Page 29 of Wedding or Not

“We’re inviting thousands of strangers into our lives. Worse than this could happen. So maybe we should stop. You should get away for a while. Maybe one of Grace’s friends in Paris or London can have you stay for a few weeks until all the notoriety dies down. This is a lot.”

“It’s not that much, and you’re dealing with it too.”

“Yeah, but no one really recognizes me when I’m by myself. I’m just a regular guy who looks like any other guy. You’re beautiful with a distinct, recognizable look, so you get noticed a lot more than me. That’s why I think getting away for a while is the way to go for you.”

“I don’t want to get away. This is saving us, and I want to take advantage of it for as long as it lasts. It won’t be for long. Things like this have a short shelf life. It’s working, and I don’t want to give up until we get everything we can out of the situation. I’m not going to run away because I got irrationally scared for a few minutes. I’m not going to do that.”

He sighs and stares up at the ceiling. “I was afraid you’d say that.”

“I’m not going to let Blossom Park go down if there’s anything I can do to save it. It’s my f—” Realizing what I was about to say, I cut it off abruptly.

Wes turns his head to look at me, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. “It’s your what?”

“It’s my family.” Miraculously, I stumble on a suitable replacement for the word I was about to say. “I’m not giving up on this, Wes.”

“Okay.” He sounds resigned but not disappointed. He knows me, so he must have predicted my response. “Well, Dad and I talked, and we’re going to reassign Stew.”

“Stew? What for?” I know Stew. He’s a big, muscular guy who graduated high school last year and has been working as a security guard at Blossom Park since then.

“Dad’s going to assign him to you.”

“As a bodyguard or something?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t need⁠—”

“I don’t care what you think you need. Stew’s going to be following you around for the time being. We’re in the public eye for right now, and there’s no telling what crazy people might do. You’re not to go anywhere by yourself until all this is over.”

“You’re not really the boss of me, you know.”

“I don’t care. I get to make my own decisions about things, and I’m telling you right now, if you don’t agree to Stew, I’m pulling out of The Plan. I won’t do it anymore.”

I stare at him, my heart hammering and a pulse throbbing in my throat so intensely I can feel it.

Wes means it. He’s going to dig in his heels about this.

And the truth is, although it makes me uncomfortable, I don’t hate the idea of having someone as big and strong as Stew around for emergencies.

He’s a nice, laid-back man. He won’t get on my nerves like someone else might.

If it means we can continue capitalizing on our temporary notoriety, it will be worth it.

“Okay. That… that will be fine. I appreciate Jake thinking about me that way.” I swallow hard. “And you too.”

He huffs. “I guess being a reluctant afterthought is better than nothing.” He gazes at me quietly from the pillows on his side. “So are you really okay?”

“Yes, I’m f—” Once more, my throat closes, this time with a surge of emotion prompted by Wes’s unexpected sensitivity.

I can’t swallow the emotion back this time. I make a silly whimpering sound and start to shake.

“Shit,” Wes breathes, reaching over to pull me toward him.

He wraps his arms around me and holds me as I shudder and gasp and try not to cry for real.

Nothing I can remember has been as comforting as the feel of his warm, solid body against mine. Like he’s strong enough to hold back the rest of the world. Like he’s unmoving enough to keep me safe.

I only break down for a couple of minutes. Then I lie limply in his embrace, waiting for him to pull his arms away.