Montana SEAL's Mail-Order Bride (Brotherhood Protectors Book 12)

by Elle James

  “I should leave before it gets any worse.” She touched his arm. “You can take me straight to the airport. Once I leave and the wedding is off, whoever the shooter is will leave you alone.”

  Gavin shook his head. “But he might go after you.”

  “I’ll take my chances. Collin is my bodyguard. He’ll come with me.”

  His fists clenching around the steering wheel, Gavin fought to keep from driving off the side of the road and pulling Aurelia into his arms and shaking her hard. He didn’t want Collin protecting Aurelia. He wanted to be there to make certain no one hurt her. As mad as he was that she hadn’t leveled with him, he still couldn’t deny the connection building between them. If he wasn’t already in love with his princess, he was well on his way to getting there. So, she was a princess. Everyone couldn’t be perfect.

  Aurelia sat beside Gavin, reliving the horror of being shot at the night before, and the terror of something happening equally as despicable as what had happened to her other fiancés. Gavin deserved better. He’d lost a leg fighting for his country. He didn’t deserve to lose his life because someone didn’t want the princess to marry. It just wasn’t right.

  When they reached Bozeman, Aurelia walked in a daze from the truck to a lab where they drew her blood and gave her a form stating she’d had her rubella test. With that document in hand along with her real passport, they drove to the county clerk’s office and applied for a marriage license. Within minutes, they had that document as well.

  Gavin drove her to a bridal shop where Hannah, Lori and two other women were waiting with the owner of the shop, having already pulled several dresses off the rack.

  Gavin and the guys would be in the shop next door, trying on tuxedoes. Knowing Gavin wasn’t far away made Aurelia a little more comfortable as the ladies ganged up on her and helped her in and out of wedding gowns, until they found the one that suited her the best. Even Aurelia was thrilled with the choice. She would have been happier if she were marrying Gavin because he loved her and she loved him. At least half of that equation was true.

  She loved Gavin. For the few short days she’d known him, she’d discovered a man who was true to his word, and honest, courageous and protective of the people he cared about. Any woman would be lucky to have his heart. Aurelia wished it was her.

  With a dress chosen and alterations in the works, all they needed now were the shoes, veil and suitable undergarments. The owner of the bridal shop set her up with all of those things.

  Hannah, Sadie, Allie and Lori all took turns calling different vendors, arranging for chairs, a tent, catering for the reception, a DJ for the wedding music and reception. Hannah secured a justice of the peace to perform the ceremony. Sadie called a florist who would make an emergency call to all the florists in a 100-mile radius to come up with enough flowers to make the bouquet and decorate the altar. The florist promised to work well into the night to have the arrangements ready by the afternoon wedding.

  Aurelia insisted on having the ladies fitted for bridesmaids’ dresses. “You all have stepped in to make this a real event. I can’t thank you enough.” Once they were fitted with dresses of their choice in dusty rose, pastel pink, faded lilac and soft gray, Aurelia selected a pretty dress in petal pink in Lilianna’s size.

  By the time they were done, it was late afternoon. The men met them outside the two shops, and they split up into the different vehicles to head back to the ranch.

  Dinner was a lively affair with everyone talking about fittings for the tuxedos and dresses, all laughing and joking between each other.

  Everything that had happened that day seemed so surreal, as if it had happened to someone else, not Aurelia. She was getting married the next day, to a man she really loved. And he didn’t return the sentiment.

  Aurelia went to bed but lay for a long time, wishing she could go to Gavin and have him reassure her that she was doing the right thing for the right reasons. Because as she lay in her bed, she couldn’t help but think this was all wrong. She shouldn’t marry Gavin just to secure her throne. Gavin deserved to find someone he loved, who would love him in return.

  If only he would let that be her.

