A River Bend Wedding Read online

“I have no idea.”

  “Let me see.” He tugged up her tank top and smoothed his fingers over the new, albeit small, swell. “Holy shit, babe. You’re popping out already.”

  “I can’t be. I’m only three months.” And next month, she’d be four. Which meant she probably wouldn’t fit into her wedding dress if this sudden growth spurt were any indication.

  “Well, you are and it’s fucking beautiful.” With that, he pulled out his cell phone and snapped a picture of her bare belly. “Turn to the side.”

  She did, but only so he wouldn’t see the tears filling her eyes. “Hurry up. I have to go to the bathroom.”

  His big hand curled around her arm, turning her back to him. “Why are you crying?”

  “I’m not.” Sniffle. “I just have to pee.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Is this one of those irrational hormonal cries?”

  Was he for real? She shoved at his chest, but he didn’t budge. “You’re going to get an irrational kick in the you-know-what if you don’t get out of my way.”

  A crooked grin slashed across his face. “I’m just trying to help, babe. Are you crying because you’re happy?”

  Oh, men. Were they really that clueless? “How could you possibly think I’d be happy about not fitting into my dress?”

  Realization lit his eyes and she wanted to shake him. “Oh, that.”

  “Oh, that is right. I can’t get a baby bump yet. It’s just not an option.” But it was too late, wasn’t it? Damn. Damn, damn, damn.

  “What if we get married soon?”

  “Define soon.” Next week? Maybe that would work. Anything after that would be a crapshoot, especially if the little bug decided it needed more room to stretch.

  “Let’s talk about it later, okay? We’ll pin down a date. Right now, I have to run back to town. I forgot some paperwork at a job site.”

  “Oh. Well, can I come with?” Fresh air might help clear her head. Get her out of the funk two days of bed rest had already knocked her into.

  “Better not, baby girl. It’ll only take me a few minutes. I’ll be back before you know it.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and rubbed her belly one more time before he grabbed his coat and headed for the door. “I can grab pizza while I’m out, too, if that’s all right.”

  What choice did she have? She was cooped up in this house while he continued to come and go as he pleased.

  “Of course.” She pasted on a smile as he blew another kiss and walked out.

  Then she hurried back to the living room, flung herself on the couch…and cried.

  ***

  “I sure do love spending your money.” Ally beamed from across the table in her and Mark’s dining room. Between them sat a pile of dog-eared home furnishing catalogs.

  Mark strolled in from the kitchen, handed Josh a beer, and took a seat next to his wife. “Better yours than mine, man.”

  “I’d rather not think about what this is doing to my bank account. Just make my woman happy, okay?” He brought the bottle to his mouth and took a pull. The money would get spent one way or another, but at least this approach took the load off of Carissa’s shoulders.

  The dimple in Ally’s cheek puckered and she slid a glossy spread of dinnerware at him. Plates and bowls and mugs of all different colors and shapes. Overwhelming enough to make a fine sweat break out across his brow.

  “I like these.” She pointed to a red set with dark brown edging. “And these, too.” The second set looked similar to the first, but in a shade of puke green.

  “Definitely the red.”

  “It’s cranberry mocha.”

  “Oh.” And this was why he wasn’t doing this shit himself. “Cranberry it is, then.”

  She went on, showing him different types of drinking glasses and stemware, silverware, and pots and pans, none of which he really had a preference for.

  “Whatever you think Carissa will like best,” he said for the tenth time in as many minutes.

  “Come on, man, you’ve gotta have some type of opinion. Don’t hide your inner Martha Stewart on our account.” Mark smirked and Josh kicked him in the shin beneath the table. “Jesus, dude, relax.”

  “How am I supposed to do that? I have house to pull together in less than two weeks.”

  “Don’t forget the wedding.”

  Ugh, shit. “Yeah. I know.” He dug the heel of his hand into his eye sockets and sighed. “I may have bitten off more than I can chew.”

  Ally smiled sympathetically. “That’s why you have us, Josh. We’ll get this done, I promise.”

  God, he hoped so. “So you’ve already ordered some of the stuff for the nursery?”

