Page 31 of Her Fake Island Wedding

Chapter Fifteen

Lucy floated through the next few days on a dreamlike cloud of happiness. Even Justine’s constant critical scrutiny and regular barbed comments couldn’t pierce her bubble. Bryce was by her side every moment they could possibly contrive; nobody would have doubted that they were utterly in love. Or at least, in lust.

It should probably have bothered her more than it did that the wedding was starting to feel real. She began to feel invested in the plans Terry and Jerome were making, in Olivia’s marketing plans, in every little detail of the big day. She almost got into a row with Justine over the menu for the wedding luncheon, at least until Bryce drew her aside and murmured quietly in her ear;

“You’ve loved everything Suzannah has ever cooked. Trust her to make it perfect.”

Just hearing his voice in her ear calmed her, grounded her. She let him take her hand, drew in a deep breath, and nodded. “You’re right, of course. Stop that, it’s annoying.”

The corners of Bryce’s eyes crinkled up in the way she was coming to love as he smiled. “Just trying to be the voice of reason for my bridezilla.”

“Ugh, am I really?” She wrinkled her nose.

“Little bit.” He held up a hand, forefinger and thumb an inch or so apart. “It’s totally turning me on, though. Can we sneak off and you can use that bossy voice to order me around in bed?”

He could always make her laugh. She almost fell into his arms, feeling his warmth and strength as they closed around her.

“I couldn’t do this without you,” she mumbled against his chest.

“You don’t have to. Just a couple more days, angel.” He kissed her forehead. “Hang in there.”

* * *

Lucy had lost weight in the last two weeks, Bryce thought as he hugged her close. Justine was getting to her. She never said anything about Lucy’s weight, but she always made a point of only taking a small amount of food, eating about half of it, then watching Lucy with raised eyebrows if she kept eating. The subtle psychological pressure was clearly taking a toll. Bryce could hardly wait for Justine to leave, for the tiny stress lines around Lucy’s mouth to relax, for her to eat a full meal without eyeing her plate suspiciously.

Glancing across at where Justine was immersed in discussions of flower arrangements with the two wedding planners, Bryce guided Lucy outside and around the corner, out of sight. She didn’t seem to want to let go of him, hanging on tightly around his waist. Fortunately, there was a couch there, positioned to allow guests a quiet space if required, so he pulled her to sit down with him, not particularly surprised when she wiggled onto his lap and tucked her face into his neck. Lucy wasn’t cuddly in her sleep, but she most certainly was while awake.

“Only a couple more days, and one of those is the wedding,” he murmured soothingly against her hair. “And if Justine dares be bitchy to you on our wedding day, I swear I’ll throw her off the dock.”

He felt her shoulders shake as she laughed silently. Then she pulled back and looked up at him, whispering softly “It’s not really our wedding day, though.”

Bryce didn’t say anything. The wedding had begun to seem real to him; sharing Lucy’s bed and her life felt so utterly right and natural, being married to her was just one more logical step. They hadn’t even talked about what they would do once Justine had gone home, though, and adding to Lucy’s stress by pressing her on the matter was unthinkable at the moment. Instead he nodded, kissed her forehead, and pulled her to lie against him again.

“Tomorrow’s your girls’ spa day,” he murmured, “and our friends will all be there for you. Olivia and Nessa and the others have Justine’s measure, so relax and let yourself be pampered.”

“I’m looking forward to it, actually. Except the part about the photographer following us around.”

“Well, she’s female as well, and you already covered with her what you do and don’t want shown. Just go with the flow and enjoy the day, angel.” He nuzzled her hair. “The girls in the spa are good, but they can’t improve on perfection anyway.”

“You really are very good for my ego.” He could feel Lucy smiling against his throat as she spoke. “You make me feel beautiful… for the first time in my life.”

“Youarebeautiful. I could strangle your mother, for what she’s done to your self-confidence.” He tightened his hold. “I’m gonna keep telling you until you believe it. You’re beautiful. The most beautiful woman I know.”

* * *

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you two were a loving couple just about to get married.” Luke’s dry remark made them both startle up. He stood looking down at them, hands in the pockets of his grey suit trousers, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, tie loose in his open collar.

“Uh,” Lucy looked quickly to the door of the wedding planners’ office.

“Don’t worry, I’m not gonna give you away. Terry and Jerome have her well in hand; Justine’s met her match at last, I think. Just wondering what exactly is going on with the pair of you. It’s not like you were putting on a show for anyone in particular just then.” Luke kept his voice low.

“Was that a question?” Bryce asked, sure his cheeks were on fire with embarrassment.

“I wasn’t asking a question, no. Probably about time the two of you asked each other a few, though.” With a firm nod, Luke strode past them and along the hallway to his own office.

“He might be right,” Lucy mumbled after a moment of awkward silence. She couldn’t look directly at him, Bryce noted, and her face was as red as his felt.

“It can wait,” he said quietly. “You’ve got enough on your plate, Luce. Once Justine’s gone home, you and I can sit down and figure out what we’re doing here.” Lightly, he touched her chin, encouraging her to meet his eyes, and once she did, he told her “Just in case you’re in any doubt, I don’t want this —us— to end once she leaves.”

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