by Hazel Gower
“I’ll take this one,” I said with a raised voice so Richard would hear.
The curtain opened and Richard stood smiling at me. “Gorgeous.” He yanked me to him and his mouth claimed mine. His tongue tangled with mine, and he kissed me until I was again burning with a need for him. Slowly, he pulled away and slapped my arse.
“Hey.” I battered his hand from my butt.
He smirked, his blue eyes twinkling. “Get changed back into your other clothes. Let’s go before we get another call from my mother.”
“I should rescue Jessica from her.”
Richard laughed and let go of the curtain. “From what I’ve been hearing, it’s the other way round.”
Smiling, I took the dress off and changed back into my original clothes. Oh, if I know my best friend, she would be in heaven with the way Richard’s mother was. Jessica always joked she liked women who could take charge, and Gillian could certainly do that.
Chapter Nine
Bailey
The house, when we got back was busy with at least twice the number of people we had yesterday and triple the security. I went in search of Jessica as soon as we arrived back. I found her in the rose garden helping with flowers. She looked up smiling, stopped what she was doing, and came straight to me.
“Bailey, yay, you’re back.” She hugged me wrapping her arms tight around my waist and kissed my cheek before easing away. “Come on over and help. I’ve put Andrew, Mason and Ryder to work helping me.”
I smiled at Richard’s two brothers and cousin. “Hello.”
“Hi,” Andrew said.
“Hey,” Mason said with a cheeky grin and two dimples popped. Damn, I bet he broke hearts with that smile.
“It’s about time you two showed up. She’s,” Ryder pointed to Jessica,” a bloody worse slave driver than your goddamn mother,” Ryder snarled.
The grin that spread over my best friends face was pure evil. I knew that grin and it meant trouble. “Hey,” Jessica poked Ryder in the chest. “Gillian is amazing. She’s one of the reasons I love it here. I think I’m in love with her.”
Behind me, Richard choked, and I turned to see him looking at Jessica as if she’d lost her mind. Andrew and Mason were making gagging noises.
Jessica sighed, and I looked back at her. “No. I know I’m totally in love with Gillian. Who knew a woman in her fifties could do it for me.” All the guys, even Ryder, were now choking.
Here I was feeling terrible for leaving Jessica so long with basically strangers, and she wasn’t bothered because she was falling for Richard’s mother, Gillian. The choking was loud. I turned back to Richard, and he groan looking a little green.
“That’s so not cool, Jessica. That’s my mother,” he moaned. I covered my mouth to stop my giggle breaking out and looked back over at Jessica.
A dreamy look came over Jessica, and I fought really hard not to laugh. “Do you think your dad would share her, even just once?” she wiggled her eyebrows. “I’ve never been with a woman like Gillian. She’s amazing. I bet she’d be bossy in the bedroom too, mmm.”
I laughed so hard at the look of horror on Richard’s face, I had to hold my stomach.
“I’m going to have fucking nightmares, bro,” Andrew muttered.
“Yeah me, too,” Mason added. “This is all your fault, Richard. She’s,” he pointed to Jessica, “…your mate’s friend.”
I couldn’t stop my hysterical laughter. The guys faces were classic, they were all in pure shock horror.
“I’m all for lesbian loving,” Ryder added. His eyes were wide and he shivered. “But not when it involves my aunt. I think I’ll need therapy just to get the image out of my head.”
Speaking of the woman, Gillian came over and smiled my way. “Great. You’re back. You can help.” She turned and looked at her sons and Ryder. “What is going on here? Why has the work stopped?” She clapped her hand. “Get to it.” I was crying now from laughing so hard. “Oh, Bailey, honey. Are you okay?” Gillian asked and came over to pat my arm.
I opened my mouth, but when my gaze caught Jessica’s one staring at Gillian, I burst out laughing again.
“Gillian, she’s fine,” Jessica said and came over taking Gillian’s hand off me. “I was just telling them how I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“That’s so sweet, Jessica. You’re such a lovely girl.”
