Crush (A Night Fire Novel Book 1) (15 page)

Chapter Eighteen

Another two weeks later...

It was surprising how much could be organized within two weeks. It was amazing how much could change within two weeks. The house was now furnished, not completely but enough so that my parents and Pete could stay in the guest wing of the house. Eden and the boys would be here for the tonight, as would Jerry and Eleanor. It made life easier for everyone, ensuring that those who were close to us, were well looked after. Even Lola and her partner were planning on crashing the night here. I guess it's lucky that there are so many rooms.

To the side of the house, on the large expanse of lawn several long and wide tents were set up. It had a hard floor so that we wouldn't be walking around on soft grass and covered sides to stop the paparazzi from getting free photos. It wasn't as if we wanted the money, we just wanted to control how the world saw things. We had already brokered a deal, the money for the photos were going to be donated to a charity that helps reformed alcoholics get back on their feet.

A long corridor ran from the back door to the main entrance to ensure that no one would see me when I walked out. As I looked out the window, peering through the crack at one end, I watched as the guests entered the property. They were slowly making their way to the tents which spanned several feet past the house. There was a long line of cars, the security going through the painstakingly slow task of checking them off the guest list and then directing them where to park their cars. At the fence line was a row of paparazzi, waiting to get a glimpse.

I turned back to the bedroom, we were in a guest room on the other side of the building. Curtis had been doing renovations in the master bedroom, for two weeks we had been bunking down in one of the spare rooms on the first floor. Not sure on what exactly he was doing in there, he wanted it to be a surprise for our wedding night. I didn't mind, it kept him occupied and after what my father said, I was happy to let Curtis do as he pleased.

My mother was being fussed over by the stylist team, my bridesmaids were giggling as they drank non-alcoholic champagne. The guests were yet to find out that there wasn't going to be a single drop here, we had managed to swing all sorts of beverages that were fakes. Eden was a blessing in disguise. She had weaved some kind of magic and managed to get bottles with labels purporting them to be an alcoholic beverage but they weren't. Not sure if Curtis was impressed, he stated on several occasions that he had to learn how to be around alcohol and not be tempted by it. But still, the woman did it and had filled the bar fridges full of non-alcoholic beverages.

My cousin fluffed the soft floaty pink skirt of her dress, smiling brightly at me. It was funny how after the world learned that Curtis and I were getting married, that I somehow gained so many friends, both new and old. New ones I ignored, the old ones I ignored too. If I hadn't spoken to them in the past year, then they weren't really a friend. So I chose my bridal party carefully. My cousin Stella, she was my first choice. We had always been close and she was on the verge of coming out to Vegas to join me in my wonderful lifestyle in my cramped apartment. Then there was my neighbor twins, Casey and Lisa. We were inseparable as children and as teenagers. I had spoken to them in the days before meeting Curtis and since then we had texted frequently. Finally, number four. Well she was a woman that I had daily interactions with since the trip to Los Angeles. She made me laugh, she always had a wicked smile and I knew that she was like my evil twin. Oh, and let's not forget the fact that I loved the moment when I got to tell Fraser that he was being partnered with Eden. That was a golden moment.

A helicopter circled the estate, slowing at the tent. Flashes from the fence line started and I wondered if Curtis had stuck his head out. Maybe it was someone else, the guest list was like a celebrity roll call. Well, except for my family.

A gentle knock on the door as it opened made us all turn, my father warily putting his head through.

“All decent?”

“Well we're dressed, not sure about the decent part.” Eden laughed.

My father chuckled and walked in, smiling warmly at me.

“You look gorgeous sweet pea.”

“Thanks dad.”

“So, everything is ready.” he frowned. “No topless waitresses.”

My mother huffed as she sat up, looking like a beautiful mother of the bride.

“What about the monkey butlers?”

“Couldn't swing that one sadly.” Eden rolled her eyes. “Funnily enough, I couldn't get the pole dancers or the go-go cages. Such a shame.”

“Fireworks?”

“Not sure on that one, your brother was handling that.” my father said without a hint of emotion, offering no clue.

Stella, Casey and Lisa sat there with confused looks, wondering what kind of circus they had walked into.

“Well my lovely ladies, it's time to get the show on the road. The last of the guests are being seated as we speak and I hear there is a freaked out groom that's searching the internet for the phone number for the little white chapel.”

We all had a little laugh as we made our way downstairs. But inside I wasn't laughing so much, for Curtis it was a very real option. Get it done and out of the way, ensuring that no one could turn up and cause a scene. They had tried, they had called the house. We ended up getting a new number and ensuring that all that were given the number knew not to pass it around freely or to his family. Then they started emailing. At first it was Jane, they were using her to try and guilt Curtis into talking to them again. Then it was James, his email was a little uppity and contained pictures of the kid, telling him that he was missing out on her life. In the end we closed the email account down and created a new one. Like the phone number it was passed out with strict rules.

The night that Curtis kicked his family out of our home was a distant memory now. But as we sat at that table and talked and planned into the wee hours of the morning, I saw Curtis change. He realized that a family could be many different people. It didn't necessarily have to be a mom, dad and siblings. It could be a couple of guys that have been your friends since you were in nappies or maybe a new friend that might just be your new brother-in-law. Maybe your mom and dad might not be your blood family, maybe they might be the manager that's always been there for you and his wonderful wife that dotes over you like a son. Maybe it's the new in-laws that look at you like you like you're the prize pig at the county fair, just because you defend their little girl and treat her like a princess. Even the hard ass assistant that scowls at you and taps her foot when you take too long, she's like a sister.

