“When your great-grandmother passed away, your great-grandad gave me something similar. He got their wedding bands melted and linked like this as a symbol that his love for my mother endured even after death. I was lucky to get them, because I was the first to get married after my mother died. Well, you’re the last of my grandchildren to marry, so I want you and Paige to have these.”
Tristan gulped as emotions swamped him at his nan’s gesture. He glanced at Paige, whose mouth was hanging open. Whether it was from surprise or dismay, he couldn’t tell.
“Are these yours and pop’s wedding rings?” he asked.
“Yes. Your great-grandparents’ ones have already gone to your cousin Marilyn when she and Jarryd got married. Your pop was already very sick then, and he wanted to hand them down himself after witnessing the extent Marilyn and Jarryd had been prepared to go through for the sake of their love for each other. One of your pop’s request before he passed was for me to do the same for you with our rings. I’m just glad I’m still here to witness you tie the knot and grant his wish,” Marge added jokingly.
Tristan filled his lungs with air. Should he and Paige accept this? He didn’t want Paige feeling pressured. As far as she was concerned, they were only dating.
He couldn’t not accept, though. His grandmother would be insulted and probably heartbroken, not to mention suspicious.
He closed his fingers around the bands. “Thank you, Nan. We’ll treasure it always.”
His heart skipped at the smile Paige gave him, and he leaned over to kiss her.
Perhaps a lifetime commitment was in the cards for them, after all. Unfortunately, they’d have to sail through a tempest first, based on the information Carter had given him earlier.
Where would Paige’s loyalty lie if he had to wage an all-out war with her parents? Because if Larry and Debbie—and Shipton Enterprise—were indeed involved with a drug cartel, he’d have no choice but to expose them and make them pay.
Chapter 12
“Argh, this is so perfect for you!” Bernadette enthused.
“You look great yourself,” Paige said, smiling at the reflection of her best friend in the mirror as they checked each other out.
She loved Bernadette’s royal-blue A-line bridesmaid’s dress, but she had to agree she’d made the right choice with her full-length Grecian-style wedding gown with crystal-beaded sash and a matching wrap.
“You look so beautiful,” Jennie said wistfully as she arranged Paige’s locks around her shoulders.
“Thank you,” Paige said, welling up. Tristan’s mother had been fussing over her in a gentle, caring manner and she appreciated it so much. She couldn’t help but think of her own parents, though. They should be at the wedding of their only child.
Damn it, she shouldn’t think such thoughts if she didn’t want to end up a mess!
She took deep breaths to control her emotions. This wasn’t going to be her real, till-death-do-us-part ceremony anyway. Even Tristan said so. Her mum would still have the opportunity to help her plan a wonderful wedding, and her dad would still be able to walk her down the aisle.
Yes, those could still happen.
But, frankly, not if she could help it.
With the way she was feeling now, this was the only wedding she wanted to have, and Tristan was the only man she wanted to be with for the rest of her life.
She touched the corner of her eye to stop a tear before it fell.
“Hey, come on,” Bernadette said softly, putting an arm around her.
“I could leave the two of you, now that you’re almost ready,” Jennie said with an understanding smile.
“No, Jennie. Please stay. I was just thinking of my parents…” Paige knew Jennie was aware of the full situation. Tristan had been open to her about what he’d told his folks.
“I’m sure they’ll come around when they see how happy you are,” Jennie soothed. “You are happy, yes?”
Paige smiled shyly. “Yes. Tristan’s a wonderful man. I’m so lucky.”
Jennie clasped her hands in delight. “Everything will work out in the end. Love has powers that we don’t understand when we use our brains to think about it. That’s why there are things only the heart can know.”
“Thank you,” Paige murmured, reaching out to hug Tristan’s mother. She totally understood what Jennie was talking about.
Paige walked down the makeshift aisle strewn with rose petals towards the wedding arch covered with colourful spring flowers. A string quartet played Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
She blinked back tears.
Why did this day have to be so clear and cloudless? Why did this venue have to be so magical? Why did everyone have to look so happy and excited?
And why did the man waiting for her under the arch have to look like he was as moved as her by this whole thing?
She kept blinking as she continued to take slow steps towards Tristan, her heart beating loud and fast.
Why did this have to feel so real?
Because it is.
She took a deep, sharp breath, willing for the tears not to fall. For a wedding that was supposed to be for show only, everyone seemed so emotional—even the groom.
She reached Tristan, and he smiled at her with eyes suspiciously moist.
Her heart skipped, and a big, bright idea flashed in her head. She wanted to add a word to the one-line vow they’d both agreed to say. And she wanted to pluralise one of the other words too.
Should she dare go off-script? Considering she’d be saying her vows first, her groom might literally run for the hills without saying I do if she did.
The celebrant started the ceremony and Tristan squeezed her hand, gazing at her with so much tenderness that it took her breath away.
That made her decision. She was going to take the risk. This could be her one and only wedding, and she wanted it to be perfect.
She listened patiently as the celebrant said what she had to say. Curiously, Paige felt calm after her impromptu decision.
Then it was time for her to say her vows.
