Saved by the Bride

chapter Fifteen

Bridey had the feeling she was floating outside her normal world—an observer of her own life except she didn’t recognize much of it. Kathleen had come for dinner, which wasn’t unexpected because the party was being thrown specially for Hank’s parents, but what stunned her was the fact her mother hadn’t left the moment it was polite to do so. Sure, Kathleen had mostly chatted with Finn and Annika and the Neiquests, but she’d also passed pleasantries with Sean and Dana. Used to seeing Kathleen with shoulder-squaring tension, Bridey was disconcerted to find her mother almost relaxed. She’d even had a sit-down game of catch with Logan before excusing herself when the dancing started.

“Bridey, that was my foot.” Hank’s hand tightened on her waist as he steadied her.

“Sorry. I was thinking about Mom.”

“Yours or mine?” He spun her out.

“Mine.” She wished the band would play a slow number so she could snuggle up to Hank. “I think her being at Kylemore might have actually helped her and Dad a little bit.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Yes, but I never thought it would happen.” Not that her parents were doing more than circling each other politely but it was better than what used to happen. She thought of Marion and Bob whose affection for each other was in sharp contrast to her parents. “When did you find out your parents were coming up?”

“When they arrived at the plant.” He dipped her and pulled her back, giving her a smile. “They’re so excited about this weekend that they’re like two kids at a theme park. It was really nice of your father to do this.”

She danced out and came in again, her back snuggling against his front. “It was, but I was hoping we could steal tonight just for us at the Whitetail Motel or B and B.”

He twirled her around and his face wore a slight frown. “This party’s for us and my parents so they can celebrate our engagement. We can hardly disappear.”

But what about us? We haven’t had sex in weeks. She ran her hand up into the back of his hair which she knew in the past had made him kiss her. “What if we left at midnight and were back by six? No one would even miss us.”

He shook his head. “Your father’s organized a dawn fishing trip.”

She couldn’t believe it. “Why did Daddy have to choose this summer to take up fishing?”

But if she expected Hank to show any signs of frustration that yet again they were going to have to sleep in separate rooms, he didn’t. Instead he just laughed and kept dancing.

But her enjoyment had lost its gloss. She stopped abruptly and pulled away before walking back to the table where the Neiquests sat with her father and Dana. Hank followed her with an audible sigh and when he’d seated her, he took the chair next to hers and slung his arm over the back of her chair. She leaned into him and he absently pressed a kiss onto her hair as if she was a child. Bridey wanted to shake him. She wanted to tell him that she was right here, an adult, and his for the taking, but the seeds of doubt yelled, “He’s getting cold feet.”

Bob slapped Hank jovially on the shoulder. “Well, son, you’ve fallen on your feet here.”

“Dad, I think you’ve probably done enough celebrating,” Hank said mildly, and poured his father a glass of water.

Bob just grinned and leaned forward. “Bridey, my dear, Marion and I are thrilled Hank finally got around to popping the question.”

Hank shifted in his seat and a chill darted through Bridey.

“Oh, yes.” Marion beamed. “And we’re even more thrilled that you said yes. We’ve been hoping for a while now, but you know Hank. He has to consider something from every angle and he won’t be rushed.”

Sean laughed and squeezed Dana’s hand with affection. “That will temper the Callahan tendency to make snap decisions.”

Bridey sat up straight, rigid with anxiety. “I don’t make snap decisions.”

This time Hank laughed. “What would you call the doughnut maker you had to have and is now waiting to go to a thrift store?”

Dana smiled. “But the one time she used it, the doughnuts were very good.”

Bridey threw a grateful look at her stepmother. “See, you can’t argue that.”

“And we can hardly accuse you of snap decisions about the wedding,” Sean teased. “At last count she had seven different wedding favors she couldn’t decide between and fourteen dresses.”

“Seeing we’re talking about the wedding, and they don’t come cheap,” Bob said, “Marion and I would like to make a contribution.”

