Page 36 of Ash

The menu Eli and I wanted was simple compared to my mother’s tastes. She wanted a plated dinner with roasted rack of lamb, seared scallops, and mushroom ragout as options for our guests. She had been horrified to learn that we’d picked an Italian buffet instead, a decision my groom refused to budge on since he wanted me to have my favorite food on our special day.

If only my mother was as concerned about my preferences and not what her friends would think about our wedding. The few we’d allowed her to invite since, according to her, the one hundred guests on our side wasn’t nearly enough. Which was a number I insisted on because I wasn’t going to take seats from Eli’s side to make her happy. It was more important to me thatwe were surrounded by his found family when we celebrated our marriage.

“It’s a good thing you’re a lawyer,” I announced as I walked through the door of our house. “I’m going to need one when I finally give in to the temptation to kill my mother.”

Wrapping his arms around me, my soon-to-be husband pulled me in for a hug that I very much needed. “What’s wrong, baby girl?”

I pressed my cheek against his broad chest and mumbled, “Just my mom being her usual self.”

He slid his hand between our bodies to cup my still flat belly. “Did she say something bad about our happy news?”

“No, I didn’t tell her.” Thinking about the argument we got into, I sniffled. “She was already upset because I wouldn’t cave over the location for the reception, even though the country club had a cancellation for our wedding date. The bride was the daughter of one of her close friends, and she just found out her groom had been cheating on her with her maid of honor. She barely said sorry to her friend before hanging up to call the club to see if we could slide into the newly opened spot.”

“Sounds like her,” he muttered.

“I didn’t want to risk that being why she reacted badly to the news that her daughter is going to walk down the aisle while pregnant.” I shook my head with a watery laugh. “But maybe I should have. At least her social circle will be too busy gossiping about that poor girl to say much about us.”

Eli hadn’t been happy when I insisted on telling my mom without him there. But she still hadn’t gotten over the fact that we weren’t inviting his parents to the wedding—which she blamed him for—so I thought it would be easier to tell her on my own.

“I don’t like you being so stressed. Especially while you’re carrying my baby.”

I tilted my head back to smile up at him as I teased, “Let’s be honest…you wouldn’t be much happier with my mom’s shenanigans, even if I wasn’t pregnant.”

“Damn straight,” he confirmed without an ounce of shame. “My job as your man is to make your life easier, which is why I booked us a flight to Vegas tonight. I’ve had enough of this bullshit. We’re going to get married, just the two of us and our little bean that you’re carrying in your belly.”

My mom would have a conniption fit if we eloped, but that didn’t stop me from crying, “Yes!”

He brushed his lips over mine. “Glad you’re on board with the plan because I’ve already packed our shit, and we need to head to the airport.”

“Let’s go, then.”

Before I could tug him toward the door, he jerked his chin in the direction of our bedroom. “Got to grab our bags first, baby girl.”

“Did you pack my wedding dress?”

“I sure as fuck did,” he confirmed.

It was a good thing that I kept it in a black garment bag so he didn’t accidentally see it. I wanted to surprise him in my gown on our wedding day, which was apparently happening much sooner than we originally planned. “Do we have a reservation at a wedding chapel?”

He flashed me a smug grin. “Yup, and it’s the one you got all dreamy-eyed over when you saw that photo spread in your bridal magazine.”

“Really?” I squealed, clapping while I bounced on my toes. “The one with the three sisters who run it? And the florist is married to Griffith Thorne, the lead singer of Rising Phoenix?”

“Not sure about all that, but I got the name from the article. It was easy to find since you read it so many times that the page is practically worn out.”

“Oh my gosh, this is going to be so amazing. Getting married there will be worth all of the crap my mom is going to dish out when we get back.”

Eli quirked a brow. “Thought me becoming your husband would be enough for that. Not to mention the wedding night we’re about to have.”

“Definitely,” I agreed with a grin.

Having Griffith Thorne sing as I walked down the aisle—a surprise Eli somehow managed to arrange—didn’t top the moment the Elvis impersonator announced us as man and wife. Or the ridiculous number of orgasms I had during the twenty-four hours following our ceremony.

Too bad we had to cut the trip short when Ink called with an urgent request—the woman he wanted to claim needed a lawyer.

EPILOGUE

ASH

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