Oh. My. God. I had a stitch. My best friend was awesome. I wasn’t sure if she really did have a crush on Gillian or she was just having a little fun with the guys, but either way. I loved her.
“Thank you for your help, Jessica.” Gillian smiled at Jessica. “Bailey, leave Richard here to help. With Jessica in charge, I know it will get done.” I giggled, but nodded and went over to Richard’s mother. Jessica didn’t seem bothered about being left, so I didn’t see the harm going with Gillian. “You can come in the house, and I’ll introduce you to the bride, Jade. I have the hair and makeup here. We can get you done after Jade.”
“Have fun,” Jessica said after me.
*****
I was whisked away by Gillian to a lounge room upstairs with five women, Richard’s aunts, Jade, and two girls I didn’t recognize.
“Bailey, I’d like to introduce you to Jade, and these two girls are her friends. Cassie,” She pointed to the one with red hair and glasses, “is the one on the left and that is Jess.” The other girl was a blonde and very pretty. “Everyone, this is Bailey, she’s Richards.”
Now I’m not gonna lie—the giddy excitement in her voice, when she said I was Richard’s, was kinda scary. I swear, as I looked at Gillian, her eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas day, but I brushed it off and smiled at Jade and the other girls. I’d met Jade before briefly when she’d come with Stephan to the firm.
Jade stood from the chair where she was getting her hair done and came over to me. “It nice to meet you again. I remember meeting you briefly at your brother’s firm. I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. I feel terrible about you getting shot and that they attempted to kidnap you. I feel worse for your brother. I heard you went and saw him. Is he okay?”
I nodded. “Yes. He’ll get out in a couple of days and join us here.”
Jade let out a breath that feathered over my face, and her shoulders sagged. “I’m so glad he’s not seriously hurt. I have tried to get out of testifying, but everyone keeps telling me I shouldn’t give in.” Jade closed her eyes for a moment before opening them. “I didn’t want all this, though. I didn’t want people getting hurt because of me.” Evelin came up beside Jade and hugged her.
I felt bad for Jade and wondered if I would be as brave as she was in her situation, and I did think she was brave. I reached for Jade’s hands and held them in my own. “I think you’re doing the right thing. These people are bad, and if you don’t help, they will just hurt more people. You need to think of you testifying as saving and helping any future victims. I support what you’re doing one hundred percent.”
Jade squeezed my hands, and the smile that spread over her face was blinding. She was beautiful. “Thank you. I can already tell you and me are going to become close friends.” She winked. “I need someone else to help keep the Silverman men from driving me crazy and taking over everything with their caveman ways.” Jade didn’t wait for my answer as she dragged me over to the seats. “Come on over and wait in line to be beautified.”
I sat in the spare seat next to Cassie, who smiled. “Hi. How long have you been with Richard?” The redhead asked.
“Oh, well, I’m not sur—”
“Richard has been sweeping her off her feet for the last week or so,” Richard’s mother interrupted.
I opened and closed my mouth. I hadn’t known Gillian long, but what I did know was there was no point arguing. It was easier to go along with it. On a sigh, I nodded. “Yes, Richard has been getting to know me for over a week or so now. We’ve had breakfast dates, and he took me out for the day to show me the puppy he bought me.”
“
He already got you a puppy?” Cassie asked. Jade laughed, and I looked to see grins on all the woman’s faces.
“Um, yeah, for my birthday.”
“I have a chocolate Labrador Fido. He’s with Stephan downstairs. I have missed him like crazy being in America, but Evelin brought him up and he’s here. Derick, Stephan’s brother, got Fido for me. He rubs it in Stephan’s face that he got me the best present ever, and besides knocking me up, Stephan won’t be able to top him in the present department and...” Jade giggled. “It bugs Stephan like you wouldn’t believe. So I guess Richard learned from Stephan and bought you the puppy before his brothers would have a chance.”
“More like my own brother. I’ve been begging him for years. We live in a smallish townhouse in Milton and there’s no backyard for a dog.”