  Chapter 14

  Gavin thought he would lay awake all night thinking about the decision he’d made, worrying if he’d made the right one. But he’d fallen asleep within minutes of laying his head on the pillow. He woke feeling better than he had in years. More optimistic and hopeful for the future. Which was completely strange, considering all he’d learned about Aurelia, or rather, Princess Olivia. As he thought about her, he believed Olivia suited her. She carried herself like a princess, all straight lines and confidence. What was a princess doing with a cowboy like him? Whatever the reason was, he had thrown his hat in the ring. He was going through with the plan.

  The sun shone through the window, making him smile. If he was getting married that day, he’d better get up and get the chores done early. He’d need a shower afterward to keep from smelling like one of the barn animals.

  Pulling on his leg, jeans, shirt and boots, he was downstairs and out in the barn before anyone else. He checked on Ranger and Sassy. Today, Sassy only tossed her head in his direction when he approached her. She didn’t paw a the ground or rear and kick the stall walls.

  He was glad to see the mare finally calming down. Aurelia had truly worked her magic on the animal.

  Once he had the horses fed, he strode out of the barn, heading for the kitchen.

  “You’re out awfully early.” Percy met him in the yard. “Should you be out in the open today?”

  “I took care of the horses. I don’t expect anyone to pick up my slack.”

  “We don’t expect you to muck around with animals today. I’ll take care of the chickens and pigs. You go inside and see if Cookie needs any help. And stay inside. Can’t have the groom injured or killed on his wedding day.”

  A smile tugged at the corners of Gavin’s mouth as he entered the house through the kitchen door.

  Cookie, skillet in hand, flipped eggs and set them back on the burner.

  Gavin glanced around.

  “If you’re looking for Aurelia, Hannah took her breakfast to her,” Cookie said. “You’re not supposed to see the bride on your wedding day until the ceremony.”

  “Who made that dumb rule?” Gavin asked, disappointed he wouldn’t see Aurelia all day. He’d gotten used to having her around in the short time she’d been at Brighter Days.

  “Not a rule…tradition,” Cookie informed him.

  “Still, it’s dumb.” And frustrating. Gavin really wanted to see her, to reassure himself that she was indeed going to go through with the wedding.

  “Make yourself useful and man the toaster, Blackstock,” Cookie commanded. “Let’s get the crew fed so we can clean up the kitchen and get it ready for the afternoon’s festivities.”

  Gavin buttered toast and carried a stack to the table. He helped Cookie get all the usual fixings to the table and set the flatware and plates out for everyone.

  Within seconds of the platters being set out, the seats filled, and everyone was reaching for the food.

  Gavin caught himself looking for Aurelia several times, wishing she was with him.

  Before he knew it, the eggs had been consumed, along with three pounds of bacon and even more sausage. The guys shooed him out of the kitchen, insisting he was the groom, and as such, he should be getting ready for the wedding.

  “It’s not for another eight hours,” he protested.

  “So, you need to go relax and stay in the house, out of target range,” Collin said. “I spoke with Hank Patterson this morning. He said he’d be here before noon with a handful of his guys to sweep the area.”

  “Good. I’m not the only person who could be hurt if someone starts shooting. We should limit the number of guest to those who are willing to risk being in the line of fire.”

  “Good point,” Percy said. He placed a hand on Gavin’s back and turned him toward the living room.
“Go shave, or something. And it wouldn’t hurt to shower. You smell like horse shit.”

  Gavin glared at Percy. “Kiss my—”

  “Gentlemen,” Hannah cleared her throat. “We have a wedding to pull together in a short amount of time. I need all hands on deck. The chairs and tent will arrive in…” she glanced down at her watch, “ten minutes. I need you to help unload, set up and erect the items being delivered.”

  Percy, Collin, Franklin, Vasquez and Young headed for the door.

  When Gavin started after them, Hannah stepped in front of him. “Not you. I need you to stay indoors until the event. We need you alive for the actual ceremony.”

  Gavin laughed. “And after?”

  She shrugged. “It would be nice if you hung around for the honeymoon. Most brides prefer to have their grooms with them for that.”

  His head jerked up. “Honeymoon?”

  “That’s right,” she said, her gaze locking on him. “Hank’s treat.”

