Final Call (Call #2)(40)
Author: Emma Hart

“Aaron,” I put a warning in my voice this time, and he laughs.

“Don’t worry. I’m not doing anything ridiculously impulsive or drastic. Not right now.” He covers my mouth with his before I can respond, and I lightly punch his chest.

“What have you done? Are you doing? Going to do? Whatever it is. What is it?”

“Nothing. I’m messing with you. I haven’t done anything. I promise.” He drops another kiss to my lips.

“Yet? There’s always a yet with you. Always.”

“I’m not promising I won’t, but I haven’t done anything at this moment in time.”

“Oh, because that makes me feel so much better,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “You scare me. Do you know that?”

He pushes away from the table and grabs his tea, watching me over the rim of the mug with amusement. “Yes. I’m terrifying. I’m amazed you haven’t run from the room screaming yet.”

I grab a grape from the bunch in the fruit bowl behind me and throw it at him. “Shut up. You scare me because I can tell you not to do something and you’ll go and do it anyway. Why do I bother?”

“Yes, Dayton, why do you?” His eyes twinkle.

“Because I have an insane, evidently naïve idea that I can ask you not to do something and you’ll actually follow my wishes. Gasp! Imagine how beautiful that day would be.”

“It would be very beautiful and even more unlikely.”

“So what we’re saying is the whole conversation we just had about the rest of our lives was a total waste of my time.”

His effort to keep a straight face is admirable but wasted. “I’ll maybe give you six months. A year if you catch me on a more amicable day.”

“Presumptuous, pushy bastard.”

“Seems like she’s got you all worked out, cuz.” Tyler strolls through the door and puts his camera bag on the table next to me. “What’s he on about this time?”

I sigh. “Don’t ask. Just don’t ask.”

“Suit yourselves. By the way, Tessa said she’ll pick you up at ten tomorrow. She needs someone to help her decide her final hairstyle or some bullshit I don’t care about.”

“But your mom is here now.”

“I know.” He grins. “Have fun.”

Chapter Seventeen

Bridezillas make the best brides.

After standing for so long, watching Tessa say her vows, I know this to be true. She may have been a nightmare for the past few days, but so far, her day has gone off without a hitch.

It’s absolutely perfect. From the figure-hugging white dress that flares into a full skirt at her hips to the powder blue of her bridesmaids’ dresses and the matching bouquets of flowers everywhere. I can’t begin to imagine the work—or the cost—that’s gone into this day.

I’ve been to more weddings than I care to count, but none of them hit me the way Tessa’s has. Perhaps it was the raw honesty in her voice when she promised to give Michael the rest of her life. Perhaps it was the way they looked at each other, so in love, and sealed it all with a kiss.

Or perhaps it was the way Aaron held my hand tightly throughout the ceremony or the way my emotions were running rampant in my body, still raw from our conversation about this very topic a few days ago.

“Dayton!” Tessa shouts my name and waves me over.

“No.” I shake my head. “These are your family shots.”

Several pairs of eyes turn to look at me. Tessa’s, Tyler’s, Carly’s, Brandon’s, Tessa’s parents’, and Aaron’s. Aaron’s are the hardest as he approaches me and takes both my hands in his.

“You are family,” he says softly. “And Tessa wants you in these pictures.”

“I…” I look at her pleading eyes and let him pull me forward. “Okay.”

Everyone smiles as I join them, and Aaron tucks me into his side.

“Whoa. Don’t crease the dress,” I mutter, much to everyone’s amusement.

“Excuse me,” he responds, his own laughter in his voice. “Was it expensive?”

“I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t allowed to see the price.” I grin and slip my arm around his waist as the photographer shouts for us all to smile.

I’m passed from here to there and back again over the next fifteen minutes. In and out of photos. In and out of Aaron’s hold. By the time they’re all done, I’m glad to have a chance to sit down for dinner.

“I didn’t see the price either, but it was worth every cent,” Aaron says as he takes a seat next to me. “The dress,” he says at my questioning look.

“Oh!” I smile. “What do you mean you didn’t see the price?”

“I rarely see my accounts. My accountant is aware of all my finances and he watches them carefully. I only see them when something isn’t as it should be.”

“Oh, to be so rich.”

He brings my hand to his mouth and brushes his lips across it. “You know my feelings on this.”

“I do and I acknowledge them, and I refuse to take this discussion further.” I punctuate my last words with a raise of my brows as the entrées are brought out.

As I suspected, the meal is incredible. One of the best I’ve ever had by a million miles. The wine is crisp and fresh, and you don’t need to be familiar with the label to know that they’re expensive bottles. I wonder how much this cost.

“You’d pass out with shock,” Aaron whispers.

Crap. Did I say that out loud?

“You whispered it.”

“Dammit. I need to stop thinking.” I pick up my glass and drink before I say something else.

“I won’t give you an exact figure, but it was comfortably in the six-figure bracket.”

I choke as I swallow my wine. “Six figures?”

“Did you expect anything less?”

“On a wedding?”

“That’s what we’re attending.”

“Oh my God.”

Aaron smiles. “I love how shocked you get at money.”

“Money doesn’t shock me. I have plenty myself, but I don’t understand the frivolity, I guess. Spending just because you can. It baffles me.”

“This, from the woman who almost snapped my bank card two days ago?”

I hold up a finger. “We all have our exceptions, Mr. Stone. That’s mine. Besides, that will all get used.”

“I can guarantee it.” He touches my back and kisses the corner of my mouth. “Now eat.”