A Change of Plans (35 page)

“Olivia! You’ve got to meet everyone.” I waved her over.

Once they were talking, Braedon and I slipped over to a couch where he pulled me on his lap. He embraced me, one hand resting on my belly. I laid my head on his shoulder, savoring the moment. “What happened?” I finally asked.

“We took a big wave and it did a lot of damage—and Lua was injured. You should have seen him and Etano. They were incredible, even with Lua’s broken arm. We ended up on a slip of an island with a few trees and no fresh water. If not for the monsoons, we’d have died.” Braedon shook his head. “A tiny cave gave us a little shelter from the worst of the storms, but we couldn’t keep a fire going.”

Braedon nuzzled my neck. “Our island seems like a five-star hotel by comparison. We couldn’t do much more than repair the outrigger until Lua’s arm healed, and by then the worst of the monsoons were on us. We had to sit there and wait until we thought we had a chance to make it back home.” Braedon
looked up at me, his hand caressing my cheek. “We thought we were the only survivors until the Coast Guard found us.”

“I know the feeling,” I said softly.

Olivia allowed us a few minutes alone before it was time to depart. She had made arrangements with a friend for us to use a secure vacation home on the island.

Once inside a car, Braedon pulled me close. I couldn’t keep from touching his cheeks. It had been so long since I had seen him without a beard.

“I’ve got a surprise planned for you when we get there,” he whispered.

“How did you have time to plan a surprise?”

“I have connections.” He glanced at Olivia, who smirked, trying unsuccessfully to look innocent.

I wanted to press him about it but decided to let him have his little secret.

“How did you end up at my dad’s house?” Braedon asked. “I thought you’d go home to Colorado.”

I explained about my parents and brother. “They had me declared dead. I didn’t have anywhere to go.”

Aislinn, who sat on Braedon’s other side, leaned forward to glare at me.

Hastily, I added, “I didn’t have anywhere in
Colorado
to go. Aislinn and Elle both offered to let me stay with them, and I did for the first few weeks I was back. But I had things to do.”

Braedon raised his eyebrows. “Like what?”

I stroked his smooth cheek, going over the hollow indentation. “Like visit Colorado and then Texas, just like we always planned.”

“How did that go?”

I told him about my visits. “But I ate something at Maria’s grandmother’s
that I thought gave me food poisoning.” I giggled. “I went to Montana after Texas.”

Braedon chuckled. “Is that when you threw up on my father?”

I choked. “How did you know that?”

“Elle.”

Olivia twisted around from the front seat and touched my knee. “I’d like to hear about that, but another time. We’re here.”

We drove through a security gate and up to a lovely house with wide porches and large windows. Giving Braedon all my attention, I barely noticed the servants who carried our luggage inside.

A young woman escorted us to our room. I stepped in, but Braedon stayed at the door. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

“What?” I whirled around.

“My surprise.” He grinned, kissing me lightly, and left.

How could he leave me again? I was about to follow him when Aislinn appeared in the doorway. Pushing me back into the room, she shut the door. “We’ve got to get you ready.” She went to the closet and pulled out a garment bag.

“Ready for what?”

Aislinn’s eyes twinkled. “For your wedding.”

My heart melted. “You guys arranged a wedding?”

“Olivia’s people did it. Mal used some of his connections to get a hold of Braedon to let him know we’d be coming. Braedon was adamant he wanted this done first thing.”

“But what about Elle and Emily and the boys?” I asked as Aislinn unzipped the bag.

“Olivia’s staff has arranged a satellite feed, and everyone will be able to watch it, even Marc.” Aislinn handed me a robe and a towel. “There will be two-way video, so you can see
them too.” She pulled my hair up into a shower cap and turned me toward the bathroom. “Go take a quick shower. We don’t have much time.”

When I stepped out of the shower, I called, “Don’t we need a license?”

“Braedon wasn’t kidding when he said he had connections. One of his college roommates is the nephew of a local judge. A call to him and we didn’t have to worry about a thing. The uncle arranged for a special license you’ll sign tonight before the ceremony—he’ll be here as a witness.”

