AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re important to me, Noah. I’ll be there. You know, I think this is a great strategy. She’s educated and beautiful and you look good together. She’ll be an asset and she should make the network feel better about your hound-dog ways. Smart move, buddy. Glad you thought of it.”
Cliff seems happier, so I don’t bother arguing with him about my reasons for marrying Harlow. He’s not a hearts-and-flowers sort of guy, so if I tell him I’m deeply, truly, madly in love, he’ll simply snort and tell me that it’s a great shtick.
“I try. Let the network know that we’ve spoken that and you’re satisfied I’m not going to be an image problem for them.”
“Will do. It would help if you reacted publicly to Ms. Fleet. She keeps running off her mouth to anyone who will give her press and you haven’t said anything beyond the brief statement you let me issue denying her claim.”
“I don’t think we should say anything more until the results of the DNA test come back. Why give her the attention she’s seeking with this stunt and encourage her to double down? After the prenatal paternity test results, I’ll have plenty to say.”
“All right.” Cliff sighs. “I hope like hell that woman’s blood proves you right. I’ll see about asking Mr. Chickman to be patient. Can I tell him you’re getting married?”
I grit my teeth. “If you have to. If nothing else will save this deal. But I’d rather keep Harlow’s name out of the press for as long as possible, and I fear that if we give the head of a sports news organization exclusive information about my upcoming wedding, it will become a circus.”
“True. I’ll do what I can. Don’t forget to send me the details about your ceremony.”
“You got it. Hold Chickman off a little longer, and this will work out. I believe that.”
Days rush by, and I’m finally able to wake up with one thought resounding through my head: It’s my wedding day.
The last week and a half has been a whirlwind of activity. My mother and Harlow’s sisters-in-law got together to design a wedding dress for my bride that I’m assured fits her style perfectly. My aunt dropped her life to make it in record time. I own a tux, but asked Trace and Harlow’s brothers to stand up with me, so they’ve rented theirs to match. She asked one of her sorority sisters, as well as Keeley and Britta to be her bridesmaids. It’s a sunny, breezy day. Not a cloud in the sky.
I wish I could say everything was perfect, but I’ve got some worries. Since discovering that she’s pregnant, Harlow’s mood has been day to day. She’s happy at times, and our visit to the doctor was full of smiles. She seems a little anxious about losing the baby still, especially late at night when she’s tired and asks herself if she should be slowing down. She can be moody first thing in the morning, which evens out as soon as we start journaling, doing yoga, and engaging in other visualization or breathing exercises. The best thing? She wants sex. All. The. Time. It’s so awesome that I’m more than happy to deal with whatever mood Harlow is in because she’s always putting a smile on my face.
But other issues in life still hang over my head. Mercedes Fleet came forward with a list of demands mere days after Harlow discovered she was pregnant. Through lawyers, I saw her ridiculous list of “must-haves.” I placated her until she finally agreed to that damn DNA test. Interesting that she dragged her feet… But yesterday, she finally gave a blood sample. Within a week, I’ll be off the hook. Harlow and I haven’t talked about the whole mess any more. I don’t know whether she believes I didn’t get that woman pregnant. The worry niggles at the back of my head.
The last complication is her parents. Harlow finally agreed to let them attend the ceremony. Maxon texted their mother with the details last night. Griff contacted their father. I’m curious about why they each chose a parent to interact with, but they must have their reasons. In both cases, her parents said they would be there but they didn’t appreciate the short notice or being unable to bring their current significant others. That was another one of Harlow’s demands. They also won’t be participating in the ceremony.
“You ready, man?” Trace barges into the bedroom at Maxon and Keeley’s utterly charming bed-and-breakfast. We have a gag order on all guests and staff for the big event, but we’ll release pictures and information afterward.
I wonder if my soon-to-be brother-in-law and his lovely wife have any idea that this will thrust their sleepy, burgeoning little business into the spotlight and that they’ll soon be busier than they imagined. Smiling to myself, I turn to my brother as I zip my fly. “Just have to put on my shoes. Hey, could you give this to Britta to give to Harlow before the ceremony?” I found a beautiful necklace with three diamonds—one for me, one for her, one for the family we’re creating. “Tell her it’s my wedding gift and I’d love for her to wear it during the ceremony.”
“Sure.” Trace takes the box from me, then reaches into his tuxedo jacket to pull out a flat rectangular package wrapped in tissue paper with a colorful red and silver bow. “This is from Harlow, for you.”
I tear into the delicate wrapping and find a picture of the two of us taken last week when we barbecued with her family at my place. The sun slants over Harlow, lighting her up as she tosses her arms around me and kisses my cheek. I’m smiling from ear to ear. Her engagement ring glints in the golden shimmer of light. We look damn happy. Even better, the frame around this image is made of gorgeous sun-bleached wood and engraved with the wordsTogether is a wonderful place to be.
I hold the gift tight in my fist and choke up, hoping like hell this is her way of saying she loves me. Because she hasn’t said that out loud. “Tell her I said thank you.”
Trace claps me on the shoulder. “You picked a good woman. I wish I could meet a woman half as awesome as Harlow.”
“You will,” I assure my brother. He’s a good guy, after all. “How are things looking out there?”
“Gorgeous. Keeley and Britta have this wedding shit down. And the officiant is a dead ringer for Uncle Ano, right down to the big belly and straggly beard.” Trace laughs. “Both men had a chuckle about that. The flowers are beautiful. The photographer is ready. The cake looks scrumptious. And your bride seems nervous but…man. Your jaw is gonna drop. She’s gorgeous.”
I wish like hell I could talk to Harlow and reassure her, but Keeley and Britta have been uber-protective and determined to maintain that damn tradition of the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding.
“I can’t wait. Let’s do this.”
“Cool your jets, brother. You’ve got ten minutes. But it’s just adorable to see you so eager,” he pokes fun at me, then claps me on the shoulder. “Congratulations. I know your life with Harlow will be happy.”
I try not to remember that she’s still talking divorce in twelve months. I’m going to move heaven and earth to keep her beside me and so ecstatic she’ll never want to leave.
“Thanks, man.”
As I pack the picture and frame she gave me in my duffel, Trace leaves to deliver my gift. Time is tick-tocking with the speed of frozen molasses. I double-check my pockets to ensure that I have everything I need for my plans at the reception. I don’t know her parents or what exactly they’ve done to her, but the necklace I gave her was a simple token. The real wedding gift I’m hoping to arrange is one intended to give her long-term peace of mind.
When I speak my vows, I’ll be promising to love, honor, cherish, and protect Harlow. I take that seriously.
Finally, Maxon and Griff wander into the room.
