Why Not? (Love Riddles Book 3)

by Carey Heywood

  She gulps. “Seriously?”

  I answer her with another kiss, pulling her up to her feet so Beast will stop trying to lick our ears while I kiss her.

  When I start moving her toward the bed, she breaks our kiss. “Trip.”

  Shit. I must have read this wrong.

  “I’m sorry,” I reply, gently lowering her until her feet touch the ground.

  “No, no. Don’t apologize. I’m not saying I don’t want to.” She hesitates then says, “Celebrate. It’s just that your mom, Sadie, and everyone else is waiting outside this cabin right now to see if we’re engaged or not.”

  For a moment, I thought she was rejecting me physically, that I had misread her apparent desire. It’s a relief I hadn’t.

  “Do I get a ring?” I joke, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

  “I th-thought we’d pick out bands together,” she stammers nervously.

  I frown and her brows knit.

  “If you want a ring now, I can go get one,” she whispers, her voice small.

  Last thing I want to do is freak her out or make her feel guilty for not getting me a ring. All I wanted to do was tease her, not torture her.

  I bought a ring for her months ago. Sure, she did the proposing, that doesn’t mean she can’t get a ring.

  “What if I got you a ring?” I ask.

  She gulps. “You did?”

  Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the velvet box. She covers her mouth as I open it. A square-cut diamond solitaire, the ring is simple yet elegant, just like her.

  “It’s gorgeous,” she breathes.

  I pluck it from its bed and reach for her hand. Her eyes stay locked on mine as I ease the ring onto her finger. Then, not caring how long I’m making them wait, I kiss her.

  I kiss her so long they give up on us coming to them and come to us instead.

  “I’m guessing he said yes,” someone murmurs.

  “Trip, stop mauling her so I can hug you both,” my mom orders.

  We kiss, even though we’re now laughing.

  Then we stop and the moment we do, we’re engulfed with hugs and congratulations while Beast woofs in excitement.

  My mom hugs me the longest. “I’m so happy for you two.”

  It’s awhile before most of the well-wishers leave. Once they’re gone, I wrap my arms around Reilly.

  She grins up at me, and I ask, “We going to Vegas or what?”

  Her eyes widen. “You were serious about that?”

  I nod. “You want your brother there, let’s go call him.”

  She smiles and it is so big I feel her happiness and excitement deep inside me. It lifts me, and I know without a doubt that making her happy is what I was put on this earth for.

  My mom and Sadie are the only ones that still lingered with us in the cabin. They join us as we make our way to the main cabin. While Reilly makes her calls with Beast curled at her feet, I drive back down to her cabin and load her things into it.

  She’s waiting for me on the porch when I return.

  “Are they in?” I ask.

  She nods, her body practically vibrating with excitement. “Jake, Heath, and Jimmy all refused your offer to pay, and Sydney pulled a favor from Cecil, who invited himself fyi, and apparently one of his client’s in San Francisco owns an entire friggin floor of one of the casinos and is letting us stay there for nothing.”

  My head jerks with all the information she threw at me.

  There’s one point I pause on. “Is Julie coming with Jimmy?”

  “Yep. Sydney’s grandparents are going to watch Dylan for them so Julie can come.”

  My mom ducks her head into the doorway. “Sadie’s packing. Are we driving or flying?”

  “I’m fine with either,” Reilly replies.

  “Mom, can you look up flights?” I ask, before turning to Reilly. “Who should we get to watch Beast?”

  She heads for the door. “I’ll go ask Robbie. He won’t mind.”

  As much as I didn’t enjoy watching her hug him earlier, somehow knowing she’s going to him with my ring on her finger settles any jealously I was feeling.

  It takes about an hour to book our flights, finish packing, and for my mom and Sadie to leave Helena in charge of the place. Then using my SUV, we drive to the airport.

  The flight to Vegas is so short it seemed liked getting through security took longer. We fly out of a different airport than the rest of the gang and leave earlier.

  When we land, we stop at the hotel first to drop off our things. Cecil’s client’s place is like something out of a movie. There are floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the strip.