Sean waved his hand. “That’s very kind, Bob, but not at all necessary.”

Marion reached over and put her hand on Bridey’s. “We got sidetracked by the tour of the house and never did have that chat about the wedding. We’d like to offer you our garden.”

The Neiquests’ garden was beautiful but the unanticipated gesture caught Bridey by surprise, and she was slow to form a response.

Hank sighed. “Mom, we’ve talked about this. Bridey wants a big wedding.”

“Well, darling, we had one hundred thirty people for your sister and it wasn’t a crush.”

“Try triple that.” Hank poured himself a drink.

“Four hundred people?” Marion asked faintly.

Bridey finally found her voice. “It’s important that our wedding be a statement. Your offer’s very thoughtful, Marion, thank you, but we’ve already paid a deposit on a venue.”

Sean winked. “I think I paid four holding deposits, Baby-girl, because you couldn’t decide.”

Marion and Bob exchanged a glance and then both of them stared at her with expressions of slight injury as if she’d somehow kept a secret from them.

Marion took in a breath and with a tight smile said, “So where are you two getting married?”

Bridey waited for Hank to tell his parents but a beat extended into two and then morphed into an awkward silence. Her heart hammered faster. Why wasn’t he saying anything? He knew exactly where they were getting married. He’d texted, Okay. Her future in-laws started frowning and she couldn’t stand being thought to be the “bad guy” who’d withheld information so she blurted out, “The InterContinental.”

Marion blinked.

“It’s going to be wonderful. Perfect in fact,” Bridey rushed on, determined to convince everyone that her vision for the wedding was exactly what she and Hank needed to start their life together. To cement their relationship. To avoid a divorce. “The theme’s traditional Old World elegance. Masses of white roses, tulips and gardenias, chandeliers, tall silver candelabras with cascading floral centerpieces and tall white candles, gold charger plates on ivory damask cloths, tulle and gossamer on the ceiling and walls, a string quartet for the ceremony and a big band for the reception.”

Marion looked slightly stunned but patted her hand. “It all sounds very...romantic, dear.”

Bridey relaxed. “Thank you. I think so and the men will wear black tie and tails and my eight attendants—”

“Eight?” Hank stiffened against her.

“Yes. Eight.” The words shot out between tight lips. “I did tell you this.”

His sober gaze held hers. “I didn’t think you were serious.”

Bob laughed and slapped Hank’s shoulder. “Just as well this extravaganza’s a year away. You’re going to need all that time to rustle up a few more groomsmen, son.”

“I think Hank’s just learning that weddings are for the bride.” Sean raised his glass to Hank in a gesture of camaraderie.

Everyone laughed and Hank’s mouth tweaked up tightly on one side but he didn’t join in the laughter.

Bridey felt his reproach rip into her like the barbs of an arrow.

Dana’s gaze flitted between her and Hank and she said in a calm voice, “There’s plenty of time for both of you to discuss all the details in private.”

But he doesn’t want to. He didn’t even tell his parents where we’re getting married.

Bridey spun her engagement ring as her unspoken words shrieked in her head, deafening her. Panic swamped her—clogging her throat and making it hard to breathe. She tried to push it down. Tried to push away the fact that Hank’s interest in their wedding was zero and that probably meant he was gearing up to end their engagement. She wouldn’t let that happen. If she got him to agree to the wedding plans now, then that was a sign he was still going to marry her.

Her hand hit the table making the glasses rattle. “Actually, once I’m back at school, there won’t be any time which is why,” she heard her voice rising and she was powerless to stop it, “we must make decisions now.”

This time no one laughed. An uncomfortable silence settled over everyone and neither her parents nor the Neiquests looked at her.

Hank shot to his feet. “Dana, Sean, thank you for a lovely evening. Mom, Dad, we’ll see you in the morning.” He turned to her, his face stiff and thunderous, and he extended his hand. “Bridey, let’s take a walk.”

