Turning, I made my way to the back of the church and to Kaelynn. Her head tilted as she regarded me carefully.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked, lifting up on her toes to kiss me.
“I am now,” I replied, pulling her to me and holding her. “Let’s get to the rehearsal dinner so we can leave early and spend some time together.”
She grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
Dinner was at the Barton Creek Country Club, where the reception would be after the wedding. Terri’s father was part owner of the club and had reserved an entire room for the small group of us. Terri and Jim had wanted to keep it on the lighter side, so only family and those in the wedding were at the dinner tonight. Kaelynn had come as my guest and sat next to me, talking to Terri’s cousin, who was in the Marines. I was trying like hell not to think about what Blake had told me about Kaelynn. My mind went everywhere, though.
Why in the hell would she not use her real last name?
“So, Nash, Jim tells me you own a construction company and you are in architecture. How wonderful. Do you design custom homes as well?”
The woman sitting across from me was Jim’s aunt, Dorothy. I forced a smile as I answered her.
“We do. I actually designed and built Tucker’s home. His wife, Charlie, helped a lot with the design process, though. I’ve designed a few more homes, as well. I’m really just getting started on the design side of things.”
Dorothy raised a brow. “How exciting. Do you only build homes?”
“No, we’re actually working on a new apartment-and-retail complex going in on the east side of downtown Austin. It’s our company’s largest project right now. We have a few smaller ones going on, as well. A house and another buildout of a salon in south Austin, to name a few.”
“How exciting!” she gasped. “My husband likes to build things. Model trains and airplanes. Things of the sorts.”
Blake snickered next to me, and I hit him with my knee under the table.
“That’s great. My job is a bit different, but exactly the same concept.”
She smiled.
The night seemed to drag on. Charlie had whisked Kaelynn away from me every chance she had to introduce her to someone else. When she finally made her way back to me, she wore a sexy grin on her face.
“I’m ready to leave.”
“Are you now?” I asked, my brow arched. “And why the rush?”
“I haven’t seen you all week. It would be nice to just be alone for a bit.”
My body ached for her. I pushed the nagging voice in the back of my head away as I took her hand in mine. “Then let’s leave.”
“Don’t we need to let Terri and Jim know?” she asked.
“Nope.”
Before we got to the door, we were stopped.
“Oh. No. You are not taking her away.”
Terri stood in front of us, her arms crossed over her chest. “Tonight is my bachelorette party.”
“The night before your wedding?” I asked, shocked.
“Yes. I invited everyone to stay here. We’re going to be pampered this evening and tomorrow morning. Kaelynn, I really would love for you to stay.”
I couldn’t help but see the excitement on Kaelynn’s face. Then she looked at me, and her smile faded. “Oh, um, gosh thank you so much, and I would have loved that. I don’t have anything to wear for tonight and my dress is at my house.”
Terri laughed. “Nope. I had Morgan go to your house and get your stuff. She said she knew the dress you were wearing to the wedding, and she got it all for you. She’ll be here tonight too. Please, Kaelynn? I would really love for you to stay. Please!”
Glancing back my way, I winked. “You should stay. Have fun, and with Morgan being here, you’ll have even more fun.”
Kaelynn looked between Terri and me. “Well, it does sound like fun.”
“Then you’re staying!” Terri cried out!
“I’m staying!” Kaelynn echoed.
“I’ve already had my father book you a room, so you don’t have to worry about that. We’ll all be staying on the top floor here at the country club’s Omni hotel. We’re going to have so much fun.”
Charlie walked up to us and wrapped her arm around Kaelynn. “Okay, say goodbye to Nash. It’s girls’ night!”
“Wait! Wait, let me just have a minute with him,” Kaelynn said.
Charlie frowned, but then smiled. “Two minutes is all you get. I had to say goodbye to my precious baby girl, and I need something to drink to keep my mind off the fact I won’t see her for a few hours. I need this bachelorette thing to kick the hell off so I can sneak out and go to our room and be with Hannah and Tucker.”