  It’s dark now but I’m sure come morning, we’ll have a kickass view of the rest of the city as well. It’s too late to get hitched tonight. Reilly and I decide to kick back at the hotel until everyone else shows.

  Their flight won’t be landing for another couple of hours. My mom and Sadie don’t waste any time informing us that the night is young and the tables are calling before they take off.

  As soon as the door closes behind them, I turn to Reilly. “Now I have you all to myself.”

  She lunges toward me and I catch her, swooping her up into my arms. “It’s time for us to do some celebrating.”

  Anything else I may have wanted to say is cut off when she covers my mouth with hers. Sure, we’re a day early to the whole groom carrying his bride over the threshold, and technically it’s the threshold to our bedroom, not a house. Our focus is on celebrating, not only our reunion but also our engagement. Twice.

  “I’m getting married today!” I shout.

  A few heads turn in the salon but not many. This is Vegas, it’ll take way more than this to interest anyone.

  This morning we split up, boys off to rent suits and the girls plus Cecil to find me an acceptable-ish dress to get married in and to get our hair and makeup done.

  The bridal shop ended up having tons of maternity-friendly gowns, and Cecil had a sixth sense for which ones would most flatter my shape.

  I loved every dress he selected for me to try on but, when I got to the dress, it went way beyond love. I flat out didn’t want to take it off. In fact, I was totally fine with walking to the salon wearing it.

  Everyone else disagreed so I changed out of it, but did not let my dress out of my sight while the clerk placed it in a garment bag.

  Now we’re at the salon. My girls are all sipping on mimosas while I get a sparkling water.

  It’s cool though, they might all get drinks, but I’m the one getting married.

  “Remember that party?” Kacey replies, looking at me from the corner of her eyes.

  “The great boxer heist?” I clarify.

  She laughs. “Can you believe it? We’ve both ended up with the guys we crushed on in high school.”

  My stylist meets my eyes in the mirror and murmurs, “Lucky girl.”

  I don’t argue with her. Out of everything that’s happened this year, in the end, I have been extremely lucky.

  She fluffs my hair and asks, “What do you think?”

  “It’s perfect.” I breathe.

  She braided my hair from one side across the top to tuck behind my ear making a headband of sorts. The rest of my hair is in loose ringlets. The whole effect is soft and romantic.

  Kacey, Julie, and Sydney are all having their hair pulled back and twisted into curly masses at the base of their necks. Our hair is all at Cecil’s direction and, again, he is totally spot on.

  After instructing the stylists on how to do our hair and makeup, he took off to get dresses for my bridesmaids. He hasn’t let me in on what color or style he’s picking and honestly, I’m thrilled I get to sit back and let someone else handle all the details.

  “Do you think Cecil will plan the rest of my wedding?” Kacey asks.

  “Hush, your wedding has been planned backward and forward since the day after Jake proposed,” I tease.

  She shrugs but doesn’t say anything. There’s a serious chanc
e she’s been planning their wedding since middle school.

  My stylist motions for me to follow her to where the makeup artist waits. “Right this way.”

  “Thank you so much,” I murmur, lifting my hands to gesture at my hair.

  An hour later, we are all dolled up and, minus being dressed, ready to go. We regroup at the hotel. Cecil’s already there with the bridesmaids’ dresses.

  They get dressed in Jake and Kacey’s room while Meg and Sadie help me get changed into my gown in my and Trip’s room.

  Once I’m all zipped, I turn to face them both. Meg grabs onto Sadie as she hurriedly wipes tears away.

  “You look beautiful sweetie,” she breathes.

  I turn to see my reflection in the mirror that hangs over the dresser.

  My lungs fill with air as I will myself not to cry. It’s just that, I look like my mom. God, I wish my parents could be here today.

  My gaze moves back to Meg and Sadie.

  “Are you ready, honey?” Sadie asks.

  I nod. “So ready.”

  We drive to the chapel separately, Cecil hooking us up with insane limos. We arrive moments after the guys and I watch as they walk into the chapel.

