Page 15 of His Surprise Fiancée

“Set all of this in motion,” her mother agreed pulling up the calendar to see if the church and club were available for it. “See, it’s free…what could be better?”

“We weren’t thinking of a church wedding though,” Hailey stated, and Stefano squeezed her hand making her stop.

“I think the perfect setting would be outdoors,” he suggested. “A barn would be her ideal choice I think.”

“We could hold it here,” Elena said but they all knew the grounds weren’t suited for the ceremony and reception, one or the other but not both.

“We couldn’t ask you to have everyone invade your home,” Hailey stated.

“We couldn’t Mother,” he agreed, “I think we’ll wait until the crew is finished with the construction of the barn at my place…”

“What?” all three women said turning towards him in surprise.

“I wanted it to be a surprise for you,” Stefano stated taking the tablet from his mother to pull up the photos of his home, their soon-to-be home. “I know you want somewhere away from the city…I’ve always known that which is why I purchased this years ago. I just didn’t press to get the remodel finished because I didn’t have you, didn’t know where you were to win your heart, and thought I’d give you a little more time.”

“Stefano it’s gorgeous,” Hailey said seeing the proposed finished plans. “Where on earth is this?”

“About thirty-five minutes outside of the city,” he answered as their mothers gazed over the landscape in awe.

“It would be stunning for the wedding,” Elena said making him smile. “When’s the barn supposed to be finished?”

“Not until this fall, I just don’t have the time to oversee the work on it because I want it to be everything Hailey would want or need in a barn,” he said dropping a kiss onto her cheek.

“What’s this about not having time?” Theo questioned coming out to greet them. “Don’t have time for what? Making this beauty into my granddaughter-in-law?”

“Stefano bought an estate about an hour away,” Elena told her father in Greek, “he wants the barn finished properly before they get married.”

“And there’s no one you can hire to get it done right?” Theo asked him in the same tongue. “Come now son, are you trying to delay this wedding, so I won’t be there?”

“Never Grandfather, I don’t trust anyone else to be as adamant at giving Hailey whatever she wants as I would be. I would marry her tomorrow if we could arrange it.”

“Good, then I will make sure that you get this finished in time to marry your beauty, before I return to Greece,” Theo said before turning to Hailey adding in English, “Leave everything to Grandfather Theo, I will have you married to my grandson in no time.”

“You’re on vacation,” Hailey said shooting a look to Stefano for help, not that she really wanted any in finding an excuse to delay the wedding.

“Nonsense give me the date and this crew will have it ready,” Theo said as he took out his cell phone dialing the number listed on the email.

“June twenty-sixth,” Elena told him, and Theo nodded standing up to speak with them, arrange times to oversee the work personally.

“Stefano,” Hailey whispered as their mothers began to compile a list of tasks. “Stop them…”

“Have you ever tried to stop a speeding train?” he asked giving her a light smile. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure out a way out of this.”

“Really? Our mothers will have an announcement in tomorrow’s paper with the wedding date and then how are we supposed to back out without Demetrius getting in the way and hurting Olympia?” she asked holding in a smile.

“Just because they plan a wedding, announce it, doesn’t mean it will necessarily happen…”

“And you think Demetrius will then happily go into a marriage with Olympia, make her happy? If we don’t stop them now, then we’re going to end up legally married.”

“Would that be so horrible?” he asked brushing a strand of wispy hair behind her ear. “We can always annul it later once we know Demetrius and Olympia are situated. It’ll ensure he doesn’t continue to bother you, not if there’s a possibility of our mothers dropping in at the office unexpectedly to get your opinion on wedding details.”

“You can’t be serious; you promised we’d delay them until after Demetrius’ wedding.”

“Things change, I saw the way Demetrius was watching you last night and he won’t stop until you are fully mine. Add in Kyra being here and it’s two against one Hailey. This will even out those odds. Plus, with Grandfather working on the barn, Demetrius can’t try to weasel his way out of his wedding by feeding him lines. It keeps everyone else busy and you safe that was my first reason for this, your safety and Olympia’s happiness, what’s a wedding to guarantee your future?”

“Alright…but this is it Stefano,” she said, and his lips covered hers. She couldn’t stop the smile from beneath the kiss and wrapped her arm around his neck rejoicing in their pushy families’ eagerness to wed them off to one another.

Chapter 7

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