  “Yes. Just a few small things to set the scene. Carissa will want to do that on her own, I’m sure.”

  “Good thinking. And what about the bedroom furniture?”

  The sheriff gave a thumbs up. “I stopped by the store today. They had the bed frame you wanted in stock, but they had to order the mattress set. Maddie is on the bedding. She remembered a set Carissa had fallen in love with before Christmas.”

  “Perfect.” As long as everything came in on time. “Nicole’s on the living room, and Tony and Brody are getting the nursery painted and the wood cut for the crib and changing table.”

  “I still can’t believe you’re making them on your own.” Ally shook her head in awe.

  Yeah, well, he couldn’t imagine it any other way. Hell, he’d been dreaming about it since he put the engagement ring on Carissa’s finger. His wife and children would have the best of everything. Simple as that.

  “Look at you over there.” Ally smiled sweetly. “I think you’re blushing.”

  “Ah, no.” Rubbing a hand around the back of his neck, Josh shifted from one ass cheek to the other. “I’m just thinking that Carissa’s probably wondering where the hell I am.”

  Mark laughed. “Get home to your lady, man. We’ve got you covered.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Your freaking out, chica. Over shoes.”

  Hell yes, she was freaking out. She was getting married in…God only knew how many days and she didn’t even have a pair of pretty heels to walk down the aisle in!

  “I have no idea when we’re getting married, Mads. What if Josh decides we should elope…tomorrow? I have nothing but a dress.” Carissa paced back and forth in front of the fireplace while her best friend lounged on the couch with a cup of hot cocoa. “A dress, I might add, that may or may not fit me.”

  “Call the boutique. See if you can get a quick fitting in.”

  “I did that already. I have an appointment for Friday, providing Josh doesn’t lock me away in a closet.”

  Maddie snorted. “He’s just worried about you.”

  “He’s acting like I’m going to stroke out.”

  “That’s actually not funny. I’ve heard stories.”

  Ugh. Her blood pressure wasn’t that high. “Look, I’m going stir-crazy. If you wouldn’t have come over today, I think I might’ve flown the coop.”

  “First of all, sit down already. You’re making me sweat. Second, I hate to be selfish, but I actually came to talk to you about something.”

  Carissa glanced at her friend, one eyebrow lifted. “Oh?”

  Expression suddenly serious, Maddie nodded. “I’ve made a decision about the baby dilemma.”

  “Really?”

  “I want to look into in vitro.”

  “That’s great.” She rounded the coffee table and sat down before her friend. “What does Dan say about that?”

  “He’s open to it. We’ll get the specifics from the fertility counselor next week.”

  An excited screech burst from Carissa’s chest and she launched herself at her friend, hugging her tight. “I am so happy for you!”

  Maddie laughed. “Me, too. I’ve been so apprehensive about taking the next step, but I think it’s time. I know Dan’s worried about how I’ll handle it, but you know I’m a fighter. And I want a baby more than anything.”

  “Until a few days ago, I hadn’t really understood how deep that need ran.” She held her hand to her belly. “Now I get it, one-thousand percent.”

  Maddie gave a small smile. “I can’t believe you’re starting to show.”

  “Ugh. Let’s not go there.” At least not until she tried her dress on again and still had room enough to breathe.

  “How about I talk to Josh and see if he’ll let me chaperone you to your fitting on Friday? We’ll sneak into the mall and get you some pretty lingerie, too.”

  “And the shoes?”

  “And the shoes, sweetie.”

  Carissa grinned. “How about coffee?”

  “Don’t push your luck.”

  ***

  “The flowers are ordered. Not the purple lilies she wanted, but the fuchsia daisies are to die for. She’ll love them.” Jenny leaned on the salon counter and showed Josh her to-do list, more than half of which had already been crossed off. “And the cake…well, that took some begging and bribery, but Ally and I finally got Gladys’s sister to commit, providing Gladys helps.”

  “Wow, that’s phenomenal. She does great work and Carissa already had her lined up for the summer, so she’ll be thrilled.” He scanned the list, in awe of how much Jenny had accomplished. “I can’t believe how fast this is all coming together.”

