“I need six.”
“No one knows where the wedding is being held,” Jason, the head of Alecia’s security, points out logically. “The guests are parking ten miles away and we’re bussing them in.”
“I’m aware,” Alecia replies. “Look, guys, I’m going to be a hard ass on this one. Will Montgomery won the Super Bowl last year, and it’s not just him that the paparazzi are interested in. You’re all aware that we have rock stars coming, movie stars, producers, and other football players. Security can’t be breached. If even one paparazzi follows a bus here, or figures out the location and spreads unauthorized photos, I’ll have all of your dicks on a platter.”
“Montgomery was smart about this,” Derek reminds her. “The guests were simply given an address to park their cars. Even they don’t know where they’re going.”
“I’m aware. I set it up,” she replies.
I lean my shoulder against the wall, cross my arms over my chest, and watch my woman take control over two dozen strong men.
I want to kiss the fuck out of her.
“If we put two more guys on the parking lot, that’s two less that will be here.”
“You’ll have eighteen men here,” she replies with a shake of the head. “Are you being a pain in the ass because I’m a woman, or are you just always this stubborn?”
Derek stands, his jaw ticking and watches Alecia for a long minute. She’s staring him down, and it’s the most amazing bout of chicken I’ve ever seen in my life.
“Fine,” he says at last. “You’ll get your six.”
“Yes, I will. Follow the guest list. I don’t care if someone claims to be a long lost grandma and turns on the big crocodile tears. If they’re not on the list, they don’t get in. Period. If you have questions, talk to me. I’ll have my earpiece in all day.”
“You know, I like a bossy woman.”
This comes from a younger kid, as tall and built as Derek, but clearly too young to know to keep his mouth shut. Alecia stops in her tracks, narrows her eyes and pins him in her glare.
“Do you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replies with a cocky smirk.
Oh, you young idiot.
“What’s your name?” she asks him.
“Stokes,” he replies.
“Stokes.” She crosses to him, props her hand on her hip and smiles sweetly at him. “Do you have mommy issues, Stokes?”
The other men smirk, but Stokes’ eyes go hard as his face sobers.
“No, I just think it’s fucking sexy when a woman has a backbone.”
Alecia tilts her head to the side and then nods. “Good. Because I have one. Don’t fuck this up, Stokes.” She backs away and nods to Derek and Jason. “That’s all. Let me know if there are any issues.”
“There won’t be,” Jason replies, and turns to continue briefing his men as Alecia walks away.
“She should be in the military,” Stokes says with new respect in his voice.
She’s too good for the military.
“Good job, Lieutenant,” I whisper as I fall into step beside her.
“I will cut off someone’s junk if I find out they only put four men out there,” she grumbles.
“You’re awfully angry at the male genitals today, cara.”
She smirks and then lets out a short laugh.
“I’m around a lot of men today.”
“Everything is going to run like clockwork.”
“Don’t say that. You’ll jinx it. I should go see Blake.”
“Blake paid me five thousand dollars to keep you out of the kitchen today.”
She frowns and blinks up at me.
“He did not.”
“He did.” Okay, he didn’t, but she’ll just make them both crazy if she stomps in there and harasses him today. “Everything is set. The food already smells amazing. The tables are set, and the florist is working her magic on the arbor and the tent.”
“The cupcakes—”
“Get here in a few hours and Nic will set them up. She’s awesome.” I take her shoulders in my hands and kiss her forehead gently. “But I get it. This is what you do. So go get ‘em, tiger.”
She grins up at me before gripping my shirt in her fist and pulling me down for a quick kiss. “Thanks. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Alecia.” She stops about twenty feet away from me and turns back with a raised brow. “This fierce side of you? It’s sexy as fuck.”
She doesn’t answer; she simply smiles before turning and walking away, with just a little more sway in her magnificent hips.
God, I fucking love her.
***
I haven’t spoken with Alecia since that moment this morning. The family began to arrive, and chaos has descended on the vineyard.
And I love it.
The guys are in my playroom, shooting pool and yelling insults at each other, which is pretty much par for the course with my brothers.
The girls are out back in the tent, helping Nic set up the cupcakes.
Or, getting in her way, and she’s too nice to tell them to get lost.
Meg is getting ready up in the bridal suite, and to escape said chaos, I decide to head up there to say hello.
Alecia opens the door to my knock and steps back, letting me inside. Natalie has her camera pressed to her face and is quickly snapping photos.
And Meg is standing before the mirror, dressed in her gorgeous gown. It’s lacy, but not frilly. It’s sleeveless, and the neckline plunges deep between her breasts. The skirt hangs straight, with no train.
It’s elegant, chic, and completely perfect for our Meg.
“You are stunning,” I tell her, as I lean in and kiss her cheek, careful not to muss her up.
“Thank you.”
“I didn’t think you were the photographer,” I say to Natalie.
“Just for this part,” Nat assures me.
“I didn’t want a stranger taking photos of me getting dressed.” Meg wrinkles her nose and turns back to the mirror. “It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“It’s perfect,” I assure her. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.”