Six weeks later...

“OKAY, I’VE GOT THE combined schedules printed off—what else?” Piper turned in a circle, scanning Gideon’s office for anything she might be missing.

“Let’s go down the list.” Ellie whipped out her notepad. She’d become a life saver, stepping in to act as Piper and Gideon’s joint assistant while they figured out combining their lives under one roof.

One by one Ellie rattled off the line items. They’d divided the list into things that could be done early, which Gideon had handled before leaving, and things that had to wait and were up to Piper.

“That’s it, right?” Piper couldn’t shake the feeling she was forgetting something.

“That’s everything. You’re stalling. Go get your ass on the bus. Now.” Ellie shoved her toward the door.

“Are the bags on board?”

“Yes. They want to pop the champagne. Move.” Ellie gave her another push toward the stairs.

Piper could do this. It was no big thing, just a bus ride to changing her whole life.

Ellie herded her out of the house and onto the party bus packed with Piper’s friends—including Kobe, his brother and boyfriend— Gideon’s sisters and her future mother-in-law. The assembled group let out a cheer and lifted empty glasses.

“Let’s go before she runs, Dad.” Ellie banged on the doors.

Piper sank into the seat draped with white, glittery fabric. Her gaze snagged on a pair of eyes looking back at her from the driver’s seat. Her dad grinned and shifted into drive.

She was getting married.

“Here.” Tamara leaned over and handed her a small cup of bubbly.  She stood and held her glass in the air. “To the best girlfriend I could have asked for. May Gideon be worthy of her.”

One by one the others went around the bus, issuing their own toasts. Some were silly, others heartfelt. By the time they’d made the round of the bus, they’d polished off several bottles and even begun using plain water. There were still several hours to go until Vegas—and then the wedding.

Piper climbed out of her seat and parked it on the floor, next to her Dad.

“Thanks for coming.” She hadn’t been certain she’d even get him on the phone before things got rolling.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“Am I making the right decision?”

“Are you happy?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’d say you’re doing what you should. We all need to follow our hearts a little more.”

GIDEON PEERED OVER his shoulder. The other guys didn’t appear to notice he wasn’t in the bathroom anymore.

This was his chance.

He ducked out of the hotel suite and darted to the stairs. He couldn’t risk the elevator in case someone realized he was missing.

He’d seen the bus arrive half an hour ago. The ladies were in the building and the clock had begun ticking down to the ceremony. Their small, intimate affair had turned into a circus once his family got wind of it. Still, it was the best kind of crazy. It didn’t stop him from worrying about how Piper would hold up under all the stress.

She’d answered a few of his texts, enough to know that she had the same kind of nerves he was fending off. If they were a normal couple he’d leave her alone, poke a little fun. But they weren’t normal, and this ceremony was yet another beginning in their road to a happier life.

A door below him clanged open.

He took the stairs two and three at a time, urgency pushing him to go faster than was maybe smart. At long last he rounded the landing and saw the most beautiful woman he’d ever met waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs.

Someone had pinned a flashing, glittery tiara to her hair, as if the sequined BRIDE shirt wasn’t enough.

“Hey, how was the drive?” He reached for her, pulling her into a hug.

“We drank. A lot. I might be sick.”

“Are you going to be drunk during our wedding?”

“Maybe.”

“Is that the only way you can go through with marrying me?”

“Oh, shut up. My head hurts. Hold me.”

He chuckled and squeezed her a bit tighter.

“You know, we could skip all this if you wanted?” Gideon would do anything to make her happy.

“I just needed a break from everyone. I’m good. I promise.” She let go of him and stepped back. She shrugged and smiled that easy smile he was growing to appreciate.

“You sure? We could just go to the drive-in place.”

“I’m pretty sure your sisters would murder you if I let you talk me into that.” She jabbed her finger against his chest.

“I can handle them.” His phone buzzed. He peered at the screen and sighed. “I’ve been missed.”

“How long until everyone realizes we’re hiding from them?” Piper leaned her head on his shoulder.

“You know, we don’t have to tell them where we are yet...” He kissed her forehead.

“Are you trying to have pre-marital sex with me?” She poked his chest again.

“Maybe.”

“Try a little harder. It might work.” She grinned at him.

Gideon wanted to hold this moment in his memory forever. There were no more shadows, no uncertainty—just the excitement about their future together.

You can stay up to date on the whole Gone Geek crew in Beauty and the Geek, The Vet and the Geek, The Jock and the Geek, The Gamer and the Geek and The Adorkable Girl and the Geek.

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