Page 34 of Wedded to a Wayne

It’s addictive.

It’s given me hope that this marriage has a chance beyond the imminent court case and my family’s visit, which I just found out yesterday is happening a week from now.

My parents want to meet my new family. I’ve already made hotel reservations, and Emerson promised to be at his old-fashioned impressive best, even though I know he still has an issue with their treatment of me.

I like that he’ll do it for me. That he understands why my family is important.

I’m afraid to jinx it, but I’m almost sure I’ve fallen in love with him.

It’s too soon. We’re supposed to take it slow. I had a rough draft of a schedule that projected where our marriage would be in a year. In two. But that flew out the window almost as soon as I moved in.

I already love the boys. I’m already attached. Emerson has already seen me naked. On multiple occasions.

So many occasions.

I need to stop thinking about that.

“Tani? Are you coming back in?” Austen is bundled up in a warm jacket and walking toward me carefully.

“You shouldn’t be out here.”

Her smile is stunning. “Neither should you. Look at us. We’re rebels. Risking icy driveways to damn the man. Or overprotective men, in this case.”

I snort as she comes closer and slips her arm through mine. “I hear you’re responsible for my West Coast sales boom. I was wondering why all those orders stopped coming in. Now I know you moved closer to the source.”

“Your skin cream is my one true addiction,” I tell her honestly.

“I could listen to that all night. I’m sorry if things got weird in there.”

“That was me. Everyone else is fine.”

Austen nudges me. “You’re fine, too. I’m very impressed with my brother right now. And it’s obvious he and the kids are both nuts about you.”

Isit obvious? And what would she think of me if she knew how I proposed?

“A little birdie also told me you’ve been dreaming of Paris. You know Royal took me there right after we first met? A hot minute before he proposed and we came back to a double wedding with our friends, Brendan and Miller. It was wonderful, and Brady Finn has a place there he says I can stay at whenever I want. So, if you ever want to take a sister-in-law week and go shopping—”

In the crisp night air, the sound of a car door slamming is loud enough to startle us and stop our conversation. We turn to see someone stalking up the crowded drive.

Her pictures really don’t do her justice.

Rowena Wayne is moving toward us like some avenging angel through the snow, and at first, all I can think is, it’s my first Thanksgiving with the Waynes.

“What in the name of Jane is she doing here?” Austen mutters.

“No idea.”

I really wish this wasn’t happening tonight. I’m out of my element and that makes me vulnerable. I knew I’d have to confront her eventually, and I discovered enough about her from my research to know she’s a woman used to getting her way. But tonight of all nights?

“Hello, Rowena. Happy Thanksgiving.”

She stops a few feet from us, momentarily startled by my greeting, before pushing back her white-fur hood dramatically. “I’m surprised you admit to knowing who I am. Ignorance would have been an excuse for why you didn’t introduce yourself before plotting to steal my life out from under me.”

“Really? That’s what you’re starting with?” Austen challenges. “Were you at drama class for the last six months? Is that why you dropped off your kids and disappeared?”

But Rowena has a point. She’s the boys’ mother. I should have asked to meet her or sent her an email for that reason alone.

“The court case complicated the situation,” I say instead. “But I’m sorry. I do wish we’d met under better circumstances.”

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