Kaelynn giggled while I laughed. She walked up to me. “I’m sorry. It’s like fate is trying to keep us away from one another.”
Tucking a stray curl behind her ear, I leaned down and kissed her lightly on the lips. “Tomorrow after this wedding, you’re mine and I’m taking you away and spending time with you.”
“All yours,” she said, lifting up on her toes and kissing me. “Text me later?”
“I will.”
Taking a step back, Kaelynn reached for my hand and worried her lip. “Nash, there’s something I need to talk to you about, though. It’s nothing bad. After the wedding tomorrow, I’d like to find somewhere private to talk. It’s important to me.”
I could hear my own heartbeat in my ears. Tomorrow I would finally know what secret Kaelynn kept from me. The only problem was, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know anymore.
SITTING ON THE large sofa in the Palmer suite of the Omni, I reached for a strawberry and popped it into my mouth. The country club my parents belonged to had a hotel on property as well, but this hotel was amazing. I would have never known Terri came from such a wealthy family. Really, none of Nash’s friends were anything like the friends I had growing up. They were all rich snobs who would never think of working for nonprofits, becoming a vet, or spending their holidays helping the less fortunate. Of course, I was blessed with a few friends who were not spoiled brats.
“I want to sneak down and make sure everything is set up for the reception,” Terri stated, dropping down on the sofa and grabbing a handful of popcorn.
“No, I’ll go check. I’m the maid of honor,” Charlie said, standing and pointing to me. She had already gone and spent some time with Hannah before she came back to the party. Charlie reached for my hand and said, “Come on, Kaelynn. Let’s go.”
My mouth fell open as I stared at what I was wearing. Morgan thought she would be cute and bring my moose PJs and matching moose slippers.
“But I’m in my pajamas and more than slightly buzzed,” I said. Morgan laughed next to me, which made Terri start laughing, then Charlie. The rest of Terri’s friends were gathered around the fire pit outside. It was obvious who Terri’s dearest friends were.
“I’m in my PJs too,” Charlie stated.
“Let’s all go down like this!” Terri shouted as she jumped. “My father owns the place. What are they going to say? Leave?”
Another round of giggles echoed in the room.
“Fine, I’ll go,” I mumbled as I stood.
Terri clapped her hands and ran out to the patio to let the rest of the girls know we were going to the pavilion to make sure everything was set up. I figured at least a few of them would go, but they all declined.
“Snobs,” Charlie whispered as I covered my mouth to hide the giggle. “Most of them are daughters of Terri’s father’s business partners.”
Morgan chuckled and said, “That was a mouthful.”
Terri came walking back in. She shrugged her shoulders and said, “They’re buzzkills. Let’s go.”
As we headed down the hall, Charlie hooked her arm with mine. “So. How are things going with you and Nash?”
I smiled. “I think good. This past week we’ve not seen each other much at all. I’ve never met anyone like him. He has such a kind heart and the way he loves each of you. There is
n’t anything he wouldn’t do for his friends.”
“He is a pretty neat guy,” Charlie agreed.
“Neat?” I asked, giggling. The wine had certainly gone to my head, and I could feel it the more I moved about.
“Yes, neat. He’s always been there for Tucker, even me, when I didn’t give him much reason to be.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see Terri and Morgan huddled up talking. They were a few steps behind us. Even though Morgan hadn’t really hung out with Nash’s friends, Jim was like family to Nash’s family. I thought it was so sweet for Terri to invite Morgan and me to celebrate with her.
“Charlie, may I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
We made it out of the hotel and down a sidewalk that led to the other side of the hotel that housed all of the venues.
“Do you think it would make a difference to Nash if I was rich or poor?”
She stopped walking and looked at me. “What do you mean? He doesn’t care about money. Not at all.”