  He lowered his eyebrows. “Do I get a say in all of this?”

  “Not really.” Hannah smiled and patted his cheek. “Oh, quit belly-aching. You love her, and she loves you. You’re getting a good deal out of this. Let’s make the wedding memorable. You won’t get a do-over.”

  “Love?” He looked at Hannah as if she’d lost her mind. “I just met the woman.”

  “And you’re going through with a wedding.” Hannah blinked. “The Gavin I know wouldn’t marry anyone he didn’t care about. He wouldn’t say I do, unless he had feelings for the woman. What else could it be but love?” She grinned.

  “Pity? Insanity? Brain damage, maybe. But love?” He shook his head. “Isn’t that stretching a three-day relationship a little?”

  “I knew I loved Taz in about the same amount of time. When you know, you just know.” She clapped her hands. “Now, stop wasting my time. I have a million things to do.” She turned and shouted, “Lori! Where are you? Time to get this show on the road.”

  “Coming!” Lori came limping into the kitchen.

  “Go,” Hannah said to Gavin. “You smell like a barn. Get a shower, use some cologne, iron your tuxedo. We want you to impress the princess. Dude, you’re marrying up! Just be glad she doesn’t want a pre-nup.” She leaned close and hugged him quickly. “I’m so happy for you.”

  Gavin was ushered out of the kitchen and told to go up the stairs to his room.

  “No peeking at the bride,” Lori called out. “It’s bad luck.”

  “Luck, schmuck,” Gavin grumbled. He had a good mind to knock on Aurelia’s door just to prove there was no such thing as luck.

  He even raised his hand but thought better of it at the last second. He wanted to see her, if only to prove she was still there. What if she’d gotten cold feet and ran off before the wedding? Gavin leaned his forehead against the door and called out softly. “Aurelia, are you in there?”

  For the longest moment of his life, there was no answer.

  His heart stopped for that moment, and he held his breath.

  Then she answered. “I am.”

  He let go of the breath he’d been holding in a whoosh. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine,” she answered, her voice soft, but close, as if she were standing on the other side of the door, as close as he was.

  “Is that good fine? Or read between the lines, I’m-dying-here fine?”

  “Good fine,” she said.

  “Okay, just checking.” He should have moved away from the door, but he didn’t. He wanted to be with her. To hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be all right. “We’ve got this, babe,” he whispered. And then he pushed away from the door and went into his room to gather his things for a shower. He had a wedding to get ready for. And he wanted to look…and smell…his best. He was marrying a princess. He didn’t want to scare her away before she made it to the altar. It was then that he realized he wasn’t mad at her anymore. He was worried about her. She had a huge burden resting on her shoulders and someone trying to sabotage her commitment to taking care of her subjects. She’d done what she had to in order to ensure her country wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands. Aurelia—no, Princess Olivia—would be a fair and just leader of her country, and Gavin would do whatever it took to help her in her efforts.

  On the other side of her door, Aurelia brushed an errant tear away from her cheek. This wedding was all wrong. Gavin was a good man who deserved a woman who had his best interests at heart. Not a woman who could only think of herself and her country. He had no idea what the pressure of being in the public eye at all times was like, or the amount of diplomacy needed to navigate the swamp of world leaders. He’d be miserable in Lastovia, away from his beloved Montana.

  After seeing some of the beautiful state, Aurelia could understand the depth of his love for his home. She felt horrible asking him to leave it to join her in Lastovia. But she’d have to spend the majority of her days there. And any child that came along would have to be raised a royal to understand his or her place in society and among world leaders.

  Oh, what she wouldn’t give to have her brother and parents back. They could continue the St. George reign, and she could just be Olivia, a girl who liked to travel, a girl who wanted to marry a cowboy and live in Montana where they would raise half a dozen children who looked just like their father.

  Another tear rolled down her cheek. Hell, she had to pull herself together. A bride couldn’t show up to her wedding with red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes.

  She could hear Gavin’s door open and close, and then the door across the hallway open and close. He’d be taking a shower, getting ready for the wedding.

