Page 110 of To Have and To Hold
“You good?” Brantley asked, stopping before they reached the door to the building behind the B and B.
Tesha peered up at them, clearly wondering what they were waiting for.
Reese nodded as he met Brantley’s gaze. “Yeah.”
“It’s gonna be fine. We’re gettin’ married tomorrow, Tavoularis. Nothin’ matters except that.”
Brantley was right. It didn’t matter. The details were inconsequential in the grand scheme because the only truly important thing was that they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.
“Come on. Let’s get in there, have some food, and enjoy the evening.”
“And tell JJ about the rings,” Reese added.
Brantley nodded. “Yes. We’ll tell her.” He flashed a grin. “Right before she makes her speech. That way, she’ll be too focused to put too much thought into it.”
Reese chuckled and took another deep breath before following Brantley into the large metal building that Rex Sharpe used to build furniture.
“Holy shit,” he whispered as they stepped inside.
If anyone built furniture here, you wouldn’t know it. He didn’t see a spec of sawdust, a single piece of wood, or any spare rocking chairs.
“Wow. This is…”
Reese released the leash from Tesha’s harness so she could greet her extended family. Which she did, trotting off to the other side of the building where several people were sitting at a long, narrow table.
“I wasn’t expectin’ this,” Brantley admitted. “Were you?”
Reese shook his head. It was right out of a fairytale, that’s what it was. Reese was too stunned to speak, taking it all in and grinning like a fool.
“Did you have somethin’ to do with this?” Brantley asked him as the door closed behind them.
“He did,” JJ answered for him, making her way toward them with a beaming smile on her face.
“I did?” Reese wasn’t sure how.
“Yep. I burrowed right into your brain and took it straight from your imagination.”
Reese frowned.
“Or maybe I’m just an excellent listener,” she added with a laugh. “I asked you what your idea of a romantic evening was, and this”—she gestured toward the room—“is the description you gave me.”
Reese knew that was a lie. Not the asking or answering part. He did recall JJ asking him that question, and he recalled answering her, but never in a million years would he have come up with something like this. The thirty-foot-high ceilings were draped with strings of lights that both brightened the space and gave it a soft, ambient glow. The metal walls of the building were hidden behind panels of black velvet. Even the floor had received some sort of makeover. It was still concrete, but now it gleamed as though it’d been lacquered.
“We don’t have all the tables set up yet,” JJ explained. “Those’ll be here tomorrow. Rex, Jack, Bristol, Rafe, and Holt have promised to oversee that delivery and to ensure everything is set up for the reception afterward.” JJ gestured toward one corner. “I didn’t hire a band, but we will have a DJ. He’ll be set up over there. The bar will be here,” she noted, gesturing toward the wall behind them.
“JJ, this is perfect,” Brantley told her as he put his arm around her shoulder and hugged her.
She sniffled. “I’m glad you like it.” She cleared her throat. “But if you could keep the sweetness to a minimum.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “My hormones are out of whack. I’ll cry at the drop of a hat.”
Brantley laughed. “Duly noted.”
“I’ve checked the list at least three dozen times, and we’re all set. This is gonna go off without a hitch.”
Reese decided he needed to tell JJ about the rings now. He didn’t want to wait. She’d worked too hard to make this perfect. The last thing he wanted was to wait until the last minute to tell her—
“I delivered the marriage license to Pastor Bob today,” she continued. “I figured it was safer with him.” She looked at Reese. “Oh, and Tesha’s pillow vest came in today. It’s perfect.” She tugged on a chain she was wearing. “And I’ve been keepin’ these on me at all times for safekeeping, but tomorrow, I’ll transfer them to the pillow so she can deliver them to Z during the ceremony.”
Reese stared at the two rings dangling on the end of the chain she’d had tucked inside her shirt.
