by Paige Warren
“If I don’t hear back soon,” she said, “I’m going to lose my mind. I know they’re busy, but it’s driving me crazy, the not knowing. Was it good? Was it crap?”
She supposed until she heard back, she would just continue to work on her next story. Gemma was already a fourth of the way through it. Sitting in bed or resting on the sofa day after day had given her plenty of time to plot and work. She had a notebook full of notes from where she’d done research, along with a bulleted list of what happened in each chapter. Of course, she hadn’t worked out all the details. Those came to her as she wrote.
Gemma had just opened her file when the house phone rang. Her brothers had put a cordless in her room, in addition to one in the kitchen, so she crossed to her nightstand and checked the caller ID. It was either her cousins or Elodie.
“Hello.”
“Gemma, I’m so glad you’re home,” Elodie said. “I’m going stir-crazy. The guys have been working longer than usual every day, my classes are easy this semester, and I’m out of things to do. I miss having you around here.”
She smiled. “I miss you, too, Elodie. What did you have in mind?”
“Well.” There was a long pause.
“Something on your mind?”
“Since you brought it up. There’s a rumor around town that Ryan Black purchased an engagement ring a few days ago. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”
“I had hoped that no one would notice for a few days.”
Elodie squealed. “I knew it! You’re engaged! Oh, this is so exciting. Have you told your brothers yet?”
“No. I just got home and they aren’t around. I’m not sure I will tell them. I mean, if they notice my ring, I’ll say something. But otherwise, I think I’ll keep it quiet.”
“You’re not telling me something. You should be so excited that you want to shout it out from the rooftops.”
“The guys want to get a license tomorrow and get married three days later. At the Justice of the Peace.”
“Oohh. Your mom isn’t going to like that.”
Gemma laughed. “No, she won’t. Which is why I’m not telling my family. You have to swear you won’t say anything to my brothers or cousins. This is just between you and me.”
“But…don’t you want us to be there?”
“I think it would be best if the guys and I went alone. And because of that, I have a favor to ask. When we go, would you watch Isaac? He seems to really like you.”
“Of course! You know I’d do anything to help.”
“Thanks, Elodie.”
“You know what this means, don’t you?” Elodie asked.
“No, what?”
“Dress shopping! I’ll pick you up in a few minutes and we’ll drive over to Hollis Springs. We can make a day of it, have lunch there. I just need to leave a note for the guys, in case they come home and wonder where I went.”
Gemma groaned. “I can’t just wear something I already own?”
“Gemma! This is your wedding we’re talking about. You must have a dress. It will be my treat! Consider it a wedding gift, from me to you.”
Gemma laughed. “You mean from my cousins to me. I know you, you’re going to wield Beck’s credit card like a sword and slay the dress shop dragons.”
“You’re right.” She could hear the smile in Elodie’s voice. “But he has to be good for something, right?”
“You’re terrible. You know you adore him as much as he adores you.”
“Very true. So…you sit tight and I’ll be there in a few minutes to pick you up.”
Gemma sighed, knowing she wouldn’t win against Elodie. The woman was just too sweet to say no to her even if Gemma did want to work on her novel some more. She supposed she had plenty of time to finish it. It wasn’t like the first one was even contracted yet. Besides, she’d heard some people took years to finish a book. At the rate she was going, she’d have it finished in another month.
She closed her laptop, changed into her tennis shoes, and headed downstairs to wait for Elodie. Right as she was peeking out the front window, her cell phone rang. She was starting to feel rather popular.
“Hello.”
“Gemma, you don’t know me, but I’m a friend of Elodie’s. My name is Jasmine.”
She smiled. “Yes, of course. Elodie has spoken of you often, but how did you get my number?”
“Cody gave it to me. I want to surprise Elodie and I thought you might be able to help me. I spoke with Cody and he explained that the wedding has been postponed because of you being injured by your ex. And let me just say, I’m sorry that happened to you. But now I’m in a pickle. I had arranged to take off work to be there in August for the wedding, but now it’s September and I have a new boss starting in two weeks, which means it’s going to be next to impossible to take off.”
“How can I help?” Gemma was confused as to what she could possibly do for the woman.
“I’d like to move back to Grizzly Pines, as a surprise for Elodie. We’ve grown closer over the past two months and there really isn’t anything keeping me here except my job. I’d hoped you might be able to help me find a job there, and maybe a place to stay. Cody offered to let me stay at their place, but I don’t want to cramp them.”
She thought about Synclair and his need for an assistant in his shop. “Are you opposed to answering phones, greeting customers, and setting appointments?”
“Not at all! I work in a call center now and I have to admit I won’t miss it one bit. I used to work in an office though, so I know my way around a phone system.”
“It’s just one line. My fiancé owns a tattoo shop in town.”
“Skin to Skin?” Jasmine asked.
“You’re familiar with it?”
“Heck yeah! Synclair did the tattoo on my lower back. That’s been ages ago now. I was in town visiting and just popped in. He worked me in.”
“Well,” Gemma said. “He needs someone to help run the desk so he can focus on the art side of the business. If you’d like, I can let him know you might be interested.”