I chewed on my lip nervously. “What I mean is, I know Lily grew up very privileged, and she left Nash for a man who was equally privileged. Nash realizes that not all women who come from money are like Lily?”
Charlie laughed. “Of course he does. I mean, he has known Terri and me since college, and we are both from wealthy families.”
“Yes, but neither one of you ever made him feel less of himself like Lily did.”
With a frown, Charlie stayed silent for a moment. “Lily was, is, one of my best friends. I don’t agree with what she did to Nash. It took me awhile myself to forgive her for the pain she caused him. But I don’t think she was ever really in love with Nash. If she truly had been, she would have never insisted on hiding their relationship. And truth be told, if Nash had been truly in love with her like he thought he had been, he wouldn’t have gone along with it. I don’t think she meant to make him feel the way he did. Yes, she picked another man, and that man happened to have money and was someone her father wanted her to be with. Now, I’m not making excuses for her, but I think it all played out for a reason. Her father was pressuring her. She wanted someone different because Nash was her first, and she was stupid.”
My gut twisted. Nash was Lily’s first? That knowledge filled me with a jealousy I didn’t know how to make sense of.
“What do you mean she wanted something different?”
Charlie glanced around and leaned in closer. “Kinky. Mark, I guess, is into some pretty crazy sex. Lily was curious, her father was pushing this guy on her, and one night at a party she drank too much and he became something she wanted to try. So, if a woman is truly in love with a man, would another man turn her head?”
“No,” I answered.
“No. She simply didn’t want to let Nash go. He was a safety net for her, and the reason she still holds out hope of getting back with him.”
I stopped walking. “What? She wants to get back with him?”
Fear replaced the jealousy. Would Nash ever consider taking Lily back?
“Don’t even go there with your thoughts, Kaelynn. Lily has begged Nash to take her back more than once. He isn’t interested. What he is interested in is you, my friend. You should see the way he looks at you. It makes even my tummy drop.”
Smiling, I pressed my lips together to keep the girlish squeal inside.
“I will tell you, I never saw Nash look at Lily like he looks at you.”
We stopped outside the door to the pavilion. Drawing my brows in tight, I replied, “We have only been on a few dates. I mean, we’ve spent some time together and we talk for hours on the phone, but I don’t think Nash is . . . I don’t think he is thinking about things that way.”
“Oh, trust me, that boy is head over heels in love with you, Kaelynn.”
Tears built in my eyes. Charlie grabbed my hands and squeezed them. “Talk to me, Kaelynn. What’s really going on? Am I misreading your feelings for Nash?”
I shook my head. “No, not at all. I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with someone so quickly, but I know I’ve fallen for him hard. I’ve also kept something from him. Something that may make him change his mind about me.”
Charlie’s mouth opened. “Are you with another man?”
“What?” I asked, my eyes widened. “God, no! No, I would never ever do that to Nash. Ever. It’s nothing like that.”
Relief crossed over Charlie’s face. “Whew. Then whatever it is, I’m sure if you just talk to him it will all work out fine.”
I nodded. “Yes, you’re right.”
Terri skipped by us, pulling Morgan behind her as she sang, “I’m getting married tomorrow! I’m getting married tomorrow.”
Charlie soon followed after them as I stood there, frozen in place.
Nash. In love with me?
A chill ran through my body, causing it to shiver as I wrapped my arms around myself. The idea of being loved by such an amazing man made my body fill with pure happiness.
The sounds of women gasping had me snapping out of my moment of daydreaming. I glanced over and saw the three of them all standing in the entrance. I could see inside the pavilion now that Terri had turned on all the lights. It was stunning. Nearly everything was white. The only color in the room was the greenery on the tables and the silver chairs.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered as I walked up next to the three other women.
Terri broke down and started crying. “It’s . . . It’s . . . I . . . It’s . . .”
“Stunning,” Charlie finished her thought as she walked into the room. “Terri, this is so you. Simple, yet elegant.”