We stood at the doorway to the external area, the sound of the water flowing into the pool was almost drowned out by the circling helicopter. Eden fluffed the dress, ensuring that the train was sitting right. It was a simple lace dress, fitted tight across my body. The neckline sat across my chest and over the edge of my shoulders, flowing to long sleeves. I didn't want anything that was over the top, I wanted simple. A plain diamond pendant sat in the dip of my collar bone, a gift from Curtis that was waiting for me when we returned from the doctors after confirming the pregnancy.

My hair was up in a bundle of curls, finished off with a sparkly flower clip that my mother had worn when she married my father. Eden stood in front of me with a smile, looking down at my dress. In picking a tight dress, it hadn't occurred to me to think about being pregnant. At six weeks I had a pot belly.

“You are carrying a boy and baby, he's going to be as big as his daddy.”

“Yay for me.” I groaned.

The wedding coordinator bustled his way down tent alley as I had dubbed it, his face filled with anxiety. Not sure on why we needed a coordinator but apparently it was the done thing. Marco was a delight, even if he did have the tendency to freak out at the drop of a hat.

“Okay people, let's get going.” his fingers snapped in a hurried pace. “Come on girls, who is going first?”

“Eden!” Stella stepped back, almost hiding behind me.

“Stage fright Stel?”

“No, coordinator fright.”

Eden huffed and stepped into first position in tent alley.

“Next, next.” Marco snapped his fingers again. “One of the twins first, then you darling. Let's have a little difference for a few moments.”

Marco sized up my father, adjusting his bow tie and gushing at me.

“Beautiful darling.”

With a flutter of a wave, Marco was off again.

“Jesus H Christ Frankie, where on earth did you find him?”

“Uh, well he actually came recommended. I met his boyfriend at the award ceremony. He was a seat filler and a huge fan of the guys, so we chatted while they were back stage.”

With an over the top flailing of his hands, Marco beckoned us to start walking.

“Joe was real nice so he's kind of kept in contact with us and that's it I guess.”

My father nodded as he pressed his lips together, slowly walking towards the smaller of the tents. It would be filled with seats and a makeshift altar, a priest that was not Elvis would be waiting to marry us.

In the next tent there would be dozens of tables without poles leading to the roof, nor any monkey butlers or topless waitresses. It would be elegantly decorated and served by men and women who were fully dressed. Thank the stars for the sensible people in this crazy family.

As we drew closer the music became louder, even though Evan had suggested that there was probably someone on the guest list that could rip out a killer rock ballad for me to walk down the aisle to, Curtis chose a more sensible solution. Not sure if I would have picked a string quartet but it seemed to fit in with the elegant theme that was going on.

The guests stood from their seats as Eden entered the tent. Through the crowd I could see the beaming smiles of Evan and Jaxon. They were delighted in the thought of twins, discussing the merits and protocols about banging a bridesmaid. That was until I told them that they were both happily married and not intending on cheating on their husband at any point in the future. Then again, who knows what would happen when people become star struck?

Eden had made it to the front and for a brief moment I caught a glimpse of Fraser. To say that his tongue was hanging out his head wouldn't be a lie. She was a foxy woman and he would have to be blind to not notice. I couldn't imagine anything happening though, she didn't strike me as the type that would mix business and pleasure.

Stella and Lisa stepped away to their spots at the altar, Casey soon joining them. I hadn't seen Curtis since last night, it had been a cold and lonely night in bed by myself and I missed him incredibly. But all that suffering made for a wonderful moment, this perfect spot in our life together.

His smile was amazing, like it had been a year since he had seen me. I smiled back at him, even to the four pests behind him. Amazing didn't cover it. Who could have ever imagined that these bad boy rockers could scrub up so well? Curtis's hair was still floppy, all over the place and just the way I liked it. Austin had pulled his hair back which kind of worked but didn't really. The fringes flopped free and his hair really wasn't long enough for a proper pony tail. He tried, right? And then there were the other three, all with short hair that was styled to perfection. Almost like they had spent hours in front of the mirror. Likely to be true.

“Well sweet pea, this is it.” my father gripped the tops of my arms as he leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. “You look gorgeous.”

“Thanks dad.”

He turned to Curtis and pulled him in for one of those manly hugs that was more about slapping the back and pretending that they were totally cool with it.

“Welcome to the family Curtis.”

“Thanks.”

Curtis took my hand and pulled me closer, his eyes unable to leave me.

“Hi, my name is Frankie and I'll be your waitress tonight.” I whispered with a slight giggle.

“Hey there Frankie.” he grinned.

The priest started talking as the guests sat down, what he said I wouldn't have a clue.

“I have a confession Frankie the waitress.” he whispered. “I've been coming here a lot, to see you.”

“Really?”

He nodded and the priest cleared his throat, raising an eyebrow at us. The man continued to talk about love, Curtis looked at me with that hooded sexy smirk and the world was drowned out again.

“I was wondering if you might want to catch a movie sometime, you know, with me.”

“A movie you say? Sounds mighty tempting.”

Curtis nodded, taking a slight step closer.

“Maybe get a coffee afterward.”

With a dirty grin he lowered to my ear.

“Then I might take you back to my place and fuck you so damned hard that you never forget me.”

The priest cleared his throat again, which I ignored. The flutter of sensations in my body dictated and ruled me, causing an almighty storm in my pants. God damn pregnancy hormones. With one filthy sentence I was ready to kick this whole wedding thing to the kerb and take my baby daddy to bed.

I grinned at Curtis, watching as he bit his lip with a smug yet so god damned sexy smirk.

“I think I'd like that very much.”