CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Six months later…
Paige and Carrie sat on the back patio of her Florida home ticking off the last minute details for the wedding. Tomorrow was the big day. Strangely, Paige didn’t feel nervous so much as anxious about everything going well. There was a part of her that was looking forward to declaring her love and commitment to Nate in front of their friends and family.
“Flowers?” Paige consulted her own list.
“Check,” Carrie grinned. “They’ll be here around noon. Along with the rental company who have promised to have the tables and chairs set up by the pool before one.”
The ceremony was scheduled for five-thirty with dinner afterward. The Florida weather had indeed cooperated and it was a lovely eighty-five degrees and sunny today and predicted again for tomorrow. Warm weather for a wedding but Paige loved it.
“Music?”
“I have a selection of boring classical crap and also some fun party tunes set up on your old iPod and we can plug that into the stereo system since you have speakers outside.”
“Nate likes that boring classical crap,” Paige giggled. “But I hope you let him choose some of the fun music as well.”
“I did.” Carrie rolled her eyes. “He has terrible taste.”
Nate had other fine qualities though.
“Okay, let’s talk catering.”
“They’ll be taking over the kitchen early tomorrow. I confirmed cocktails and finger food for before the ceremony and then more cocktails while you and Nate take a few pictures. Then they’ll open the buffet for the guests at six-thirty.” Carrie looked up from her planner. “Are you sure you don’t want a real photographer? I’m good with selfies but not much else. I could make some calls. I’m sure someone would love to take pictures at the wedding of a movie star and a bestselling author.”
Nate stuck his head around the doorway to the kitchen, his blond curls sweaty from his run. He looked absolutely gorgeous. She still sometimes couldn’t believe he’d chosen her out of all the women in the world. Thank heavens she’d said yes to that stupid contract, otherwise she might never have known what it felt like to be this deeply in love. The fact that he clearly adored her didn’t hurt.
“And that’s exactly why we’re not going to have one.”
Frowning, Carrie shook her pen at him. “You’ll regret not having pictures.”
Swallowing down half a bottle of water, Nate groaned as he collapsed into a chair next to Paige. “We are going to have a photographer. It’s a friend of Garrett’s who knows better than to sell our pictures to a tabloid. He’s talented and discreet and he flew in this morning. I got a text from him confirming his arrival. He’ll be here tomorrow afternoon to take whatever photos we’d like. I also asked him to video the ceremony.”
Nate had promised to handle this item on the to-do list and she hoped this “friend of Garrett’s” was as good as promised. “So that’s taken care of. I think there’s just one more thing. The most important thing at the wedding.”
“The officiant?” Nate said with a smile.
Oops. Two things left.
“Uh, I was thinking the cake, but sure. Let’s talk officiant.”
Laughing, Nate patted her hand and leaned over to give her a peck on the lips. Any other time he would have done more but he never liked to get her sweaty. “The cake is a close second.”
Carrie tapped a page in her planner. “The minister we’ll be here by five at the latest and he’s already signed the NDA so we’re set there. He’s a big Kai fan so prepare to sign an autograph, Nate.”
“Duly noted. Now about that cake?”
“One four-tier chocolate and vanilla with a white-chocolate filling in two of the layers and a salted caramel in the other two. Yum. And might I say I saw a picture of the cake you chose. Very classy but different too.”
Instead of the traditional white cake, Paige had wanted a chocolate frosting and Nate had wholeheartedly agreed. The tiers were decorated with gold accents and fresh flowers. It was too big and over the top for the simple wedding they were having but she hadn’t been able to control herself when it came time to order it.
“Thank you, but it was Paige’s idea. She has excellent taste.”
“This from the man that tasted every single cake, filling, and icing flavor they made.”
Chuckling, Nate drained the last of his water. “I think it was my favorite part of the wedding preparations. Or maybe it was the honeymoon plans. I can’t decide.”
Paige nudged his bare calf with her toe. “Speaking of honeymoons, I don’t suppose you want to give me any more details other than the destination?”
He tapped his chin in thought before shaking his head. “I don’t think so. It will be better as a surprise.”
“I hate surprises.”
She really did and he knew it.
“This isn’t a surprise appendectomy, darling. It’s a honeymoon to Paris. Happiness and fun are pretty much guaranteed. Even if I told you where we were staying how would that help you? You’ve never seen it before.”
That was true. “I could look it up on the Internet.”
“And the restaurants?”
“Ditto.”
He leaned closer, a mischievous smile on his lips. “I’ll give you a little preview. They’ll be speaking French.”