  Trip looks hot. I keep that to myself since his mom is sitting right next to me.

  “See you in there, sweetie,” she says before she and Sadie get out and head inside.

  I look at my three closest friends feeling Gavin’s absence now more than ever. He would have loved this, and in a way, died so that I could have it. There’s nothing I can do to change the past. Still, even more than my parents, I wish he was here.

  “Ready?” Kacey asks.

  Why do people keep asking me that?

  I grin in response, pushing any melancholy thoughts about Gavin to the side. I’m certain my mind will drift to him a lot today.

  Jake is waiting for us in the foyer. When he sees me, I almost cry watching him blink away tears.

  “You look beautiful, kiddo,” he says, pulling me into a hug.

  “Don’t mess up my hair,” I joke in an attempt to avoid getting emotional.

  He kisses my forehead and pulls away to admire Kacey in her strapless, sapphire gown. He tries to be sneaky, but I see him grab her ass when he thinks no one is looking.

  There’s a form for me to sign before the ceremony starts. I trace Trip’s signature with my fingertip. This will be the last time I sign my name Reilly Whitmore. From here on out I’m going to be Reilly Lowell.

  There is no fear in my heart when I add my name to Trip’s.

  When the ceremony begins, Sydney heads down the small aisle first. Her dress is the same brilliant sapphire as Kacey’s but with a halter style top and she carries a simple bundle of white flowers.

  I’m kinda bummed I won’t get to see Heath’s reaction to it. She looks hot. Julie goes next, again in sapphire, her dress with spaghetti straps and again she looks hot.

  If I wasn’t so in love with my dress, I might feel gigantic next to my gorgeous bridesmaids. Luckily, my man thinks I’m sexy pregnant or not, and my dress is amazing. It’s a simple white gown that falls straight to my toes with an empire waist and a lace overlay. The square neck emphasizes my bust while drawing attention away from my expanding middle. The whole ensemble is pulled together with sweet-capped sleeves and my bouquet of violets, the shade of the blossoms so rich they are almost blue.

  One by one, my friends walk down the aisle until at last I’m left with Jake.

  He gulps, offering me his arm. “I couldn’t have picked a better man for you. He would give you the world if he could.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper, slipping my arm through his.

  Then he leads me out of the foyer and down the aisle. Emotions hit me, stronger than any so far this morning. Glancing to the empty seats on one side of the aisle, I imagine the people who I wish could be here on this day seated.

  Mrs. Mackey is there, sitting right next to my mom and dad. On the other side of them is Gavin wearing the goofiest smile on his face. Next to him is Erik, Jake’s best friend from the oil rig. They may not be here in flesh, but I feel their spirits so strongly in this moment that my step falters.

  Jake slows, probably assuming his stride messed me up. I squeeze his arm a silent message that I’m okay. My eyes shift to my girls.

  Wide smiles stretch across each of their faces as I approach. I love them and am filled with their love for me. My eyes move to the guys. I can’t look at Trip yet. I’m trying so hard not to cry, and I know I will once I see his face.

  Walt stands next to him, looking quite spiffy in his suit. He came up yesterday with his wife. They’re staying with family outside of the city.

  His wife now sits with Jimmy, Cecil, Meg, and Sadie in the first row. Next to Walt is the open spot for Jake to stand in once Trip takes my hand from him. On the other side of where Jake will stand is Heath.

  It’s funny Trip and Heath are friends now considering how jealous Heath was of him after he saved Sydney from that mudslide. Way back then, even in my wildest dreams, I could not have imagined today as it is.

  Even missing those who are not with us, this day feels as it should be. The reason for that, the reason today feels so right, is the man I now look upon.

  When our eyes lock, he seems breathless, so much so that he even reaches up to press a hand to his chest. Standing there, he’s more than I ever could have fantasized.

  His suit, though rented, fits as though it were made for him alone. The classic cut and style of his black jacket and slacks only highlight his muscular frame.

