Reid knew that she was making a point. She didn't want his money. She wasn't a gold-digger and she wasn't his ex-wife. She was just marrying him to protect herself and her nephew from the wolves.
With a heavy sigh, Reid scrawled his signature beside hers. He signed the agreement in duplicate and handed the papers back to the lawyer.
Reid walked out of the lawyer's office with Lauren by his side and the agreement in his hand. This was what he wanted, wasn't it? So why did he hate what he was doing?
Damien had dropped by and taken Eddie to the playground while Reid went with Lauren to the lawyer's office. Eddie had been happy to go with Damien. The boy definitely preferred Uncle Busybody to “sir”.
Damien had given him a disapproving, disgusted look when he heard where they were going but for once, he kept his opinions to himself. He knew what Shelly did to Reid, and he knew Reid was still bitter about losing everything he had worked so hard for.
“I'm happy you're getting married,” Damien had told Reid before they left the house. “Heck, I'm the one who got you your bride. But I don't like what you're doing to her.”
“What am I doing to her?” Reid had snapped. “She's the one who came up with the idea...”
“No. She's doing this for you.” With that, Damien had turned his back on him and stalked off with Eddie.
Lauren was completely silent as Reid made the appointment at the marriage registry. They would be getting married the following day. They just had to turn up with two witnesses, and that was it. Lauren wouldn't even be wearing a wedding dress. She said she had packed a plain white dress and she would wear that for the ceremony.
Reid frowned deeply as he opened the car door for Lauren. He was getting married and he had his assets protected. He should be congratulating himself. Instead, he was swearing and cursing at himself.
His bear shoved against him, showing its marked displeasure and disdain.
Protect mate, not protect yourself!
Reid scowled and threw the envelope containing the prenup angrily in the back seat. His bear wanted to protect its mate, whereas he was looking to protect himself. His bear thought what he was doing was petty, pointless and contemptible. And his bear thought he was a bloody fool.
This time, Reid knew that his bear was absolutely right.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Reid frowned when he heard the doorbell. Who could it be so early in the morning? Lauren was still sleeping, and he had slipped out of bed to prepare breakfast for Lauren and Eddie.
“Hi, Reid!” Gramma and Ne-ma chirped as soon as he opened the door. “Where is she?”
“She?” Reid blinked at the two little old ladies. “You mean...”
“Lauren, your bride,” Gramma said, pushing past him into the house.
“You are getting married today, aren't you?” Ne-ma peered at him.
“How did you know…?” he began. But it was a rhetorical question. The two elderly witches knew almost everyone in town, and they kept themselves up to date with the latest gossip and news.
“We heard Damien telling Nick that he's taking the day off, so he can be your best man,” Gramma said.
“I didn't ask him to be my best man,” Reid retorted.
Ne-ma narrowed her eyes at him as she pushed her glasses up her nose. “For a groom, you seem real grouchy. It's your wedding day. Lighten up!”
“Anyway, we're not here for you. We're here for your bride,” Gramma said, looking around. “Where is she? We need to get her ready. We'll be doing her hair and makeup for her. And—we're her bridesmaids!”
Reid's jaw dropped. “Does she know…?” he spluttered.
Gramma waived a hand dismissively. “Come on, time's a-wastin'! There's so much to do. Your ceremony is at two o'clock, right?”
Reid nodded, speechless.
“We have to do her hair, makeup, nails, and shop for a nice, sparkly pair of shoes. You've got the rings, right?” Ne-ma frowned at him.
“Actually...”
“Go get the rings,” Ne-ma said sternly. “She may be your mail-order bride, but you treat her right, understand? We're her bridesmaids, so we will stand behind her, not just for the ceremony, but all the way. If you hurt her in any way, you'll have us to contend with,” Ne-ma warned.
Reid nodded. He didn't want to have to contend with Gramma and Ne-ma. Those two witches might be pint-sized and elderly, but they were formidable. They were determined and resourceful, and they always carried out their promises and their threats. Plus they had four burly grandsons who were bear shifters as well.
