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“Enjoy yourself my sweet granddaughter, I will be counting down the hours until it’s official,” Theo replied kissing her cheek letting her head inside to change with glee in her heart.
She marveled at the horses when she met Stefano at the barn, giving him a kiss although no one was around to see. If Stefano thought anything strange of it, he didn’t comment, simply gave her a smile allowing her to swing up onto the horse letting happiness surround her.
Stefano took her on a tour of the property they hadn’t been able to see yet and she drank in the sights. It was as though they were the only people on the earth, but they stayed close to each other, discussing the office, plans for the wedding, or simply general things going on in the world until they slipped into a comforting silence as they drew close to the house.
“I want you to stay here until the wedding. I know you’ll have appointments in town, but our mothers can stop here and pick you up for them. Grandfather will be here, I’m leaving Karl with the car for you to come and go as you need, but please stay Hailey,” Stefano said as they finished brushing down the horses.
“You think Demetrius is going to try something before the wedding, don’t you?” she asked quietly wanting the truth.
“Yes, I do, I know he would if you were at the office and your place. With Olympia spending so much time with her father and Xavier, Mother and Leann working on the last-minute details that people call asking about, and me working to ensure we have a pleasant honeymoon, he knows you’ll be alone. Here with Grandfather and Karl you won’t be.”
Not to mention Artemis is keeping watch still, his subconscious added but he wouldn’t tell her about the man, not unless it was absolutely necessary. She would be furious to know that he’d been keeping watch over her for years. One day when she loved him as much as he loved her, he might tell her what he’d done, but not until he knew that she would understand why.
“Alright, I will stay here. The quiet will actually be good to finish the last work before the wedding.”
“Good, now we’ll change, have dinner with Grandfather and then spend some time looking over that request I sent you,” he suggested, and she nodded taking her time as she washed and braided her hair knowing she’d go for an early ride if she wasn’t going into the office.
She would miss living here if she couldn’t convince Stefano to make this permanent. She would be content without his love. She would make herself be content with it somehow. She’d lived this long without ever wanting or needing it, surely her love would be enough to see them into the future. If she had their child, had a piece of him then it would be. She could love and adore them, show them how happy she was to be theirs, be his.
Hailey started each morning with a ride that week and kept the worry that Demetrius would try something away. Finishing the projects that she had Thursday afternoon left her with nothing to do on Friday. She rode out that morning, going to the very end of the property before making a slow journey around it, keeping her back to the sun to keep from burning. The last thing she needed was peeling skin for the wedding.
It was just past three when she heard the sound of hooves drawing near. She turned, smiling when she spied Stefano moving her way and slowed going back to meet him. “You took off early.”
“What can I say? I was asked a dozen times this morning if I was in such a foul mood because you were here and I’ve been in town the past three days, well some of them mentioned nights until I gave them a dark glare and they quickly shut up.”
“So, you decided to start the weekend early to have them think you’re just hopeless without me?” she teased, and he nodded making her smile inwardly more than outwardly.
“Actually, I think it’s a good precedence, start the weekend early with the most beautiful woman on earth. We can take a ride on Friday afternoons, at least until you get too heavy with child to ride and on those days, we’ll lounge on our balcony so I can make love to you as often as possible until our child demands all your time.”
“I’m sure the rest of the company would love that you’re giving yourself and me that perk but not them.”
“Too bad, they’re not my wife, you will be,” he said, and her heart fluttered with hope. Eight more days, just eight and she would be his wife, hopefully completely his soon after.
Chapter 12
“O
h my girl, you look beautiful,” Leann said as Hailey turned around to face the group, a smile on her lips as she took in their faces, her bridesmaids’ dresses fitting her ideas of today so well. “I can’t believe it’s here…my little girl’s getting married.”
“Mom, please don’t cry. You’ll make me start and I don’t want to ruin my makeup,” she replied blinking her eyes to stop the moisture from overwhelming her.
“It’s all waterproof Hailey,” her makeup artist Luna stated giving her smile. “Let me just touchup your lips…and you’re ready.”
“It’s almost time,” Elena said giving her a hug. “I want you to know that I will always be here for you my sweet girl. The love you give Stefano warms me so much.”
“Thank you, both of you for everything to get us here today,” Hailey said holding onto both of her moms’ hands.
“Are you ready?” Olympia asked handing over her bouquet with a smile.
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life,” Hailey assured the women letting them head down towards the site for the ceremony as the photographer snapped photos of everything. She didn’t mind. Stefano might not approve of a few the woman had taken while she’d gotten dressed, but then again, after tonight, he just might not care as long as they were for his own private viewing.
Her father stepped up to meet them, gazing at her in awe and her heart fluttered wondering what Stefano would think when she began to walk up the aisle towards him.
“You don’t look like my little girl anymore Hailey,” he said helping her with the veil as the wind slid around them when she turned.
“I’ll always be your little girl Dad. Even when I hopefully have one of my own, I’ll still be your little girl.”
“If I have to give you over to anyone, I can honestly say I’m relieved that it’s Stefano. He will protect and love you the way you deserve my little darling girl.”
