Caught Between an Oops and a Hard Body (Caught Between series Book 2) (13 page)

“I don’t want him to pop the question.”

“But he likes you.” Her mom eyed her. “And I can tell you like him too.”

“Maybe a little,” she hedged. She pressed her lips together before she revealed something her mom could really sink her teeth into, and gestured toward the bride. “The mother-of-the-bride doesn’t appear to like Liz’s dress.”

Dora tsked, instantly distracted by the storm brewing between the bride and her mother. “You take it easy for a few minutes. I’ll go play mediator.”

And then she was gone, headed toward the circle around the bride.

Hearing another sound at the doorway, Stephanie looked over her shoulder, and there stood Stone, his phone in his hands, an unreadable expression on his face as he met her gaze. He bent his head to the phone, and started typing.

The seamstress came to stand beside her. Her gaze slid to Stephanie’s chest. “Your sister called about scheduling you in for a fitting, so I brought the bridesmaid dress for you to try on today.”

“Wonderful. I’m looking forward to seeing it.”

The seamstress’s gaze slid to her chest again. “She told me you were the same size. It looks like we may need to do some unexpected alterations.”

Stephanie resisted the urge to hunch her shoulders and make her chest smaller, and when her cell buzzed yet again, she backed away with an apologetic smile. “Excuse me, I need to reply to this.”

Stephanie turned her back on the seamstress and glanced at the screen.

I think we should take the test sooner than later. The suspense is killing me. Isn’t it killing you
?

Of course it was killing her, but she didn’t have the time to be distracted, not right now. She quickly put some distance between her and the seamstress, and plopped down on an armchair. As Stone took the chair next to her, she typed,
Forget the test. The seamstress wants to know why my breasts are bigger than my sister’s, since Mandy told her we were the same size
.

She glanced up at the other women in the room, but they were all focused on Liz who stood in frozen anticipation. She snuck a glance toward Stone. He had his head down, staring at the screen, a ghost of a smile flirting with the edges of his mouth while he typed.

When he looked over at her, her phone buzzed and she checked his message.

I thought they looked bigger, but I didn’t want to say anything for fear you might think I didn’t like them before
.

She snickered, then glanced up to see everyone watching her. She waved her phone at them. “This bride is a real jokester. Every time I’m around her, it’s a laugh riot.”

She returned her attention to the phone, holding it closer to her chest so no one could see, and typed,
No wonder I fell into bed with you. You’re a smooth talker. Now go away. You’re distracting me. Didn’t you want to meet the groom
?

Right
.

But he didn’t move. She tucked the phone away, pushed to her feet, and as she headed toward the circle of women, she was conscious of his gaze drilling into her back.

The mother-of-the-bride’s gaze darted from her son to Stephanie and back. As her eyes narrowed, Stephanie forced a warm smile. “So what do you think of Liz’s gown? Isn’t it fabulous?”

False sincerity dripped from each word. “Fabulous indeed. I love it.”

Liz grabbed the full skirt, hiked it up to her knees, and stepped off the raised platform to face Grace directly. “Mom, what do you mean, you like my dress?”

“Why, it’s lovely, dear. In fact, Stephanie is doing such a wonderful job, I want to offer her a job on my
Eternally Yours
show.”

A heartbeat of silence filled the room. Beside her, Dora gasped and clapped her hands to her chest. “You want my Stephanie to work with you?”

Grace’s smile reminded her of a shark approaching its prey. “Yes.”

“Well, of course she will.”

As both women turned to her, her phone buzzed and she glanced down to see a two word message from Stone.

Say no
.

“Please, call me Grace,” the mother-of-the-bride said as she brushed a piece of lint off her sleeve. “I’ll have my assistant draw up the contract right away. You can look it over, sign, and you’ll be my employee within the hour.”

Working on the Eternally Yours show would be a dream come true. Stephanie smiled at her hostess. “Thank you, Mrs. Kincaid…Grace. I don’t know what to say, but I’ll definitely consider your offer.”

Liz stamped her feet, regaining everyone’s attention. “Mother, what’s wrong with my dress?”

Grace gave her a loving smile which didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Absolutely nothing, dear. As Stephanie said, it’s absolutely fabulous.”

