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Part of me wanted to slap them for throwing everyone into a tizzy and flying off for a Vegas quickie after we’d spent weeks planning the wedding of Marissa’s dreams. But the other part of me was thrilled to see the genuine joy emanating from both of them.
I remembered Diesel and Parrish Partridge telling me once that they were the marrying kind, not the wedding kind. I hadn’t understood it at the time, but now I thought I did. Hosting an epic celebration was all well and good, but when you found the person you were supposed to be with, every day was kind of epic.
Levi was tender and sweet with Marissa, and I loved her enough to want her to be cherished like that for her entire life. Meanwhile, she doted on him, teasing him to make him laugh and ensuring her father knew that, for today at least, Levi was his son-in-law, not his right-hand man, ready to take orders.
At one point, Marissa pulled me aside to explain what had happened with Trey.
“He was upset, yeah, but he didn’t seem disappointed so much as… secretly relieved? I actually wonder if he might be bisexual,” she whispered.
My eyes widened in surprise.
“No, really. Hear me out,” she said, misunderstanding my reaction. “I caught him kissing his best man one time during our friend Kaylee’s wedding reception. He claimed he was too drunk to realize it wasn’t me, but the whole thing seemed really weird to me.”
She shrugged and changed the subject while I tried not to laugh. I would have to tell that story to Champ later. Drunken mistake, my ass. But maybe Trey would be a different kind of partner once he was with the right person. For his sake, I hoped he and his best man were having fun in Mexico.
Finally, Champ and his team showed up while Marissa, Levi, and I were finalizing the decorations in the large event tent.
The three of us all wore heavy coats over the top of our wedding clothes to ward off the chill while walking back and forth between the main house, bunkhouse, and event tent. My topcoat was black cashmere, a piece Cherry had bought me as a gift when I’d started Taffet Events. It looked great over my tux, and I’d already worn it as often as possible simply because it was so warm and soft.
The portable gas heaters were doing a great job keeping the space comfortably warm, and the rows of white rental chairs had already been adorned with silk bunting and floral arrangements at the end of each row. Overhead, a canopy of woven birch branches was festooned with thousands of twinkling fairy lights and long, trailing garlands of eucalyptus and roses.
The other half of the large space was filled with round tables covered in white linens. The glass centerpieces were filled with tall manzanita branches, from which hung hundreds of clear votive holders that looked like glowing orbs, sparkling and reflecting the candlelight within. After the ceremony, the rows of chairs would be removed to clear the dance floor, and the band would set up on the low stage where the wedding canopy now stood.
It was stunning, and I was reminded once again that you really could turn a pig farm into an elegant wedding venue if you had a big enough budget.
The catering trucks were already parked discreetly behind the back side of the tent, and a gravel path flanked by tall, decorated fir trees in galvanized buckets wound between the tent and the bunkhouse where the bathrooms were.
Marissa sighed. “Okay, now I’m having second thoughts. I kinda want my big, gorgeous wedding back.”
I laughed as I tweaked one of the flower arrangements. “Too late. You got your cheap-ass Vegas deal, and you’ll have to live with it.”
Levi shot her a look. “Tell me again about your regrets?” I could tell from the spark in his eyes he knew she hadn’t meant it.
“Just promise me one day we’ll get to hire Quinn to plan a big anniversary do for us.”
He strode over and took her in his arms. “Anything for you.” Then they kissed. Like newlyweds.
Eventually, I was forced to make gagging noises until my phone buzzed with a message from Champ.
Mine: He’s here early. Stay clear of the house.
My smile dropped. Fuck. We hadn’t expected Vince to arrive until the ceremony was in process, an hour from now. The guests were due to arrive in just a few minutes.
“He’s here,” I said softly.
Levi pulled away from Marissa. I saw his hand jerk toward the opening of his coat before he stopped. He was wearing a shoulder holster like Tommy, his men, and Champ’s crew. For once, I was glad to be with someone strapped.
“We’re supposed to stay out here, but…”
Levi turned to Marissa. “Let’s go wait in the bunkhouse like we talked about.”