For the first time ever, Bridey didn’t want to be alone with Hank. Not because she feared this new, angry version of him, but because every single cell in her body feared what he might say.

I don’t want to marry you.

I don’t love you.

Not that she’d heard the words I love you from him very often lately, but she wouldn’t give him the chance to say that he didn’t love her. She refused to take his hand. Instead, she rose as imperiously as Kathleen could, and quietly said her farewells to everyone.

Everyone murmured “good night” and then she felt Hank’s fingers grip her elbow and he steered her silently and determinedly toward the house and directly into the library. This was a side of him she’d never seen before, and his stony face brought all her worst fears to center stage.

“Have you been taking lessons from Sean and Finn?” She shook his arm away as he closed the door firmly behind them.

There was nothing mild about him now and he spread his feet wide, standing like a commanding general in the center of the room. “This nonsense has to stop.”

“What nonsense?” She paced to the window and looked out, not wanting to see the glare of reprimand in his eyes.

“This obsession of yours with the wedding.”

She spun around and threw her hands out wide. “I’m not obsessed.”

“Yes. You. Are.” He ground out the words and they bounced around the room. “From the moment we got engaged you’ve become a different person and you’re behaving like a woman possessed. First it was the engagement party and I let you have your head with that but I watched stunned as you went completely overboard. My God, Bridey, you planned everything down to the last second, including the time it would take for an ice sculpture to melt.”

He didn’t understand. “It’s important that it lasts.” That we last.

His hands raked through his hair, raising it into blond spikes. “You said you wanted a summer by the lake to relax but you’re so tense you’re about to explode, and you’re jamming my inbox with emails about the color of cake boxes.”

He sighed and sadness ringed him. “We used to talk about everything from French literature to the manufacture of paper, but for weeks it’s been like living with an event planner who doesn’t have a life. You do realize if you keep going this way you’re going to get labeled Bridezilla.”

The word whipped her, cutting deeply and she ground out, “One of us has to care enough to plan our wedding. Our future.”

His kind eyes flared with anger. “You’re saying I don’t care?”

Yes. “What am I supposed to say? Every time I want to talk about the wedding you brush me aside or you say, ‘you decide’ or worse still, you question me in front of our parents. I’m starting to think you don’t want to get married at all.” Her worst fears clung to the words which had shot out without warning. A tremble started in her toes, quickly spreading to her entire body.

“Not if it’s going to be like this for the next twelve months, I don’t,” he muttered.

His words broke over her, sucking the breath from her lungs. “I knew it.”

He pushed his glasses up his nose and when he spoke his voice was tired. “Bridey, come on. Don’t be ridiculous.”

She rolled her shoulders back and clenched her hands into tight fists by her side, finally asking the question that had been plaguing her for weeks. “Hank, have you ever loved me?”

His eyes darkened as black discs of shock absorbed the honey warmth of his eyes. “What the hell sort of a question is that?”

Her heart hammered hard and her head spun dizzily from all the hurt which poured out of her. “A very real one. I proposed to you, Hank. Me. I had to ask you to marry me and now I’m not getting any signs from you that you care about me or the wedding at all.” Her voice started to crack. “And you can’t deny it. I mean, you program your phone so you don’t forget to call me at night. What does that say about us?”

Her legs shook so much she had to lock her knees. “You’re not upset that our vacation’s been lost and last weekend you did everything possible to avoid spending time with me. I’ve done the math, Hank, so sue me if those aren’t enough reasons for me to ask the question.”

“You want me to apologize for spending last weekend with your family?” Disbelief scored his face and he slowly put the glass down. When he spoke, his voice was eerily quiet. “You seem to have it all worked out, Bridey, so tell me your theory on why I accepted your proposal?”

She spun her engagement ring around until the diamond cut into her palm but the pain didn’t hurt as much as what she said. “For AKP.”