Liz looked down at the gown and mumbled, “If my mother likes it, something must be wrong with it.”

Behind her, Stone's phone buzzed, and as Grace reached into one pocket, and handed a piece of paper to Stephanie, she could see him out the corner of her eye thumbing the screen.

“Since we didn’t finish discussing the guest list, I took it upon myself to invite a few of my closest friends.”

Stephanie glanced at the long list, then silently passed it to Liz.

As Stone turned to leave, Stephanie’s phone buzzed and she glanced down at it.

Text me when you’re done and we’ll do the test together. And remember…before you sign any contract my mother gives you, we’re going over it together, word by word and every nuance in-between
.

She thumbed a message back.
I’ve changed my mind. I’m not doing the test.

He paused in the open doorway, his steady gaze on her face before he refocused on his phone.
Not taking the test won’t change the results.

Stephanie heard the bride hiss, and sent one last message.
But sticking my head in the sand helps me stay focused on your sister’s wedding. Now please go away.

She tucked the phone into her pocket and turned her back on him.

Liz waved the note in her face. “We wanted this wedding to be a simple affair. Family, a few close friends, and that’s it.”

Grace folded her hands in front of her. “I’ll pay for my share of the guests.”

“That’s not the point, Mother.” Liz turned away in frustration and started to tug at the gown to get it off. The seamstress jumped up to help her.

“What’s the big deal, Liz? It’s not as if I’m asking you and Roger to foot the bill.”

“It’s not the cost.”

Stephanie took the list back from Liz and intervened. “The guest list is going to be awfully one sided now.”

Grace waved a hand. “Tell Roger to invite more of his family. Second, third, forth cousins. The more the merrier. I’ll even pay.”

Liz growled. “There are no cousins. No parents, no aunt and uncles. Nobody but a few of his closest musician buddies.”

Grace raised one brow. “Well, it’s too late. I’ve already invited them so you’ll just have to make do.”

Then she turned and walked out of the room.

In a small voice, Liz said, “Roger is going to be so upset.”

Stephanie patted her client’s arm. “He loves you. It will be okay.”

Liz began to tug off the gown. “I can’t do this right now. It will have to wait till later.”

“But Liz, the wedding is only three days away.”

“Screw the wedding. I should’ve agreed to elope, like Roger wanted to. Now I’m stuck with—” She ripped the list out of Stephanie’s hand and crumpled it in her fist. “—this.”

The moment the younger woman had the gown off, she dropped it into a pile on the floor and ran out of the room. The seamstress carefully gathered it up and said, “We weren’t done the fitting.”

Stephanie took a deep, calming breath. “I’ll have her back here tomorrow at noon. Can we reschedule?”

The seamstress nodded. “Fine. I can fit you for your bridesmaid’s gown now. Strip to your bra and panties, and we’ll see how it all fits.”

Dora frowned after Liz. “I should check to see how she’s doing.”

As her mom headed out of the room, Stephanie reached for the hem of her top and wondered how she could hide the growing bulge of her stomach.

Or maybe she wouldn’t have to. Maybe it was just a false alarm.

She stripped down to her bra and panties. A moment later, the gown dropped and settled with a sweet swish over her body.

“Turn around and I’ll button you up.”

She sucked in her belly, but the buttons pulled everywhere. Her cheeks flared with heat. “I’ve recently put on a little weight.”

With a tsk, the other woman bent her head and examined the waist and bust of the gown. “It’s going to have to be let out here and here and here.” Her dark gaze rose to meet Stephanie’s and she lowered her voice. “I get it. You haven’t told anyone yet. Our little secret then. I’ll add some panels for expansion. But we’ll have to get you in for a final fitting right before the wedding.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” She directed Stephanie to the pedestal, then knelt at her feet. Around a mouthful of pins, she said, “It’s what those of us in the wedding industry do, right? Nothing, absolutely nothing, should spoil the bride’s wedding day.”

Stephanie smiled down at the top of the other woman’s head. “I’m sure it’s a false alarm. Just pre-period bloat, but I don’t want to say anything until I know for sure.”

