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10
BRYNN
Brynn’s feet ached and the nerves in her belly twisted as Shattered Cove passed outside the window of the limo. It was just her and Aaron now. His long legs stretched wide, his thigh pressing against hers in the back seat. She sat straight as a board, her body still tingling from all the touching they’d done. Her mind spun as she focused on her breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Aaron’s citrusy, sweet scent wafted into her senses, and she resisted the urge to dip her nose into his jacket still snugly pulled around her.
The ceremony had been beautiful, something pulled from the pages of a fairy tale. She’d never expected so much. Her first wedding had been a solemn affair.
Miriam walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. It was the first time she’d gotten to be near her father in so long. The pride in his eyes brought a flutter of excitement to her. She just wanted to do what was right. Maybe he’d spend more time with her now that she was the reason for her family being connected to the prophet’s. It was an honor, and her father would be the one to reap the benefits the most.
Miriam’s eyes remained lowered as they were supposed to do, her head meekly bowed. She stole a quick glance at her soon-to-be husband with his five other wives lined up behind him. All but one gave her a cold, unwelcome frown. The last, a girl not much older than Miriam’s fifteen years, took the last spot in line, her expression one of sympathy before her gaze darted once more to the floor.
The prophet himself stood by Paul Livingston, his son. Miriam had trouble focusing as she stood across from the man old enough to be her father. Most of the ceremony passed without a word from her, both her father and her future husband speaking for her. That was how it had always been. Miriam learned long ago a woman’s place was to be silent and obedient. And that’s just what she’d do to please God and follow her life’s mission to serve and submit to her husband and birth the next generation. This is what she’d been raised to do after all, and she’d known no different.
“Brynn?” Aaron’s voice ripped her back to the present.
“Hmm?” She tried to shake off the ominous feeling sinking in her gut. Paul had seemed nice at first, until the wedding night. Everything changed then. Would it be the same with Aaron?
“We’re here.” Aaron slid out of the vehicle and held his hand for her to take.
She slipped her fingers into his, surprising even herself how easy that had become throughout the night. He waved to the driver, then led her down a gravel road with lamps lighting their way. She turned her head from side to side, nothing but a canopy of trees on either side.
“Where are we?” she asked, slowing. Her feet ached from the heels, but she wasn’t in a hurry to be alone with her husband.
“My house is right down here. There isn’t really a place for the limo to turn around, so it’s easier if we walk. Do your feet hurt?”
She nodded. “I’ll be okay.”
He stopped, then bent his knee to the dirt. Her eyebrows rose as he held out his hand for her foot.
“Give me your shoes.”
Her eyes darted around them.
His expression softened. “You’re in pain. Let me help?”
She swallowed and nodded, placing her hands on his shoulders and lifting her foot.
Aaron slid his hand to her ankle, sending a tremor up her limbs. He removed the heel and did the same to the other one. Even outside and alone this felt far too intimate.
He stood, holding her shoes in one hand. “Now, you have two choices, Mrs. Ridley. You can let your groom carry you across the threshold, or you can walk in the grass where it’s softer on your feet.”
The idea of being in Aaron’s arms was all too enticing, and that scared her. She wasn’t supposed to want to be close to him. But for the first time since she was fifteen, she wanted to be near a man. That was progress.
Still, she dipped her head and took the grassy route. Aaron slipped by her side, guiding her down the driveway.
They turned a corner, and she froze. A large wooden house stood in front of them, with several lanterns hanging outside. The moonlight shone down on it, reflecting off the large panes of glass that seemed to make up the whole bottom floor. This was the type of home Brynn had only ever seen in magazines. It was gorgeous.
“There’s a boathouse over there, where that little light is coming from.” Aaron pointed towards the right of the house. “Inside are canoes and kayaks you and Dani are welcome to use. Just make sure you each wear a life jacket.”
“Boathouse?” She turned, confused, and then her eyes widened. Gone were the trees from her right, replaced with glittering dark water. The man owned a lake.
“Come on inside, I had your bags delivered earlier. But we can get the rest of your stuff tomorrow if you wish.” Aaron walked towards the house, up the stone steps, and Brynn followed, peeking back at the lake.
Is this all real? A sliver of fear wound up her spine and around her throat, cinching tighter. Paul was rich, too, and Brynn had learned fast that with money came power, enough to control the lives of those less fortunate.
Lights flicked on, and Brynn took it all in as Aaron placed her shoes by a few of his own in what he called a mudroom. He led her up a couple steps into a giant kitchen with exposed dark beams and a high A-frame ceiling. The walls were a warm, coffee ice cream color, and the cupboards all matched the dark ceiling.
Aaron passed the large square island and the four barstools along the side of it. He motioned towards the stainless-steel refrigerator with a screen much like an iPad on the front. “Please help yourself to anything in the house. If you want something special, you can just add it to the list on the smart screen. My home is your and Dani’s home for however long you wish. I want you to be comfortable here.”