Carrie hid her face behind her planner but Paige knew she was laughing.
“It’s like you’ve never met me before.”
Carrie peeked over the book. “It’s like he doesn’t even want to have sex on that honeymoon.”
Nate stood and dropped a kiss on top of Paige’s head. “Now that the two of you are ganging up on me, I’ll head upstairs to take a shower. What time do we have to be at the restaurant?”
They’d rented out the backroom of a fancy restaurant on the water for tonight’s shindig. Just dinner and some fun for all the guests so they could get to know one another.
“Six.” Paige checked her phone. “Are you heading to the hotel to see your mother and sister after your shower?”
They’d arrived yesterday and had been quite enthusiastic about the weather and the beach. They’d talked about staying a few extra days and going to Disney.
“I am,” Nate confirmed. “Unless there’s something you need me to do here.”
Paige shook her head but Carrie – who was the epitome of organized – checked her list.
“Who is picking up Max at the airport? He arrives at noon. I’d do it but Paige, her mother, and I have spa appointments at eleven. We’ll be there all afternoon.”
Dammit, she needed to go get dressed. Leaving the house required more than pajama pants and a tank top.
“I’ve got that covered,” Nate said, checking his texts. “He didn’t want to be a bother when he knows we’re busy the day before the wedding so he’s ordered a car to take him to the hotel. By the way, I’m taking Jason with me. I think he’ll be more comfortable with the men than hanging around here with the ladies.”
Nate and Jason had bonded and were now best pals. Nate had even given her son advice about dating, which had scared Paige a little bit but it seemed to be working out. Jason was planning to fly back to Princeton for summer semester on Sunday but she and Nate were already discussing getting a new house in London to accommodate their growing family. She wanted Jason to feel welcome wherever in the world she and Nate might live.
“He’s talking about becoming an actor instead of a doctor,” Paige huffed at the man she loved. “I don’t suppose you know anything about that?”
“It’s just a phase,” Nate declared with a smirk. “You know you did forget one thing on your list. The dress.”
Nate had been snooping around the house all week trying to see her dress before the big day. Little did he know it was at Carrie’s, away from his prying eyes. Lace and organza, it was simple but not plain.
“I didn’t forget. It’s bad luck to see the bride’s wedding dress before the wedding.”
Scowling, he shook his head. “Actually, I think it’s bad luck to see you in it before the wedding.”
She gave him a breezy smile. “Just in case, I’m covering all the bases.”
“Speaking of covering all the bases, can I file my objection one more time about tonight?”
Paige took a fortifying drink of her iced tea. Nate was like a dog with a bone on this subject.
“You may file your objection,” she replied calmly. “But you won’t win. Even your mother and sister agree with me.”
He wasn’t a happy camper. “We’re going to spend the rest of our lives together so explain to me one more time why we have to spend tonight apart?”
They’d mutually decided not to have sex this week, thinking it would make the anticipation of the wedding night more special, but Nate thought this was taking things too far. He’d been complaining all week about how he couldn’t sleep without her next to him and although she didn’t sleep great without him either, it was a tradition. One last night in a bed alone.
“It’s our last night of being single. You and Max can stay up all night and talk if you want. You can read, drink, or watch television. Whatever. It’s your last night of freedom.”
Nate had already promised her no strippers or a bachelor party and she’d promised the same.
“But I don’t want my freedom anymore. That’s why I’m getting married, and I can do all those things with you.”
He was making too much sense but this last night was, for some reason, important to her. One night wasn’t too much to ask.
She pressed her fingers to her temple and sighed. “Nate, it’s just a silly tradition, okay? Can you just go with it?”
He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded, although his expression was glum. “Yes, I can. I’ll just miss you, that’s all. I guess I better get in the shower.”
He jogged into the house and Paige admired the rear view as he went. She was actually marrying this wonderful man. She hoped she would never take him for granted a single day in their life.
Carrie closed her planner with a decisive snap, pulling Paige from her daydreams. The assistant had a huge grin on her face. “Stop mooning over him and get dressed. We have a spa day with your mother.”
“This is really happening, right? I’m really getting married. To Nate.”
Carrie hopped up from her chair. “You are, you lucky dog, even though I think he’s luckier. You’re going to be happy. Not all the time because that’s unrealistic. But you two are going to make it. I can tell.”
Paige smiled at her best friend and maid of honor. “I think you’re right.”
“Haven’t we come a long way since the day you met Nate?” Carrie teased.
She had, and she was ready to be happy.