Cassie patted my arm. “You’re with a Silverman. You won’t be living there again. I bet you a million dollars he’ll have you moved in and living with him before you even realize it.”
“Yep, Cassie’s so right.” Jade giggled.
I stared at the redhead Cassie, who rested her hand on mine. I didn’t think she had a Silverman man, but I could be wrong. “I don’t mean to be rude, but do you date a Silverman, too?”
Her hand left mine and she waved hers in front of me. “No. And before Jade, I would have said I wish, but since Jade and seeing what possessive cavemen they are, I say hell no, and thank God I don’t have a Silverman for a man.” She grinned over at the Silverman mums. “No offence, but I like my men less, er, possessive, controlling, and stalkerish.”
Evelin smiled at Cassie and Carol chuckled, but Gillian gave a delicate huff, stood and came over to me. “Take no notice of them, Bailey. Cassandra was only teasing, weren’t you?” The stern look she sent Cassie’s way had her swallowing dramatically and nodding.
“Um, yeah, Silverman men are all great,” Cassie muttered.
The room went quiet for a while after that, but what Cassie said stuck, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.
*****
Richard
My cousin Stephan stood at the makeshift altar beaming. His twin, Derick, stood next to him holding the leash of Jade’s dog Fido, and then their older brother, Dustan. The local priest stood at the front, and I knew my mother had done her magic to get the old man to come here. I also bet the Silverman’s had made a very nice contribution to his church.
The backyard had been turned into the perfect venue for a wedding. There was an arch covered in yellow and peach roses. The aisle with chairs on both sides had huge arrangements of white lilies and yellow and peach roses. The chairs were white with yellow ribbons. I couldn’t believe how much I’d learned about wedding flowers in the last couple of hours. My mother was right. Jessica was a slave driver and got everything done in time for the wedding.
Bailey sat next me looking beyond beautiful in the dress we picked earlier today. Her hair was up in an elaborate curling style with a couple of curls falling on the sides of her face. She had a light coating of make-up that emphasized her big green eyes and a shine to her pink lips.
Music came on, Only You’re The One by Lifehouse played, and I smiled as I listened to the lyrics. It was perfect, not that I expected any less when my mother organized an event.
Cassie walked down the aisle in a peach bridesmaid dress with silver shoes. Her bouquet was the same I’d been handling today, peach and yellow roses with white lilies. She slowly walked down the aisle and came to stand at the front opposite Stephan.
Jess came down the aisle next in the same bridesmaids dress, shoes, and bouquet of flowers, coming to stand next to Cassie.
Jade appeared at the end in a white gown of silk and lace. Her dress was one of those princess puffy out at the base ones and strapless. She looked stunning, like a princess. I didn’t need to look back at my cousin to know how happy he was at how beautiful Jade looked. Lucas, Stephan’s father, held her arm and walked her down the aisle.
Stephan couldn’t even wait until she reached him at the end of the aisle. He came down to meet her and took her from his father and they walked back to the altar together.
The music turned off and the priest welcomed everyone. Both Stephan and Jade looked so happy. They beamed at each other and love shone brightly from both their gazes. Their vows were said loud and clear. There was no doubt they meant them and there was no hesitation in either of their voices. The kiss as husband and wife was one filled with passion, trust, happiness, and love.
The whole family cheered and they still didn’t break apart. Dustan laughed and patted Stephan’s back. “Plenty of time for that later, brother. Let’s celebrate.”
Jade’s cheeks were flushed, but the happiness shone from her face as Stephan nodded, and they walked down the aisle. Derick handed the dog lead to Brand, one of Stephan’s security. Then Jess and Derick walked with their arms linked, following Jade and Stephan, but Cassie was having none of Dustan and walked down by herself until Dustan caught her, gathered her to him, and growled something into her ears then practically dragged her after the others. Ha, it looked like mates were popping up everywhere.
Standing, I hooked my arm around Bailey, and we followed my family into the huge tent extension that connected onto the now empty playroom, which looked to be a dance floor.
