“Treat,” she said harsher than she meant to. “Get ready to officiate our wedding.”
“Riley,” Jade said softly. “What…?”
Pushing past her mother, Jade, and Lacy, Riley stalked toward the stairs. “I don’t care what else happens. It can rain so hard that we need Noah’s Ark to survive, or a swarm of bees can attack us as we say our vows. I. Don’t. Care. Our baby is going to have married parents!” She stormed down the stairs, too upset to care about the footsteps coming after her.
“Baby? Riley Roo—”
Oh shit. Did I say ‘baby’? Shit, shit, shit.
Her mother’s voice lingered in her ears as she descended the steps and walked quickly down the hall toward the suite where she and Josh had spent the night. She didn’t care about the drapes or the cake or even the paparazzi, for that matter. Let them come and get all of this on video. None of that mattered.
“Baby?” Jade and Max said in unison, catching up to her, with Lacy and Savannah on their heels.
“You’re pregnant?” Jade shifted little Hal on her hip.
Her mother was beside her now, too. Her concerned gaze boring into Riley.
Riley clenched her teeth together, shifting her eyes to the floor as she walked.
“Riley!” Jade grabbed her arm, slowing her down. “You’re pregnant and you didn’t tell me?”
The hurt in her best friend’s eyes nearly brought her to her knees. “I…” The others were watching her intently, hanging on to her every word. She glanced at little Hal, whose wide dark eyes were moving between Riley and Jade.
A swarm of love and guilt tightened like a noose around Riley’s neck. It was all she could do to choke out, “They said I couldn’t get pregnant, and then I did. And you guys were so happy with your babies and adorable families, and Josh and I…We’re hanging on to a shred of hope that our pregnancy will stick.” Her throat nearly closed with her confession. She couldn’t take it. It was all too much. She walked away on shaky legs.
“Riley,” her mother called after her. “You thought you couldn’t have children?”
The devastation in her mother’s voice brought painful memories of the day she and Josh had received that awful news. Riley had cried for what felt like a week straight, and Josh had shed a river of tears, too. But she hadn’t realized then that her mother must have experienced the same agonizing torture. She’d wanted a big family, but she’d never been able to conceive after having Riley. Riley slowed her stride, feeling a pang of guilt and sadness.
“Ri, that’s why you need to share this with us,” Jade implored. “You’re my best friend, and it kills me to know you went through that alone. And now. Oh, Riley,” she said sadly. “You must be scared to death. You don’t have to go through this alone, too.”
This slowed Riley down even further, because hadn’t she known that all along? “But I’m not alone,” she said softly. “I have Josh.”
“It’s not the same,” her mother said gently. “Honey, nothing is the same as having the support of women who understand and have been where you are. As a woman who wanted a big family and ended up with just one perfect daughter”—she reached for Riley’s hand and gave it a squeeze—“I understand what you’re going through. Josh is the most important part of your life now, as he should be. But he can’t know what it feels like to have life growing inside of you, so he can’t know what it’s like to be told you’ll never give birth to a child. Not on the same level as a woman who knows what it’s like to be willing to give your heart and soul in order for that life to thrive. We’re here, baby girl. We’re always here for you. Not to replace Josh. Just to accompany him in supporting you.”
The noose pulled tighter, and worse, the truth of her mother’s words brought another type of guilt. The realization that Riley had cut her best friend—friends—and her family out of this part of her life, not to spare their feelings but maybe to spare her own.
“I was scared,” she said just above a whisper. “Talking about it makes it more real, and…” She glanced at Jade and little Hal, at Max, who was looking at her with so much empathy it made Riley’s chest ache. Lacy and Savannah huddled closer with the same emotions written on their faces. “I was jealous, too, and that’s ugly and hateful and so wrong.” As they moved in to embrace her, her emotions threatened to suffocate her.
“I’m sorry,” she said, turning away. “I can’t…I just can’t.” She ran down the hall, ignoring their continued offers of support as they raced behind her, and threw the door to the suite open.