But she feared that in another few months, the situation would be even worse. The dress wouldn’t fit in the waist or the chest. Probably not in the butt area either.

The seamstress stood up, examined her work, and rubbed her hands together. “There, done. Now be careful when you pull it off. You don’t want to get stuck with a pin.”

Stephanie gently removed the gown and redressed. The moment the seamstress had left the room, she sighed and placed her palm against her stomach.

Every time Stone came near, her body recognized him, and her insides began to hum. She feared she wasn’t just in trouble with the possible pregnancy, but that her heart might be getting involved.

Sinking into the armchair, she blindly stared at the cell screen and the lists and lists of things still to do. More guests meant more seating, more food, more of everything.

The wedding had seemed so simple. Life had seemed so simple. Now she had to deal with a high-strung bride, a troublesome mother-of-the-bride, and the possibility of being pregnant.

She cleared her mind and set to work, texting, emailing, phoning. By the time she was finished arranging everything for the extra guests, the evening shadows had darkened the room, and there was only one thing left to do.

Her phone buzzed.

My cabin or yours
?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Stone tracked down the groom without any problem. All he’d had to do was follow the loud rock music to the far end of the estate where the Nine-For-Loft cottage sat nestled among the trees. Unfortunately, despite banging on the door several times, the kid had remained sprawled on the couch, headphones on, eyes closed, oblivious to his visitor, and Stone had finally given up.

He’d headed back to Kevin’s cottage, where he’d killed time while he waited for Stephanie’s text, until he couldn’t take the pressure any more and finally sent her a text.
My cabin or yours
?

She’d answered promptly.
Give me thirty minutes
.

He stared down at the timer on his phone as it counted off the seconds.

If there was a baby on the way, he wanted to share in the responsibility of raising their child. But he also wanted to avoid the emotional complications of a relationship.

He’d seen other couples do it, some successfully, some not quite so successfully, but if Stephanie and him could come to some kind of agreement, then it would all work out.

It
had to
work out.

And yet, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to wake up every morning with her at his side, her body changing with the growth of their child.

At the same moment the timer went off, fingers snapped in front of his face. “Earth to Boss. Why aren’t you paying attention?”

He shut off the timer, focused on his assistant’s face, and shoved to his feet. “Sorry. I—uh—have something I need to take care of.”

Kevin shifted on the armchair across from him, his face in shadows, his long frame slouched. “Go, man. It’s not like I need you to stick around and hold my hand.”

“Sorry, Kev. You know I wouldn’t dump you unless it was really important.”

The corner of Kevin’s mouth crooked up. “Is she hot?”

A flush worked up his neck and into his face, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah.”

Wanda stood up, her oval face dour. “Why are all men pigs?”

Stone slung one arm over his assistant’s shoulder, and with a grin, steered her toward the door. “Because if we weren’t, we’d be irresistible all of the time.”

“Right.” She lowered her voice. “Do I have to entertain him?”

From behind, Kevin’s voice made Wanda jump. “I’m okay. I don’t need a babysitter, just a place to chill for a few days.”

A knock sounded on the door.

Maybe he’d taken too long and she’d brought the pregnancy test to his cabin. He hoped not. He didn’t want to explain that to his assistant or best friend. Let them believe it was all about sex.

He opened the front door and there stood Liz, poised to knock again.

Her gaze darted past him and her eyes opened wide. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you had company.”

He peered around her. “Where’s your fiancee?”

“He’s working on a super cool idea for a new song.” She gave him a huge smile and slid past him inside. “So I thought I’d come hang out with my favorite brother.”

Stone eyed her with suspicion. “I was just on my way out.”

She gave him another sunny smile, turned her back on him, and then did a fake
startled
. “Hi Kevin. I didn’t see you standing there.”

Kevin thrust his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, and eyes hooded, nodded. “Hi Squirt. Good to see you again.”

She sidled closer in his direction. “Good to see you, too.”

Stone suddenly had a bad feeling in his gut. He glanced at his watch, eyed his sister. “Liz, I was about to leave.”

She waved one hand in the air, never taking her eyes off Kevin, and dropped onto the couch. “Don’t let me hold you back. I’ll keep Kevin company while you’re gone.”