Adrenaline (Speed #2) (33 page)

Shutting the door, I leaned against it and slid to the ground as I dropped my forehead onto my knees and cried.

The different emotions running through my mind were confusing. The idea of being married to Malcolm thrilled me, yet at the same time I knew my life would be so different. Mansions, vineyards, assistants, cooks, and whatever else Malcolm decided to throw into the mix. The one thing I would not allow him to do to me is let me lose my independence or my voice. I wasn’t sure how long I sat there on the floor before I finally got up and hit Elizabeth’s number.

After she answered, I launched into a full on explanation of everything that just happened.

“So, what exactly are you confused about, Paislie?”

My eyes widened in shock. “Elizabeth, he planned all of this without talking to me!”

“Okay, so I get that the idea of the bed and breakfast thing makes you angry because it wasn’t originally your idea, but have you not talked for years about doing something like that?”

I chewed the corner of my lips. “Well, yeah but that’s beside the point.”

“Why? Do you like Adaline?”

My heart jumped to my throat. “Yes. Very much.”

“Do you not think Malcolm saw that and took that into consideration before he made this move?”

I shrugged even though she couldn’t see me. “I guess so.”

“Paislie, I get you’re feeling like Malcolm made some serious decisions without consulting you, but stop for a few moments and ask yourself this. If he had asked you to marry him, then asked you about buying the house and vineyards with Emmit and his family, then mentioned the possibility of the bed and breakfast, what would you have said?”

I thought for a moment. “I would have said yes to all of it. I love that he and Emmit are reaching outside the box and trying something totally different, but it’s also a little scary for me to think he’s doing this with someone else. What if they have a fight? I mean they bought a damn house together!”

Elizabeth chuckled. “I see your point, but I also don’t think of Malcolm as someone who would make such a decision without really thinking it through.”

I nodded as I sat down on the bed. “I honestly think I’m more upset by the fact that I was the last to know any of this. Did he not tell me because he was worried I would say no to his proposal?”

“Maybe, or maybe he really thought he was surprising you.”

My lip tingled as I realized I was biting it. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I asked, “Do you think I overreacted?”

“Yes and no. I would probably have a talk with him about future decisions and that you want to be a part of them.”

“Totally,” I barely said as I stood back up and paced the floor. “It all just seems so fast, Elizabeth.”

“And there we are to the root of the issue.”

My head dropped back. I knew she was right. One second I was engaged and the next, I discovered I had a house bigger than the one I was currently in, another family living there with us, a vineyard, olive trees, and possibly going into business with a person I hardly knew. Plus add in a wedding, my own career and the idea that as each day went on, I longed for a child more and more.

“Ugh! I want to scream!”

Elizabeth chuckled. “Then scream.”

I followed her advice as I grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.

“Feel better?”

“Some,” I said with a giggle. “I’m scared I’m going to wake up and this is going to be a dream and I’ll be standing on the steps again looking up at St. Patrick’s.”

“Oh, Paislie, it’s not a dream and if anyone deserves to find happiness it’s you.”

“It feels like a dream,” I whispered.

The soft knock at the door had me spinning around and rushing over to open it. Malcolm stood on the other side holding a Diet Coke and a small tub of Ben and Jerry’s. With a smile, I motioned for him to come in.

“Elizabeth, thank you for listening to me. I’m going to run now.”

“He showed up, didn’t he?”

Grinning, I replied, “Yes.”

“I’ll talk to you soon, Paislie. Remember, fall to your knees and seek guidance. He’ll always be there for you.”

“Thank you, I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Soon! Tell Malcolm I said hello.”

“Will do.”

I hit End and stared into his beautiful blue eyes.

“You brought me soda and ice cream?”

He gave me a small shrug and said, “Emmit’s suggestion.”

I took the spoon and the ice cream and sat on the end of the bed as Malcolm sat next to me. One bite and I felt like I was in heaven.

“I’m sorry I got so upset. It’s just everything hit me all at once and I got a bit scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Malcolm, imagine dreaming of a life someday that you never thought possible. Then you meet your prince charming, he offers you the world, but he offers it to you all in one sitting. You’d be a little scared.”

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I know I should have talked to you about it, even Adaline told me I needed to tell you, but I honestly was just trying to surprise you. If this is something you’re not interested in doing, we’ll figure it out.”

I took his hands in mine. “Malcolm, I really am excited for this new adventure you’re going on, but I’m not going to lie and tell you it doesn’t make me nervous. It does, especially with you not talking to me about any of it. One thing you have to do is talk to me about something before you go off and do it. We’re a team now, Malcolm, and we need to decide on our future together.”

He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. I knew deep in my heart everything would work out, and a part of me was excited but I wouldn’t let myself jump ahead.

“I agree with everything you said. I’m not used to sharing my decisions with someone else, and I’ve always kind of left everything up to everyone around me. I know that all needs to change and it will, I promise you. It may take me time adjusting to it, but I swear to you I’ll never put you in a situation like I did today.” With a smile that had my knees wobbling, he whispered, “It’s you and me now.”

The smile on my face grew as his words settled into my mind. “You and me always.”

When he slowly lowered me to the bed, I let every worry slip away. “I’m going to make love to you, Paislie.”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. There was nothing better than being lost in Malcolm.

