Page 86 of The Veiling

“Then…”

“There’s more?”

“Then,” I continued, “I want to give them a week off.”

“Paid time off, of course?”

“Is that doable?”

I pinned my bottom lip between my teeth, scared he would say no. He was very good to the staff and gave them time off as often as he could. Whenever they had a personal event, he always let them take time to go. But a week off after the wedding would be different.

“I think we can arrange that.” He tugged me into his body, placing a peck on the corner of my lips.

KNOCK. KNOCK.

“It’s open!” I took a step back.

The door pushed open, and Laura and Tanya entered the room with wide smiles.

“Hey, guys,” Laura tried her best to look innocent.

Valentino rolled his eyes. “She knows.”

The girls squealed and hugged me before they backed away.

“Okay.” Laura became serious, replacing hergiddy sisterexpression with herwedding plannerface. “Everything’s in order and ready to go for tomorrow. The country club knows we’re all coming tonight, but I guess I need to tell them we have an extra guest since Casper came back from the dead.” She slid her phone from her jeans pocket.

My sister had managed to get the country club shut down for the night so we could properly celebrate without having to worry about media. My family had a wonderful relationship with the club since we were all substantial contributors, and my father was on the board of directors. There was no need to make the staff signNon-Disclosure Agreements. They knew better than to discuss my family’s affairs with anyone.

As we all sat around the long, rectangular table in the main dining room, I offered Isabelle’s thigh a light squeeze. Her dress was being altered, Laura’s employees were setting up the wedding for tomorrow afternoon, and we were finally able to relax, knowing we would be husband and wife in less than twenty-four hours.

Isabelle nudged me in the side, whispering, “What’s Marco doing?”

I lifted my gaze to him.

He was seated between Elise and Carissa. One of his arms was around Elise. With his free hand, he inspected her engagement ring with a scowl before he removed it from her finger and dropped it into a plant behind him. I watched her face contort before he pressed his lips to her cheek. “I said you’re not marrying him.” It was hard to hear him over my father’s loud voice telling a story to Alessandro and his date. One of the same stories we had heard at least seven hundred times over the years.

Gnawing at the inside of my cheek, I shook my head, half amused. “He’s just being himself.”

Isabelle giggled. “Do you think he’ll stay with her?”

I moved my arm to the back of her chair, draping it around her. “I think his time away and with us made him see he wanted to settle down. So, I think he will. I feel sorry for Michael, though. Poor guy is sitting at home thinking he’s still engaged.” Though it was slightly funny, I managed to suppress my laugh.

“Oh shit,” Isabelle muttered under her breath as she stared at Laura and Noah.

“What?”

“Laura!” she blurted.

The murmurs of everyone died down and all eyes were on Isabelle.

Mouth agape, she blinked rapidly. “Your hand.”

Laura darted her gaze around the room before tucking her hands into her lap with a shy smile. “Isabelle, I didn’t want to steal your thunder tonight by telling everyone. I’m sor—”

“Oh my God!” A wide grin spread across her face, and she pushed back. Leaping from the table as fast as she could being pregnant, she rushed around to Laura, grabbing her hand. “I’m so freaking happy for you guys!” She hugged Noah. Taking Laura’s hands in hers, she shook her head. “This doesn’t steal anything from me. This just makes the night so much better if that was even possible.”

“Sooo,” Alessandro interjected, “does this mean Noah’s going to be yourbrousin?” He chuckled, amused at his own joke.

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