“Josh, I want to get married now, and—” Her legs stopped working at the sight of Josh lying on the bed with his arms crossed behind his head. Buck. Naked.
Max and Jade bumped into Riley’s back, jolting her overloaded brain into panic mode.
“Oh shit.” Josh jumped from the bed and scrambled into his briefs.
“Holy moly,” Jade said.
“Perfect. Just flipping perfect.” Riley threw her hands up in the air and turned around as Max and Jade ushered the others, who were peering around them to see what the fuss was about, out of the room, shouting, “Go, go, go!”
Jade turned as Riley tried to close the door and said, “Forget us. Take him!”
Riley closed the door, leaned her back against it, and covered her face with her hands. Too frustrated to laugh or cry, she made a garbled, mewing noise that rivaled the frantic sounds the raccoons had made earlier.
Josh planted one hand on either side of her head and pressed his body to hers. “Why did they see me naked?”
She whimpered from behind her hands.
“Baby, talk to me.”
She spread her fingers apart and looked at his smiling face. All the anger drained from her body, and she dropped her hands. “Raccoons got the cake.”
“Raccoons…”
“Mm-hm. And they ruined the drapes, and this would never happen in New York!”
“And everyone followed you down here because…?”
“I might have said something about being pregnant.” She winced, but his smile widened. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. I lost my mind when everything got ruined…Wait. Why are you smiling?”
“Because I love you so much. When everything went to hell, your mind went straight to our unborn child.” He brushed his lips over hers. “Baby, that’s beautiful.”
“Or neurotic,” she offered. “Oh God, Josh. Max and Jade saw you naked.”
“Yeah, that kind of sucks, but right now…” He reached behind her and locked the door. “I’m going to take all your stress away.” He lifted her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor. “We can worry about that later. Hugh says it’s bad luck not to make love to your bride before the wedding.”
“That’s not exactly what he said.” Shivers ran up her spine as he rid her of her bra and pulled her pants down to her ankles. “But the kitchen is a wreck, and your brothers and father and Jack are searching the house for raccoons.”
“And they’re quite capable of carrying out the search. Just this once, can’t we be a little selfish?” He knelt and pulled off her remaining clothes, stripped from his briefs, and lifted her into his arms. Her legs wound around his waist as he lowered her onto his hard shaft. They both groaned at the deep, penetrating connection. Her entire body flamed, greedy for his love.
“Josh, we should help them,” she said halfheartedly, trying to fight the lust coursing through her and do the right thing. Her back met the wall, and he thrust into her. “Oh God you feel good.” Her good intentions were no match for their love. “We should…” Be selfish. Be very, very selfish.
“Later,” he promised, thrusting harder. “I thought about making love to you the whole time you were gone, and nothing.” He dragged his tongue along her lower lip. “Nothing…” He gyrated, grinding his cock exquisitely over all her sensitive nerves. “Is going to keep me from loving every ounce of stress out of your beautiful body.”
“Yes,” she pleaded, and he did. Loving her
harder, deeper, and oh so perfectly. Obliterating her stress until all that was left was his sweet voice whispering sweet everythings in her ear and his hot body moving over her, inside her, around her, cocooning her from the rest of the world and righting all the upended pieces of herself.
Chapter Seven
AS THE DIMMING sun set over the picturesque mountains, Josh stood beside his siblings and father, who was his best man, in front of the altar they’d built. Cleaning up had taken all day, as did Riley’s baking. Riley and her mother had worked together to make another wedding cake, and despite what happened to the first one, she still refused to let Josh take a peek before the wedding. The drapes had been clawed to shreds where the raccoons had climbed them and were ruined beyond repair, but that didn’t stop Josh from creating the perfect arbor for their wedding. Layla, Adriana, and their mothers, helped gather enough wildflowers to cover the frame of the wooden structure. Rex found lattice in the woodshed and hung it between the legs of the frame, and with the help of their brothers and Jack, they meticulously strung more lights, which Charlotte had found in a storage room marked “Holiday Decorations,” around the pretty wooden arbor. The chandelier still hung from the center, though part of one arm had broken off. Presumably from curious four-legged creatures.
