Page 22 of His Lucky Paige

“Then why not just tell us?”

“Maybe I don’t want anyone here to know…”

“Why? Afraid someone here would do something?”

“Honestly yes…I’m not letting anyone ruin what I’ve built.”

“And how would we do that Paige?”

“Oh, I don’t know Joel…by showing up uninvited.”

“To what?”

“My wedding…” she threw out shocking everyone into silence for two seconds.

Chapter 7

“What?!” Cord shouted not letting Paige finish as the entire crowd began to buzz.

“You’re getting married?” Sam questioned.

“No, she’s not,” Cord stated. “Not without us and not without me meeting this person. Iwillfreeze your trust fund if you so much as think about going through with this.”

“I don’t needyourtrust, Dad. I’ve got the one Gran left me and you don’t have any control over it but had any of you let me finish you’d know that the actual wedding isn’t this weekend, my weddingshoweris and I fully intend to be at it so I bid youadieu,” she said sweetly enjoying the looks that crossed their faces.

“Oh, no you don’t,” her father stated stepping around to block her way. “You’re staying right here until we meet this man. I’m not letting anyone take advantage of you.”

“Oh, good lord Dad, I’m thirty. No one’s taking advantage of me.”

“I’m with Dad on this. The Brighton name carries a lot of weight Sis, and pretty much everyone knows that you’re the only daughter. What’s to say this guy isn’t using you to get his hands on the family money?”

“Becausethis guy, as you put it, has been nothing but up front with me. Now please just get out of my way and let me go home,” she sighed.

“Paige…what was that?” Cord asked as a loud bark sounded.

“It was just Maggie,” Paige replied. “Wait…Maggie?” she repeated looking around as the huge animal came bounding over to her. “Hey girl, how’d you get here?”

“She drove,” a male voice said coming around the side of the crowd towards her.

“Aaron! I thought you were staying in Maine,” she replied as he walked over and pulled her into a hug planting a kiss on her surprised lips.

“We were but the news said they weren’t sure how long it would take, and Maggie was getting nervous.”

“She was, was she?” she questioned raising an eyebrow at him.

“Absolutely, we heard they’d gotten everyone out except for one as we got closer. Why are you so dusty?”

“Because my stupid sister decided to go mountain climbing in the dark,” Sam said sizing the man up.

“You did what? I thought you said you were done with that Paige. After what happened in Colorado…”

“Aaron it was nothing, I’ve climbed those rocks a million times, I could do it blindfolded,” she said hurriedly. She didn’t want everyone asking about Colorado. She didn’t want anyone asking anything.

“It’s true,” Joel stated stepping forward. “No amount of arguing will get Paige to not do something and she’s been climbing since she was little. If anyone can handle that climb it’s Paige.”

“And you’re the expert?” Aaron chafed giving him a long look. “Ah…you must be Joel, the missing miner. Paige went up there to find you, didn’t she?”

“Paige saved his butt,” Sam stated.

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