Have Husband, Need Honeymoon (19 page)

Alison chuckled. “She’ll love it, Bec. Everyone needs a toaster oven.”

Rebecca smiled and pushed her wire-rimmed glasses up her nose. “You’re so nice, Alison.”

Alison’s heart squeezed for her shy cousin. Rebecca was beautiful and kindhearted, but she didn’t seem to have a clue as to her feminine appeal. What had happened to make her cousin so lacking in confidence?

Vivica opened another gift. “Oh, Ali. The crystal frame I wanted for my wedding photo. It’s perfect.” Vivica pressed it to her chest, rose from the sofa and hugged her. “Thank you so much.”

“I can’t wait to see it on your mantel.”

Vivica wiped a tear from her eye, then carefully rewrapped the delicate frame and reached for a gift wrapped in gold foil. Several of Vivica’s co-workers at the hospital joined in oohing and aahing as she opened the remaining gifts.

“I love your shop, Alison,” Rebecca said. “If I ever get married, I want you to help me plan my wedding.”

“What do you mean,
if?
Of course you’ll get married someday,” Alison said. “You’re beautiful and smart. You simply haven’t found the right guy.”

Rebecca blushed, letting her long blond hair spill over her shoulder. “I heard you and that doctor were going together. Are wedding bells going to be ringing for the two of you?”

“Not now, Rebecca. I need some time.” Alison had just raised her punch cup for a sip, but paused.

“Really?” Her cousin’s brown eyes widened beneath her glasses. “I thought … well, you know, that you two were an item.”

“We’ve been dating,” Alison hedged, “but I’m too busy at work to think about romance right now.”
Because I’ve been stubbornly and stupidly in love with my husband.

The doorbell rang, and Alison put her plate on the coffee table, wondering who it could be. She scooted between the women and hurried to answer it.

“We have a singing telegram for a Miss Vivica Broussard.”

Alison gaped at the man in her doorway; he was over six feet tall and looked like a Viking, literally. He was dressed in a teeny gold costume and had long blond hair to his waist.

“Who sent you?”

The man raised a small piece of paper. “Mimi Broadhurst.”

Alison laughed and ushered him in. “Hey, Vivica, I think you have another gift here.”

Sixteen pairs of female eyes swung to the man, a mixture of reactions following: Laughter, shock, a few breathy sighs.

“This is your gift from Mimi,” Alison said.

The man sauntered in, placed a portable CD player on the table, punched a button and began to dance.

Catcalls, whistles and laughter echoed around the room.

Alison stared at the man, thinking he was the most perfect specimen of human male flesh she had ever seen.

Unfortunately, he did nothing to stir her blood. In fact, she was more miserable than ever.

Because he wasn’t Brady.

* * *

Brady was miserable.

By
midnight
, Curt and Dave were drunk, but much to Brady’s relief, Joe seemed to be taking it slow.

Thomas remained sober, saying he was on call. Basically, the OB-GYN was responsible, mature and a genuinely likable guy. The sort of guy women liked and wanted to marry.

Brady hated his guts – because Thomas wanted Alison.

A sexy redhead tossed her twin tassels off the stage, a chorus of loud male sounds reverberating as some lucky guy caught them. Brady looked away.

He’d seen a half-dozen women in various states of dress and undress tonight, had even noticed two women at a table across the way making eyes at him, but he couldn’t care less.

The only woman he wanted to see naked was Alison.

And that wasn’t going to happen because he had told her goodbye today. Tomorrow he’d see her at the rehearsal, the next day at the wedding. Then their divorce would be final and he’d go back in the service for his evaluation.

End of story.

“How about a lap dance?” Curt elbowed Joe.

Joe shook his head. “I don’t think so, man.”

“What’s the matter, afraid Vivica will get upset?”

“You going to let her keep you on a leash?” Dave asked.

Joe’s eyebrows shot up. “I … no.”

“Cut the guy some slack,” Thomas interjected. “The man has a great-looking woman he’d rather wait on, right?”

Joe laughed. “Yeah, right.”

“Come on, only two more nights of freedom,” Dave said, pulling out a wad of cash.

“I gotta go, guys.”
Brady stood. “It was a good time.”

Joe stood and shook his hand. “Thanks for coming, man.”

Brady met his gaze, a serious warning in his eyes. “Yeah, looking forward to having you in the family.”

