First Love - [Bridesmaid's Chronicles 04]

by Julie Kenner

  He sprinted away, leaving Marv and Julia looking awkwardly at each other. Finally Marv opened his arms wide, and Julia slipped inside, for the first time that day feeling truly warm and safe. "Oh, Daddy," she mumbled, then sniffled. She wasn't going to cryshe wasn'tbut damned if she didn't come close.

  "Hey, there, Princess. Don't you go cryin' on me. This is a big day. My little girl getting hitched and all."

  She leaned back to look him in the face, expecting to see disapproval reflected there. She didn't. All she saw was lovewhich, of course, made the tears flow in earnest. "I love you, Pop," she said, throwing her arms back around him and sniffling. And why not? Weren't brides supposed to be teary and emotional?

  He stroked her hair and made soothing noises. "Hey there, baby girl. Hey, hey. You know, you shouldn't oughta be cryin'. I figure big-shot business women don't cry, you know?"

  She sniffed and pulled back again, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Huh?"

  "You. You're doing good, you know? I, well, I just thought I ought to tell you."

  "Really?" She wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. "You're not just saying that?"

  He snorted. "You ever know me to say something I didn't mean?"

  He had a point.

  "No, Princess, it's true. You done good here. The Inn. The crazy idea you got for a B and B. Even your numbskull fiance ain't so bad."

  "The B and B?" She was so intent on his comment that she barely registered the praise. "How do you know about that?"

  "Your sister's boyfriend. He told me about it. Sounds like a good idea."

  "Really? You think I could pull something like that off?"

  He adjusted his stance, his pudgy arms crossing over his chest as he nodded. "Yeah, Princess, I do. I been lookin' at your books, you know. You got a good head."

  "Pop" She felt her lip quiver.

  "Don't go getting all emotional on me. That's the problem with women and business. They just can't take a damn compliment."

  "I can take it," she said. "And thank you." She just wished

  He squinted at her. "What?"

  "Nothing." She looked away, focusing on her toes.

  "Don't nothing me, baby girl. What's going on?"

  She sighed, not wanting to tell Marv for fear he'd gloat, and at the same time wanting to dump all her fears and frustrations on her father and let him sort them out for her.

  "Princess? This is your pop. Am I gonna have to smack you across the backside or are you gonna tell me?"

  She grinned. That was the Marv she knew how to answer to. "It's just well, it's Roman. When I told him about my money and suggested we form a partnership to buy Sonntag House, he kind of freaked."

  She frowned, realizing that wasn't true. "No, actually, he didn't freak. But he didn't do it either. He lined up some other business deal. A deal he didn't even want, and I know he did it only so he wouldn't have to partner with me."

  "Aw, Princess. You really think so?"

  She licked her lips, her eyes brimming. "I don't know what to think. I mean, if he thinks it would strain the marriage for us to have a business together, he ought to just tell me that, right? But what if he thinks I've got no business sense? What if all his compliments have just been, I don't know, pats on the head? Or what if he's uncomfortable with the fact that I have money? It's not like I can change that. I mean, I'm not going to just give it all back to you!"

  Marv laughed. "I wouldn't take it even if you tried. Why you think I been working my keister off for all these years? For my health? I been wanting to give you girls something solid. Don't you ever be ashamed you got money. Your pop worked his tail off for it. And it's yours because I love you."

  "Pop" She got all misty-eyed again apparently that was par for the course this close to her wedding day. "I don't think you've ever said anything like that to me."

  "Yeah, well, just because I don't say it doesn't mean I don't mean it." He shifted a bit, trying to find a position where he could look her in the eyes. "About that boy of yours"

  "I know you don't approve of Roman, but I love him, Pop. It's probably just wedding nerves, but this whole money thing has got me all worked up, and I just"

  "I like him just fine."

  She blinked. "What?"

  "You heard me. I ain't gonna say it again. Let's just say I been watching the boy. Seen some things he's done for you. And I've been doin' a little thinking on my own. I don't like what happened all those years ago, but that's the past. And right now, that boy's in love with you. That much I'm sure of."