And he genuinely liked Gramma and Ne-ma. Everyone did. They frequently poked their noses into other people's business but their hearts were in the right place. They were caring and loyal, and they were always there for their friends.
The fact that they were here for his bride so early in the morning proved that they saw him, or more accurately, his bride, as a friend.
Reid knew Gramma and Ne-ma were perfectly serious when they warned him that they wouldn't let him off if he hurt Lauren.
He would never hurt Lauren. He was doing this to protect her, wasn't he? Why did everyone seem to see him as the bad guy here?
The bedroom door opened and Lauren stepped out, yawning. “What's going on? I heard voices.” She stopped in her tracks when she saw Gramma and Ne-ma.
“There you are!” Ne-ma beamed. “We're here to help you get ready for your wedding.”
“B-but...who are you?” Lauren stammered, her eyes rounding in shock and bewilderment.
“I'm Gramma, she's Ne-ma…”
“And we are your bridesmaids!” they announced together.
CHAPTER TWENTY
“Come along,” Ne-ma said, stepping forward. “Gather your things and we'll drive you to our inn. We have an empty suite we can use.”
“Inn?” Lauren blinked at them.
“Yeah. We own Broomstick Inn. I'm sure you've heard of our inn. It's very highly rated in the travel magazines,” Gramma bragged.
Lauren smiled. “Yes, I've seen the pictures. Your inn looks beautiful, so cute and cozy! I've always wanted...wait, did you say you're my bridesmaids?”
“Yes! We even got our frilly pink dresses ready!” Ne-ma answered, grinning.
Lauren pressed a hand to her mouth. “I...I didn't think anyone would be present at the ceremony. I thought Reid will just get his cousin and one other witness, and that's it. I don't know what to say...” Her voice quivered with emotion. “Thank you for being my bridesmaids, Gramma and Ne-ma. It means a lot to me.”
“We're happy and honored to be part of your special day,” Gramma said as she gave Lauren a hug. “Do you have a dress that you plan to wear for the ceremony?”
“Y-yes, I have a white dress...I'll go get it now,” Lauren stammered and hurried back into the bedroom.
“Grab your other things as well. We'll keep you away from your groom until the ceremony,” Ne-ma called after her. “That's what bridesmaids do!”
“Aunt Lauren?” a small voice said.
Everyone turned to see Eddie standing at his bedroom door. “What's happening? Where's Aunt Lauren?” Eddie asked nervously.
Reid went over to him and crouched so that he could look the boy in the eye. “Your Aunt Lauren and I will be getting married today. Your Aunt Lauren will be going with these lovely ladies to get ready for the ceremony. And we...” Reid gestured between himself and Eddie. “...have to go pick out the rings for your aunt. I don't know what your aunt likes, so you'll have to help me choose her ring.” He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “We'll choose the most beautiful ring and surprise her, okay?”
“Yes sir!” Eddie nodded excitedly.
Lauren came out clutching her backpack. She had changed into a simple t-shirt and shorts. When she saw Eddie, she beckoned to him and said, “Eddie, I have to, um, get ready for the ceremony this afternoon. I'll take a few hours. Do you want to grab your book and come
with me? You can...”
“No, I'll stay here,” Eddie answered confidently.
“You sure?” Lauren looked uncertain.
“Eddie and I have things to do,” Reid answered. “Don't we, Eddie?”
“We sure do.” Eddie thumped his chest.
Lauren looked at Reid in surprise, then narrowed her eyes at Eddie. “What things?” she asked suspiciously.
“Guy things,” Eddie retorted.
“Really?” Lauren raised a brow. When Eddie nodded adamantly, she laughed and said, “Okay then, I'll see you later.” At the door, she turned and added, “You guys have fun. Love ya!”
“Love ya,” Eddie said automatically.
Lauren glanced at him, but Reid only nodded. She had addressed her remarks to the both of them but only Eddie had responded.
When Reid opened his mouth, the words just lodged in his throat.