Joe nodded. “Thanks. Me, too.”

Then Brady leaned closer, his voice gruff. “You’d better not hurt my sister, man, or you’ll answer to me.”

Joe stared him down and nodded. Brady saw Thomas watching him as he turned and walked away. For Vivica’s sake, Brady prayed Joe behaved himself. At least one of the Broussards should end up happily married.

Chapter 18

«
^
»

“
I
cannot believe it’s raining!” Vivica darted into Alison’s shop, shaking her umbrella, scattering raindrops everywhere.

Alison rose from her desk, dropped a towel on the wooden floor and mopped up the moisture. “I know. I’m so sorry, Vivi.”

“It isn’t your fault, but it’s unbelievable. We’ve been having a drought for six weeks, and Mother Nature chooses the day of my wedding rehearsal to end it!”

Alison sighed. “Hey, look on the good side – maybe the rain’ll stop by tomorrow, and the flowers outside will look even prettier.”

Vivica flopped onto the love seat and slapped her hands down on the cushion. “I hope so. I had my heart set on that outdoor reception.”

“It’s always good to have a backup plan.” Alison patted her arm, meeting her gaze. “At least everything else is on schedule.”

“Oh, my gosh, you’re upset over Brady, aren’t you?”

Alison froze. She’d forgotten about her puffy, swollen eyes. Even the cold compresses Mimi always recommended hadn’t helped. “I … Brady wrote me a goodbye letter.”

“He’s an idiot.” Vivica planted her hands on her hips. “But you aren’t going to give up yet, are you, Ali?”

Alison forced a smile, coaxing Vivica to sit back down. “He said he was leaving, that he wasn’t sure what he was going to do about the Air Force, then told me we were through. What else can I do? I have to have some pride.”

Vivica balled her hands on her hips. “I’ll have another talk with him.”

“No, Vivi.” Alison caught her before she could leave. “If Brady wants me, he has to decide that for himself. Besides, today and tomorrow are your special days. I don’t want anything to spoil them.”

Vivica’s
lips turned down. “Speaking of which, Joe didn’t call this morning like he said he would.”

“He made it into town, though, didn’t he?”

“According to Brady, he went out with the guys last night.”

“A bachelor party?” Alison couldn’t help but wonder what Brady had been doing at the party. Celebrating his freedom?

“Yeah.” Vivica worked the engagement ring up and down her finger. “I hope he’s not getting cold feet.”

Alison circled her arm around Vivica to console her. Of course, with the little she knew about men, she wasn’t sure she could be of any help.

* * *

Brady spent the morning showing his mother’s friend, Fred Fairbanks, how to operate the major equipment in the shop. Thankfully, the older man had experience preparing materials for presentations from his former company; Brady’s mother had forgotten to mention the fact that the man had worked at a print shop in
Atlanta
for fifteen years. She’d also forgotten to mention that he had taken a personal interest in her. And if the way his mother kept blushing was any indication, she returned the feeling.

Brady was glad. His mother had been a good wife to his father, had grieved for him for years. Now she deserved some happiness, not to live the rest of her years in loneliness.

As he would probably do.

Plus, Mr. Fairbanks would be a great asset to the shop, and Brady could return to the Air Force without worrying about her. His mother had accepted the news that he would be leaving amazingly well.

He had spent most of the day trying to put Alison out of his mind. But he would see her at the rehearsal at
seven o’clock
.

The clock chimed five now. His mother had left early to dress for the rehearsal, and Fred had gone home to his remote control. Johnny and Bobby Raye strode through the door drenched to the core, despite the fact that they were wearing raincoats.

“Hey, man, wondered if you’d like to hit the Pug for a while,” Johnny said.

Bobby Raye swiped water from his beard.

Brady hesitated, considering his options. He could kick back a few beers with them before the rehearsal. Then again, Vivi would kill him if he showed up drunk at the church. And he had to pick up Joe.

“No, thanks, guys, I have to drive Vivica’s fiancé to the rehearsal tonight.”

“Well, we’ll be there later if you want to stop by,” Johnny said.

Brady hesitated again, troubled when the men left. He had made the right decision about not returning to take over his father’s business. He hoped he’d made the right decision about Alison.