“Tristan…”
Her nerves came crashing back. She gulped and took several deep breaths.
Tristan frowned, his grip on her hands tightening.
She closed her eyes briefly, calming herself. She was going to do this. She wanted to do this.
“Tristan,” she said in a soft voice, looking into his eyes. “I promise to respect, cherish and love you, and be the best parent I could possibly be to our children, for as long as I live.”
Tristan’s mouth dropped open. Then his face broke into the biggest, sweetest grin.
Paige sniffed, relief overcoming her. She tried to suppress her tears, but failed.
“Paige,” Tristan said, loud and clear. “I promise to respect, cherish and love you, and be the best parent I could possibly be to our children, for as long as I live.”
She smiled at him, dabbing her face with the tissue Bernadette handed to dry the tears that wouldn’t stop falling.
“May we have the rings?” the celebrant said.
Paige glanced at Derek standing behind Tristan. But the best man didn’t move. Instead, he was smiling at Jade, who was whispering something to her son.
Julian toddled towards the arch, holding up a heart-shaped pillow with their wedding rings securely tied in the middle. “Kel Tan! Wings!” he shouted.
Paige giggled, then laughed out loud with the others when Julian refused to hand the pillow to the celebrant.
“Give it to her, bubba,” Jade ordered, standing up and approaching her son.
“No!” the toddler said, running away from his mother.
But Derek caught him. “I got you!” he said playfully.
Julian laughed, obviously thinking this was play.
Paige chuckled, her tears finally stopping at the unexpected hilarity.
“Can I take the wings and you can keep the pillow?” Derek asked, pointing to the rings.
Julian agreed.
�
�Remind me not to make you my assistant again until you’re much older, okay?”
Julian grinned at Derek and nodded, as if understanding what he’d done.
Finally, the celebrant had the rings. She gave the smaller one to Tristan, and Tristan put it on Paige’s finger, then kissed her hand.
Paige smiled. Since Tristan had copied her, she’d also copy him. She kissed his hand after pushing his ring onto his finger.
They stared at each other, and everything else disappeared for Paige for a moment. Tristan standing in front of her was all she could see. But just as quickly, her surroundings came back into her consciousness.
The celebrant announced, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Paige sighed as Tristan pulled her to him and kissed her long and hard to the applause, whistles and cheers of their guests.
Paige gave her best friend a big, tight hug as her wedding reception was winding down. “Thank you for everything.”
“I honestly didn’t do much,” Bernadette said. “Your husband and his family arranged everything.”
Paige blew out a breath. “My husband,” she murmured.
“I know! Could you believe it? You’re married, and he’s actually crazy about you!”
Paige laughed. “Funny, isn’t it? If this was a normal situation, your statement would sound really odd.”
“So what’s next for you? I don’t mean your one-week honeymoon in this paradise, but when you go back to Sydney and your parents?”
“I’m actually thinking of calling them sometime tomorrow and telling them myself before the first of the news articles come out.”
“And ruin your week?” Bernadette asked in dismay. “But I guess they’d be less furious if they heard it from you first.”
“My biggest fear is actually the trustees not releasing the money early enough. What if they take too long determining if this marriage is for real? The frustrating thing is we won’t even be able to follow up with them because it’ll look more suspicious.”
“They’ll believe it,” Bernadette said confidently. “Even I believe you and Tristan are in love, especially after you amended your wedding vows and Tristan copied you. I’m telling you, Paige, that was the most moving thing I’ve ever witnessed.”
Paige smiled. She, for one, was still finding it hard to believe the turn of events.
Paige looked around for Tristan. He was standing in a corner with his friends Gavin and Carter. She wondered what they could be talking about that they looked so serious and businesslike. Well, she guessed she didn’t know enough about Tristan’s business relationship with his buddies.
She turned back to Bernadette and found her best friend eyeing Derek. “Stop checking him out and start chatting him up,” she whispered.
Bernadette rolled her eyes. “He hasn’t even shown one iota of interest. Maybe he already has a girlfriend.”
“I don’t think so. Remember I told you he’s a contestant in their Captured by Love betting game? I’m pretty sure only single guys can be contestants in it. Anyway, since when have you been a shrinking violet?”
Bernadette shrugged. “I guess I’m just feeling a bit intimidated by this whole occasion and everyone in it. I mean, you’re the only person I really know here.”
“But they’re all nice, aren’t they?”
“Yes, definitely. The girls have already invited me to join them on a four-wheel-drive tour of the reserve tomorrow. Apparently, a few of us are going.”
“Hey, I want to do that too!”
“Well, I don’t think you’re invited because you’re on your honeymoon. I’m sure you’d rather ride your new husband than a four-wheel drive.”
Paige shook her head. “You and your dirty riding jokes.”
“I know,” Bernadette said wryly. “It’s getting old. I really should think of new, funny ones. Anyway, I’ve also put my hand up for a stargazing night tomorrow complete with bonfire somewhere out there. Apparently, field guides will take us on a nocturnal animal spotting first, then to the best spot for stargazing, then we’ll sit around a bonfire drinking hot chocolate and eating desserts.”
