Page 4 of A Wilder Wedding

Because it had been three years of this. Of stolen nights, of long hours before we could finally see one another.

Three years of watching my friends fall in love, and struggle through heartbreak and happiness.

Three years, where Amos had never told me he loved me.

Three years where I knew he cared for me. That he desired me and wanted me.

Three years where he put me first.

And three years where I loved him more than anything possible but was so afraid to say anything because I knew he would walk away.

Three years where I knew that this could be the end, but I didn’t want it to be.

And then Amos was holding me, kissing me, touching me, telling me I was his.

I wanted to say the words, that I loved him, that he was mine.

Only I didn’t.

Because I loved happy ever afters. I loved those promises. I loved those vows.

And I had fallen in love with Amos, but I knew the man he was.

And I knew if I didn’t walk away first, he would leave me.

So I just held him. And I loved him.

And I waited for the end. Because I was weak for him.

I’d become the person I hated. A person that Amos couldn’t love.

CHAPTERTWO

Naomi

Present Day

“Are you sure you’re up for it?”

I looked at Aurora and smiled. Aurora was the newest soon-to-be Wilder of the bunch. Since the Wilder brothers had first come to Texas to take over our little retreat that was no longer so little, all six of the original Wilders, and now some of the Wilder cousins, had brought new people into the mix. They were all either married, having babies, or getting married.

Aurora had fallen for Ridge, one of the managers of the security team that made sure our retreat was safe. And considering what had happened over the past few years, and who actually lived and worked on the retreat now, it was good to have strong support.

And from the way that Aurora smiled just thinking of Ridge, I had a feeling that Ridge supported a few other things than just security.

“Of course, I’m so excited to help. You’re getting married!”

I reached out and squeezed her hands, as the baker, cake decorator, and pastry chef of the Wilder Retreat squeezed back. Aurora had been a lovely addition for the entire retreat, and my sweet tooth was grateful that she was here. I had to make sure I didn’t go overboard, just like with anything, but I sure as hell knew that I was going to try every single thing that Aurora put in front of me.

“I realize that you helping me taste cake that I make probably isn’t the most glamorous way to have a cake tasting for my wedding, but with Ridge on training and assignment, I wanted someone else’s opinions.”

Aurora’s fiancé had left to go train on a new software that would help with security. Trace had wanted to go, but he needed to stay after an incident at the retreat. A not too serious one where paparazzi had gotten in through a downed fence at the back of the property to try to get a glimpse of Bethany Cole. Bethany had married into the Wilders, and was not only an Oscar award-winning actress, she was now a spokesperson and ambassador for UNICEF. And after her recent speech, some people had gotten angry and sent death threats.

We were all used to threats like that, sadly, but things had gotten a little hairy. Ridge had offered to go at the last minute, and had wanted to learn it anyway, but that meant a lot of the planning was up to Aurora now.

“You’re telling me I’m allowed to taste cake and enjoy myself? I don’t know why you’re acting as if this is a hardship.”

“I know, I know. I just don’t want you to ever feel like I’m taking advantage of the fact that you are our innkeeper and are not allowed to leave.”

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