* * *

Alison met reverend Barnes at the front of the chapel. He was gray-haired, in his sixties and slightly hard-of-hearing, but everyone in Sugar Hill adored him.

“You’re right on time, Reverend,” Alison said. “I think the bride and groom are downstairs talking. They should be up any
minute
.”

“You say you need a menu?”

Alison patted his hand, gesturing for him to turn up his hearing aid. “No, I said they’ll be up in a minute.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ll go check on them.”

“No, I don’t need a check,” the reverend said. Alison chuckled and walked down the aisle of the chapel. She spotted Vivica and Brady’s mother in the vestibule chatting with Donna and Tammy, friends of Vivica’s from the hospital who were bridesmaids. Two young cousins – Priscilla, the flower girl, and
Devon
, the ring bearer – were there, too.

“I have them all under control,” Mrs. Broussard said. “I’ve been explaining how they should walk and carry themselves during the ceremony.”

Alison nodded. “I’ll get Vivica.”

She rounded the corner to the bride’s room, but loud voices echoed from inside, and she halted.

“Vivica, I don’t care more about my job than you,” Joe said, “but this project I’m working on is a million-dollar deal, and I had to call and check on it.”

“Just like you had to stay out all night after that bachelor party. Exactly what happened last night, Joe?”

Alison closed her eyes, hoping Joe didn’t have some horrid confession to make that might destroy Vivica’s happiness.

“Nothing,” Joe said, his voice edgy. “I had a little too much to drink and crashed at Curt’s place. Don’t you trust me, Vivi?”

Footsteps sounded behind her, and Alison opened her eyes and saw Brady descending the steps. Dressed in pleated chinos and a white shirt, he nearly took her breath away.

She had to get over him.

Vivica’s
voice broke the silence. “I do trust you, but I know how guys are when they get together.”

“You know, if you’re going to question everything I do, maybe we should rethink this marriage,” Joe said.

Vivica’s
voice rose. “You want to call off the wedding?”

Brady sent her a panicked look and whispered, “What’s going on?”

“They’re having a squabble.”

Brady winced. “Maybe we’d better try to pull things together.”

“Right.” She moved forward and knocked on the door: “Vivi, it’s time to start the rehearsal.”

The door swung open and Vivica appeared, her eyes slightly red from crying. “He wants to cancel the wedding.”

“I never said that!” Joe exited in a rush. “Women! How does anyone understand them?”

Alison glanced at Brady for help.

“I’ll go talk to him,” Brady offered.

Alison nodded. “Vivi and I will be up in a minute.”

As soon as the men left, Alison grabbed Vivica’s hands and pulled her to the small Victorian settee in the corner. “Listen, Vivi, every bride gets nervous before the wedding. That’s normal, so take a deep breath and try to relax.”

“Relax? But what if he spends all his time at work and ignores me?”

“Has he ignored you while you’ve been dating?”

Vivica’s
chin wobbled. “No, but this week he’s been gone and he didn’t call—”

“Vivi, he’s been swamped because he’s trying to tie things up so you two can go away for your honeymoon.” Alison handed Vivi a tissue. “Now, dry your eyes and let’s practice your wedding before Reverend Barnes falls asleep in the pulpit.”

* * *

Brady spent ten minutes coaxing Joe to calm down. “Look, man, did something happen last night?”

“No.” Joe paced the tiny room. “I behaved myself, if that’s what you’re thinking caused this. But your sister has been a basket case lately. Complaining that I’m ignoring her when I have to work overtime. I was trying to get a bonus to take her on a nice honeymoon.”

Brady’s respect went up a notch. “Listen, a wedding’s the biggest day in a girl’s life. They dream about it for years. I’m sure Vivi’s just nervous. She wants everything to be perfect.”

Joe ran a hand over his hair. “Well, if she expects me to be perfect, she’s going to be disappointed.”

Brady grasped Joe’s shoulder and guided him toward the front of the church. “Just think, tomorrow night the ceremony will be over, you two will be on your honeymoon and everything will be great.”

Joe nodded and took his place. Dave and Curt, the ushers, filed in. Brady frowned when Thomas moved to the front to stand beside Joe. Jealousy balled in his stomach as he realized the implications: Thomas was the best man and would escort Alison down the aisle.

Brady took a deep breath. They would only be walking together – no big deal. It wasn’t as if Thomas and Alison were getting married.