of her heart. “So, are you crazy excited about tomorrow?”
“No, you don’t avoid my questions, young lady. Something is going on with you two, and I want to know what it is.”
“It’s nothing. He just makes me feel…well, mostly angry, but he…well, he drives me crazy .” In a huff, she threw the towel on the counter.
“I can see that.” Her mother crossed her arms. “I know you’re an adult, Livie, and you make your own decisions. That being said, I think getting involved with Parker is a bad idea. From what Richard told me, he’s quite popular with the ladies, and I worry he would only break your heart. Plus, he’s your stepbrother for crying out loud. And besides that, he’s about to become very involved with the company and he needs to keep his head about him in order to stay on top of things.”
Well, that was quite the speech. Guess she’s given a lot of thought to Parker and me not being together. Feeling a little stung at her mother’s vehemence, she said, “Don’t worry, Mom. I have no intention of letting anything happen between me and Parker Jackson.”
She neatly folded the napkins on the counter and gave her mother a serene smile, while inside, she felt like crying.
----
T he next day , the sun was bright and shining as Olivia drove to the church where the ceremony would be held. Her mother called her over and over, making sure she had everything they needed. Liv felt the excitement in the small dressing room as she entered it. Her mother and her friends were discussing her pretty wedding dress.
“Well Mom, this is it!” Liv hugged her tightly, taking in the image of her mother in the classic dress. It was tasteful, with just enough lace and decorative detail to make it obvious that she was, indeed, the bride.
They laughed a little, and then Olivia slipped into her Maid of Honor dress. It was gold with a sheer overlay, sleeveless, with a heart-shaped neckline. Much to her dismay, the top part of her dress emphasized her ample bosom, while the ball gown skirt fell to the floor. Her hair was an artful array of black curls spilling over her shoulders, with some baby’s breath tucked behind her ear. She barely recognized herself in the mirror. She was still looking over her attire, when she heard her mother.
“Oh, Olivia, you are stunning!” She smiled at her mom, who exclaimed to the friends around her at her daughter’s beauty. Even then, she was ever the mother, proud of her daughter.
“Thanks, Mom.” They heard the music start up, so she took her place in the procession and quietly made her way down the aisle ahead of her mother.
Absolutely nothing could keep her from looking at him as she walked down the aisle—it was as if she had no choice. Parker was in a tux, with a black vest and a white shirt. She knew everything that he was supposed to wear, down to the cufflinks.
As the Best Man, he waited at the halfway point to escort her the rest of the way down the aisle. He offered his arm to her, managing to give her a reassuring squeeze at the same time. The squeeze sent sparks shooting down to her core and she shivered. She glanced up at him and he looked down at her, his eyes lingering on her lips. As they slowly walked down the aisle, she was thankful he was there to keep her going. She always hated to be the center of attention; it was unnerving.
They parted ways at the front of the church, but not before he whispered, “You are beautiful.”
Chapter Twelve
Parker
P arker was in trouble . He watched her last night at dinner, and he was struck by the light she emanated. There was a glow that followed her, something most people would miss if they didn’t take the time to really look at her. Lately, looking at her had become something he did often. He dreamed about her.
As he stood in the church before the ceremony began, he thought about how she had fallen asleep at her mother’s home. She really shouldn’t be alone out there, in that abandoned house. He would
“No, you don’t avoid my questions, young lady. Something is going on with you two, and I want to know what it is.”
“It’s nothing. He just makes me feel…well, mostly angry, but he…well, he drives me crazy .” In a huff, she threw the towel on the counter.
“I can see that.” Her mother crossed her arms. “I know you’re an adult, Livie, and you make your own decisions. That being said, I think getting involved with Parker is a bad idea. From what Richard told me, he’s quite popular with the ladies, and I worry he would only break your heart. Plus, he’s your stepbrother for crying out loud. And besides that, he’s about to become very involved with the company and he needs to keep his head about him in order to stay on top of things.”
Well, that was quite the speech. Guess she’s given a lot of thought to Parker and me not being together. Feeling a little stung at her mother’s vehemence, she said, “Don’t worry, Mom. I have no intention of letting anything happen between me and Parker Jackson.”
She neatly folded the napkins on the counter and gave her mother a serene smile, while inside, she felt like crying.
----
T he next day , the sun was bright and shining as Olivia drove to the church where the ceremony would be held. Her mother called her over and over, making sure she had everything they needed. Liv felt the excitement in the small dressing room as she entered it. Her mother and her friends were discussing her pretty wedding dress.
“Well Mom, this is it!” Liv hugged her tightly, taking in the image of her mother in the classic dress. It was tasteful, with just enough lace and decorative detail to make it obvious that she was, indeed, the bride.
They laughed a little, and then Olivia slipped into her Maid of Honor dress. It was gold with a sheer overlay, sleeveless, with a heart-shaped neckline. Much to her dismay, the top part of her dress emphasized her ample bosom, while the ball gown skirt fell to the floor. Her hair was an artful array of black curls spilling over her shoulders, with some baby’s breath tucked behind her ear. She barely recognized herself in the mirror. She was still looking over her attire, when she heard her mother.
“Oh, Olivia, you are stunning!” She smiled at her mom, who exclaimed to the friends around her at her daughter’s beauty. Even then, she was ever the mother, proud of her daughter.
“Thanks, Mom.” They heard the music start up, so she took her place in the procession and quietly made her way down the aisle ahead of her mother.
Absolutely nothing could keep her from looking at him as she walked down the aisle—it was as if she had no choice. Parker was in a tux, with a black vest and a white shirt. She knew everything that he was supposed to wear, down to the cufflinks.
As the Best Man, he waited at the halfway point to escort her the rest of the way down the aisle. He offered his arm to her, managing to give her a reassuring squeeze at the same time. The squeeze sent sparks shooting down to her core and she shivered. She glanced up at him and he looked down at her, his eyes lingering on her lips. As they slowly walked down the aisle, she was thankful he was there to keep her going. She always hated to be the center of attention; it was unnerving.
They parted ways at the front of the church, but not before he whispered, “You are beautiful.”
Chapter Twelve
Parker
P arker was in trouble . He watched her last night at dinner, and he was struck by the light she emanated. There was a glow that followed her, something most people would miss if they didn’t take the time to really look at her. Lately, looking at her had become something he did often. He dreamed about her.
As he stood in the church before the ceremony began, he thought about how she had fallen asleep at her mother’s home. She really shouldn’t be alone out there, in that abandoned house. He would
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