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1
Goin’to the Chapel
“Look at you.”
My little brother grinned, looking from the neck up so much like the boy who used to put me in a chokehold and wrestle me to the floor, pissing me off to no end and causing the type of fights that only brothers and sisters have. Back then, Seth was my biggest nemesis, and I played for keeps, throwing elbows and sometimes even catching his junk if he was being too rough.
I thought for sure that would never change.
But it had, and now he was one of my best friends.
“Look at my big sister, Leesa, the beautiful bride,” he said, crossing the room to give me a hug, swinging me around like I was little more than a feather. “Just incredible.Jerk,” he said, not content to let a moment slide by without calling me his favorite nickname.
I looked down at my dress, still not used to the poofy layers of tulle that made me look like something out of Cinderella.
I hated stupid shit like Cinderella.
I shrugged, my movement limited by the dress’s tight fit and inflexible fabric. It made me look like a blushing bride, sure, which in itself was kind of a joke. But when it came down to it, I was lucky I could breathe. “Well, glad you like it.Jerk. I sure spent enough on the damn thing.”
It was true. My ‘princess’ wedding dress had cost more than the catering and flowerscombined.
I could swear my brother teared up for a moment at my comment. Seth was never sentimental, and if he didn’t cut that shit out, he’d have me crying, too. “Lees, if I ever get married, I hope my girl looks half as good in her dress as you do in yours.”
I gave him my best fake-sympathy face. “Well, don’t worry, Seth, because no one will ever marry you.”
His hand flew to his chest as if I’d shot him in the heart, just like he used to dowhen we were kids.
I looked at myself in the mirror. I had no complaints about how my hair and makeup had turned out that day. The artist had done an amazing job, and I had to admit, the dress looked good when I stopped thinking about its price for a moment. Princess for a day and all that shit.
Just in time, too. As I’d approached my late twenties, the pressure to ‘settle down’ had increased. Eventually, it got to the point where Mom was actually calling her friends, trolling for guys to introduce me to. And her vetting capabilities were abysmal. One dude drank so much on our first date I left him passed out in a bar, and another had gotten so handsy I’d had to treat him to a spritz with my pepper spray, something one of my girlfriends had gotten me when she found out I’d given in to Mom’s matchmaking.
All that was in the past though. I’d landed my own guy, no help from Mom, thank you anyway. And today was my wedding day.
Four months of hard work at the gym, using a routine my brother had developed for me, and once-weekly sessions with a trainer who I really couldn’t afford, got me in the best shape of my life. And my wedding dress definitely showed off my assets to their full advantage. It was sweet on the bottom, with a big poofy skirt, and party girl on the top with its corseted, strapless bustier showing off the girls in a way I knew would drive my fiancé crazy.
Or should I say soon-to-be-husband?
The thought sent shivers down my spine, and I bounced up and down a little in my strappy heels.
“Where’s your uniform?” I asked my brother.
Our mother had pressured my ex-Marine brother to wear his blues, even though his military days were long over. She loved that kind of shit.
“Oh that. I tried them on… couldn’t get the jacket over my shoulders. Lacey—I mean, Miss Connor—likes her security detail beefy. It helps with the, um… job.”
I supposed that the burlier you were, the better the bodyguard people assumed you to be. But, something about the way Seth had stumbled over what his employer wanted… left me wondering. My brother had never been sodedicatedto a job before.
But I had other things on my mind at the moment.
“Well, well,” I said, patting him on the back. “Adding forty pounds of muscle to your frame may not be good for the old uniform but at least it’s good for the job. I’m just glad your boss was decent enough to let you skip a tour date to come to your big sister’s wedding. I mean, it would be totally shitty of her to expect you to miss an important family event, so thank god she’s not like that. Hey, where is everybody’s favorite pop star shaking her ass this week, anyway?”
“I’m missing the Melbourne and Sydney shows and will catch up with everyone in Osaka,” he said smiling broadly. Guess, he’d made some friends in the touring group. Maybe he’d even found himself a woman. One of the backup dancers, perhaps? Maybe that was why he liked his current assignment so much?
That would be so cute. I could see them sneaking around, finding places for chaste kisses… and more that I didn’t want to really think about. My brother had always been a little shy around the ladies, and I hoped he was finally getting laid.
Something told me he was.
“So you’ll be going to Japan, huh?” I asked, smoothing his lapels. “That’s so cool. Hey, do me a favor today?”
“What’s that?” he asked, preening a little for me. “Make sure Cousin James doesn’t make an ass of himself at the reception?” he laughed.
I play-smacked him. “Funny. He’s the least of my worries. He’ll make an ass of himself regardless. But if you get a chance, hang out with the guests from Daniel’s side. They are severely outnumbered by our side of the family, and I’m afraid they’ll be completely overwhelmed by us and our rowdy ways. Plus, I’m sure they’d like to hear about the life of a rock star bodyguard.”
He nodded. “Will do. I’ll play it up a bit. Make it sound really wild.”
I had the feeling there was not much about it that was sweet and innocent.
“You do you, little brother, and let me finish getting ready. Go find yourself a seat before you end up being stuck in the back of the church.”
* * *
