Page 93 of A Protector For Phoebe (Love will OUT 2)

“You may know women, but you don’t know me. I have no idea what kind of wedding I want.”

The one thing I am one-hundred percent sure of is it won’t be a big affair. My marriage to Theodore was the event of the year. My wishes weren’t taken into consideration at all. Theodore and my mother hired a wedding planner and my opinion was not needed. It definitely wasn’t wanted. I don’t know why I was surprised considering I didn’t have a choice of groom either.

Barney snickers and rubs his hands. “Sid’s out. He doesn’t know our Phoebe.”

I expect him to start shouting pick me, pick me at any moment.

Pops comes out of the kitchen carrying a large ham. “Food’s ready. Take your seats.”

I sigh in relief and take my spot next to Ryker.

“Besides, if any one of us is walking Phoebe down the aisle, it’ll be me,” Pops declares before returning to the kitchen.

I bury my hands in my face. I’m never going to hear the end of this. “Maybe we should elope.”

Ryker chuckles as he places his arm around my shoulders. “If you want to elope, we’ll elope. But, just saying, I want a wedding.”

What? I remove my hands to look over at him. “You do? Are you going to wear a tux?”

He shrugs. “I don’t care. I’ll wear whatever you want me to wear.”

“But a wedding? Like in a church.”

“Again, I don’t care where we get married, but I want to get married in front of all our friends and our family.”

He said it again. Our family. My eyes burn, but I won’t let the tears fall. I don’t want to ruin Christmas by sobbing all over the food. But I can’t stop my lips from trembling. Ryker leans down and sips at them until the urge to cry subsides. I take a deep breath and return my attention to the table.

“Why is no one eating?”

Suzie rolls her eyes. “Duh. Because we’re too busy staring at the scary dude go all gentle when he looks at you.”

I have no response. Everyone’s attention moves away from me and my fiancé when Leroy starts barking and pawing at Suzie’s chair.

She reaches down to pick him up. “Poor baby. Is no one paying you any attention?”

The dog licks her face before scrambling out of her arms right onto the table. He races to the platter of ham and snatches a slice before running to the other side of the table where he hops onto a chair before jumping to the ground.

“Let him have it,” Hailey says as Aiden scoots his chair back to stand. “And you know where you’re sleeping tonight.”

“Yeah, yeah. The doghouse.” He marches off after the little thief.

“Your holidays sure aren’t boring,” Grayson says as he looks around the table with wide eyes. “But I don’t think I want a slice of ham now.”

Barney raises an eyebrow. “You aren’t afraid of a little puppy saliva are you, soldier?”

Oh great, another ex-solider. Just what we need.

Suzie’s sitting across from me with her head lowered. She’s staring at Grayson from under her lashes while biting her lip. Her cheeks are pink and I’m pretty sure I see longing in her eyes.

I was wrong. Maybe an ex-soldier is exactly what we need.