His Challenging Lover (16 page)

“Do I look okay?” Mia asked nervously, smoothing down the yards of tulle that made up the skirt of her dress. “I probably shouldn’t have…”

“You should have,” Autumn soothed, pressing a gentle hand to Mia’s shoulders while their eyes connected in the mirror. “You look stunning and Ash is going to be so happy when he sees you that he’ll be speechless.”

Kiera snorted and shook her head. “Ash is never speechless,” she came right back, standing behind Mia as well. The sexy blue satin dress was still a shock whenever she looked in the mirror, but at least Axel knew what to expect. She’d dressed at Axel’s house and had almost become undressed as soon as she’d walked out of the closet. He’d liked the dress very much.

Autumn and Cricket both laughed at Kiera’s comment but Mia was too nervous to see the humor. “He spent too much money doing all of this,” she said out loud.

Cricket moved to stand in front of her friend, a stern look on her face. “Mia, you’ve got to listen carefully. All combined, those Thorpe brothers have more money than a small country so I don’t want to hear another word about how much all of this is costing. Ash wouldn’t have spent so much trying to hurry this wedding along if he didn’t want you to be his wife very much. So here’s what’s going to happen,” Cricket explained with absolute determination. “You’re going to go out there and see your man. You’re going to forget all about the expense of this entire affair and you’re going to have the best day of your entire life. All of your neighbors are out there, your friends, coworkers and a man who loves you so much that he’s chomping at the bit to get you next to him. This is your day. Today you are the fairy princess and you’re going to have the time of your life. Anything less and I will sneak into your house and do something really crazy and you won’t even know I was there until you realize something strange is happening. Do we understand each other?”

Mia’s eyes were wide throughout the whole speech until the end. When Cricket came up with that ambiguous threat, all three women laughed outright. “No you’re not. You made a promise to Ryker that you wouldn’t ever sneak into anyone else’s house.”

“Well, except for the businesses and houses that she’s paid to sneak into,” Kiera teased.

“Yes, except for those,” Cricket smiled right back. “I really do have the best job in the entire world.” Cricket was hired by Hamilton Securities to join an elite team of ex-military and intelligence personnel who traveled all over the world, testing the security of their clients’ buildings and computers. And she was loving every moment of her new job.

Autumn shivered. “I would faint at the first sign of danger,” she said, shaking her head at Cricket’s crazy skills. “But I’m thrilled that you’re happy now.”

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Kiera interrupted. “But Autumn and I are with Cricket, my friend,” she said to Cricket, giving her a gentle hug. “We’ll be watching. Just so you know, we all have a pact to watch you. The first sign of worry and we’re filling up your champagne glass. If you don’t take our advice and enjoy today, we’ll make sure you’re too drunk to remember your stress. Got it?”

Mia laughed but nodded her head. “Got it,” she told the three of them. They gave her a big, group hug, then leaned back, all of them checking their mascara in the mirror.

“Okay, let’s go find my man,” Mia said, tugging her strapless wedding gown slightly higher on her body. “By the way,” she said to Cricket, “don’t think I didn’t notice that huge rock on your finger.” She turned and fluffed her dress. “I actually noticed one on everyone’s finger. So we’re going to have a long chat when I get back from wherever Ash is taking me on our honeymoon.”

The three other women looked at each other, then down at each person’s left hand. Sure enough, there was a gorgeous diamond ring on each woman’s finger.

“I guess I didn’t need to go so crazy on those bridesmaids dresses after all,” she said. Then she pulled her veil over her head, picked up her bouquet, and headed out of the anteroom of the church.

Autumn, Cricket and Kiera all looked at each other with stunned surprise for a long moment. Then burst out laughing. They looked around at each other, grabbed their own bouquet of flowers, and continued their almost hysterical laughter as they made their way out of the room to take their places at the back of the church.

Ryker, Ash, Axel and Xander all looked at each other when they heard the loud laughing as they stood at the front of the church waiting for the ceremony to start. When neither of them could figure out what was so funny on such a momentous day, they shrugged and looked at the minister who had a very disapproving expression on his face.