The only four-legged creature Josh wanted to be around was Hope, who had appeared in his dreams last night. She’d been standing in the grass at the base of the stairs, as she was now, with a flower wreath the girls had made hanging around her thick neck. Smiling. It was a strange sensation to see a horse smile—and to think, even for a moment, that maybe he was the last to understand what his siblings must have known all along. It didn’t matter if his mother was spiritually connected to the horse or a necklace, or even this place. All that mattered was that she was alive in their hearts, and of course because of that they’d see or sense her everywhere. He’d simply been too caught up in work and building a life to look beyond the forest to see the trees.
“Son.”
A heavy hand on his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts, and he lifted his gaze to meet his father’s serious dark eyes.
“I’m truly sorry about Riley’s gown.”
“I know, Dad. It’s fine, really. They’re kids, and you had your hands full. Riley will be the most gorgeous bride no matter what she wears.”
“Second most gorgeous.” His father winked. “You’re the last of my kin to marry, and it marks the end of a part of my life I never wished away.” He squeezed Josh’s shoulder as his eyes moved over his brothers, then their wives, and Savannah, who was holding Adam in her arms. “I never wished it away, but with all these darlin’ grandchildren, and now Riley formally coming into our family, and your son or daughter on the way, we all have a lot to look forward to.”
Josh’s throat thickened. Too choked up to speak, he nodded in agreement. His father and the rest of his family had been supportive and elated at their pregnancy news. This chaotic weekend had made him realize how much he wanted to live among family, regardless of the insanity that sometimes ensued. Nothing could replace family.
Treat, standing on Josh’s other side, cleared his throat as Adriana and Layla stepped outside the house and onto the terrace wearing their pretty peach dresses and flower tiaras. They each held the hand of their younger brother, both of whom looked adorable in their khaki pants and white dress shirts. Christian and Dylan each carried a red velvet pillow with a wedding ring tied to a pretty white bow sewn into the center.
The four children made their way toward the altar, smiling like it was the happiest day of their lives—it was Josh’s, that was for sure. Josh nervously patted the bulge in his pocket, where he’d hidden the key to the house on Rosedale Lane in Weston. He’d purchased it the week after they’d found out Riley was pregnant. It was supposed to be his wedding gift to Riley, so she’d have options and wouldn’t feel the pressure to make a hasty decision one way or the other. Her parents had graciously offered to meet the furniture delivery trucks yesterday, a chore he couldn’t have given to his brothers. Their wives were too curious, and the secret would have surely slipped out. They were strong, but Josh knew firsthand how strength melted beneath the warmth of true love. Now the key he’d been hiding would go undelivered. Riley had spent the day talking about how none of this would have happened if they’d married in New York—paparazzi or not. She didn’t need to spell out her decision, and as much as Josh had been looking forward to raising his children close to family, at least part-time, Riley’s happiness came first.
“Look, Uncle Josh! We didn’t drop the pillows!” Dylan said proudly as he came to his father’s side.
Treat put a hand on Dylan’s shoulder.
“You carried them like champs,” Josh said. He wondered if his little girl or boy would ever have a chance to walk down an aisle in support of their loved ones. Watching Layla smooth a wayward spike of hair on Christian’s head tugged at his heartstrings, and he knew his and Riley’s babies would always be surrounded by loving cousins, no matter how many miles separated them from day to day.
Riley stepped onto the deck beside her father in her newly decorated wedding gown. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders in gentle waves, and she proudly wore the headdress the girls had made. Josh lost his breath. And when Riley smiled, her eyes glistening with tears of joy, just as his were, he couldn’t resist stepping forward and meeting her halfway.
“In a hurry?” she asked with a soft laugh that made him grin like a fool.