Lauren's smile wavered a little, but she waved quickly and followed Gramma and Ne-ma to their car.
Reid stared down the street long after their car had disappeared. “Love ya,” he said through gritted teeth.
He looked down and saw Eddie standing silently at his side. “I heard that,” Eddie said softly, and grinned. “You just said you love Aunt Lauren!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lauren listened intently, absorbing everything Gramma told her about the small town of Shadow Point as she styled her hair. She learned that the majority of the population in Shadow Point were paranormals, but there were many human families in town as well.
Gramma was skilfully fashioning her hair into a stylish chignon when Ne-ma came bounding back into the room. Ne-ma rushed up to Lauren, her eyes feverishly bright behind her glasses. She was holding a plastic bag and panting slightly.
“Here,” Ne-ma said breathlessly. “For you!”
Lauren took the bag and saw a shoe box inside. She lifted the lid of the box and gasped at the sight of a pair of beautiful satin shoes. Reverently, she held one shoe up and admired it. The heel was adorned with shiny crystals and there was a graceful, silver bow on the front.
“So, so beautiful...” Lauren breathed.
“Wear them for your wedding,” Gramma said happily. “This is our wedding present to you.”
Lauren looked up at the two beaming grandmothers and felt tears welling up in her eyes.
“Now, now, don't cry,” Gramma tut-tutted and grabbed a tissue. “You'll ruin your makeup.”
Lauren dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose noisily. Then she threw her arms around Gramma and Ne-ma and hugged them hard. “Thank you so much,” she whispered. “No one has ever bought me something so beautiful before.”
Gramma and Ne-ma patted her shoulder and smiled kindly at her. “You're getting married today. This is the start of your new life, your happily ever after.”
“I don't know about happily ever after,” Lauren mumbled. She was just getting married to escape from the Dire Wolves. Love had nothing to do with this.
“You will have your happily ever after,” Ne-ma declared. “We'll make sure of it.”
Lauren laughed. She was sure they were joking even though they looked perfectly serious.
Eagerly, she slipped the shoes on and gasped when she saw herself in the full-length mirror. She was wearing her simple white dress, but with her shoes and makeup, she looked like a million bucks.
“I...” She swallowed.
“You look beautiful!” Gramma and Ne-ma exclaimed.
Lauren blushed. “Thank you.”
“Don't forget your bouquet,” Gramma said, handing her a pretty bunch of flowers. “We made this in a hurry, so...”
“I love it!” Lauren said at once. “Thank you.”
Gramma and Ne-ma whipped out their mobile phones and huddled close to Lauren. “We have time for a few wefies! Wefies with the bride are a must!”
Lauren smiled as they snapped a dozen “formal” photos. Then they did a few goofy ones, striking superhero poses, pulling faces and crossing their eyes.
Lauren giggled when she saw their pictures. She was feeling much more relaxed now. She had been too tense and jittery to even eat a bite earlier.
“It's almost time,” Gramma said, glancing at her watch. “Let's go get married!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Reid winked at Eddie as the boy gripped the box tightly in his small hand. Reid had rented a tuxedo for the ceremony, and he straightened his suit repeatedly as he waited for Lauren to show up.
Eddie was their ring bearer. The boy was in his best jeans and long-sleeved shirt, and his black hair was neatly combed to the side. He had dressed himself, combed his hair and was standing by the door by the time Reid came out of his room.
“We mustn't be late, sir,” Eddie had said solemnly. “We shouldn't keep the bride waiting.”
Reid looked up in surprise when Damien came sauntering into the reception room. His cousin was in a monkey suit, and for once, his hair looked combed. Reid's eyes widened further when he saw Nick and Graham striding in behind Damien. The two men were smartly dressed in ties and jackets.
“What…?”
“Ta-da!” Damien announced. “Here we are!”
“I can see that, but...”
“I'm your best man,” Damien huffed, stating the obvious. “And they—are your witnesses.”
Reid shook hands with Nick and Graham. He knew them well, having worked with Beck's Builders on many projects. Graham was one of the crew, and like Damien, he was always trying to prank his hapless work mates.