Ash didn’t care what the minister thought, as long as he performed the ceremony that would make Mia his.

The music started and the laughing stopped. Behind him, he felt each of his brothers stiffen as the women in their lives entered the sanctuary but he couldn’t think about them at all, too eager to see Mia.

When she finally appeared, he thought he might have died and gone to heaven. She looked so beautiful in the strapless gown that flared out all around her. She looked delicate, sexy and ethereal all at the same time. No woman had ever affected him like this little lady did. And he couldn’t wait to make her legally his own.

She moved into place beside him and he moved her veil out of the way, his breath catching in his throat when she smiled up at him. “You’re beautiful,” he growled.

Ash wasn’t sure what happened during the ceremony because his whole mind was focused on the last few words. “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said with a smile that was warm and approving.

Ash turned to Mia, pulling her close and not even waiting for permission before he pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly.

As they walked out of the church, Ash almost laughed at her trembling response. When they were in the waiting limousine, he pulled her onto his lap, his strong hands encircling her waist as he bent his head and kissed her again, just to feel her response which never failed to drive him crazy with lust for her. When he raised his head and looked down at her, he almost chuckled at the dazed expression on her lovely face. “You’re mine now,” he said.

Mia grinned and wrapped her arms around his neck more securely. “And you’re mine,” she whispered back.

Several hours later, Mia was exhausted. She hadn’t left Ash’s side all night. They’d danced, laughed with family and friends, ate tons of food and drank several glasses of champagne. But now, all she wanted was to be alone with her man, to have him wrap her in his arms and carry her away to some place private and quiet.

“Ready to go?” Ash asked when he felt her lean more heavily against his side. He’d been waiting for her to get her fill of the party before he took her away, but he was growing impatient to have her alone.

“More than ready,” she said, smiling up into his blue eyes that she loved so much.

“Let’s get out of here,” he growled and pulled her closer. He was practically carrying her out of the reception area, wanting her in the car where he could slip that amazing dress off of her lovely figure and have his wicked way with her. “I want you alone.”

“Not so fast,” Ryker said, stepping in front of his youngest brother.

Ash halted, but only because it was his brother. Anyone else would be mowed down. When Xander and Axel stepped up, shoulder to shoulder with Ryker, Ash knew that he was going to have to fight his way out of this party. “Guys, you’re my brothers and I love all of you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t take you down if you don’t get out of my way pretty quickly.

His brothers just laughed, none of them worried about the threat. “We just wanted to say goodbye.” Which was an outright lie. The ladies in their group had seen that the couple was trying to slip away unnoticed and had tasked the brothers to slow down the newly married couple so the rest of the guests could get organized.

“Not funny, guys,” Ash growled.

When Xander heard the whistle, he gave the signal that everything was set up now. “We’ll let you go now. But we’ll see you back here in ten days. Lots of things happening.”

Ash didn’t care what was going on. All he wanted was to get Mia alone. “Clear the way,” he told them firmly.

The brothers just smiled and stepped back, causing Ash to look at the three of them suspiciously. He put an arm around Mia’s slender waist protectively, then pulled her along behind him.

As soon as they stepped out of the ballroom, a flurry of rose petals was thrown into the air, descending on the couple with delicate kisses of good luck. Mia glanced up, surprised at the shower of rose petals but enchanted nonetheless. She looked over at the three women dressed in similar blue satin outfits, her eyes clouding from the tears that were forming at the touching gesture.

Ash saw the look and stopped, letting Mia enjoy the flower rainfall, enchanted when several of the rose petals fell into her hair, balancing there precariously before falling to the ground.

“I don’t think I’ve told you I love you,” he whispered into her ear.

She grinned up into his eyes. “Every time you look at me,” she whispered right back to him.

A moment later, they were driving away, Mia unaware of anything but Ash’s arms around her, his lips kissing hers and the gentle sway of the limousine as it carried them towards the airport.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered. Her hand fluttered around the jeweled waist of her bodice. “Is this really happening?”