I put the underwear on Aislinn had left on the counter for me. “But what am I going to wear?”

From behind me, Aislinn commanded, “Close your eyes and don’t turn around. Just raise your arms.”

She slid something soft and silky over my head and turned me toward the full-length mirror.

“Elle helped Braedon pick it out. Luckily, a local shop had what he wanted.”

I stared at the white creation. It reminded me a lot of the gray dress I had worn the night before Hawaii. My heart fluttered at the thought of Braedon somewhere in the house getting ready too.

After a single sharp knock on the door, one of Olivia’s staff came in with a case of makeup. She worked on my face for a few minutes and then stepped back for me to see the result. My face looked natural but somehow softer.

The woman left, and Aislinn followed her out, pausing at the door. She eyed me sternly. “Wait here for five minutes. Don’t you dare come out a moment sooner.”

Five minutes. I paced, and my imagination went into overdrive. What if it had been just a dream? What if I woke up
when I went out the door? No, that couldn’t happen. Even my darkest side couldn’t be that cruel. I rubbed my shaking hands over my stomach, trying to console myself with the thought of the baby. I checked the clock.

Three minutes.

What was Elle thinking, stuck back in New York? And poor Kate. She would be so disappointed to once again miss out on being the flower girl. I would find a way to make it up to her. I peeked at the clock.

Two minutes.

I couldn’t take this. Had they made arrangements for Emily and the boys? I imagined them gathered in the big living room, watching us on the television. I wished they could be here with us. Would Jori be linked in? I looked at the clock again.

One minute!

The blood pulsed at my temples, and my hands were wet with perspiration. I wiped them off on a small hand towel and did a final check of my hair and dress. Glancing at the clock, I waited anxiously for the last seconds to pass. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Braedon stood before me in a white tuxedo jacket and black slacks, leaning against the opposite wall, messing with his cufflinks ... just as he had that night before Hawaii. He looked up and one of his slow, appreciative smiles grew across his face, the kind that made me feel warm all over.

“The first time I waited outside your door dressed in a tux, I frightened you away,” he said, his voice soft. “It didn’t even occur to me until just now that perhaps I should have asked you to marry me again. I’ve been presumptuous. Have I scared you away again?”

The pain in my heart was exquisite; I almost couldn’t
breathe. I drank in the look of him and then launched myself into his arms. “Not likely.” I didn’t care the least if I ruffled my dress, hair, or lipstick.

Breathless, he pushed me from him, keeping his hands on my shoulders. “So will you marry me, again, my Gwendolyn?”

I stroked his face, running my hands down his smooth cheeks. “Oh, yes.”

Braedon kissed me one more time and then touched my mouth, tidying my lipstick. I wiped the color from his lips. He linked my arm with his, and we descended the stairs.

When we came into view, everyone turned toward us and became quiet. Emotion swelled within me as I looked at the people we loved gathered before us.

Braedon whispered, “Lua and Etano are my groomsmen.”

“Good choice.” I squeezed his arm.

A Samoan in a minister’s garb stood smiling before a fountain. Olivia waited off to the side, her eyes gleaming and a satisfied smile on her face.

Before the minister began the ceremony, Olivia’s staff turned on the connections with the families in New York, Montana, and the Middle East. Including Jori, dressed in a black tuxedo.

Braedon said softly, “Jori’s my best man.”

“Perfect.” I sniffed and blinked my eyes. I needed to get control of my emotions or I would end up a blubbering mess.

The connection to Montana went live. Their eyes latched onto Braedon first, and Owen cried, “Dude, you’re really alive! Awesome!”

Ethan, standing beside his brother, did a mock double take of me, whistled, and exclaimed, “Woo hoo, Lyn. You lookin’ fine!” He then eyed Braedon and shouted, “You better make it
official quick, Bray! I’m thinking I could get interested in older women!”