Morgan walked into the room and spun around in a few circles, then turned to Terri. “Okay, I wanted to get married on a beach, but this is stunning.”
I placed my arm around Terri and gave her a hug. “You did beautifully. Terri, this is simply breathtaking. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful reception room set up like this before.”
She wiped her tears away and made her way over to the tables. She picked up the white snowflake place card and covered her mouth. “Daddy. Oh, my goodness. He wanted to take care of the placeholders and surprise me.”
“A snowflake?” I asked.
“Since I was little, I said I wanted to get married in December with snowflakes all around.”
Glancing around, I covered my mouth and tried not to cry. “Terri, look!” I whispered, pointing up.
White and blue glass snowflakes hung down from the massive ceiling, catching the flicker of the faux candles that hung from the rafters.
Terri started to cry again, this time dropping down to the floor and burying her face in her hands.
“Thank goodness she came tonight. Do you know how pissed she would have been ruining her makeup?” Charlie said, dropping down next to her best friend.
“Do you like them?” Charlie asked.
“Like them?” Terri repeated, sniffling loudly. “I love them.”
“Good! It was my idea!” Charlie said, beaming with pride. I couldn’t help but laugh. Morgan also let out a chuckle as everyone sat on the floor surrounding Terri. Even though I hadn’t known Charlie and Terri for very long, it felt like we had been friends forever.
“Are you nervous at all?” Morgan asked.
Terri smiled and you could see how much her eyes sparkled. “Not one bit. Jim and I have been together for so long; I knew he was the one I was going to marry almost immediately. I knew it the first time he kissed me.”
My own lips tingled at the memory of the first time Nash had kissed me. Morgan smiled. “Do you think he’s nervous?”
With a shrug, Terri replied, “I honestly don’t know. Tomorrow I’ll probably be nervous. Right now, I just want to be his wife and it’s all I’m thinking about. Tomorrow it will really sink in that it’s happening. It just feels like . . .” her eyes lifted and she let them roam the entire room, floor to ceiling, “ . . . a dream.”
Morgan and I glanced at on
e another. There was something in my best friend’s eyes. Something that said she wanted this, but was there someone I didn’t know about? Surely not. Of course, I hadn’t been very open with her about my feelings about Nash. But that was her brother. It was different.
Pulling her knees to her chest, Morgan let her smile widen into a full grin. “I want this too . . . I can’t wait to have it someday.”
“On a beach?” Charlie asked with a wink.
Morgan shook her head and then looked up and said, “No. I’m going to need a Disney princess-type wedding.”
Charlie’s face exploded into a full-on grin. “That would be a wedding I would be down for planning.”
The next morning Terri had indeed woken up one very nervous bride. Morgan and I had worked on keeping Terri’s mind occupied while we got our hair and nails done. Charlie had joined us after Hannah’s morning feeding. It didn’t take her long to calm Terri down. Watching the two of them together reminded me of Morgan and myself. There was no doubt they were more than best friends. They were sisters.
Morgan stepped out onto the patio and walked up next to me. “Okay, so do you want to talk about it?”
Feeling my stomach twist with anxiety, I faced her.
“Is it that obvious?” I asked.
“No, because I have no idea why your mind is so far away. What are you thinking about, Kaelynn?”
Tears filled my eyes. It was in that moment I realized I should know telling Morgan the truth months ago would not have changed anything about our friendship.
With a shaking breath, I spoke. “Morgan, I haven’t been honest with you.”
Her smile faded some. “Okay, about what?” I rubbed my lips together frantically. Grabbing my hands, Morgan squeezed them. “Kaelynn, tell me.”
My chin quivered. “Well, you see.” I sniffed and her face turned from confused to worried. “My family . . . the thing is, my parents are wealthy. Very wealthy.”
Her brow furrowed. “Okay?”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to see me for my money and not for me.”
Now an expression of hurt washed over her face. “You thought I would only like you because you were rich?”
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