Chapter and Verse (35 page)

Pierce gave her hand a little squeeze and put his other hand on her shoulder.  It must have been some kind of signal or something, because it seemed to be okay for her to raise her eyes again.  He put his hand on her shoulder and she leaned into him.  I was frustrated as all hell, because I knew there was a whole area of my education missing.  They were communicating without speaking and I wanted the Rosetta Stone for this conversation.

Deacon leaned over towards me while Anton and Melody were screaming at one another.

“
What’s going on with Pierce and that woman?”

“
That woman is Ayla Warren, my other bridesmaid.  She and Pierce are walking together Saturday Deke, you’ll adore her.  Pierce is dominating her.  Watch.”

“
Dominating her?  He’s barely touching her.”

I rolled my eyes and leaned closer to him.

“
Not THAT kind of dominating, the other kind.  Ayla’s playing submissive and he’s eating it up.  Your brother is a Dom.”

“
No way.”

“
Yes way.  He’s getting all fifty shades on her and she’s lowering her eyes and calling him ‘Sir’ and everything.”

“
You know about this stuff?”

“
A little.  I am so gonna hook them up.”

“
Dorothy...”

“
Oh lighten up Deacon.  Let me play.”

That’s when Melody shoved Anton.  Hard.  Hard enough that he stumbled backwards over his chair and right into Ayla, who fell flat on her ass.  Pierce didn’t take it well.

I’ve never seen Pierce angry, so I didn’t recognize it for what it was at first.  Deacon did, and pulled me out of the way.  Pierce shoved Anton harder than Mel’ did, and he was beginning to look like a pinball.  The bouncer was back to tell us to take it outside, when he got clocked by our stumbling trouble maker.  No, not Melody, Anton.

My eyes never left Ayla and Pierce.  I could hear Deacon trying to make peace with the bouncer and a slightly inebriated Melody yelling something about it being Mr. Voodoo’s fault, but my eyes were on Pierce.

He stood towering over her looking even more in command than I’ve ever seen Deacon look.  Pierce, looked fierce.  He reached out his hand and said four words.

“
Ayla, take my hand.”

Even I felt it in my bones, I can’t imagine what Ayla was feeling.

She put her hand in his and he pulled her to her feet.

“
Are you alright?”

“
Yes Sir.”

“
You may call me Pierce.  Are you sure you’re alright?”

“
Yes Pierce.  I’m fine.  Thank-you.”

He nodded once and then did the damndest thing.  Pierce slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his side.  He was protecting her.  She glanced over and caught me staring, and winked.  I started blinking.

Anton said something about bouncer’s being nothing but glorified ticket takers and the guy took umbrage.  So he punched Anton.  Deacon pulled Anton back before he could take a retaliation swing, and my sister took it for him.  The poor bouncer never saw it coming.  That’s when we heard the sirens.

Let me paint the picture and do a recap.  Three cop cars hauled all six of us in.  The bouncer was pressing charges for assault and battery and so was Anton.  Some guy in a suit took them both away, hoping to iron out their differences and avoid paperwork.  The rest of us sat in a holding cell until they could figure out where we came into play.  My sister’s hand was probably broken, and Deacon kept yelling in essence, “Do you KNOW who I am?”.  The place was too hot and the root beer wasn’t settling well.  Plus, I was getting a headache.

The only people who seemed to be taking everything in stride, were Ayla and Pierce.  They were huddled together on a bench over in a corner, talking as if they were in a coffee shop on a Sunday morning.

As far as Bachelor Parties and Hen Nights went, I was fairly sure this blowed.  On a lighter note, it wouldn’t be quickly forgotten.

Deacon and his brothers left Thursday after work.  We’d been released once all charges were dropped and they realized that they had the Sloan brothers, a best selling author, and one of the hottest new fashion designers in New York, locked up in a cell over a misunderstanding.  Deacon and I went home laughing, but I’m betting we were the only two.

Deacon packed his jeep with everything he’d need through Saturday night and I gave him a proper send off.  I knew I’d see him Friday at the rehearsal, but I missed him already.

Once he was gone, I cleaned the kitchen and then went to pack my own bag.  My wedding dress was hanging on the closet door with everything I needed to go with it, inside the garment bag.  Two months ago this didn’t seem like a remote possibility.

I finished packing and hung the dress I’d chosen for our “escape”, on the closet door with the garment bag.  Once everything was zipped up tight and ready to roll, I opened my underwear drawer and dug around beneath everything until I found what I was looking for.  I took the brown paper bag into the bathroom and closed the door.

I’d never done this before.  I’d never had to.  I was on the pill when I was with Hamm, but it had always made me queasy for a few hours after taking it.  Once the relationship was over, I was more than ready to leave the pill behind.  I’d never had a relationship after that one, that warranted constant vigilance.  Not until now.