I laughed. His behavior reminded me so much of the way my brother teased Aislinn. Braedon shook his head and leaned toward me. “I can’t tell you how weird it is that you two know each other.”

Tightening my hold on his arm, I replied, “Another feeling I completely understand.”

I exclaimed when I saw little Kate on the monitor, wearing a beautiful dress and holding a basket. She waved at us and gleefully tossed a fistful of rose petals in the air. I blew her a kiss, and she grinned. Elle and Mal stood behind her, Elle already in tears. I had to look away to keep my own at bay.

From the final monitor, Marc saluted me. Arrayed behind him was a room full of uniformed men and women. His entire section must have been there. I tugged at Braedon’s sleeve and pointed. “My brother.”

As Braedon lifted his hand in greeting, the minister coughed to get our attention. We faced him.

And so I married Braedon for the second time, not in a tree house, but by a fountain. No fruit bat, but we had plenty of company this time.

“No more getting away from me now,” Braedon whispered before he kissed me.

Everyone came forward to congratulate us. Aislinn cried, and I could hear cheers over the speakers from family and friends far away.

Jack embraced Braedon. “You’ve got a good one.”

My father-in-law then hugged me. I whispered, “Your wedding should be the next one on the schedule.” He gave me
a sharp look, but I pretended not to see and turned to Lua and Etano. “You two look wonderful in tuxedos!”

“And you clean up real pretty,” Lua teased.

I pointed at them. “We have things to talk about, but it’ll wait until tomorrow.” The boys looked concerned, and I knew I had to handle this right or risk offending them.

It was late, so Olivia’s team had scheduled the reception for the next day. She had waited to congratulate us last. “I heard what you said to Etano and Lua, Lyn.” She handed me an envelope.

Braedon stretched and feigned a yawn. “We’ll see you all in the morning.” He took my hand and led me back up the stairs to our room.

CHAPTER 36

A
FTER A
very late and active night, we slept in. When I first woke up, I didn’t remember where I was. The feel of my husband’s arm over my waist and his body pressed against my back brought it all back. I began to cry.

Braedon rolled me over to face him. “It can’t be a good sign when a bride wakes up after her wedding night and cries. What’s wrong?”

He wasn’t a dream; he had really come back to me. Throwing my arms around his neck, I kissed him. My response distracted us for a while.

Later, as we snuggled together, he asked again, “Why were you crying?”

I cuddled my head into the curve of his shoulder. “Because I’m happy.”

“A happy cry, then?”

I ran my hand over his shoulder and down his bicep, relishing the feel of his warm skin against mine. So much better than my dreams. “I
am
pregnant, you know. I’m allowed to
cry.” I sighed and admitted, “I expected to be back in my bed in Montana ... alone.”

He kissed my forehead. “No more of that.” Braedon chuckled. “You took the perfect approach with my father, you know. He’s got a big heart, but he has no patience with weak people. If you’d let him, he’d have run all over you.” He played with a strand of my hair.

“What happens now, Braedon?” I whispered.

He ran the strand of hair over my face, giving me shivers. “Do you want to live in Colorado?”

“No, there’s nothing for me there anymore.” I ran my finger along the line of his eyebrow, the curve of his cheekbone, and finally the circle of his lips. “I’d like our baby to be born in Montana.”

He leaned forward and kissed me. “I’d like that too.” He rolled over to his back and pulled me close. “For the first time in my life, I’m having a hard time getting my mind around something.”

“What?”

“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been either in school or working. Then those years on the island followed by months thinking you were dead. Now you’re here, alive, and ...” He swallowed. “I don’t want to go back to work right away.”

I snorted and covered my mouth at the noise. “Well, it’s not like you have to.”

Braedon shook his head. “I know it’s not a money issue, but it doesn’t feel right not to be planning to go to work.”

I searched his face. “Do you have anything in mind?”

He stared at the ceiling for a moment before turning to me. “You know, I think I want to be a rancher for a little while.”

“I’d love for you to be a rancher for a while. I’m not ready
to leave my new family.” I leaned over and kissed him. It was time to get distracted again.