  It’s his eyes more than anything that hold me spellbound as Jake leads me to him. I blink away the wetness filling my eyes when I watch him wipe his.

  Tears in the eyes of my soon-to-be husband just for seeing me in my wedding dress. His love for me is a radiant thing, it fills the chapel with light. This light blurs everyone else. There is no one else but me for him and him for me.

  Before we reach the altar, he moves, coming part way down the aisle because he could not wait any longer for me. I squeeze Jake’s arm and let go of it before Trip reaches us.

  His arms band around me and he gazes down at me. “Reilly.”

  My name on his lips, with the way he’s looking at me right now fills my heart.

  “Trip,” I whisper.

  He presses his lips to mine then looks to Jake. “I’ve got her.”

  Jake grins, claps him on the back and moves to his space between Walt and Heath as Trip takes my arm. Together, glancing at each other with each step we take, we make our way to the preacher.

  We didn’t prepare special vows, or ask for anything besides the simplest ceremony. Still, it goes on forever, my whole being waiting till I can feel his lips pressed to mine again, this time as husband and wife.

  “You may now kiss the br-“

  I don’t hear the rest of what the preacher says because I’m in Trip’s arms and his mouth is covering mine. Only when the hoots and laughs of our friends penetrate the fog of our exuberant kiss do we break it.

  As he leads me away, my eyes move to where I imagined our loved ones would have sat. I feel lightness, a peace.

  I would never have wished them gone, but this moment, this day, was as it was meant to be. It’s as if understanding that makes the happiness of this moment all the more sweeter.

  Our friends catch up to us outside the chapel. We share hugs and kisses before Trip and I slide into the smaller of the two limos.

  Everyone else piles into the larger one, and we head back toward the hotel. We’re not even turned out of the parking lot before Trip has me in his lap.

  “You look exquisite, Mrs. Lowell,” he says, his mouth beneath my ear.

  “So do you, my handsome husband.”

  He then slips his hand beneath my dress. By the time we pull up to the hotel, we are both sufficiently rumpled.

  We make a bit of a spectacle as he carries me through the lobby and to the elevator. Shouts of congratulations fill th
e air as the doors close. They are mirrored, in their reflection I watch Trip dip his head. Seconds later he claims my mouth with his. How could I ever doubt his desire for me? Some of the doubt that plagued me so horridly while I stayed at the cabin seems silly now.

  “Why don’t we go get our own room?” he asks.

  I shake my head, not hiding the giant grin on my face. “We can’t. Besides, after a couple of hours, we can sneak off to start our honeymoon.”

  He jostles me in his arms so he can press our keycard to a sensor that will allow the elevator doors to open on our floor.

  “In a couple of hours, we will be starting our honeymoon,” he replies.

  “That’s what I said,” I agree.

  He kisses me hard before saying, “No baby, our flight leaves in a few hours.”

  I frown. “We’re not leaving until tomorrow.”

  He grins. “Surprise.”

  My eyes widen. “Where are we going?”

  The elevator doors open and he carries me in, giving me another kiss before setting my feet on the ground. What he doesn’t do is answer me.

  “Where are we going?” I repeat.

  He taps his full lips with his index finger in mock contemplation before answering, “Cancun.”

  My jaw drops. “We are?”

  He presses his lips to mine and murmurs, “We are,” against them.

  How?

  How is it possible that we managed to pull off a dream wedding and honeymoon in no time?

  “When did you manage setting that up?” I ask.

  He shakes his head. “I did nothing. Kacey and Julie set it up and everyone chipped in to pay for it as their wedding gifts to us.”

  “It’s too much,” I reply. “This has all been too much.”

  “You deserve all of it and more.”

  Before I can argue, the elevator door opens and our friends pile into the suite. It’s loud and wonderful. In the main living space between the sofas and the kitchen, we end up in one giant group hug.

  “You guys got us a honeymoon!” I happily shout trying to wrap my arms around more people than possible.

  “We did,” a few of them jokingly reply.

  “Take lots of pictures,” Sydney pleads. “We’re thinking about going there for our honeymoon.”