Page 25 of You Are Cordially Invited

“Good.” It was, but what a freaking nightmare to go through just to get married. I was pretty sure half the country would think we were being too precious about our privacy, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t having our wedding ruined by fucking media, and I refused to let it get to me.

I ticked another box on my checklist. “And I’ve confirmed with the photographer, and the million and one other things that needed seeing to. I think that’s it.”

“What about the spa?” Georgie asked softly.

“Oh shit.” I slapped a hand to my forehead. “Who had that?”

“Mark,” Michael reminded me. “And he says it’s all in hand.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Oh, fuck. Will someone check up on him?”

“I will,” Georgie offered. “But as far as I know, the wedding party and the few extras you asked will meet there at two on Saturday. You boys will go one way, while Jasmine, Katie and I go the other. Thanks for that, by the way. It would’ve sucked to be on my own while all you guys got to have fun together. And if I remember correctly, that’s you, Mathew, Michael, Sandy, Jake, Reuben, Tom MacDonald from the AB’s, and Mark, since Reuben’s brother turned it down, right?”

“Right.” I swallowed hard. “I think that’s it. I just hope I haven’t forgot—”

“You haven’t,” Michael reassured me. “You’ve done him proud, you prickly pear. He’s a lucky guy. Even if you haven’t let him get anywhere near the planning.”

Shit.My brows crunched. “Has he said something? I didn’t cut him out. I just didn’t want him to have to worry about anything other than his training and games. I can do what needs to be done.”

Michael’s expression remained neutral. “Maybe he wanted to help?”

I snorted but couldn’t ignore the small knot of worry in my belly. “Have you met my fiancé? Reuben said more than once that he couldn’t care less about how or where we held the wedding. I was to have what I wanted.”

Michael held my gaze. “I guess you’d know that better than me.” He got to his feet and wrapped me in his arms. “Anyway, I can’t wait to see you married, you hellhound.”

“Arrogant arsehole.”

“Drama queen.”

I let myself be held for a couple of seconds longer than I’d normally allow because, well, because this was Michael. And if I whispered something sappy about being grateful for his friendship, I made sure to keep that just between me and the man’s scrubs.

“You’re welcome,” he said softly.

Fuck.

Chapter Five

Cam

“Oh. My. God.”Sandy sprang from his chair outside the fitting room and ran to take my hands. He held them out to the sides and ran those sharp brown eyes over me from head to toe. “You look... bloody spectacular. Turn around.” He stood back while I did a couple of spins. His hand covered his mouth and his eyes filled. “Damn, you look so beautiful.” He sniffed.

“You do, indeed.” Gayle, our long-suffering retail assistant walked across to pin the fit a little tighter around my hips. “There, now it’s perfect.” She took my shoulders and gave me a cheeky wink. “He’s gonna love it.”

“Do you really think so?” I turned to look at myself in the full-length mirror, dismayed at the shake in my voice. I was a single gushy tear away from having to hand in my slash and sass membership card.

Carmen would be appalled.

Or maybe not. I thought of the sappy looks I’d caught her sending her husband during our bachelor party.

Sandy and Gayle took a spot either side of me, the assistant primping the multi-layered tulle skirt, while Sandy lifted my vest and tightened the thin leather harness strap just a little at the back.

Reuben would rock the simple but elegant black tuxedo we’d chosen for him—he looked hot as hades in it. But I’d wept blood trying to decide on my own outfit.

It had taken a stern talking to by both Sandy and Gayle, two glasses of complimentary bridal shop bubbly, and an entire box of Kleenex—which neither of them were ever to mention again—to talk me out of the near-fatal mistake of letting media pressure and worry about what the rugby powers would think influence that decision.

I had to choose something forme.

For me and for Reuben.

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