CADE HAD ALREADY been gone for a few days, and I missed him like crazy.
Since we were having a small wedding at Cade’s cabin, with only our friends and family, and Cade’s club, in attendance, everything was pretty much on track. We weren’t having a caterer, because Cade’s parents insisted on making the food. We were having a huge Hawaiian-style barbecue, which Cade’s mom assured me she, Alani, and Pops could handle. Of course, Amy May, Carmen, Bea, and Shannon offered to help in any way they could as well.
Cade’s buddies Jun, Chris, and Ripper were coming in from Hawaii as well, and since Ripper used to DJ around the island, he’d offered to take care of the music.
Amy May, of course, was handling the cake. I’d given her free reign. Told her to surprise me. I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.
All that was really left was to find the perfect dress, and I had an appointment this weekend at the local bridal shop. Amy May was my Maid of Honor and Chris was Cade’s Best Man. We would also have Elin and Elena standing up with us, and that was it.
Simple. Just the way we both wanted it.
There was one thing I needed to do to prepare, however, and it was what I dreaded the most . . . I let out a sigh as I opened the door to the gym, glaring at the exercise equipment before me.
“Lila,” I heard someone call as I weaved through the equipment. I looked left to see Branson Braswell walking toward me, wiping a towel over his face.
The man lived in the gym, and it showed in his long, toned body.
“Hey, Bran, long time,” I said happily. I’d wondered if he’d be here. He was a lawyer in town, but I knew he hit the gym every day. Sometimes more than once.
In the past, he’d taught me some self-defense moves, and Carmen had joined in. That’s when I’d seen sparks fly between them, and although I’d been sure they were perfect together, they’d only had one awkward date.
“How’s it going?” he asked, the corners of his eyes crinkling when he smiled. He really was handsome, with those piercing blue eyes and that deep voice.
Dammit, I still thought he was perfect for Carmen. Maybe they needed to give it another shot.
“I heard the good news,” Bran added, nodding to my left hand.
“Yeah, we’re getting hitched,” I said, unable to keep the grin off my face.
“Congratulations, I’m happy for you.”
“I know you and Cade aren’t bros or anything, but I consider you a friend, and hope you’ll come to the wedding.”
“Of course,” Bran answered with a nod.
“Care to tell me why you and Cade aren’t buds?” I asked hopefully. What could I say, I was a PI, I was curious about everything. Especially when it had to do with my man, and one of my friends.
“Uh, not here, but if you want to grab breakfast, or lunch later, I’d be happy to fill you in.”
“Really?” I asked, wondering if it would be bad to leave the gym without working out. I mean, it was the effort that counted, right?
“Yeah,” Bran said, then ruined my life when he added, “After your workout, of course.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
He chuckled and said, “C’mon, Lila, it won’t be too bad, do your cardio and I’ll show you how you can get sexy arms in time for your wedding.”
“What, you don’t think my arms are sexy?” I asked, lifting my arm and shaking it so the skin underneath flapped back and forth. I looked back at Bran and said, “Deal.”
I decided on the elliptical, because the bike seemed like the easy way out, and there was no way I was going to run. I set it to weight loss and put in my ear buds. Twenty minutes and six Pitbull songs later, I was cursing Amy May for making such delicious cupcakes and sweating buckets.
I managed to finish ten more minutes, then I slid off the machine and tried to stay steady on my feet.
I went in search of Bran, then cursed him for the next half hour while he put me through one torturous exercise after the other.
“I really have to do all this to have sexy arms?” I panted.
“You want to target all of the muscles,” Bran explained. “You don’t want toned biceps and flabby triceps.”
“Hmph,” I grumbled.
Maybe I’ll find a dress with long sleeves.
“Don’t worry, you have the foundation, we just have to sculpt and mold it. How long until the big day?”
“Two-and-a-half weeks.”
“Okay, that’s doable,” Bran began. “If you commit to meeting me three to five mornings a week until the big day.”
I pouted.
Bran laughed.
“It’s only for two-and-a-half weeks, Lila, then you can go back to your intermittent workouts. Unless you want to start meeting me regularly again. Staying in shape will only help you when you’re dealing with the crazy situations you always seem to find yourself in.”
I scowled at him, then said, “I’ll think about it. Let’s see how the next couple of weeks go. If I don’t die, I’ll consider it.”
“Good enough,” Bran said, then he lifted his chin toward the locker rooms. “Go shower up and I’ll meet you out front. I don’t have any appointments until nine thirty, so I have time to grab a bite now, if you do.”
“Yup . . . I’ll meet you in ten.”