Not wanting to hear that, I moved away from him and walked down the chapel’s aisle.
He followed. “Are we done talking about us?”
“I need time to think about it, Saint.”
He grabbed me by my arm, stopped my movement, and turned me around. “What did you say?”
“I said I need time to think about this.”
Hope spread across his face. “You’re thinking about it?”
I tightened my mouth, nervous about saying it again.
“Usually, it is an outright no or hell no if you’re drunk, but now. . .you’re thinking about it.”
Pressure tightened in my chest. My heartbeats increased.
He let go of my arm. “I’ll take that.”
I let out a long breath and walked away.
He called after me. “Take as long as you need to think about it, Ivy. My heart and I will be waiting!”
Everyone in the chapel turned our way.
I blushed in embarrassment.
Holly had a hold of Corey’s little hands as she headed back to me. “Okay. I have control of this one. If you can get the other monsters, we’ll start this up.”
“I’ll get them and call Emma. Worst case scenario, I’ll go to her villa and wake her up.”
“Thanks, Ivy.” She smirked. “But what is Saint yelling about?”
“Nothing.” I hurried away before she pulled the whole situation out of me.
I can’t believe I said I would think about it. Where did that come from?
It took thirty minutes for Emma to drag her behind out of bed. By then, all of the wedding party was in the chapel, freezing our asses off. Thankfully, the wedding party was small. Three bridesmaids and ushers. I was the maid of honor. Saint was Nikolas’s best man. Throughout the years, they’d become closer than Holly and me.
Over and over, Saint and I walked down the aisle together. I knew we’d done it perfectly, but Holly was being slick. Perhaps she figured that if I walked down the aisle with her brother enough, then maybe I would get addicted to it. Each time, Saint guided me forward, he held onto me closer than necessary. And I enjoyed that grip, loving how good it felt to be next to him.
Goodness. I hate marriage, but if I were going to get married. . .it would be Saint. No doubt about it.
Holly and Nikolas talked to the Wedding Coordinator about the musical selection and where everyone would sit and stand. Nikolas and Holly’s parents arrived later. Then we ran through the entire ceremony twice with them. They figured out where they would sit and when they would enter the chapel. Emma’s kids practiced their part, doing a good job and looking like little angels.
In the end, the whole rehearsal ceremony ran smoothly. I prayed that the wedding would be just as easy.
Park showed up at the end.
I hurried to her. “Were you able to find tickets?”
“Yeah, but then I figured that it wouldn’t be a bad thing to stay for a few more days.”
“Really?”
Park gestured to a guy in the doorway. “So. . .as I was walking around I spotted this cool new friend named, Elias.”
I checked him out. Six feet, brown hair, and green eyes. Not a bad body. He would definitely look good naked. I turned back to her. “I approve.”
“You do?”
“Hells yes. Get your groove on.”
“Well, I’m supposed to be working even though you said I could leave.”
“That was a gross mistake on my part. One that Saint showed me. The fact that you’ve ended up having a good time anyway makes me happy. Do your thing, Park.”
She grinned.
“You’re still welcome to come to the wedding and reception. You’re counted.”
“Okay. I’ll be there. I brought a gown just in case.”
“Perfect. Enjoy these days because after New Year’s, it’s on.”
Worry creased her face. “I bet it is, boss.”
“Super on. So, get as much loving in now because January will be make up time.”
Park glanced back at Elias. “I’ll do my best.”
“It looks like he’ll do his best, too.”
She turned back to me and lowered her voice. “And I told him.”
“Told him what?”
“That uh. . .you know, that I was born differently.”
“Oh.” I blinked, shocked that she would divulge that secret to me. “And his thoughts?”
“He didn’t care at all.”
“Then he’s a keeper.”
“He is.” Park shook her head. “Sometimes men run off. My friend told me that I shouldn’t even say anything, but I couldn’t even think of it.”
“At least now you don’t have to worry about it.”
“You’re right.”
“Enjoy.”
“I will.” She headed off, stopped, and turned around. “Oh, but I have my phone. If you need me, just call.”
“I sure will, Park. Go have fun.”Chapter 11
Cool YuleAfter the rehearsal, I went back to my villa and changed into a dress that I hoped would stop Saint and his stipulations. He loved the color plum. Not purple, but plum. And it had to have a brownish-gray tinge similar to the color of the plum fruit—which he absolutely loved to eat. When I’d spotted the dress in the store months ago, I’d thought of him and bought it. Today, I pulled it out of my suitcase and smiled.