The same flower theme was at the reception, with peach and yellow rose petals on the tables and an extravagant flower centrepiece. The name cards on the tables were cream with silver writing. There weren’t many tables. Only four or five including the bridal. Almost three of the tables were full with family and one held Stephan and Jade’s friends.
“This place looks amazing. Your mother and aunts outdid themselves,” Bailey said as we made our way to our seats.
I pulled her chair out and she sat and I tucked it back in. “Yeah, she and my aunts did an amazing job organizing this on such short notice. From what I’ve heard it’s exactly what Jade and Stephan wanted anyway.”
I sat next to Bailey and looked at the table we sat at. My family surrounded me with Andrew to my left, then my mother and father, and to my right sat Bailey, Zeck, and Mason. Our table had seven, another held Stephan’s parent’s, my uncle Carl, a woman who looked just like the bridesmaid Jess, and Cassie’s parent’s and twin brother Scott. Another table held all their friends and was a table of eight. The last table held my Uncle Duncan and Aunt Carol, Ryder, Tyson, Oakley, and I was surprised to see Jessica sat with my cousins.
Bailey smiled. “Yes, I bet it is. This is something like I want when I get married.” Leaning closer to her, I watched as Bailey’s eyes shone and her gaze seemed to be far away thinking. “I’d have pink arum lilies, white roses, and purple orchids. I want little tea light candles in pink and purple on the tables with gold wrapped heart shaped chocolate.” She sighed. “My dream dress is one just like what Drew Barrymore wore in Ever After.”
“Oh, I think I remember that movie. That fairy dress is what you’re talking about?” My mother’s voice had me looking up to see she was listening to Bailey. I bet she was mentally taking notes.
Bailey nodded. “Yes. I absolutely love that movie and the dress has been my dream wedding dress since I first saw the movie when I was little.”
I looked to my mother and nodded. That dress would be just what Bailey got. I would make sure it was made just the same. I was going to make her dream of everything she wanted at our wedding come true. Bailey didn’t know it, but she’d just gotten the ball rolling on our wedding. I knew mother would get to work on everything Bailey said as soon as all this was over. I was sure, when I asked Bailey to marry me, my mother would tell me everything was in place to go the next day. My mother had been waiting years for either Zeck or me to get married. She would get her wish and soon if I had my way.
Wait staff came out and placed food on our table. I smiled when I saw the logo of Tyson’s restaurant. They were his staff and would have already been run through the extensive security checks Silverman’s had.
T
he meals were eaten, the speeches were done, and everyone had just finished the desert, which was the wedding cake. The music started, and Stephan and Jade went to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. They danced a waltz and just before the song ended, Lucas, Stephan’s father, took his place and Stephan’s mother Evelin took Jade’s place. Into the second song, Derick grabbed the mic. “Everyone find a partner and get on the dance floor. The males outnumbered the females so the spare men would have to wait their turn.
Standing, I gathered Bailey up to me and we moved to the dance floor. I didn’t give her a choice—I was dancing with her.
“Richard, I don’t know how to dance,” Bailey muttered as she tried to dig her heels into the floor. She didn’t move.
“You don’t need to know. I’ll lead you. Just trust me to guide you.” I held her against me practically carrying her. I could dance. My mother had made me take ballroom dancing classes at age seven until I was well into my teens. It had come in very handy at the galas and balls I’d gone to—I could waltz in my sleep.
Holding Bailey against me, I guided her around the room. All the Silverman’s knew how to dance. When you lived in the world we did, it was a must. Bailey picked it up quickly. By the end of the third dance, the music changed to some modern pop music as I played in my clubs.
Jessica tapped my shoulder and stopped me. “I’m stealing her for a while.” Not even giving me a chance to deny her, she yanked Bailey out of my embrace and dragged her to a group of friends who I knew were Jade’s friends.
Bailey needed to have fun. After the last couple of days, she needed to be around friends. So I waited on the sidelines and watched as she laughed and danced with girls.
“How you doing?” A very drunk Dustan whacked me on the back.
“Better than you. Want to tell me why you smell like a brewery when I think you should be making a good impression and wooing?”