brow as I nodded my head. Letting out a nervous chuckle, I said, “Well, you won’t need them for me, I can tell ya that! I’m already talking to my mother about grandkids for Christ’s sake.”
Paul’s eyes softened and his face lit up. “Grandkids?”
Oh fuck.
Tristan walked up to me and slapped me on the back, scaring the hell out of me. “Aaron, it’s time to get dressed and get ready. Paul, it’s good seeing you again.”
Paul reached his hand out and shook Tristan’s. “Good to see you too, Tristan. How’s that beautiful new bride of yours?”
What the fuck? Paul likes Tristan more than me. Damn it.
“She’s doing wonderfully. She’ll love seeing you again,” Tristan said with a smile that made me want to punch him in the face.
Turning, I nodded my head and said, “Well, I guess next time I see you . . . um . . . you’ll be walking Sierra down the aisle.”
Paul’s smile fell. “Yep.”
Turning on his heels, he walked away. Dragging in a deep breath, I grabbed Tristan. “He hates me!”
Tristan laughed and waved his hand off as he made his way to the staircase. “Nah, he doesn’t hate you. He’s just very protective of Sierra. Especially with the whole Robert thing.”
“No, you don’t understand, Tristan.” Looking over my shoulder, I smiled when I noticed Paul watching us walk up the stairs. Giving him a wave, he barely gave me a head nod. Reaching the top stair, I placed my hands on my knees and began taking in deep breaths.
“Jesus, I knew the nerves were going to hit you sooner or later, but damn, dude. Get a grip!”
Looking up at Tristan, I shook my head. “He threatened to have me killed, dude! Killed!”
Shrugging his shoulders, Tristan turned and headed to my parents’ master bedroom where all the guys were set to get ready. Sierra, Ryn, Azurdee and Kacey were in the guesthouse.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. He’d have to have a damn good reason to have you knocked off.”
Knocked off. The words sent chills throughout my body as I moaned and said a silent prayer I never ever hurt Sierra in any way.
Stepping into the room, I came across Lark talking to Kacey’s husband, Greg, about a hunt Greg was going to do on Lark’s property near Marble Falls. Rolling my eyes, I slapped my hands together, only to have Lark give me the middle finger.
STANDING AT THE WINDOW, I tried like hell to calm my beating heart. It’s not like I was nervous because I wasn’t. The yard had transformed into a magical paradise filled with flowers and white lights in the course of a few hours. I’d seen Aaron carrying chairs, setting up tables, laughing with Tristan, chasing after Lark with a stick yelling at him, and glancing over to the guesthouse smiling.
Placing my hands on my stomach, I shook my head. I’m getting married. Was I moving too fast? Maybe we went too fast? What if Aaron doesn’t want the same things I want? We’ve never even talked about kids and earlier Kate was in here going on about grandchildren.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Spinning on my heels, I looked at my wedding dress. I had a good fifteen minutes before I had to get dressed. Running over to my purse, I grabbed my cell phone.
Me: I need to talk to you. Now.
Aaron: Why?
Smiling, because I knew what he was thinking.
Me: I haven’t changed my mind but we need to talk about something before we get married.
Aaron: I’m very aware of your obsession with me baby. I can live with it.
Me: I’m sneaking outside. Meet me behind the guesthouse in two minutes.
Aaron: I’m in the house! You’re right there. Give me at least five.
Me: Fine! Hurry, I have to get dressed still.
Placing my phone back down on the table, I snuck to the door and slowly opened it. There were two doors that led outside, the front and the back. Everyone was in the front living room of the guesthouse so that counted out the front. Turning to my left, I quickly headed down the small hallway and made a sharp right, only to come face to face with Ryn.
“Whatcha doing?” Ryn asked as she placed her hands on her hips.
Shrugging my shoulders, I laughed nervously. “Nothing. Just needed some fresh air. I won’t be long.”
Looking at her phone, Ryn raised her eyebrow and gave me that motherly stare. “You have to get dressed in fourteen minutes and thirty . . . two seconds.”