“Do you think she suspects?” Camilla stared at Heath, her hands twisting over and over in her lap. He’d wondered how long it would take before the stress of the party got to her. All his brothers’ fiancées and significant others were probably just as anxious as Camilla, wanting everything to go right, and still be a secret from his parents. Heath was willing to bet a month’s salary his momma and dad would figure it out, if they hadn’t already. But he didn’t know for sure they’d discovered the women’s subterfuge, so he’d played along.
“Momma is oblivious to everything y’all are plotting and scheming, at least for the moment. Personally, I think you’re gonna get caught. Somebody is liable to slip up and say something they shouldn’t, I guarantee. Hasn’t happened yet, but with all you ladies—and, yes, my brothers, too—the odds skew toward Momma figuring out y’all are up to something. Course, might be Dad who catches on first.”
“Liam said Douglas has so much on his plate right now with the new shopping center over in Santa Lucia, he hasn’t had time to think about anything else, much less figure out our plans. With Ms. Patti being in overprotective mode ever since he was in the hospital, we’re hoping that’ll keep her preoccupied for a little while. It’s important that the party is a surprise. They deserve to be pampered and treated special for this one day.”
Heath pulled Camilla closer against his side and brushed a soft kiss against her forehead. He couldn’t believe how much his life had changed since meeting the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with. Watching the little frown lines bracketing the corners of her lips, he brushed his thumb against them and felt her mouth curve upwards into a rueful smile. It was a good thing she couldn’t see his face, or she’d have popped him good for rolling his eyes. His fiancée was a smart woman, but she didn’t know his dad well enough yet to know the man multitasked like a maestro leading the Boston Philharmonic, and he never missed a thing. Heath had done more than his fair share of extra chores around the ranch, working off punishments from all the times he’d thought he’d pulled a fast one on his old man, only to get caught. His daddy was always one step ahead of him. Always. Heck, to this day he doubted he could manage to fool his old man. And his momma? It didn’t matter how much she had on her plate, she wouldn’t stay oblivious for long. He’d double-dog guarantee it.
“We want everything to go perfectly. Keeping your mother in on the basic plans, well, that’s a given. She’d find it odd if she knew we were planning a party for the whole family, and she wasn’t invited. A baby shower for Beth is the perfect excuse to get everybody in one place at the same time. I’m just worried she’ll find out the real reason for the surprise celebration, and all our hard work will be for nothing. This party needs to go off without a hitch, and it has to be a surprise.”
“You ladies are doing a great job,” he murmured against her cheek as he brushed a kiss along Camilla’s silken skin. Touching her had become his favorite pastime, and he couldn’t wait until they tied the knot, and he could spend every minute of every day making love to her. Sleeping beside her, waking to her beautiful smile. It was everything he wanted, and as far as he was concerned, it couldn’t happen fast enough.
“Did you know this was all Beth’s idea?” Camilla snuggled against his side before twining her fingers with his. “When she found out your momma and daddy’s wedding was little more than the two of them with your Uncle Gator and his wife standing up before a justice of the peace, she suggested we throw them a vow renewal ceremony. Give your parents every romantic flourish, from flowers and wedding cake to a beautiful dress, and have them surrounded by friends and family. I think it’s a wonderful idea. So romantic, and nobody deserves it more than your parents. I’ve never seen two people radiate love the way Douglas and Ms. Patti do, even after all their years together.” Camilla sighed, getting all misty-eyed. Heath expected he’d be helping Camilla with a plethora of schemes like this for years to come. As a writer, not only was she a hopeless romantic, but she believed in love and happily ever afters. She needed the people she cared about to have their very own happily ever after. How could he not love her?
“I don’t get why y’all want it to be a surprise. I mean, what’s the big deal? You tell them you’re throwing them a big party so the whole family can watch them renew their vows. I bet they’d go along with it, especially Dad. He’s a big old softie when it comes to making Momma happy.”
Camilla straightened in his arms and turned until she faced him. Seated beside him on the couch, they’d been watching a movie, the volume turned down as the end credits rolled. Reaching up, she grazed her fingertips lightly against the scruff on his cheek, and he heard the raspy sound it made at her touch.
“You take after your daddy. You’ve made me happy every single day since we met.”
“It’s not hard since I adore you.”
“The feeling’s mutual, honey. I love you too. But we are throwing this party, and nobody, I mean nobody, better slip up and spill the beans or they’ll answer to me. Got it?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m not the one you need to worry about, though. Now Brody, he’s a blabbermouth. Couldn’t keep a secret if his life depended on it, which is why he’s been hanging around home and not going to the Big House. Beth’s acting as go-between, so he isn’t around for Momma to interrogate. She’d break him in under five minutes, guaranteed.”
“I know,” Camilla chuckled. “It’s driving Beth crazy. She knows the shower is a cover, a front for the real celebration. Although the shower is real too. We’re just having the actual shower the day after the vow renewal celebration. Nobody wants to take anything away from your momma and dad having their moment in the spotlight. Knowing how much your mother adores weddings, I hope we don’t disappoint her.”
