Page 17 of Say I'm Yours, Firecracker

Bell swatted his arm, “I would never.” She said with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

We laughed, knowing if I were anyone else Bell would never willingly touch my small bump.

The jingle from the bell above our door chimed, and with it the arrival of our newest couple. The bride extended her hand to me as introductions were made. Even though we already knew their names and had a ‘vision’ for the wedding, it was nice to have faces to pull the whole thing together.

Stacey seemed like a pretty laid back bride, and her fiancé just looked bored. Which was normal, most men typically didn’t care what went into the planning. Give them their outfit, time and place, they would be there. No muss, no fuss.

“Thank you both for accepting our application. I saw the Macemore-Scott wedding and knew that I couldn’t have anyone else plan my wedding.” Stacey’s honey eyes lit up, painted pink lips never losing their smile.

“We loved getting to know you both in the letter, and look forward to the next few months together.” I said automatically.

We started taking applications instead of using our contact us page. I had thought we were busy after the Southern Homes magazine did a spotlight feature on us, but since Haven Macemore’s wedding we had been swamped in requests. Now, instead of charging an exorbitant amount of money, taking all of the weddings we could. We chose brides based on their wants, needs, vision, and most importantly their letter about their partner.

A few letters brought us to tears, Stacey’s was one of them. She met Garrett while volunteering at an animal shelter. She was starting over after a particularly bad relationship and wasn’t ready for anything serious. But Garrett kept coming around, and eventually wore her resolve down.

The details were sweet, and so, Bell and I decided they would be the best couple to start with after the transition.

Aaron’s cell rang and he excused himself, as the door chimed again and another man who looked striking like the groom entered. Garrett and the newcomer slapped backs and smiled, “The prodigal son returns!”

The man laughed, a light scoff that made him seem shy. “It’s good to see you too, brother.”

Garrett turned to us and introduced his brother as Eli. He had a strong jaw, chiseled cheeks I would die for, and full lips that I was sure many women had swooned over. But his eyes were the real stunner. Framed in dirty blond lashes and prominent eyebrows, his ice blue irises popped against his beige skin.

“It’s nice to meet you all.” Bell began while I stared at Eli unabashedly. “We can start in the green room just down the hall.” They all filed forward, following Bell past our offices into the back room that served as our meeting headquarters.

Eli paused and turned back towards me. “My soon to be sister-in-law talks a lot about you and your friend. I just hope you’re worth it.”

He didn’t say it like a threat, more like doubt, and that just wouldn’t do. I stepped forward to stop him and ask exactly what he meant by that. Placing my hand on his chest I was surprised to find it well muscled.

The doorbell went off again, Eli and I both turned, finding a hulk of a man standing in the waiting area, looking completely out of place with his muscles and tattooed arms.

His scowl went feral when he spotted my hand on Eli’s chest.

“Finn.”

There she was.

She had been avoiding my calls like I was the damn plague itself come back to haunt her.

“Ronnie.” I replied, my voice deep but even. The guy standing between us looked between the two of us once before excusing himself. I couldn’t help but scan her from head to toe. Two times wasn’t enough in my book, but this woman had ‘rules’.

She never had sex with the same man twice.Until me.

Aaron pumped Bellamy for all the information he could and what little I knew, Ronnie didn’t do relationships. Hadn’t in a long time.

I smirked, even though I knew it pissed her off. “New friend?”

“No.” She said, and turned on her heel. All I had to do was take two steps and I was in her path.

“What do you mean ‘no’?” I asked. She sighed and flipped her phone around to show me her missed call notifications. From my mother, I raise my brows in question.

“I’m not announcing my pregnancy in a magazine article, and you don’t get to show up now and demand anything from me.” She was practically scolding me.

“I wasn’t going to ask you to.” I knew my mother was planning something, she was so excited, I just didn’t know what since she hadn’t thought to let me know. Running my hands through my admittedly unkempt hair I continued, “I want to come to your appointments Ronnie, and I’m tired of you pretending I don’t exist.”

It was her turn for her brows to skyrocket. Which would have pissed me off, if I didn’t have a stellar track record with being in control of my temper.

“I’m not pretending, Finn.” Her hands covered her stomach and she looked away from me. “You weren’t there.”

---