Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 162003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 810(@200wpm)___ 648(@250wpm)___ 540(@300wpm)
I grinned as I watched him doze off in the hammock, the sun shining down on his bare chest. He looked so handsome I wanted to go curl up beside him, but I knew we wouldn’t get any sleeping done. And he needed a nap. Whatever he was planning had taken up a lot of his time this morning, and I pouted the entire time he was on the phone.
Regardless, I knew it would all be worth it when I became Mrs. Ryland Bennett at the end of the week. It was still surreal. This thing that had started with so much darkness was now filled with light, and I had to wonder if it could last. I hated feeling that way. Like something might come and snatch it away at any moment. I needed to put those thoughts out of my head. I needed to leave the past behind.
***
“Brighton, you look so beautiful,” Nicole gushed. “I love that dress.”
I stared at my reflection in the mirror with a nervous smile. My dress was chiffon and ivory lace with a sweetheart neckline, and it hit just above my knees. It was perfect, and I couldn’t be happier with it.
“Will you do my hair?” I asked Nicole. “I have no clue what to do with it.”
“Of course.” She ushered me to a chair and helped me sit down. “We have to do something with soft, natural waves. It’s perfect for a beach wedding.”
She set to work, talking over the bobby pins in her mouth. “I still can’t believe this is real,” she said. “Can you believe how far you and Ryland have come?”
“I know.” I smiled. “It’s kind of crazy.”
We went from him blackmailing me and wanting my family dead to being crazy in love. It wouldn’t make sense to most people, but I didn’t care. He was my soul mate. He was my everything, and I wouldn’t change a minute of what had happened between us because it brought us to where we were.
“Has he come back yet?” I asked. He’d been gone all morning, and I was worried that something would happen. I was starting to become just like him.
“Dear God, there’s two of you,” Nicole teased. “He’s fine, Brighton. He checked in with me an hour ago and said he was on his way back. He should be here any minute.”
Almost as if on cue, a knock sounded on the bedroom door, and I glanced around in panic. “He can’t see me yet.”
“Don’t worry.” Nicole grinned as she walked towards the door. “I wouldn’t allow that to happen.”
She opened the door, and my mouth fell open when I saw who was standing on the other side.
“Norma?”
“Surprise!” she threw her hands up in the air.
I was a little shocked when she ran over and hugged me like her life depended on it. We were still trying to figure out how this whole being sober relationship worked between us. There were tears in her eyes when she pulled away and held me at arm’s length. “My God, Brighton, you look so beautiful. That boy won’t know what hit him when he sees you walking down the aisle.”
“I can’t believe you came,” I stammered.
Great, now my eyes were filling with tears too. The littlest things set me off these days.
“Ryland arranged it,” she said. “He wanted you to have your family here.”
Although she didn’t mean to, her words brought a dark cloud into the room. I swallowed and looked away. Because even though Norma was there, Brayden wasn’t. And that hurt.
“He invited Brayden too,” Nicole said softly. “Just so you know.”
“He did?”
I was full on crying now. I just gave into it.
“Yes,” Norma answered for her. “I tried to talk him into coming too. I’m sorry, Brighton, but you know he’s stubborn as hell.”
“I know.” I nodded.
It was for the best he wasn’t going to be here if that was his attitude. I didn’t need anyone trying to ruin our special day. But I still couldn’t believe Ryland had extended the olive branch. I was shocked, and it only made me want to marry him more.
Norma reached out and handed me a little blue box. “Ryland wanted me to give you this.”
“What is it?”
“Well, open it and see.” She grinned. “I’m guessing it’s some kind of jewelry from the looks of it.”
I reached down and opened the lid to find a white gold necklace with what appeared to be a heart wave. The paper beneath it confirmed it.
“Oh my God.” I clasped a hand over my mouth. “He had this custom made for me. It’s his heart beat.”
“What does the paper say?” Nicole tried to peek over my shoulder.
“It says, keep this close to your heart, Brighton, so we’ll never be out of sync.”
“Wow.” Nicole blubbered. “That is so sweet. And so unlike Ryland.”