I grab his hand and lead him through the back entrance.He follows me past the employee break room and into the baking kitchen.The café has two kitchens.One is the bakery, where I make tasty treats customers go ga-ga over.The other we call our hot kitchen, because that’s where menu items like our breakfast sandwiches are made.“I think it’s best if I put you in Emily’s office.She’s got a TV in there, and a lounge chair.You’ll be a lot more comfortable than you would be in the kitchen.”
“No.My place is at your side.”
My heart skips a beat at his total alpha male need to protect me.“The bad guys aren’t after me, they’re after you.Don’t you think you should stay out of sight?”
“I will not leave your side.You are mine.If they discover our connection, you will be in danger.”He traces my bottom lip with his thumb and I sway toward his heat.He’s so fucking irresistible.
He bends down, our lips so close I can feel the faint whisper of his breath on my face.
“Ah-hem.”A loud, male voice interrupts.I look up to see who dared.
“Dad!”With a grin, I cross the kitchen and walk out to the seating area to give my parents hugs.They were quick.Then again, the honeymoon cabin is out of town.
“How are you sweetheart?”My dad is still as fit as he was when I was growing up.But his hair has gone almost full gray with a few dark strands interspersed.In all the years since he retired from the Navy SEALs, he’s never lost his soldier’s bearing.Or that direct, don’t-lie-to-me stare I dreaded as a teenager.“You ready to tell your old man what happened at the church?You left me standing there in a tux with no daughter to walk down the aisle.”
“I’m sorry.I’m so sorry.Everything was so expensive and I ruined it.”
My mother joins us, wrapping her arms around both of our shoulders.“Stop.You know we don’t care about that.What happened with Nicholas?He tried to tell everyone you got cold feet, but?—”
“He was lying.”My dad finished her sentence.“I don’t care about that weasel.I just need to know that you are all right.”
“I’m fine.I promise.”I glance in Rygar’s direction and can’t stop the happy grin I feel spreading to cover my face.“In fact, I’m better than fine.”
“Oh?”I notice my mother has followed my line of sight and is checking out Rygar.“Who is your new friend?”
I know it’s time I face the music and tell them I did get married yesterday, just to a different man.
My dad looks from Rygar to the ring finger of my left hand.He raises his brows and quickly checks Rygar for the match.“Maddie?What the hell is going on here?”
Screw it.Best way to do this, really the only way, is to rip the bandage off.“Mom, Dad, this is Rygar Ironclad, my husband.”
Fifteen
B.I.L.L.: Sigh.The amount of damage control it will take to fix all these blunders that could have been avoided if they had not deactivated our communications will take me half a day at least.Will they never learn?
Tahoe Triple Treats, Sunday 1:30 pm
“Husband?”My dad scowls as he studies Rygar.I wait for dad to get upset.Tell me that I made a mistake.Instead, he nods and holds out his hand toward my new husband.“I’m Henry, and this is my wife, Charlotte.Welcome to the family, son.Where are you from?”
Rygar takes it.“I’m a soldier from the Pleiadean star system.”
My dad’s face changes from neutral to curious in a flash.“Is that a fact?”
“Dad, I’ll explain everything, just not right now.I need to assess the cookie dough situation and my supplies.”And my sanity.But I keep the last part to myself.
“Good enough.Rygar, are you handy at fixing things?If so, I could use some assistance fixing the fridge.”
“Very well.”Rygar nods.He glances at me.I really was going to hide him in Emily’s office.I guess working with my dad to fix the fridge will do.The task will keep him out of my hair while I figure out exactly how bad the cookie dough situation truly is.Our first order for them is due at Riley’s on Wednesday, but thankfully we only need two hundred cookies for the first order.For the festival?I don’t even what to think about the thousands of cookies I need to make.I’ll be working nonstop for days to set it to rights.
I head into the walk-in freezer to get an accurate count on the cookies already baked, iced, and frozen.
My mom follows me into the freezer and side hugs me.“Sweetheart, are you sure about Rygar?Because if not, your dad and I will help you retain an attorney.Especially since you ran out on your other wedding.Has the pressure been too much?”
“It’s not what you think with Nicholas.I caught him cheating on me.”
“What?!”One thing I can always count on, my mom is always on my side.No matter what.Right now, she’s enraged.“That little snake.With who?”
I chuckle.“Richard.”