  "Then why is he walking on eggshells about this whole money thing? And the ring. He made a huge deal out of going into debt to buy me a ring I don't even want."

  Marv nodded, looking like a man who was truly considering the problem. "He wants to take care of you, Princess. It rankles him because he thinks that he can't. That you don't need him that way."

  She nodded slowly, considering the possibility. It did make some sense. "You really think so?"

  "Princess, I been there. Trust me. Just give the boy some time to come around."

  "Time," she repeated. Except she didn't have any time. Tomorrow she was going to be at the center of the grandest wedding the town had seen in decades. It was what she'd always dreamed of, and she wasn't about to sacrifice that or postpone it or do anything at all to risk her dream. "Time," she said again. And she really, really wished she had some.

  "Dance with me?" Roman held his hands out to her, and Julia slid into his arms, wanting to stay there forever. After tomorrow, she thought, she wouldn't have any reason to leave. They'd be married. Bound to each other. For better, as the saying went, or for worse.

  Damn.

  These doubts and fears kept running through her head and she didn't know if they were legitimate or just nerves. Now, of course, wasn't the time to be thinking about it. They were at their rehearsal dinner, dancing among the tables filled with good food and good friends. Their families were actually at peace with each other (more or less), the final wedding arrangements had been made (Breckin swore the flowers were taken care of, though he wouldn't tell Julia how), and all that was left was to eat, drink and be merry before the big day.

  So why, why, why did she have this niggling feeling of doom?

  "Julia?"

  She sucked in a breath, planned to tell him everything was all right, and heard herself saying, "We need to talk."

  "Yeah," he said. "I know."

  They moved through the restaurant, stopping at tables to chat with Syd and Alex, Vivien and J.B., their parents. Then they made some ridiculous excuse and stepped outside, walking hand in hand down Main Street in the fading light.

  She didn't say anything at first because her nerves were too raw, but finally she decided that she had to speak up or they'd be all the way to Austin before her courage kicked in. "I need to know if you're okay with the money," she said, then held her breath.

  He didn't even pretend to misunderstand. He just stopped, and took both her hands in his. They stood that way, drawing the odd glance from the few pas-sersby, as he fought to find the words. "I am," he finally said, and Julia felt her heart lift with relief. "I wasn't at first, and I'm sorry. Babe, I'm so, so sorry. I wanted I guess I wanted to give you everything. Old-fashioned and ridiculous, but I just wanted to be the man you relied on. But when I learned that you had access to money that could get me out of a bind I don't know. Maybe I was a little bit jealous. Maybe I felt emasculated. Maybe I was just being an ass."

  "Then it didn't have anything to do with my business skills?"

  His forehead furrowed. "What do you mean?"

  She looked down, studying her shoes. "Just that I suggested we form a partnership to buy Sonntag House, and you practically ran screaming in the other direction."

  "Oh, babe." He shook his head, holding tight to her hands.

  "And that time in Austin when you didn't want me in the loop for your meeting. I mean, we're about to enter a pretty intimate partnership, and yet
you don't seem to want me anywhere near your business. Don't you trust me?"

  He closed his eyes, a flash of pain coloring his face. "Sweetheart, I promise, it's nothing like that. You're brilliant at business. You have an amazing knack. You've blown everyone away, including yourself."

  "Everyone but you, you mean."

  "Me too. I promise. It's not you, really. It's me."

  She choked back a sob. "Funny. I think that's the line I used most often every time I broke up with a boy."

  "Well, you're not breaking up with me." He brought her hand up and kissed her fingertips. "Julia, all I know is that I love you and I want you and I want to take care of you. I want to make you happy."

  "You do make me happy, Roman. And the things I want from youthe things I want for usdon't have anything to do with money."

  "I know that, babe."

  He was holding her left hand, his finger brushing the edge of the new engagement ring. She held her breath, expecting him to take the ring back, to promise to return his great-grandmother's ring to her finger. He didn't, though. And all of a sudden, Julia's heart got a little bit heavier.