He stared at her for a long moment and she watched his eyes fill with pain—pain she’d just put there. It tore back through her, searing her and shattering her heart. Oh, God, what had she just gone and done? But she knew exactly. She’d got everything horribly, horribly wrong. She’d let all her insecurities and fears come between them and now she’d driven Hank away.

He turned from her and gripped the mantelpiece, his shoulders rising and falling as if he’d just run a marathon and was left gasping for breath. Her own lungs cramped so hard they refused to move air and she stared at his back, feeling powerless and unable to speak. She didn’t know how to fix this. “Sorry” didn’t sound like nearly enough.

When he finally spoke, he still didn’t look at her. “Do you really believe that I chose you because of work?”

She wrung her hands and emotional fatigue threatened to drag her into a heap on the floor. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know is that I was the one who pushed for us to get married and with each passing day you seem to move further away from me.”

He raised his head and turned back to face her. His eyes, which had always been so warm, were clouded with the swirl of ragged emotions. “Do you still love me, Bridey?”

She didn’t have to think. “Yes. Of course I do.”

“Thank God.” He strode over to her and pulled her in close. “Bridey, I love you. Please know that I love you.”

She sagged against him in relief and his arms tightened around her.

He gazed into her eyes. “I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you walk onto the floor with your father in those shoes that belonged on a catwalk rather than a factory floor.”

His emotion spun around her and she stared at him, stunned. “Then why did I have to do all the running? Why didn’t you ever ask me out?”

He stroked her cheek. “It’s not easy being the chief engineer in a billion-dollar company and in love with the boss’s only daughter when even she has occasional thoughts that I only want her for the power and prestige.”

Her head fell onto his shoulder and her battered heart tried to beat more steadily. “Oh, Hank. I’m so sorry. I just wanted everything to be perfect. Insurance. But all I’ve done is make a mess of it all. No one would believe I’m an academic when I’ve been behaving like such a silly fool.”

His hand trailed up and down her back. “To me you’re the quintessential modern woman. You’re smart, intelligent and you know what you want, which is why I thought it was wonderful that you proposed to me.” He stroked her hair. “Had I realized it had you so worried, I would have told you this story earlier. Do you remember the celebratory dinner we had the night after you proposed?”

“At Le Luna? Of course I do, it was amazing. I could never work out how you got us a table at such short notice.” Suddenly things fell into place and she gasped.

He nodded. “The night you proposed, you beat me out by twenty-four hours. I’d booked the restaurant a month prior because I’d planned to ask you to marry me.” He gave a wry smile. “Mom and Dad are right. I don’t make decisions in a hurry, but when I finally make them, I make them for keeps.”

“Oh, Hank. I’m so sorry I ruined your plans.”

“No, don’t be sorry for that.” He shook his head emphatically. “I saw it as a sign of us being in sync and ready to move forward with our lives. You gave me what I wanted most in the world.”

He led her to the couch and sat her down. “Bridey, I love you with all my heart, but how did we get to this place tonight? Things have slowly been building to this since we got engaged and I don’t ever want to come here again, so let’s talk.”

“You’re right—we need to talk. Where do we start?”

“With your hurt. You said you think I set my phone so I remember to call you. That’s not the reason at all. Usually, I’ve wanted to call you at least four other times in the day but work’s been frantic. I set my phone for seven because if I’m still at work and the day’s gone to hell in a handbasket, everyone on the floor knows that from 7:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., I’m completely unavailable to everyone except you.”

Her heart lurched. How could she have been so stupid to think he didn’t love her? Just like a light being shone into a dark corner, she could now see her recent behavior clearly. “You’re right, Hank. I’ve been obsessed and I almost let it ruin everything.”

She took in a steadying breath as she realized how close she’d come to losing him and tried to explain. “I was scared. Mom and Dad had a shotgun wedding and it ended, well, you know how it ended.” She sighed. “I got this idea in my head that if our engagement and wedding were perfect then it would be like insurance and we’d be together forever. Just saying the words out loud makes me realize how dumb it was and how crazy I’ve been.”