“Trust me, sugar, nothing y’all are planning will disappoint Momma. She adores every one of you gals. You’re all part of the Boudreaus now, you’re family, and you know how Momma and Dad feel about family. As long as you’re happy, they’re happy. Just the fact you’re throwing this party for them is going to mean the world to them both. I’m betting y’all are going to see Momma cry.”
“As long as they’re happy tears.”
“Speaking of vows and ceremonies, have you decided on a date yet for ours?”
Camilla leaned forward and pressed a hard kiss against Heath’s lips, and he responded, his mouth moving against hers. They were both a little breathless when she broke off the kiss. Cupping his face between her hands, she stared at him, and he could read the love in her gaze.
“I was thinking, maybe we could get married on Valentine’s Day.”
“Valentine’s Day?”
“I know, I know, it’s hokey and a cliché and has been done a million times, but—”
Heath placed a fingertip against her lips, stopping the ramble before it gained momentum. “Valentine’s Day is perfect. Now, stop worrying, shut up and kiss me again.”
Rafe watched Tessa bend over, reach into the oven, and pull out a huge pan of something that smelled amazing. The scent alone made him drool and he couldn’t wait to dig into whatever she was cooking. He waited long enough for her to put it on the counter before sliding his hands around her waist, pulled her against his chest, and nuzzled the side of her neck. He smiled when she leaned closer, melting in his arms.
“Afternoon, sweetheart.”
“I didn’t hear you come in.” Tessa turned in his arms and kissed him softly. “Give me a minute to cover this with aluminum foil, and I’ll fix you some lunch.”
“No hurry. That smells amazing, by the way.” He nodded toward the lasagna.
She chuckled. “Sorry, bub, you’re not getting any of that. It’s for the party. I still have two more of those to bake today. I’m starting to think I was temporarily insane, offering to make all this food.”
“Sweetheart, you’ve been cooking for the last two days. Are you sure there’s nothing I can help with?” He made the offer, knowing she’d turn him down, just as she had the last three times he’d offered. Though she grumbled about all the work, he knew she secretly loved being able to contribute toward the super-secret party being thrown for his parents.
“I’ve got this. Did three large pans of chicken and cheesy rice yesterday, so it’s ready to go. Two trays of meatballs and three trays of lasagna, too. All I have left are the baked hams.”
“Plural?”
She nodded. “I’m doing two spiral cut hams, one with brown sugar and pineapple chutney. The other will have a spicy orange and soy glaze. After that, I’m done with the main dishes.”
Leaning against the counter, he watched Tessa futzing around the kitchen, but stopped her when she took out the covered plate from the refrigerator. “Sweetheart, I can heat up my own lunch. Why don’t you take five minutes and put your feet up? You’re pushing yourself too hard, planning this surprise for my parents for weeks. I’ll bring you something cold to drink. Take a break, you’ve earned it.”
“Everybody else is working as hard as I am,” she protested. “Maggie’s handling all the decorations, including the flowers. Trust me, she’s got her hands full dealing with vendors who aren’t cooperating with our quick timeframe. Honestly, how hard is it to get flowers? It’s not like we’re ordering hothouse orchids or some exotic blooms which only grow on the side of the highest mountain one time a year.” Tessa rubbed the cold soda bottle against her forehead. “Forgive my grouchiness. I think Maggie’s frustration is rubbing off on me.”
“I’m glad we took our time with our own wedding arrangements.” Rafe sat beside Tessa and pulled her close against his side, brushing a kiss against her forehead. “Even though we had to postpone twice, everything was perfect.”
Her brilliant smile warmed his heart. “And I want this big day to be spectacular too. Your parents deserve nothing less.”
Rafe smiled, wanting to indulge his pretty wife. Between teaching at the elementary school, helping her extremely pregnant sister who was mid-construction on a new house with her husband—his brother Brody—babysitting his favorite niece, Jamie, and now helping arrange a surprise vow renewal ceremony and anniversary party for his parents, Tessa had her hands full to overflowing. He wondered how she was holding everything together so well.
“No worries, sweetheart. I already told my brothers we aren’t having an official bachelor party for Dad since the whole wedding is a surprise. We’re going meet at Dane’s, get together to play poker, drink a few beers. Told Dad it was our way of having a little quality guy time, since the ladies were all having an official baby shower for Beth. But that’s it, I swear. Since it’s something we do semi-regularly, Dad won’t suspect a thing.”
“Y’all have fun. I know how you get when you Boudreau boys get together. No strippers, big guy. That’s where I put my foot down. The only naked woman you’re allowed to see anymore is me.”
He laughed. He couldn’t help it. Tessa sounded like she meant it, and he couldn’t be happier at her little display of jealousy.
“No strippers, got it.”
“Good.”