  The ring really was a symbol; she realized that now. And not a symbol of their engagement, either. Or at least not exclusively. No, it was a symbol from Roman to the town. A symbol that he was still successful, a man with money enough to buy his wife a fabulous diamondeven if his wife didn't really want one.

  "You know I love you, don't you?" she asked.

  "Of course."

  She licked her lips. "Remember what you told me when you found me and Bart in the flower bed? You said that you loved me. And that it didn't matter about my dad or his blue tux or any of that. You just loved me."

  "I remember."

  She nodded. "Do you really know the woman you love?"

  He cocked his head, wary. "Of course I know you. Sweetheart, I"

  "What's my favorite color?"

  He closed his mouth. Frowned. "Yellow?"

  "Good guess. But wrong."

  He shook his head, concern and confusion marring his features. "Julia, I"

  She pressed a finger to his lips. "Don't worry," she said. "It doesn't matter. It's red. And in time you'll learn that. And all sorts of other little things about me." She nodded down the street toward the restaurant. "We ought to get back," she said.

  They walked silently back, not speaking. But the silence between them seemed heavy and awkward. She knew without a doubt that Roman was the perfect man for her. But she was no longer certain that she was his perfect girl.

  Nerves , Roman thought. That explained why even after their talk, Julia still seemed distracted during the rehearsal dinner. Nerves and maybe something else. Like that she was still irritated with him because of his reaction to her money. Not that he could blame her for that. He had reacted badly. Stupidly. But he couldn't go back in time and fix that. They'd just have to keep moving forward. And the fact was, with less than twenty-four hours to go until the wedding, it was understandable that emotions were running high. Wasn't that the very definition of a bride?

  Not that he had the luxury of analyzing the situation. He was too busy shaking hands and listening to toasts and stories from his family about all the girls he'd left with broken hearts in high school.

  He wasn't even paying attention, in fact, when Julia stood up, her spoon tapping against the side of her water glass. But the ambient noise in the room died down, and he turned to find his bride-to-be facing the crowd, looking strong and beautiful and a little too serious for the night before her wedding.

  "Hi," she said, her voice more timid than he'd ever heard before. "Um, I I mean, we have a little announcement to make." She smiled at Roman, her expression ever so tender. He swallowed. This was going to be bad.

  "So, here's the thing." She stood up a little straighter, and he knew she was gathering her nerves. "Roman and I just had a long talk, and we've decided that we need a little more time to get to know each other." She held up a hand, ostensibly to cut off the chatter that had started in the room. "We're not cancelling the wedding. We're just postponing it. And there's still going to be a party tomorrow at the Sonntags' house. The wedding reception will just be an engagement party instead. And when Roman and I are ready, we'll go visit a justice of the peace. Or maybe Judge Strauss will do the honors," she added, and everyone laughed, albeit a bit nervously.

  Roman stood up. He had to. She'd included him in this speech so as not to embarrass him; he knew that. But he also knew how much a big wedding meant to her. And there was no way they could pull this off more than once. "Julia, sweetheart. This wedding"

  "No." She shook her head, her eyes sad despite her smile. "No. I thought I needed the big wedding. You know, the wedding I'd always dreamed about. A fairy-tale dress and a fairy-tale wedding. But the thing I've learned is that it's not about the wedding being perfect. It's about the marriage being perfect." She paused a bit, then aimed her smile at all the guests, who were sitting there looking just as shell-shocked as Roman felt. "Give us time, and we'll get there. Tomorrow, though, we just want to celebrate the engagement with our friends and family."

  She dragged her teeth across her lower lip, a sure sign that she was fighting back tears. Then she squeezed her father's hand and sat back down.

  Roman realized he was still standing, all eyes on him. They all knew he was as shocked as they were; surely they could see it in his eyes.

  He exhaled, doing nothing more than watching his bride. He'd known from the day that Julia had walked into his lifea vibrant woman in a tiny bikini determined to read him the riot actthat she would never stop surprising him.

  This, however, really wasn't what he'd had in mind.

  "I can't let her do this," Roman said.