“I asked Nick for the day off, and I asked him to be your witness as well,” Damien said. “Graham was hovering nearby and overheard.” Damien jerked his thumb at Graham. “He volunteered to be the other witness, so I can concentrate on my best man duties. Lauren has her bridesmaids, so we're your groomsmen.”
“I wasn't hovering,” Graham protested.
Reid clasped his cousin's hand and pulled him in for a quick one-arm hug. “Thanks,” he managed.
Nick slapped him on the back and said, “I saw you with your mate the other day in town. There's no claiming mark on her. You're waiting to claim her on your wedding night, eh?” Nick chuckled. “I don't think I know many men who has that kind of restraint.”
Reid smiled tightly.
“Here comes the bride!” Damien yelled, snapping to attention.
Lauren walked in with Gramma and Ne-ma by her side, and Reid froze. She took his breath away, literally.
His bride was stunning. She was wearing a white shift dress that flattered her curves, and there were small pink flowers in her hair. She was clutching a colorful bunch of flowers and she was blushing prettily
Lauren gave him a shy smile when she met his eyes.
Reid wanted to roar with pride. This beautiful female was his. She had never given herself to any other man, and now she would be his forever.
Reid stepped forward and offered her his arm. When he introduced her to his groomsmen, she looked a little surprised that they had such a big wedding party.
“Wow, you look dashing,” she complimented Damien, noticing his tux. “So do you, buddy,” she told Eddie.
Eddie giggled and put his hand behind his back to hide the rings.
They entered a room where a Justice of the Peace was waiting. When Reid motioned to Eddie, the little boy stepped forward and presented the rings to him.
Lauren gasped when Reid slipped a delicate diamond ring onto her finger. The diamond was small but the design was simple and elegant. It looked perfect on her hand.
Eddie grinned up at her and handed her a gold band. Before she placed the ring on Reid's finger, she glimpsed her name engraved on the inside of the ring.
They signed the marriage register and Graham and Nick signed as witnesses.
“Let's go grab a bite,” Reid told everyone. He knew it was going to cost a bomb, but he wanted to treat them to a meal at a posh restaurant to show his appreciation
.
“I want ice-cream!” Eddie squealed.
“Ice-cream sounds great,” Nick and Graham agreed.
Gramma and Ne-ma nodded eagerly. “The weather's pretty warm, so ice-cream will be perfect.” They tugged at the collar of their frilly pink dresses, and fussed with their puffy skirts. Reid thought they looked absolutely adorable.
He turned and addressed his ragtag wedding party. “Thank you for coming to our wedding. You're made this day all the more special for us. Thank you very much,” he said softly.
Reid turned and kissed Lauren tenderly on the cheek. “Thank you for being my wife.”
He meant every word. Lauren was an amazing woman, so strong, caring and supportive. His ex-wife had insisted on a grand, lavish wedding and a big, diamond ring. She would never have settled for ice-cream and a simple, modest ring.
Lauren blushed. The smile she gave him was bright and radiant.
“You're married now, Aunt Lauren!” Eddie clapped. “Does that mean we're staying here? We don't have to move again, right?”
Lauren opened her mouth but Reid crouched down and answered, “Yes, Eddie, you're not moving anywhere. You're staying here, buddy.”
“With you? In your house?”
Reid tucked Lauren's hand into the crook of his arm and took Eddie's small hand in his. “With us. In our house.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Lauren turned around and frowned at Eddie and Damien. The two of them were whispering and chuckling in the backseat. While Reid drove, Damien and Eddie had been having a contest to see who could make the loudest fart sounds with their armpits.
Nick and Graham were giving Gramma and Ne-ma a ride back to their inn. They'd spent a truly lovely afternoon with their wedding party. The ice-cream was great, but the company was better. Ice-cream always tasted better when shared with friends and family.
Lauren smiled as she took in the occupants of Reid's car. This was her family now. Her husband, her nephew, her cousin-in-law.
Mail-Order Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 5) Page 5