“Definitely! So, Synclair and you, huh? Lucky girl! He was always a hunky guy.”
Gemma smiled. “Yes, he is. You might as well know, I’m also engaged to his brother, Ryan.”
“What are they putting in the water down there? And can I have some? I tried the ménage thing once, but the guys were assholes so I got the hell out of there. Wouldn’t mind doing it again though, with the right guys.”
“When you get to town, I’ll introduce you to two of my brothers. They share everything.”
“Oh my! You have me intrigued. Okay, so I have a possible job lined up, just help me find a place to live and I’ll hit the road.”
“Let me talk to Ryan and see if he knows of anything around town. He’s a lawyer here, so he hears everything.”
“Sounds great! You have my number now, so just call me whenever.”
“I will. Bye, Jasmine.”
“Bye!”
Gemma had no sooner hung up the phone than Elodie pulled up to the house. Talk about perfect timing! If she’d arrived any sooner, she’d have known what Jasmine was up to. Gemma thought it was great that her friend wanted to surprise her. She wished she had friends like that, but there was no way she wanted to hang out with the crowd she’d fallen into back in Dallas. She was better off without them.
Not waiting for Elodie to knock on the door, Gemma grabbed her purse and stepped out onto the porch, locking the door behind her. She rushed down the steps and pulled open the SUV door.
“I see you stole Beau’s ride today,” Gemma said.
“Eh, he doesn’t need it. And you’ll be happy to hear that I not only left a note on the kitchen table, but I sent a text to Beck, too. He told us to have fun, even if he doesn’t know why we’re going to Hollis Springs.” Elodie gave her puppy dog eyes. “Are you sure I can’t tell them?”
“I’m sure! They would tell my mother and then my wedding day would turn into a nightm
are.”
Elodie chatted with her about the latest news on the baby. She’d had an ultrasound, but it was still too soon to know if they were having a boy or a girl. The doctor had assured her they would be able to tell at the next visit, as long as the baby was turned the right way. Gemma could tell Elodie was excited and she was happy for her.
When they reached Hollis Springs, Elodie pulled into the parking lot of the bridal store. Gemma glared at her.
“What the hell are we doing here? I told you, I’m going to the Justice of the Peace. That means a regular dress will do.”
“Just because it ‘will do’ doesn’t mean it should. They carry formals as well as wedding dresses. Besides, you might find a simple, yet elegant, wedding dress that’s just right for the occasion. I saw one online when I was searching for mine that looked like a sundress with a flared skirt. It was just made of white satin and had a pretty lavender sash.”
Gemma pursed her lips. “I suppose something like that wouldn’t be so bad.”
They got out and went inside. A saleswoman hurried over to them, asking if she could assist them in any way.
“My friend is looking for a wedding dress, but she just needs something simple. It’s not a traditional wedding,” Elodie explained.
“Something short?” the lady asked.
“Definitely,” answered Gemma.
“Right this way.” The sales lady motioned for them to follow her. She stopped at a rack full of short wedding dresses. “If you find anything you like, the fitting rooms are at the back of the store. My name is Milly, if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Milly.” Elodie smiled. “We’ll be sure to get you if we have questions.”
Gemma had already started flipping through the rack, saying a resounding no to everything she saw. But about halfway through, she stopped. The dress looked like it would be knee length and was made of cotton sateen. The strapless bodice was pleated and the skirt was full without being too full.
“Do you like that one?” Elodie asked.
“I think it’s perfect.” Gemma checked the tag. Not only was it her size, but it was on sale, too! She’d worried that Elodie would spend a fortune on a dress by going to a bridal store, but this one was marked down under one hundred dollars.
Gemma carried it to the dressing room and tried it on. When she stepped out, Elodie clasped her hands in front of her.
“Oh, Gemma! It’s perfect!”
Gemma stepped onto the platform and looked at herself in the three-way mirror. She turned to the side, and then turned around completely to see the back. She had to admit it fit her well, and was just what she would want in a wedding dress, if she were to buy an actual wedding dress and not just an everyday dress.
“Please tell me that’s the one,” Elodie said. “I don’t think you’ll find one better for you. It’s like it was made just for you.”
“You’re right. I think this is the one.”
“Hurry up and change and we’ll go pay for it. Then we need to hit the shoe store and find the perfect shoes to go with it. You won’t want satin since you aren’t having a traditional wedding, but we still need to find some cute heels for you. Maybe some peep toes.”
Shoes weren’t really her thing so Gemma decided she’d let Elodie have some fun and pick them out for her. She changed quickly and handed the dress to Milly, who was only too happy to ring up their purchase. With the dress safely stored in the back of the SUV, Elodie drove a few blocks down to a shoe store. It was a massive place and Gemma was worried they’d be in there forever, but it didn’t take Elodie long to find the perfect shoes.
With both a dress and shoes, Elodie dragged Gemma to a local diner for lunch. Gemma had to admit, the whole process had been fairly painless. She’d worried they’d be out shopping all day, the way Elodie had talked. Maybe if she’d been a little pickier, it might have taken longer. But Gemma was happy with her purchases. She was easy to please when it came to clothes, even if she had been selecting one of the most important dresses of her life, according to Elodie. Honestly, she wasn’t sure Synclair and Ryan would even notice what she was wearing.