The ad on the box said that it was accurate at seventy-two hours after conception.  Today was day four, if you didn’t count every day after Sunday.  I mean come on.  The horse was already out of the barn, why not throw a barn dance?

I got comfortable and unwrapped both tests.  I know me.  Either way, I’d want confirmation.  I reached over and turned the water on, the sound triggering something in my mind or body that made me kick it up a notch.

Three minutes later, I was washing my hands and staring at the two wands, mentally willing them to hurry up.  I sat back down and thought about what it would mean.

First, I wouldn’t have to worry about a wedding gift for Deacon.  This would top anything I could buy anywhere.  I’ve never seen any man as excited about the possibility of being a father.  It’s like he’s rubbing lamps, tossing pennies into wells, and searching for the elusive four-leaf-clover.  Deacon wants a child.  Once I got over my wedding wobble and started thinking about everything else, I realized that I wanted to be the one to give that to him.

Second, our parents.  Need I say more?

And last burt certainly not least, I was ready.  I don’t know when it happened, but now when I’m running or shopping or just watching television, every time I see a baby I sigh and get wistful.  I want a black haired green eyed child that looks a little like both of us, with the perfect combination of his intelligence and my sense of humor.  I want to go through all of the joy and worry with Deacon, and watch with pride every step of the way as we conquer milestones together.  It may sound sappy or soft, but that’s what I wanted.  Deacon wanted that too and that’s why it would be the perfect gift.

While I was dabbing at my eyes and thinking about all of this, my wands were making magic happen.  I leaned over and the same words appeared on both.  My breath hitched and now I had a problem.  How in the world do I gift wrap this?

I arrived Friday with Melody and Ayla.  We were hoping to have at least a couple of hours lead time, but my folks were already there.  Poor Deacon had been dealing with both sets of parents for god knows how long.  Parents who’d been waiting for weddings since their children were old enough to marry.  He must be ready to tear his hair out.

I carried half our stuff and Ayla carried the other half.  Melody had her hand in a cast and a sling, immobilizing it for the foreseeable future.  Her broken hand and Anton’s black eye would be entirely visible during the wedding.  Instead of angry, Deacon and I were laughing our asses off.  It served them right.  She deserved it for being a jealous stalking cow, and he deserved it for yanking her chain and being a pig.  They hadn’t laid eyes on one another since our release from jail, late Wednesday night.  As far as I knew, they hadn’t spoken either.

Pierce was in the living room and saw us first.  I heard him yell for Deacon, then both men stepped out onto the front porch.  Deacon ran to take everything heavy from me before he leaned over and claimed me with a kiss.

“
Hey baby, I missed you.  How was the drive?”

“
Quiet.  Mel’ is still sulking and I think Ayla is trying to figure Pierce out.  They look cute together, don’t you think?”

“
Dorothy...”

“
Come on Deacon.  Don’t you think they’re a cute couple?”

“
There are a lot of people that look good together that shouldn’t be a couple Dor’.  We should stay out of this.  If they should be together, they’ll make it happen without our help.”

I followed him down the downstairs hall and into the first door on the left.  Two twin sized beds and a cot had been set up, along with a changing area and a rack to hang clothing on.

“
This is where you three will be until after the wedding.  Then you’re with me forever.”

He dropped everything on one of the beds and pulled me in for a monster hug.  I melted against him and thought about my secret.  I smiled against his chest and couldn’t wait until tomorrow.

Pierce saw that the door to the makeshift bedroom where the women would sleep was closed.  He assumed correctly that Deacon and Dorothy were in there, trying for some alone time.

He placed the two garment bags and the suitcase down on the living room sofa, and took Ayla’s hand.  She followed him willingly up the stairs and into the room he’d known as his, for all of his adolescent life.

When he reached around her and closed the door, her eyes went to the floor.  When he backed a few steps away from her, she took a chance.  In an effort to get closer to him and learn more about him, she fell to her knees.  Her palms rested against her thighs and her eyes were cast downward.  When she heard him release a shuddering sigh, she risked a smile.

She watched his feet come closer, but she never raised her eyes.  That would not be acceptable until he said otherwise.  She felt his hand come to rest on the crown of her head before he spoke.

“
How did you know Ayla?”

He didn’t have to elaborate, they both knew what he was referring to.

“
I have a certain amount of...experience in this area Sir.”

“
I see.  You’re a sub?”

“
I have no Dom at present, but I have subbed in the past, yes.”

His body stiffened and his grasp became temporarily firmer before he released her.

“
Are you looking for a Dom?”

This time she broke the rule.  She looked up and made direct eye contact.  His sky blue eyes were turning the color of the ocean.

“
That would depend on the man.  Sir.”

