I mull over her words. There was a time in my life when I dreamed about a huge wedding with a fabulous gown, beautiful flowers, and my family and friends there to share in my joy. Once those visions were crushed, I’d never thought of them again.
But listening to Blue right now, and seeing how happy Regan and Dax and Legend and Pepper are, I realize those sorts of things are just trappings. If love is true—the kind that is genuine, messy, and fabulous all at the same time—I can see not needing such a big display just to prove commitment.
“Or just do something hassle-free the way Bishop and I plan to,” Brooke suggests with a smile.
Brooke and Bishop are doing a destination wedding at the end of June, which I received an invitation to. While it’s going to be at a fancy resort, she said she gave up control of planning to the people there. This includes picking her cake, flowers, and food for the reception. I’m seriously impressed by her ability to give up that type of control as a bride.
“Well, if we were going to do a wedding…” Pepper says as she grabs another taco off the platter. “We’d do it the same way. We never wanted a big affair, but traveling off to an exotic locale with friends and family seems fun.”
Regan gives a bit of a breathy sigh, her lower lip stuck out slightly. “I always wanted a big wedding. Of course, I never thought Dax would be carting me off to the courthouse and demanding I marry him so he could give me health insurance. It wasn’t the most romantic event, but he says all the time he’ll give me a big wedding if I want one. It seems kind of silly now, though.”
“Nonsense,” I exclaim. “It’s a great idea. I’ll help you as long as you don’t make me wear a tacky bridesmaid dress.”
Regan’s eyes light up, and she sits a little straighter in her seat. “Really? You think we should? And it would be a maid-of-honor dress.”
I’m caught off guard by the gooey, sentimental churning in my belly that she would want me to be her maid of honor, but I recover quickly. “Absolutely. You deserve it. You married my brother after all, so really… you deserve everything.”
Everyone laughs, and Regan turns to Nora. “What about you and Tacker? Will we be hearing wedding bells for you two?”
Nora chuckles, her voice low and husky. “It’s way too soon for us. Everything is so new and wonderful with Tacker, but a wedding is the last thing we’re thinking about.”
It goes a bit silent around the group as we reflect on the fact Tacker’s fiancée had been killed on their way to try on her wedding dress. It’s a somber reminder that not all wedding affairs end happily.
“What about you, Willow?” Blue asks, and everyone focuses on me. “What’s the deal with you and Dominik?”
My entire body freezes, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head at having the spotlight turned on me. I’m way too new to this group to be sharing my personal stuff.
Play dumb, Willow. Keep it vague. “What do you mean?”
Brooke rolls her eyes. “Oh, come on… everyone knows. Just dish it up already.”
I look around at the group of women. Every one of them are looking at me with encouraging smiles and a light in their eyes that says they have my back no matter what I might reveal.
With the exception of Regan, whom I’ve known all her life, I only met these women anywhere from a month to a year ago. And yet, I feel a kinship with them for some reason. Maybe it’s because that first margarita was pretty strong, or because they so freely share with each other, that I feel a bond.
Before I know it, I’m divulging. “I’m not sure what to make of it. I wouldn’t mind help with some clarity.”
“So there is something there?” Nora asks.
I nod, a little chuckle escaping. “It didn’t start out as anything besides sex. We had very defined boundaries. Somehow, though, it slowly turned into something more.”
Apparently, to make sure we’re on the same page when it comes to my past disaster of a relationship, Regan pipes up to inform everyone, “She got burned really bad by her former fiancé. He cheated on her. So, Willow just decided she was never getting involved with another man again.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “I can tell my own story.”
She snickers. “You’re not the greatest about opening up and getting stuff out there. Plus, this first margarita has gone to my head. Alcohol tends to make me run off at the mouth. You’re welcome.”
“So you what… just declared you were never going to be in a relationship again?” Blue asks. “I mean, is that even feasible? You’re just asking for fate to throw you a curveball at that point.”
I shrug, wiping a bit of salt off the edge of my glass and bringing it to my mouth. “Something like that.”
“But what exactly changed?” Brooke asks, picking up the pitcher to top off our margaritas with the exception of Blue’s, of course, who is now sipping on some ice water.
Before I can respond, Regan pipes up again. “Yeah… Please tell us what is so magical about him because I never thought I would see you fall for someone. I mean, he is beyond gorgeous.”
“And sexy,” Brooke adds.
“Smart, too,” Blue supplies.
“And rich,” Pepper says with a laugh. “That never hurts.”
Those are indeed all nice qualities, but I’ve had those before. They didn’t get me very far. I give them my most honest assessment of what might be happening. “Dominik didn’t give up on me. When most men realize I don’t want anything more than a romp, it doesn’t tend to last long. It’s the way I like it. But damn, Dominik is persistent, bossy, and demanding—”
“Oh my God,” Blue says with wide eyes. “She’s fallen for a true alpha.”
The women start chattering at the same time, and I can barely keep it all straight.
“Someone who won’t take her shit.”
“Guaranteed to get an independent woman’s attention.”
“Surefire way to make her succumb.”
I hold up my hands. “No. That’s not it. I’m not succumbing to anything. He gave me an ultimatum—said I couldn’t continue in my job because it was too dangerous—but I didn’t cave. So there. He doesn’t have any power over me.”
They just stare at me with knowing smirks.
“What? Why are you looking like that?” I demand.
Regan, who sits to my right, gives me a friendly elbow in the ribs. “Because you’re still with him. Even after he demanded that of you. You’ve been with him longer than you’ve been with anyone else since your fiancé cheated on you, and when you talk about his alpha ways—”
“He’s not the alpha in our relationship,” I growl. “I am.”
Regan ignores me, continuing with a twinkle in her eye. “When you talk about his alpha ways, you get a dreamy expression on your face.”
“Do not,” I insist.
“Do so,” she says, sticking out her tongue. “And girl… it’s hot. Is he an animal between the sheets? I kind of suspect he is, which is probably why you’re really sticking around.”
She’s teasing, of course, but my jaw drops as I stare at my sister-in-law incredulously, my face heating slightly. “Who are you? Just a couple of months ago, you couldn’t even look at me and talk about sex with guys. Yet now you’re wanting to know if the man I’m with is an animal between the sheets?”