“How about you get married right away, before you start showing? You’re father is in town. Now would be the perfect time.”
Skylar chuckled, shaking her head. “I don’t want to just go down to the courthouse and do it. I want a real wedding, and that takes time. You have to find a venue and—”
“I know a place,” Jessie offered.
Skylar frowned. “You do?”
Jessie nodded. “Ghost’s. That place he’s fixing up. It would be perfect. We could have it in the courtyard.”
Tink looked at Skylar. “I’ve never been out there, so I’ve never seen the place. Have you?”
“I was there once.”
“Do you think it would work?” Tink asked.
“Maybe. It’s certainly big enough. I suppose if we decorated—”
“I’ve got all kinds of ideas! It’s got all those exposed beams. We could hang little battery
votive candles in glass mason jars from the ceiling. And little twinkling fairy lights! We could really make it look magical. And there’s that big fireplace. We could set up the altar in front of it. And we could have the reception out on the terrace and—”
“Whoa, whoa, girl,” Tink cut in, turning to Skylar. “Is this what you want to do? Don’t you think you need to talk to Shades first?”
“I say you surprise him,” Jessie suggested.
“Surprise him?” Skylar turned to her, frowning.
Jessie grinned big. “Yup. And I know exactly how to do it. You know he loves you right?”
Tink cut in, answering that one for her. “He’s crazy about her. He’d do anything to make her happy.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. Tomorrow we go shopping for everything we need,” Jessie advised, grinning ear to ear. Excited to be involved and building new friendships.
An hour later, Jessie was enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin. It was so soothing that soon it and the sound of the water lapping against the dock had almost lulled her to sleep.
Almost.
Until she heard the distant rumble of a couple of motorcycles.
She cracked one eye toward the house, but couldn’t see anything as the drive was on the backside.
“That’ll be the boys,” Skylar confirmed for her, never turning her head.
“Great,” Jessie mouthed unenthusiastically.
That had Skylar giggling and turning toward her. “Just pretend you’re asleep, maybe he’ll leave you alone.”
“Right.” Like that had a snowball’s chance in hell.
A few minutes later the dock shook as some heavy boots walked down it. They came to a stop just above her head, and she cracked an eye open looking up. Ghost stood over her, his eyes meeting hers before they took a leisurely path down her body then moved to Skylar.
“Your ol’ man wants you up at the house.”
Skylar got to her feet.
“And take Tink with you,” Ghost added.
Tink got to her feet as well, but not before giving Jessie a look that said, you’re in trouble.