Autumn laughed and hugged her friend. “It’s been a long time coming, but yes. You are finally marrying Axel.”

“Six years!” she whispered. “Six long, miserable, lonely years.” She almost started crying as she thought about how much time she’d missed with Axel. “I could have lost him.”

Cricket stepped up and took Kiera’s hand. “But you didn’t. Which only means that this was meant to happen.”

“Even the weather agreed with you!” Autumn said with a huge grin on her face.

Kiera shook her head. “I doubt there’s going to be another day like today. I can’t believe the sun is shining and it is so warm out in November!”

“Axel wanted you to have this wedding,” Mia said, handing Kiera the bouquet of daisies and pink chrysanthemums. “And it is pretty spectacular!”

“It will get cold tonight,” Kiera warned.

The three women waved away the warning. “Axel has those heaters stationed all around the dance floor under the pergola. We’ll be toasty warm. Don’t worry about a thing.”

Kiera smoothed her hand down her dress one more time. “I don’t think I could worry about anything anyway. I’m too excited.”

Mia hugged her friend, feeling very relaxed and smug after returning from her honeymoon just the previous day. “It seems like the entire office building has shown up for your wedding. So go on out there and make us proud, girl!”

Kiera’s smile widened even more. “You’re right. Let’s go do this!”

The enormous oak tree behind Axel’s house was filled with pink lights, rows of pink chairs were lined up, filled with friends and co-workers, daisies were everywhere and the four Thorpe brothers were once again lined up, but with Axel at the front of the line this time.

When the bridesmaids stepped around the corner of his house, Axel craned his neck to get his first glimpse of Kiera. He even liked the dresses each of the ladies chose, thinking that they looked very pretty in the various shades of green.

But it was Kiera who caught his eye when she stepped around the corner. He’d pictured her so often in his house as he’d built it, refining it over the years but nothing could have prepared him for the sight of her in the blush pink, strapless wedding dress. She was stunning and the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life.

She didn’t wear a veil but stepped down the grassy aisle, walking towards him with tears in her eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked when she stepped closer and he could take her hands.

She gave him a watery smile, squeezing his hands as she said, “I cost us six years because of my stupidity. I’ll make it up to you.”

He almost laughed, delighted that she was still okay. “I thought you were starting to regret not accepting the job in Paris.”

“Never. I only regret that we didn’t do this the first time you suggested it.”

He bent down and kissed her gently. “We have years ahead of us,” he whispered. “Don’t regret the past. It only diminishes the beauty of our future.”

She thought that was the most profound thing she’d ever heard and moved closer to him, resting her head against his shoulder as she turned to face the minister. And when he finally pronounced them husband and wife, she thought her heart might just burst out of her chest with the love she felt for this man.

“You’re wonderful,” he said as he lifted her into his arms, swinging her around on the dance floor as the music started to play. For the rest of the night, they danced in each other’s arms, barely noticing the rest of the guests. She didn’t each much, wanting to be with him instead.

But Axel noticed that she wasn’t eating anything and stacked food onto a plate from the buffet table that had been set up near his vegetable garden. “Here. You’re going to have to eat something.”

“I’m not hungry,” she said and started to pull him into her arms for another dance.

He shook his head and pushed the plate towards her. “You’re going to eat,” he said and fed her some sort of appetizer that looked like shrimp and scallops somehow meshed together. “You’re going to need your strength for the night ahead.”

Kiera blushed, but she opened her mouth to taste the morsel. She ate several more of the delicious appetizers but by the time she’d had enough, she didn’t remember anything she’d eaten.

When the party was winding down, Axel was too impatient to deal with the goodbyes. He remembered Ash’s wedding and wasn’t going to be hindered by his brothers while he tried to make his escape. So instead of announcing his departure, he simply lifted Kiera up into his arms and swept her out of the party. It took the guests another ten minutes before they realized that the bride and groom had already left but they continued dancing on into the night.

Kiera laughed, delighted at his exit strategy and threw her arms around his neck, more than willing to be kidnapped out of her own party.