He tugged her to her feet before opening the door and escorting her out, his hand firmly on the small of her back.  Before they descended the stairs, he pulled her back.

“
You and I will spend some time together and we’ll talk.  If you want this Ayla, tell me after the wedding and we’ll exchange numbers.  We’ll have plenty of privacy once we get back to the city.  Do you understand?”

“
Yes Sir.”

“
Until we have an arrangement of some kind in place, you should call me Pierce.”

“
I can do that...Pierce.”

“
Good.  Now come meet the families.  The rehearsal will start shortly.”

The six of us jailbirds were clustered in the yard while our parents talked about us as if we weren’t there.  They talked about using makeup to cover Anton’s black eye, but Anton blatantly refused.  Then they began to talk about how they could disguise Melody’s cast.  I couldn’t help myself.

“
I think we should cover it those little rubber flowers you put in the bottom of bathtubs.  It’ll help it look festive.”

Melody glared at me and my mother actually put her hands on her hips.

“
If you have nothing constructive to offer Dorothy, keep your mouth shut.”

“
Yes ma’am.”

They continued brainstorming and Deacon leaned towards me with his hands in his pockets, and spoke in a singsong voice.

“
You got yelled at by mom.”

I yelled out so that everyone could hear me.

“
Mom!  He’s touchin’ me!”

Deacon looked insulted.

“
Am not!”

“
Are too!”

“
Both of you shut the hell up this instant or you’ll be sent upstairs!”

Wow.  Way to get parental Bree.  Deacon did her one better though.

“
Together mom?  Can we go upstairs together?”

Some guy in an Armani suit with perfect hair clapped his hands twice and everyone came to attention.  Pierce leaned over and whispered, “the wedding planner”.  We had a wedding planner?  Why was I not informed?  What was said planner’s name?  Did I really give two figs?  No, probably not.  Carry on.

See how easy going I’ve become?  I had bigger news.  This trivial stuff could slide by the wayside for all I cared.

“
Where’s the minister?”

Father Colby stepped forward.  He was some kind of friend of the Sloan’s and he seemed likable enough.  The planner put him at the top of the back porch steps.  There were two steps and then the porch.  All of us would stand in a big flower oval on the ground, while the Preacher took the high ground (so to speak).  The photographer thought it would make for excellent wedding pictures.  I suggested that Deacon and I ride in on a couple of cows.  That would make wicked wedding pictures too.  Deacon was the only one that smiled.

In case you’re thinking that I wasn’t taking our wedding seriously, you’re wrong.  I took it very seriously.  The actually ceremony part anyway.  The rest of it was merely fluff for the spectators as far as I was concerned, and I didn’t care if I got married in jeans or a diamond encrusted gown.  As long as we recited vows, exchanged rings, and became “The Sloans”, I didn’t care.

We made it through the rehearsal with only one glitch.  Nobody gave any thought to where we’d enter from.  If the minister was standing on the porch, we couldn’t walk out the door now could we?  If we went out the front door and walked around the house, we’d be walking through gravel in platforms.  Not the best idea in my condition, but I didn’t say that.

Finally when they’d tried and eliminated every possibility, I raised my hand.  The answer was staring them in the face and they were blowing it off.  My mother narrowed her eyes at me, but allowed me to speak.  After all, it was my wedding.

“
Yes Dorothy?”

“
How about the barn?  We could walk from the barn.”

Grant judged the distance and smiled at me.

“
A hundred chairs will come fairly close to the barn door anyway, the girl has a point.  The reception tent is gonna be in the pasture, so we’ll already have carpet runners all over the place.  I think Dor’s got a crackin’ idea!”

Melody found her voice.

“
You want us, to stand in a filthy barn in designer dresses?”

I turned on her.  I was tired of her nasty mood and her trouble making ways.  This was my wedding and I didn’t need any Debbie-Downers spoiling my day.

“
We won’t be milking the cows before we walk the aisle Mel’.  All you have to do is stand there and walk on cue.  Now shut the hell up and listen.”

She wasn’t happy, but she did as she was told.  The rest of the rehearsal went off without a hitch.

I barely slept at all that night.  We had an incredible barbecue and everyone else drank, and we danced.  We crawled into bed around one o’clock.  Mel’ and Ayla went right to sleep, but I tossed and turned until around four o’clock and then I fell into a fitful sleep until the alarm rang at eight.

The next several hours were spent in preparation.  I wasn’t allowed to leave the room because I wasn’t allowed to see Deacon, the one person I needed to see.  I’d thought about it all night and I wanted him to know before the ceremony.  I didn’t want to keep it from him any longer.  If I sprang it on him as a wedding gift, then other people would find out at the same time and this was something that was private.

I used my cell phone and he answered right away.

“
Babe?  Are you okay?”

“
Deacon I need to see you before the ceremony.  It’s important.”