Chapter Eighteen
Three days later, Gemma found herself in Synclair’s bedroom getting ready. Elodie had come over to help her with her hair and makeup, and Gemma hoped she hadn’t told Beau, Beck, and Cody what she was doing. The way Elodie kept smiling at her, Gemma was convinced she was up to something.
When she stepped out of the room and walked down the stairs, her breath froze in her throat. She’d known the guys were going to dress up for the occasion, but she hadn’t expected them to take her breath away. Hell, she hadn’t even known Synclair owned a suit, much less that he would look mouthwatering in one. Both of them had on black suits, white shirts, and pale blue ties.
“You look amazing,” Ryan told her as she came to stand in front of them.
“Beautiful,” Synclair said.
“Look at the two of you.” Gemma smoothed a hand down Synclair’s lapel. “Who knew you’d clean up so well?”
Synclair just grinned.
Elodie came down the stairs behind her, a huge smile on her face. “Look at the three of you! Before you drive to the county courthouse, there’s one stop we need to make first.”
Gemma’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“You need a wedding photo. The gazebo in the town park would be perfect for it. Especially right now with the jasmine blooming around it. Don’t you want something you can frame and display in your living room? Something to remind you of this day in the years to come?” Elodie looked at the three of them expectantly.
“And just how are we going to have this photo taken?” Gemma asked.
“I brought my camera!” Elodie smiled. “Now come on, the three of you can follow me over to the park, and then you can head over to the courthouse and get married.”
“Something tells me we shouldn’t argue with her,” Ryan said.
Synclair shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind having a picture of the three of us. Maybe we could get copies made and I could keep one at work.”
Ryan nodded. “Good idea.”
Gemma looped her arms through Synclair’s and Ryan’s and they walked out to Ryan’s SUV. The town park was nearby and they parked next to Elodie in the small parking lot. Gemma just knew someone was going to see them and know what they were up to. She could only hope word wouldn’t get back to her brothers until it was too late. The last thing she wanted was for them to crash her wedding or, worse, stop it all together.
Gemma, Ryan, and Synclair stood in the gazebo, big smiles on their faces, as Elodie snapped several pictures with her camera. They each gave her their cell phones and more photos were taken. Gemma’s heart was so full of love that she thought she would burst. Never had she been happier. While her family may not know about her wedding, she was glad that Elodie was here to share the morning with her, even if her friend wouldn’t be attending the wedding itself. Maybe if she’d come up with a way to separate Elodie from Beau, Beck, and Cody, she could have invited her.
When the pictures were finished, they piled back into the car and drove the twenty minutes to the county courthouse in the next town over. Parking was a nightmare and Gemma hoped that didn’t mean the Justice of the Peace would be busy. There was nervous energy buzzing around inside of her and she worried if she had to sit still she’d start fidgeting.
They entered the courthouse and found the office of the Justice of the Peace. There was a woman behind the front desk, and thankfully, no one else in the room. Ryan handed her their marriage license and explained they wished to be married. The woman took one look at the three of them and excused herself for a moment, to return with the justice of the peace himself.
The man shoved his hands into his pockets. “Well, what have we here?”
“We wish to be married this morning, Your Honor,” Ryan said.
The justice of the peace raised his eyebrows. “You know I can’t legally marr
y the three of you. You’ll have to decide which one of you is going on the marriage certificate.”
Ryan stepped forward. “I will be, sir. This is my brother, Synclair Black, and I’m Ryan Black.” He ushered Gemma forward. “This is our fiancée, Gemma Brower.”
“Well,” the man said. “As I told you, I can only legally marry one of you. However, I’m sure we can include your brother in the ceremony. Just follow me.”
They exited the small office and entered the courtroom to the right of the door. Gemma was surprised. She’d thought they would be married in the office. It was a large room, seeming even bigger with only the four of them in it. They followed the justice of the peace down to the front of the room, where he motioned them through a little swinging half-door.
Positioned with Synclair to her left and Ryan to her right, she waited to see what would happen next.
“As you know, marriage is a serious thing,” the man began. “It’s a lifelong commitment that mustn’t be entered into lightly. Before we proceed, are you sure this is what you want?”
“I’m positive,” said Gemma.
Synclair and Ryan also agreed they wanted to continue. Gemma squeezed their hands, feeling anxious.
“Gemma, do you take Ryan and Synclair to be your lawfully wedded husbands? To have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, until death do you part?”
“I do.” She smiled.
“Ryan and Synclair, do you take Gemma to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Gemma tuned him out for a moment, but her men both said I do and brought her back to the present.
“Do you have rings?” the justice of the peace asked.
Synclair pulled three rings from his pocket. Gemma’s fit around her engagement ring, while Synclair’s and Ryan’s were just plain white gold bands. It thrilled her that Synclair wanted to wear one, even if Ryan was her husband on paper.