“ARE YOU NERVOUS?”

Glancing over to Paislie, I smiled. “No. Should I be?”

She gave me a sweet grin in return. “I don’t think so. Even though Elizabeth is like my mother, and father, and sister, and best friend all rolled into one.”

My heart sank. “Okay, now I’m nervous. Do I earn any extra points for being raised Catholic?”

She chuckled and squeezed my hand. “Nope, but I’m sure she is pleased about that.”

“She’s not going to ask me to recite anything, is she? Paislie, I haven’t stepped foot in a catholic church in a number of years. Even then I always had headphones on.”

Shaking her head, she looked forward. “There, pull over and park in front of that store. The restaurant isn’t too far from here.”

I did as she said and parked her car. We got out and walked hand in hand down the busy street. I’d already been by St. Patrick’s and talked to the bishop. The wedding date was set for six months out and he had insisted Paislie have a wedding with a mass. Memories of my cousin Jenn’s wedding flashed through my mind. I’d never tell Paislie, but I got up thirty minutes into the ceremony and left.

When she stopped walking and took both my hands in hers, I knew she was nervous. “Are you sure you want a catholic wedding?”

It was as if she had been reading my mind. “What would you like, babe?”

Her eyes fell to the ground as she kicked at a pretend rock. “I’ve always wanted a traditional wedding, but if you want something simple, we can do that too.”

Pulling her to me, I gently kissed her on the lips. “I want what you want, baby. I’m in this for the long haul.”

Her eyes lit up and I knew there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for her.

“Paislie, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you to make you happy.”

“I love you so much,” she whispered. “You ready?”

Taking in a deep breath, I nodded. “Ready.”

The moment we walked into the restaurant, I searched for a nun. When Paislie said, “There she is!” I looked in the direction she was facing.

“Where?” I asked as I followed her. A slightly older woman stood and smiled warmly at us. “Is that her?”

“Yep!” she said as she wrapped the woman in her arms. “Elizabeth, I’ve missed you so.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The woman standing before me was beautiful. She was dressed in a simple black dress with a belt that wrapped around her waist, showing her figure. Her blue eyes took in Paislie with so much happiness, I could practically feel the love she had pouring out of her. Her hair was in a sleek ponytail and she wore very little if any makeup.

“Elizabeth, I’d like for you to meet Malcolm. Malcolm, this is Sister Elizabeth, but you can call her Elizabeth.”

“Sister, I mean, Elizabeth. I um . . . well you’re not what I expected.”

Her brows rose as she tilted her head. “Pray tell what were you expecting?”

I motioned with my hands to look at her. “Not this. A habit, an older woman who was grumpy looking.”

Paislie playfully hit my chest as she motioned for us to all sit down.

“Mr. Wallace, how long has it been since you have been to the church or spoken with a nun?”

My face burned as I sat. “Please, call me Malcolm. To be honest I couldn’t tell you the last time I actually talked to a nun. Probably while taking my catechism classes. Sister Margret was old and grumpy. Had I had a teacher such as you, I might have kept going to church.”

“Malcolm!” Paislie said with a look of horror on her face. Elizabeth laughed and told Paislie to loosen up some.

“It’s okay, I’m rather flattered, Mr . . . I mean . . . Malcolm.”

“So, when did you become a nun?”

“I was about sixteen when I felt the calling.”

I about choked on my own spit. “Wow.”

“I get that response a lot.”

Paislie cleared her throat and said, “We just met with Bishop Mark. I requested Father Tim for the wedding.

Elizabeth forced a smile and moved about in her seat. “I’m sure he would be honored to perform the sacrament.”

Paislie grinned from ear to ear. “He is very happy to do so; he said so himself when we asked him.”

“He was there? I thought he was on his trip.”

Something moved across Elizabeth’s face, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say Elizabeth had feelings for Father Tim.

No way.

“He must have come back early because he was in the bishop’s office,” Paislie said. I could tell by the look on her face, she had the same thoughts I had.

Clearing her throat, Elizabeth picked up the menu and looked over it. “This is my favorite place to eat, Malcolm. They have the best lasagna in all of Dallas.”

That was a fast change of subject if I’d ever seen one.

Peeking over to Paislie, our eyes met and I made a mental note to ask more about the relationship between the sister and the father.

Wait. That sounded weird.

I shook my head to clear my thoughts. It didn’t take long for both women to fall into an easy conversation. I even got to hear about when Paislie was younger.

Sitting back, I watched the two of them as they talked about everything from the wedding to a movie they both wanted to see together. It was clear Paislie loved this woman very much.

“Thank you for dinner, Malcolm. I really enjoyed meeting you. Everything Paislie has told me about you is so very true.”

With a smile, I nodded. “All good I hope.”

She let out a girlish giggle and said, “Yes! Of course it was.”

As both of them locked arms and walked, I heard someone call out Paislie’s name. Turning, I saw an older man come walking up quickly. He gave me a once over and stopped to look at me before turning to Paislie.

Both women had a look of horror on their faces as Elizabeth seemed to stand a little in front of Paislie, almost as if sheltering her.

“Paislie, my little girl. Look at you still hanging with sisters, huh?”