Page 96 of Love and Other Trials
“Glad you’re pleased. I added the biggest sparklers we can legally get away with in the corners. They’ll last longer and give you a little more fire so y’all should light them first. Hey! Looks like the Navy is here.”
Turning toward the wide entrance of the tent, she felt her mouth water. Dax was decked out in dress whites and looking as good to eat as a slice of red velvet cake, which she couldn’t wait to have later when they cut the groom’s cake. The other men wore their uniforms well, but Dax had an extra swagger. When he flashed her one of hismake her knees weaksmiles, she felt her heart flutter in her chest. Goodness, he was gorgeous. Not that Carson, Perry, Gunner, Frank, and Rob didn’t look just as good.
But she had eyes for only one pilot…
When Dax reached her, she gave in to the urge to touch his wings and ribbons before tracing the gold and black epaulets on his wide shoulders. “Goodness,” she purposely drew out in a Southern accent. “I’m having trouble concentrating.”
He leaned in and kissed her, adept even with his military style cap with the black visor. “You always do that to me.”
“Look at these!” Rob fairly shouted. “Better than I could have expected. Man, did you personally make them?”
Bubba patted his massive chest and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Awesome.” Rob fingered a few of the sparklers as the other guys circled the crates.
“That’s a buttload of sparklers,” Carson remarked with a whistle. “Run us through the lighting process.”
Ariel was glad to hear his can-do attitude. She knew he and the other guys harbored reservations, but clearly they’d gotten the memo. Rob wanted to get married. End of story.
“I brought four blowtorches.” Bubba gestured to the large canvas bag on the ground and unzipped it, showing off the goods. “You’ll have to work in tandem?—”
Rob swung his arm around Carson’s neck, leaning heavily. “We’re used to that. Aren’t we, boys?”
Dax put his arm around her and squeezed reassuringly. “Your job today, Rob, is to sit back with your bride and enjoy yourself. We’ve got this.”
She was glad Dax had said this because she wasn’t sure having Rob near a blowtorch—not now and certainly not later given how much more drinking he might do—seemed a good idea.
“Ariel!”
The cry of her name was almost a scream. She dashed off in the direction of the sound, Dax running beside her. She heard the other men’s footsteps behind them. Spotting Tricia and Terry running in their cream satin pumps, pale pink robes gaping, she increased her pace to intercept them.
“What is it?” she asked when she reached them, heart hammering.
Tricia’s eyes were wild. “Tiffany’s wedding dress?—”
“It’s not in the cottage!” Terry was panting, suddenly gripping her arm. “We’ve looked everywhere.”
“What?”She felt like someone had socked her in the face. “Are you sure?”
“We put it in the cottage.” Dax’s voice was full of conviction.
Jeffrey was running toward them. On the grass. In his shoes. Something had to be really wrong for him to do that. She took off toward her brother.
“Ariel!” He was gasping as he reached her. “The wedding dress is not in the cottage anymore.”
Dax reached them. “What happened?”
Jeffrey pushed his green glasses up his nose. “I don’t know. Tricia texted me and asked where we’d put it. I told her. She said it wasn’t there. I went to show her in case she’d had too many mimosas. But it’s not there.”
Her stomach felt like it had tumbled from the penthouse to the ground floor. “You’re sure?”
His nod was so convincing he had to right his glasses after they slid down his nose. “I looked everywhere. It’s like that dress up and left and followed your wig into the ocean.”
“But we hung it where we were supposed to,” Dax ground out. “How could it?—”
Suddenly, Rob was whipping Dax around. “You son of a bitch!”
His fist nailed Dax in the jaw, making his head swivel. Carson and Perry had their arms around Rob before he could take another swing, Gunner and Frank in the wings. Ariel told herself not to step in, but she stayed where she was. Although she was glad Terry and Tricia were screeching, running off until they stood out of range.
