Page 50 of Midnight Danger

“Say something, Cas.”

“Friday is my sister’s birthday.” Her eyes filled with tears.

“Ah, shit. I’m sorry, baby.”

Cassandra shook her head. “I think it’s a beautiful way to remember her.” She stretched up to kiss me. “But I need to see my dress before Meg turns me into a meringue for the day.”

I expected an argument and her to be indignant that I’d overstepped some invisible boundary. Grabbing a key from a key safe inside the wardrobe, I took her through the hidden panel to the back staircase.

“I’ll programme your biometrics into the sensor in case you need to escape,” I told her when she stared at the hidden door with her mouth open.

One of the rooms two floors down had all the wedding paraphernalia stored in it. I hadn’t looked at her dress that was in the bedroom. Cassandra silently wandered around, lifting some of the decorations. She disappeared into the bedroom to view the dresses Megan had hung in there. The flowers were ordered, and stylist booked to do their hair and makeup.

“Megan did not order that dress,” she said when she came out a while later.

My lips tipped up in a vague smile. “I might have adapted the design slightly to suit you.” Megan had indeed gone for the faerytale princess dress. I told the dress designer what I thought would suit Cassandra and gave her photographs of the bride-to-be to work from.

She crawled onto my lap, her head resting on my shoulder. “You’ve been busy.”

“I wanted to give you a day to remember. After all, you’re giving up a lot to marry me.”

“Such as?”

My jaw tightened. “Ten million pounds to start with.”

“He’s just trying to protect you, Zee. You’re all he has and now he has to share your affection.”

“You won’t be able to work at your law firm anymore because of the security risk, especially now you’re pregnant. They’ll target what is worth the most to me. My ring on your finger paints a target on your back.”

Cassandra took in a staggered breath, her hand tightening on my T-shirt. “Yeah, I figured that out. I just didn’t know how soon all this would swing into action.”

“Yesterday would be preferable, especially since we seem to have enemies breathing down our necks everywhere I look.”

She smoothed the frown between my brows with her finger. “You worry too much.”

My eyes locked with hers. “I don’t worry enough.”

“Can I play around with the wedding details?” She chewed the corner of her lip, but excitement lurked in her eyes. Her reaction to getting married on Friday lifted some of the burden off my shoulders.

“Do whatever you need. The wedding planner’s number is on the kitchen counter. She has all the arrangements. Most things are changeable at the moment, except the dress. The designer can take it in or let it out depending on what you need, but I don’t think she can do much else to it.”

“I love my dress.” She wiggled on my lap so she could straddle my hips and kiss me.

My hands cupped her ass to hold her steady. “I just wanted it to be perfect for you. Normally, weddings take months to organise, but Bubble changed the timescale.”

Cassandra pouted, her expression contemplative. “How did you know your dad was in our home earlier?”

“Every door and window are alarmed. I’ll show you where the panic buttons are and organise access to the emergency exits.”

She frowned. “Would we not be safer staying instead of moving?”

“There’ll be security at both locations, but I want a home for our family, somewhere our children can have pets.”

“Children?” Cassandra arched a playful eyebrow.

“Definitely children,” I confirmed. “I told you months ago that you were it for me and I meant it. We both know that you’re too good for me, but I’ve claimed you, so you’ll just have to buckle in while I take us on this marital ride.”

Her full lips tipped up in a grin. “You’re getting very bossy, mister.”

---