  “Yes, but I think you’re forgetting something very important.” Jenny tapped his chest with a bright pink fingernail. “Your tux, big guy.”

  “Oh, shit. I hadn’t even thought about that.”

  “Exactly. So I took the liberty of scheduling you a fitting on Thursday. Ten o’clock. The other guys are just suiting it, and the girls and I have plans to shop this weekend, so we should be set.”

  He had the most amazing friends. “Yo
u’re a lifesaver, Jenn. Thank you so much.”

  “I do have my moments.” She laughed when he pulled her in for a quick hug. “I assume you’ve already forewarned your folks? Your mother will kill you if she doesn’t have the perfect outfit.”

  “Carissa and I told them about the baby the other day, but I haven’t mentioned the wedding. I wanted to be sure we could pull it off first.”

  His friend blinked up at him. “Oh, we’ll pull it off, Josh. In fact, we’ll more than pull it off. We’ll freakin’ rock this bitch.”

  A roar of laughter rolled up from his belly. “On that note, I’ve gotta run. Brody’s waiting for me at the house. We’re starting the baby furniture today.”

  At the mention of her man’s name, Jenny’s eyes went a little lusty. “Smack his ass for me, will you? He skipped out on our morning shower today.”

  Oh, hell. “I’m gone. Now.” He spun away, with Jenny’s laughter following him out the door.

  ***

  Two hours later, he put the last coat of stain on the wood for the crib.

  “Now I remember why I have you guys do this shit.” He dropped the dirty brush into the jar of cleaner and wiped his hands on his jeans.

  Brody grunted from the doorway. He’d just finished helping Mark carry in the new bed for the master bedroom. “Your idea, man. Don’t get salty with me about it.”

  Salty. Yeah, that was one way of putting it. “What the hell was I thinking? There’s no way we can get this all done.”

  “Sure, we can. In fact, I think we’re making great time. Dan and Nicole have the rest of the furniture coming Saturday, Ally’s on the kitchen and the bathrooms, Jenny’s been checking shit off the wedding list like crazy…” He buddy lifted a shoulder, then let it fall. “You just need to relax.”

  “Maybe this will help.” An arm holding a six-pack of Budweiser reached in from behind Brody. Then Reed Fletcher’s ugly mug appeared.

  “‘Bout damn time you show up, asshole.”

  “Oh, pull your panties out of your crack, Hudson. I had shit to do.” Reed nudged Brody out of the way, his gaze sweeping over all the wood laid out in the garage. “You are way too fucking ambitious, bro.”

  And that’s why he was getting married and his buddy wasn’t. Dumbass. “Just give me a beer already.” Josh reached out a hand and Reed arched an eyebrow.

  “You off the clock, boss?”

  “It’s six-friggin’-o’clock.”

  Reed cracked a grin. “Just checkin’.”

  Fucker.

  Brody laughed. “I better get my ass home. You two love birds fight nice.”

  Jesus Christ. What the hell was wrong with these guys?

  He waved his friend off, took a gulp of beer, and started shuffling the dry wood away from the wet.

  Reed twisted off the top of his own bottle. “You look like shit, dude.”

  “A shotgun wedding will do that to a man.”

  His oldest friend blinked at him. “What?”

  “I’m starting to think this was a bad idea. What if it’s not what Carissa wants?”

  “Why the hell wouldn’t it be? She loves you.”

  To the point she’d risk her own health to make him happy. Would she marry him on the fly just to please him, as well?

  “I think I’m pushing her. Trying too hard to do the right thing.”

  “Wanting to marry the mother of your child isn’t pushing, Josh. It’s noble.” Reed sat down on a stool, elbows on his knees.

  “Yeah, but at what cost? I don’t want her to wake up one day and think we rushed into this.” Worse, he didn’t want her to resent him for it.

  “You think that girl’s really going to do that? Have you seen the way she looks at you?” Reed shook his head. “You’ve just got a case of the jitters. It’ll pass.”

