Emmit’s fingers came up and lightly brushed back a loose strand of hair from my face. With a confident smile, he looked into my eyes. “We’re going to find you another dress and we’re getting married. Meanwhile, I’m not letting you out of my fucking sight.”
I was pulled back tightly into Emmit’s body as we stood there for a few moments in each other’s arms.
She had been here. I could feel it. Stephanie had been in our cottage as Emmit and I had sex.
My body trembled at the thought as Emmit held me even tighter.
My beautiful perfect day just turned into my worst nightmare.
I PACED OUTSIDE THE DRESS shop as I waited for Todd and Chris to call me back. The second my phone rang in my hand, I answered it.
“Talk to me, Chris.”
“It was for sure a woman. They had their hair pulled up and wore a hat, but the security footage shows a woman leaving the area of the villa we are staying in.”
“Fucking hell. It has to be that crazy bitch,” I said as I looked into the store. Ashley and Adaline’s mother, Emery, brought us here so Adaline could find another dress. Here it was our wedding day, and we had to track down another damn dress.
“Todd has already hired additional security for the ceremony tonight and for you and Adaline.”
Releasing a quick frustrated breath, I shook my head. “I don’t need any. I’m more worried about Addie. She’s freaked out, and she insists that Stephanie was watching us this morning. I’ve got to tell you, Chris, I felt the same way Addie did. When I woke up this morning I had the strangest feeling someone was watching me.”
“She’s not going to get anywhere near either of you, Emmit. I promise you. But I do have something I need to tell you and you’re not going to like it.”
I closed my eyes and got prepared for it. What in the hell else could happen?
“I’m ready,” I said.
“I did a sweep of your cottage. There were two small wireless cameras that someone had placed in your room. Someone has been watching y’all.”
My entire body froze as I let what Chris just told me settle into my brain. “What?”
Oh, my God. They saw Adaline naked. They saw us having sex. Who the fuck knows what else they saw or what they will do with the videos.
“Chris, how in the hell did you find them?”
“I combed through your entire cottage, call it gut feeling or something. I figured if someone was going to go through all of this trouble, they were most likely watching you as well. Especially if it is Stephanie.”
Turning, I glanced into the shop and saw Adaline standing at the counter checking out. She was wearing a smile as she listened to something the girl behind the counter was saying. “Who else knows you found the camera?”
“Just Todd,” Chris said.
Talking barely above a whisper, I said, “Don’t tell anyone else, especially Addie.”
Chris cleared his throat. “Um, isn’t she kind of pissed at you for not telling her about Stephanie calling up here and jacking with your reservations? Are you sure you want to hide this from her?”
“Just until after the wedding is over.” I turned away and scrubbed my hand down my face. “Chris, what would you think of taking on a new job?”
“New job?”
“I want to set up a small security team, mostly for Addie and you are about the only person I would trust to do it.”
Silence loomed over the phone. I didn’t say anything because I knew my brother was letting what I had just said soak in. “Ah, well I’d have to talk to MaryAnne about it. Can I think about it and talk to her some before we go any further with this?”
“Of course. But the sooner the better, Chris. I have a feeling if Stephanie is behind this, she covered her tracks really well.”
The door to the shop rang as it opened and Adaline, Emery, and Ashley all walked out laughing. It was nice to see Adaline happy. “Hey, I’ve got to run. We’ll be back over there in a little bit.”
“Talk to you soon, Emmit. Don’t worry, dude. Between me, Todd, and Waldo, nothing else is going to happen. I promise.”
“Thanks, Chris. Later.”
I hoped like hell my brother was right. I needed to make two more calls, but I didn’t want to make them on my cell.
Adaline walked up to me as she wore the most beautiful smile. “Hey, you still mad at me?” I asked as I gently kissed her lips.
Adaline’s eyes searched my face before they made contact with my lips. “No,” she whispered as she licked her lips and then looked back up into my eyes. “I’m sorry I got so mad. It’s just everything that is happening and today is supposed to be the happiest day of our lives, it has me thrown that’s all.”
I placed my hands on the sides of her face and pulled her lips back to mine where I kissed her again. My sister and Adaline’s mother had already gone back to the limo and were waiting for us. “Every day I wake up with you is the happiest day of my life, Addie. All we need is the two of us. Don’t ever forget that.”
Her teeth sank down into her lip as she worried it. “I won’t,” she said as I laced my hand around her waist and guided her over to the limo.