“Daddy has an owie.” Sophia said. “A big owie.”
Tessa pulled a sharp breath, meeting Rubi’s gaze. “Is he okay? What’s wrong?”
“He’s fine.” Rubi gave Sophia a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and said, “Go tell your daddy to get to the altar.”
Sophia turned for the deck and sang, “Daddy’s home, Daddy’s home, Daddy’s home” all the way down the stairs to the yard.
“What happened?” Tessa asked, pressing a hand to her temple. “Please don’t tell me he’s wearing a body cast.”
Lexi snickered. “No. I’m sure Jax has that one reserved.”
“He can’t.” Rubi cocked her hip, planted her hand on it, and gave Lexi that sassy look. “You haven’t said yes.”
“Don’t start,” Lexi warned against anyone harping on her about marrying Jax. “And neither have you.”
“I’m waiting for you. And Wes is getting as impatient as Jax.”
“Everything is perfect the way it is,” she said, adjusting a comb in Tessa’s hair.
“Then a ring and a piece of paper won’t ruin anything, will it?”
“Why don’t you go first and let me know,” Lexi quipped back.
“You’re not helping out my stress level here, girls,” Tessa interrupted the familiar discussion of Lexi’s irrational fear of marriage. “What happened to Zach? Is he okay?”
Rubi waved a hand. “These guys are tough. Zach hit a reef yesterday at the end of the shoot.”
“A reef?” Her stomach squeezed. “Oh my God.” She’d watched Zach surf waves the size of buildings over in Hawaii during filming. And she’d seen those walls of water pound him into the surf when he took a fall. The thought of him hitting a reef terrified her. “He didn’t tell me—”
Tessa started toward the doors, but Rubi blocked her path and closed her hands on her arms.
“He’s okay, Tess.” Her voice was smooth, sure, and compassionate. “I’d never keep you from him if he wasn’t. And don’t you dare cry. You’re going to ruin my perfect makeup job.”
Tessa blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. “Should we postpone the ceremony and take him to the ER?”
Rubi laughed. “I think he’d shoot us if we tried. Besides, he spent enough time there last night.”
Tessa closed her eyes and pressed a hand to her cheek. “Oh my God.” She refocused on Rubi. “Promise me he’s okay.”
“He’s. O-K.”
She took a deep breath and let it go. “All right.”
“He’s just…” Rubi added with her sassy smirk, “you know, not his normal pretty self.”
“Oh God. His face?”
Rubi winced. “Among other pl
aces. So unless you two are into S & M, consummating your marriage may have to wait a day or two.”
Lexi lifted the veil to Tessa’s hair with another sarcastic laugh. “A few broken bones and stitches never stopped Jax.” She rocked another comb—this one holding the veil—deep into the bun on the back of Tessa’s head. “Or Wes either, according to you.”
Rubi smirked and lifted a shoulder. “True.”
“Zach won’t be any different.” Lexi stepped away and rounded in front of Tessa, her gaze scanning her hair and veil. And she smiled, a brilliant, white smile that sparkled in her eyes. “Especially not when he sees you.” She met Tessa’s eyes. “Ready to meet your Prince Charming?”
Tessa’s stomach fluttered with excitement. She pulled in a breath and covered her stomach with one hand. “How can I be so nervous about something I want so much?”