  “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

  “Dude…” Reed spread his hands wide, one wrapped around his beer. “This is Carissa you’re talking about. The girl who’s been in love with you for, what’s it been, five years now?”

  Five and a half, but who was counting?

  “I know you don’t like to think about it, but I happen to know firsthand that what she feels for you is the real fucking deal. Quit playing devil’s advocate with your own damn head and face up to the reality that’s right in front of you. She’d marry you at the courthouse tomorrow if you asked her to.”

  That was exactly it. She’d do it for him, but what about what she wanted?

  “You’re overthinking this, Hudson. You’re so caught up in making her happy that you’re forgetting how happy she already is.”

  The look on her face when they saw their baby on the hospital monitor flashed in his mind and he smiled. Even through the fear, he’d seen the adoration. The love. The same sparkle she had in her eyes when she looked at him every morning.

  “At the end of the day, you and this baby are going to be the only things that matter to her. Trust in that.”

  Josh cocked his head to the side and shot his best friend a smarmy grin. “You know for a guy who’s so afraid of commitment, you’re awfully insightful about what makes a woman happy.”

  “Hell,” Reed grunted. “I know lots of shit about making women happy.”

  “Yet you can’t get one to stick around.”

  His buddy grinned. “All in good time, my friend. All in good time.”

  Chapter Ten

  “You tell that so-called man of yours that his ass is grass the next time I see him.”

  “Cade, shut up. I’m twenty-nine, not nineteen.” Carissa stuck the phone between her ear and shoulder and swept on her mascara. “I’m also marrying my man, not just playing house with him.”

  Her big brother scoffed. “Kim and I are serious, too.”

  “Then put a ring on it already.”

  “Uh…”

  “Exactly. All talk, no action. I’ll be sure to tell Josh you plan to kick his ass for knocking me up. He’ll find it amusing, I’m sure.”

  “What, you think I won’t?”

  Oh, for Pete’s sake. Thirty-some years old and still thinks he’s Superman. “Whatever, brother of mine. I don’t have time to argue with you. Maddie’s kidnapping me for a few hours.”

  “You sure that’s a good idea? Dad said you’re on bed rest.”

  “It’s just a little shopping. Besides, my blood pressure has been good for the last couple of days.”

  “Hmm.” Cade hesitated. “Just take it easy, okay? We need you in good shape for the wedding.”

  “Jesus, you’re starting to sound like Josh. And we haven’t even talked any more about the wedding. At this rate, it’ll still be June.”

  He brother laughed. “It won’t be June, Car. Trust me.”

  Lip-gloss poised before her mouth, she paused, arching an eyebrow at the reflection in the mirror. “Why do you say it like that?”

  “Ah, shit, I’m getting pulled over. Gotta go, Car. Love you.” And with that, he disconnected the call.

  Weird. Very, very weird.

  “Yoo-hoo! Where are you hiding, little mama?” Maddie’s voice sounded down the hall.

  “Bedroom!”

  Her friend strolled in a moment later, bundled up in a parka and scarf. “Well, look at you, all dolled up.”

  Carissa smiled. “Thank you. I feel fabulous today. Not sure what that’s all about.”

  “It’s called sleep. And relaxation.”

  Except spending the week on her butt hadn’t felt like R&R. She’d only been restless. Antsy.

  “Whatever. I’m just happy to get out of the house today. You ready?”

  Maddie nodded. “Sure am. Just need to drop by the office to grab a package.”

  “Something fun?”

  Her best friend grinned. “You’ll have to wait and see.”

  What the hell was up with people today?

  ***

  “Father Joe’s all set for the 13th. You lucked out, man. He doesn’t usually officiate weddings during Lent, but when I told him you’d already knocked up the bride, he changed his mind.”

  Oh, for fuck’s sake. “People have kids outside of marriage all the time these days. It’s not even a big deal anymore.”

  “Unless you’re Catholic and your mother is Nancy Hudson.” Dan handed Josh a stack of new towels for the bathroom closet.

  “Mom didn’t even bat an eye when we told her.”

  “Well, no. She said she’s known for a month that Carissa was pregnant. Mother’s intuition or some shit.”