AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The photographer is a friend of Tammy’s, and the girls are shopping tomorrow and would spend the night at Gray and Sam’s house. They told her not to do anything. They’d do it all—food, drinks, movies, et cetera. The plan was mani’s and pedi’s and maybe even facials. Excitement and giggling had already begun.
It seemed like everything was in place for the wedding and the bachelor and bachelorette parties. Jamie told Gray the guys were planning a night of poker, drinking, and bullshit. Jessie made Jamie promise no strippers and no women—period. Jamie agreed and told her he wasn’t interested in strippers and women which made her feel better. She glanced at Gray who wore a knowing smile on his face.
Poor Tank drew the short straw and would have to guard the girls all night. His face pinched, and the line of his lips thinned as he took the news, but he offered up the news that he’d bring in a woman partner for that night to help. Shane thought he could handle the guys by himself and slapped Tank on the shoulder as he walked past him to answer his phone.
Jessie looked at Tank with a wink at Sam. “Tank, did you want to do mani’s and pedi’s with us?”
Poor Tank turned about thirty shades of red and shook his head no.
After the meeting concluded and the room emptied, she and Gray threw away the containers and wrappers.
He wrapped his arms around her. “I can’t wait until you’re my wife. Just talking about this wedding makes me edgy and anxious.”
Wrapping her arms around him, she sighed. “Really? I was thinking we were rushing into this wedding and maybe we should halt everything and rethink it all.”
“We are NOT halting anything, and if you breathe a word of that again, I’ll kidnap you and drag you to Vegas before you even know what’s happening.”
Laughing, she responded, “Aww, you’re so sweet. No, I do worry that we’re jumping into this quickly, but you seem so sure, and it helps me relax.”
His lips covered her, softly but possessive. “How about you and I and Tank, go out to dinner tonight? I’m getting stir crazy, and I can tell you are, too!”
She smiled; hedidknow her well.
“I would love that. I promised I wouldn’t complain, but I can’t sit in that house another night without a break. Yes, please, let’s go out.”
He swatted her on the ass. “Behave and be ready to leave at five o’clock. You can work from Ethan’s office this afternoon; he just left for a site visit.”
“Yes, sir!”
Laughing she walked into the other room to log into the law office and get some work done.
At five, she logged off her computer and ran to the bathroom to freshen up. After all, they were going out after a week at home under protection. It was almost like a first date. She touched up her makeup and added a new layer of lip gloss before leaving the restroom. He grinned when she walked into his office.
“Ready, beautiful?”
“Well, when you call me beautiful, I am.” She smiled. He stood and walked to her, took her hand in his and led them to the entrance of the building with Tank in tow.
Tank drove them to the Fox Harbor, where they’d had their first date. Gray asked for a table on the patio. The weather was warm and lovely, and being able to watch the river as they ate, added a sense of peace to their chaos.
They were seated, and luckily, it was early enough that Tank could get the table next to them. They ordered wine and perused their menus.
“Oh, my God, Gray, I’m so happy to see you. How are you?”
They looked up to see a woman walking toward them. She was about five-eight and had shoulder length, sandy-brown hair. Her slightly plump physique was squeezed into white slacks and a yellow tank top stretched tightly across her breasts. Gray glanced at Tank and slightly nodded. Her eyes darted between Tank and this woman.
Gray cleared his throat, “Cheryl, this is Sam, and this is Tank.” Tank had moved to their table quietly and sat across from Gray.
Cheryl turned her attention to Gray. “Oh, so you haven’t ordered yet. Good, I just got here myself. I’ll join you.”
Without waiting for a response, she sat down at their square table. Sam sat with her back to the fence that surrounded the patio, Gray to her right, and Tank to her left. That left Cheryl a spot directly across from her.
“So, Gray, how are the kids doing? I bet Lily and Lincoln are getting so big,” Cheryl cooed.
“The kids and grandkids are fine, growing like weeds.” His measured response stiffened her shoulders. He caught her eyes with his, a half smile on his handsome face.
“I bet your mother’s flower garden is absolutely fabulous. Oh, Sam, you must make it a point to go out into Mary’s garden and see the lovely flowers she’s planted. Or, maybe you have.” Cheryl’s familiarity with the family was beginning to grate on her nerves.
“Of course, I’ve seen it. It’s the loveliest garden I’ve ever seen and one of my new favorite places in the world. It’s where Gray proposed to me.”