“I want to go to that!”
Bernadette laughed. “I’m sure Tristan’s got some plans for the two of you.”
Paige hoped so. “It’s a pity you’re only staying for two nights.”
“I know,” her friend lamented.
“Maybe you can extend your leave till Friday. Everyone else is going to be here till then.”
“Don’t tempt me or I just might do that.”
“You can tempt me,” a deep, sexy voice said in Paige’s ear.
Her lips tugged up and she swivelled to face her new husband.
Tristan curved an arm around her waist. “I was thinking we should call it a night and leave these guys to party amongst themselves.”
“Okay,” she said readily. She was all for having her husband to herself now.
Her husband.
Ah, she was loving calling Tristan that.
“Hope you’re enjoying yourself, Bernadette,” Tristan said.
“I most certainly am! Thank you so much, Tristan. My villa is enormous and everything is wonderful. I can’t believe I’m here for two more days.”
“I told her to try and extend her leave,” Paige said.
“Why don’t you?” Tristan asked. “Just say you ate off seafood and you’re suffering from gastro. That’s apparently the most common excuse my staff give to their managers when they take a sickie,” he added with a chuckle.
Bernadette brightened. “You don’t mind me hanging around here for an extra three days?”
“Of course not,” Tristan said. “Your villa’s been booked till Friday and it’ll just be empty if you leave earlier.”
Bernadette did little claps with her hands. “Thank you. I’ll stay till then. I’m sure my boss won’t mind.”
“Great! Now I better take my bride back to our honeymoon suite. She gets tired easily, you know. What with being pregnant and all.”
“Oh, she’s still very keen to go riding,” Bernadette said with a snicker.
“Bernie!” Paige said with a laugh.
Bernadette waved goodbye and left them.
“You want to go riding at this time of the night?” Tristan asked Paige. “I think any horse-riding activities are limited to daytime. Besides, should you be riding a horse at all in your condition?”
Paige giggled and ran a hand on Tristan’s chest. “She doesn’t mean a horse, honey.”
Understanding dawned on Tristan. “I see,” he said, pulling her to him. “I love it when you’re horny.”
She giggled. “You better ask one of the hotel staff to take us back to our villa, then,” she whispered in his ear.
“I already have. They’re reserving one of the golf carts for us. But we’ll have to wait until someone can actually drive us. They won’t let us take it ourselves.”
“Excuse me, guys.”
Paige groaned mentally at Ilma’s interruption. She didn’t mind the publicist. She seemed nice and professional. But she was always pulling Tristan aside to ask questions. Couldn’t she leave everything else for tomorrow?
“I’ve emailed you the articles and pictures I’ve put together,” Ilma said. “I can fire the first one off first thing tomorrow once you guys approve it.”
“Tomorrow morning?” Paige said in alarm. “Already?”
“When do you want it released?” Tristan asked.
“After I speak with my parents. I’m planning on doing that tomorrow morning, so maybe release it in the afternoon?”
“Okay,” Tristan said.
Ilma nodded, smiling. “I’ll wait for your go-ahead.”
“Thanks,” she murmured. She’d been avoiding thinking about her guaranteed argument with her parents tomorrow. Now her good spirits had disappeared.
“Hey, you okay?” Tristan asked, hugging her to him and kissing her hair.
She looked at h
im. “Take me to our villa.”
What she needed was for Tristan to make her forget about tomorrow. Because as soon as her parents learned about this wedding, she knew things would never be the same.
Chapter 13
Tristan waved goodbye to the resort worker who had driven them back to their accommodation, then closed the door. After a whirlwind of a day, he and Paige were finally alone.
The whole villa was warm and cosy, with the fireplace already burning. Perfect, because the night was cold and he’d had to wrap his arms around Paige on the golf cart. Even with his jacket on, she’d still shivered.
“It’s so nice in here,” Paige said with a contented sigh, placing his jacket on a chair and taking off her lace wrap. “And that lap pool has been beckoning to me all day. Maybe tomorrow we can both have a dip?”
“Sure,” he said, happy to do anything that would make this week more enjoyable for her.
Paige faced him and they gazed at each other for a long moment.
He walked towards her and caressed her face. “When did you decide to add to our vows?”
Paige smiled shyly. “When I was walking down the aisle. I thought that the wedding felt so real and…” Paige shrugged.
“I’m glad,” he murmured.
“Are you sure? I haven’t forced you to say things you didn’t want to say?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know how it could possibly have happened in such a short time with everything that’s been going on, but I’ve fallen in love with you, Paige. I’m ready for this marriage to be real too.”
Paige’s eyes moistened. “I started falling in love with you that time I heard you speak at the Safety in Nightclubs function.”
He inhaled deeply and leaned down to kiss her lips, his heart singing.
At any other time, he would have approached this love thing with caution, aware that infatuation and lust could be confused for love. But he had no such desire to hold back with Paige, and he knew why. They were having a baby, so why not completely let go of any rope and give it their all to make this work, right?
The Unexpected Husband (Captured by Love Book 8) Page 11