  Aurelia gathered her toiletries, underwear and the white, fluffy bathrobe Hannah had brought to her earlier for her to use while she prepared for her wedding. When she heard Gavin leave the bathroom and return to his room, she crossed the hallway and stepped into the bathroom that was still steamy from Gavin’s use. She stood for a moment, inhaling the scent of his cologne, wishing he was there to hold her in his arms. He made her feel safe, even when they’d been standing naked in chilled water, with bullets flying all around them. She’d been certain he would protect her with his life, if it came down to that. He was that kind of man. Honest, kind and courageous. She couldn’t ask for a better husband. But he could ask for a better wife, or at least one more suited to him and his way of life.

  With her mind whirling through everything that had happened in the past week, she couldn’t get a single thought to stick for more than a second. She pushed everything to the back of her mind, stepped beneath the shower’s spray and closed her eyes. Immediately, she was transported back to the pool, standing in the rush of the cool, clear waterfall with Gavin. Her heart swelled, filling with all the emotion she couldn’t suppress when she thought of the big, strong Navy SEAL. He was the kind of man a woman dreamed of.

  After her shower, she rubbed sweet-smelling lotion into her skin, dried her hair and pulled it up into a loose messy bun, allowing tendrils to fall around her ears. A knock sounded on the bathroom door, making her jump and drop the brush she was holding in her hand.

  “Aurelia?” Hannah’s voice sounded through the paneling. “You need to start getting ready. Lori, Sadie, Allie and I are here to help. You can come out. The coast is clear. Gavin’s downstairs with the men.”

  Aurelia cinched the belt on the robe and stepped out of the bathroom.

  “Oh, I love what you did with your hair,” Hannah exclaimed. “And I’m glad you haven’t done your makeup yet. Sadie brought her magic. She’s going to help you with it.”

  The women ushered her into her bedroom and went to work getting her ready. Sadie applied the makeup while the rest of the ladies put on their bridesmaids’ dresses. When Sadie finally stood back with a satisfied smile, she tried to turn toward the mirror.

  Sadie shook her head. “Not yet. You want to get the full effect after you put on your dress.”

  While she’d been in the bathroom, someone had delivere
d the fully altered wedding dress and hung it on the back of her door.

  Hannah and Lori pulled it off the hanger and held it while Aurelia stepped into the froth of lace, satin and tulle. Lori helped her place the veil in her hair and adjusted the train.

  All the women stood back and gave a collective sigh.

  “You’re stunning,” Sadie pronounced and the turned her to the full-length mirror.

  Aurelia didn’t recognize the woman staring back at her. She couldn’t recall a time when she’d looked this beautiful. Suddenly, everything was all too real. Her heart leaped in her chest and pounded so hard she could hear her pulse beating against her eardrums. She needed to get outside, to breathe fresh air.

  “Aurelia?” Hannah gripped her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head. “I need air.”

  “You’re having a panic attack, sweetie. Just breathe in and out.”

  When Aurelia tried to breathe in and out, she felt like her lungs weren’t cooperating. Like she was trying to suck air through a wall.

  “Do you want me to get you a paper bag to breathe into?” Hannah asked, her brow furrowed.

  “No. I need air.”

  “What can we do?” Lori asked.

  “Give her room,” Hannah said.

  “I need outside.” Aurelia gathered up her dress and ran for the door.

  Allie, Sadie’s sister-in-law, was closest and opened it for her.

  Aurelia darted out and raced down the steps and out the front door onto the deck.

  Once outside, it still wasn’t enough. She couldn’t stop until she got to a place where the air wasn’t so thick.

  A whinny sounded from around the back of the house.

  The barn.

  Aurelia ran across the grass, rounded the corner of the house and headed straight for the barn. Once inside, she went straight for Sassy’s stall. “Oh, Sassy. I don’t…know…what…to do.” She sucked in air, but it didn’t seem to fill her lungs.

  Grabbing hold of the latch, she pulled it open and slid the stall door to the side.