  Alex took his empty beer bottle and replaced it with a full one. Then he tossed J.B. a bottle as well. The men were in Roman's apartment, their bachelor party plans cancelled. Instead, they were commiserating with their friend.

  "You have to let her do this," J.B. said. "Roman, man, if what you're saying is right, one of the reasons she's backing off is your little issue about control."

  "She wants the big wedding. And, yes, maybe I do like to be in charge, but that's never been a problem. I mean, we laugh about it." They did, too. His personality was one of her favorite things to tease him about. He shook his head, slightly baffled. "I've never steamrollered her decisions. Hell, she's the one who's built up the Inn. I barely even helped her."

  "You never steamrollered her until she tried to step in and do some control maneuvers on your turf," Alex pointed out. "Until she wanted equal billing in a business deal."

  "Put together with her money," J.B. added.

  And, because they were absolutely right, Roman didn't say anything.

  He'd been an idiot, a fool, and a hundred other derogatory names. He'd been trying so hard to be the perfect husband, able to give his new wife the perfect life, that he hadn't been able to see the big picture.

  And now the picture was nothing but a mess.

  The truth was he did trust Juliaon all counts. He trusted her business sense and he trusted her with his heart. But he'd been such a damn fool about keeping his pride that he'd wounded the one person who mattered more to him than himself.

  He had only one chance to make it better. It was a risk, but it was a risk he had to take. He only hoped it would work.

  Determined, he took a long swallow of beer and then stood up. "I need your help, guys. I know what I need to do. But there's something I need if I'm going to pull it off."

  "Sure," J.B. said.

  "What do you need?" Alex asked.

  "Breckin," Roman said. "I need you guys to track down Breckin."

  "It's really beautiful," Claudia said.

  "Oh, yes," said Daisy. "Truly."

  Julia nodded. Her friends from school had flown in that morning. They were a littleno, a lot surprised that the wedding had morphed into a party, but they were doing a good job of masking their concern. And
their curiosity.

  As for it being beautiful, about that, they were right. Breckin really had come through. The tables and chairs were covered with crisp white linens and spaced the perfect distance apart. Welcome gifts were at each place setting. And the flowerswell, the flowers were perfect, Texas wildflowers strewn delicately around. He'd even found a private source for bluebonnets, the state flower that couldn't be picked from the wild.

  She felt a little twinge in her stomach, a knot of regret that this was just a party and not her wedding reception. She hadn't even gotten to wear her dress. Instead, she was decked out in a white Chanel suit. Sophisticated, glamorous, regal. But not the attire of a bride.

  She told herself she'd done the right thing.

  She hoped she was telling herself the truth.

  "Chin up, sweetie," Viv said, moving up to press a champagne flute into her hand. "You did the right thing."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Did it feel like the right thing when you did it?"

  Julia nodded.

  "Well, there you go." She gave Julia a tender smile, then waved at J.B., who came over and slid his arm around Viv's waist before planting a quick kiss on her shoulder.

  "How you doing, kid?" he asked Julia.

  She shrugged. She'd been getting that question a lot. "I'm trying to remind myself that it's one hell of a party."

  "That it is."

  Syd and Alex ambled up. "Anyone else think it's ironic that I got the last word?" Syd asked. "And believe me. When arguing with Julia, I never get the last word."

  Julia squinted at her sister. "What on earth are you talking about?"

  Syd smiled angelically. "I came to Texas to postpone the wedding, remember?"

  Julia rolled her eyes. "Doesn't count. You do not get the last word."

  "Of course I do. I"

  But she was cut off by the flurry of flashbulbs and trampling feet. Julia turned sharply, her eyes widening at the sight of Kiki leading Roman by the arm, photographers following in their wake.

  "Julia! Julia, honey, this just won't do. You can postpone the wedding if you need to. I mean, do what you have to do. But you simply cannot postpone Vera Wang." She pointed a stern finger at Syd and Viv. "Photo session now. On the veranda. Zachary is just the best," she added, waving a hand at a short man laden down with cameras. "You'll have a portrait and, if you're lucky, you might even end up in Vogue ."