Damn he loved her laugh. “You have no idea.” He was in a hurry, all right. The sooner she became his wife, the quicker his lips could meet hers.
RILEY WAS SHAKING like a leaf and trying her best to hide it, which was silly because she was surrounded by all the people she loved most. But when Josh crossed the deck, his eyes blazing a path to hers, her heart rate quickened and it refused to calm. He looked even more strikingly handsome than usual, and it had nothing to do with his dark suit and silver tie, or the pretty yellow rose boutonniere. No, it was the aura of love he radiated that made her heart beat like she’d taken a hit of speed.
“You look beautiful.” Josh reached for her hands.
“So do you,” she managed.
She didn’t know how long they stood there holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes, but it was long enough for the women to begin whispering and the children to begin giggling. Her father cleared his throat, snapping them out of their private bubble.
Josh blinked several times, as if he’d also been too caught up in her to think. “I’m sorry,” he said to her father, but he made no move to walk away. His eyes found hers again, and he opened his mouth as if to speak. She swore time stood still, but he closed his mouth again and blew her a kiss before returning to Treat’s side.
“I think your husband-to-be is quite ready, sunshine,” her father said sweetly, and offered her his arm.
“Yes, Daddy.” She looped her arm through his. “We’ve been ready forever.”
On shaky legs, she walked across the deck, taking in the beautiful lights illuminating the dusky night and the happy faces of the men and women who she knew would go to the ends of the earth for them. And for our baby. She stopped beside her mother, a silent message of love and Riley’s apology for withholding the news about her pregnancy passing between them. Earlier, after she and Josh had calmed her whirling emotions, they’d had a long talk with their friends and families, explaining why they’d kept the news of their pregnancy to themselves. Riley had come away feeling relieved and very, very loved.
When they reached Josh, her father kissed her cheek and whispered, “I wish you a lifetime of happiness, sunshine.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them away. No tears during the ceremony, she reminded herself. She’d already shed enough tears this weekend.
Her father, who had never seemed particularly macho to Riley, nodded at Josh. There was something in the way he did it, with a serious, almost magnetic expression, that comm
anded respect. His message was clear. Treat my baby right, or you’ll have me to deal with. In that moment she realized that what her mother had said rang truer than ever. Her father might not be rugged, but he was strong in all the ways that mattered.
She glanced at her future husband, who was looking at her like she was his entire world, and she knew her father needn’t worry. Just as Josh had promised on the day they’d become engaged, they were partners in love and in life. Forever.
AFTER THE CEREMONY and all the congratulatory hugs and well wishes, Treat and Rex carried the cake out to the table on the deck. Josh could not believe his eyes. The four-layer cake was as beautiful as if it had been professionally baked. He squeezed Riley’s hand.
“You’re not going to leave me to become a baker, are you?”
She shook her head, her eyes dancing with delight. “No, but I think I’ve made a decision about where I want to live, and I hope it doesn’t cause you to want to leave me.”
“Baby, nothing could ever cause that. I know you want to stay in New York.”
“That’s the sweetest thing I’ve heard all day,” Savannah said.
Josh hadn’t realized anyone could hear them. He glanced at Savannah and then returned his attention to his beautiful new wife, who had a confused look in her eyes.
“No, Josh. I want to move home.”
“You do? Even after all you said about nothing like this happening in New York?”
“Yes!” she said loudly. “That’s one of the reasons why I want to move back to Weston. I miss it, Josh. I miss my parents and your family and the wild, silly things that happen when we’re all together.”
Josh didn’t think, didn’t hesitate, as he swept Riley off her feet and twirled her around. The train of her dress flew out behind her…directly into the cake.
“No!” Treat lunged to catch it at the same time Jade hollered, “The cake!” and dove for it. They each caught one side of the tray the cake had been carried out on, just as the three top layers tumbled off, causing everyone to yell, “No!”—except Riley and Josh, whose mouths were too busy kissing and hearts were too swept up in love to care.
Anything For Love Page 36