Page 30 of The Mountain Man's Mail Order Surprise
I pull on jeans and a t-shirt, then follow the noise downstairs to find my kitchen has been transformed into wedding command central. Talia sits at my table with a laptop and what appears to be seventeen different lists. Jordyn is on the phone, pacing while she talks rapidly about flowers and timing. And Sage is pulling pastries out of bags that smell like heaven.
"Good morning, groom," Talia says without looking up from her computer. "Coffee's fresh. Don't touch anything else."
"Where's Gia?"
"Venus has her at Tangled Roots for hair and makeup. You're not allowed to see her until the ceremony."
"It's my house."
"Not today it isn't." Jordyn ends her call and fixes me with a look that reminds me why she was such a good investigativejournalist. "Today it's wedding headquarters. You're being relocated."
"Relocated where?"
"Noah's picking you up in thirty minutes. You'll spend the day at Iron Vine getting ready, while we handle everything here."
I pour myself coffee and lean against the counter, watching the controlled chaos with amusement. "This is insane. You know that, right?"
"This is what Gia deserves," Sage says firmly, arranging something that looks like tiny sandwiches on a platter. "A beautiful wedding day done right with people who care about her, since she doesn't have her own family here."
The reminder hits me harder than it should. Gia's facing one of the biggest days of her life without a single blood relative to share it with. Her parents died when she was in college, no siblings, and her friends disappeared when Zack isolated her from everyone who cared about her.
"You're right," I say quietly. "Thank you. All of you. For doing this for her."
"We're doing it for both of you," Talia corrects. "But mostly for her, because she needs to know she's loved and supported."
"She is."
"We know. But sometimes you have to show people, not just tell them."
My phone buzzes with a text.
Noah:
Outside. Time to go, groom.
"That's my ride."I drain my coffee and grab my keys. "Anything I should know?"
"Don't be late," Jordyn says. "Ceremony starts at sunset. Five-thirty sharp."
"Has anyone checked the weather?"
Jordyn rolls her eyes. "We aren’t amateurs, Ros. The weather will be perfect as long as the weather app and my husband’s knees aren’t lying. Expect clear skies, no wind, and a temperature around sixty degrees."
Talia finally looks up from her computer. "It's going to be beautiful, Rosco."
"I know.” I move to grab a protein shake.
Jordyn glares at me. “Get out of here. Lover boy.”
The team of woman burst into laughter as I take my exit in hasty strides.
Noah's truckidles in my driveway, music playing softly through the open windows. I climb into the passenger seat and buckle my seatbelt.
"Ready for this?" he asks as we head down the mountain.
"More than ready. You?"
"For your wedding? Hell yes. Talia's been planning this thing like it's a military operation. I'm just following orders."