He slid his hand along her cheek. “I’m sorry I’ve been distracted with work and I know I’m not very good at telling you I love you, but I do. From this moment onward, I’m going to be telling you every day and every night, but, Bridey, there’s more to love than words.”

“I know, but my filter’s been out of focus and it fuzzed up everything.”

He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Last weekend, all I wanted was to be with you, but you’ve been telling me for two months now how important this family vacation is to you, so I made sure I spent time with your family. I was trying to bond outside of work.” He gave her an ironic smile. “Granted, I probably overdid it some, and I’m never drinking a mint julep again.”

She laughed. “Overdoing things is a Callahan trait.”

“Very true. The reason I spent so much time with your dad, Logan, Finn and your mom was because I wanted to get to know them. For you.”

Her heart expanded so much she thought it would burst and she hugged him hard. “I don’t deserve you.”

He teased her with dancing eyes. “Probably not.” Then his face sobered. “Bridey, we have to keep talking. The way we always did before we got engaged. If you’re happy, sad, worried, scared, I need to know.”

She nodded, absolutely secure in his love. “You’re right. I’ve missed us.”

“Me too.” He ran his thumb over the diamond on her engagement ring. “You and I are not your parents, Bridey. We’re us, and we do things our way. I want you to be happy because the last two years with you have been the best of my life. The next fifty will be too.”

She couldn’t stop the flood of tears that poured down her face and she buried her face in his shoulder. “Oh, Hank, I love you so much. We don’t have to get married. Let’s just live together.”

He shook his head and pulled back so he could see her face. “No, we’re getting married.”

“But you’ve hated all the wedding stuff.”

“No, I’ve been worried that you thought we needed the biggest wedding of the year. We don’t need that but I want to stand up in front of the people we love and publically declare my love for you. I want to see you in a beautiful white dress. I want to watch you glide down the aisle toward me on Sean’s arm, knowing that you’re pledging your love to mine. But do we really need it to happen in front of four hundred people with eight attendants on either side?”

She shook her head. “No. All I need is you.”

He brought his mouth down on hers and as his tongue made pledges to be honored later, ribbons of pleasure ran along her veins and then burrowed down deep, stroking memories and demanding new ones. His hands deftly pulled her thin shoulder straps down and she sighed as her breasts spilled into his hands, soaking up his touch that she missed so much.

She lay back on the leather couch and pulled him down with her. This time he didn’t pull back or worry that they were in her father’s house. This time he slid his hands under her skirt and his fingers worked their magic as his mouth branded her as his.

She was panting and wet with need, and her hands fumbled with his trousers before she guided him into her. It felt like coming home. He filled her with himself, with his strength and with his love. With each stroke, she rose with him until she tightened around him and gathered him up. Taking him with her they flew off the precipice together and out into the future.

When he finally raised his head, his eyes glowed with the color of polished oak. “The library’s soundproofed, right?”

She laughed. “Actually, it does have thicker walls because Grandpa wanted to block the noise from the house so I guess it works both ways.”

He grinned. “In that case, I think we’re going to be doing a lot of reading this weekend.” He cuddled her close. “Do we have to wait until next July to get married?”

“I guess not.” In the languid post-sex haze, an idea exploded in her head. “What about at the end of the month?” She wriggled under him. “Annika’s friend asked me if we’d like to get married in Whitetail. Of course I was obsessing at the time so I said no but, why not? My family’s here and your parents are home for the rest of the summer. We can fly in our closest friends and the people our parents want to have and cap it at two hundred. Given the short notice, they probably won’t all come. We can give Nicole some broad guidelines and color schemes and then let her arrange everything. All we have to do is turn up.”

“Okay, but when you’re organizing your dress don’t go casual on me because I’m wearing a tux to our wedding.”

Her hand snuck under his shirt. “You know I always go weak at the knees for a man in black tie.”

His hand trailed along her inner thigh. “Darling, I can make your knees weak right now.”

And he did.