Tasha clung to the phone, not sure what to say. Which didn’t seem to matter because Max’s sister seemed to have enough to say for the both of them.
“I know you want to keep it pretty low-key and all, and I guess I can see that. I mean, a Turner wedding? Insanity times ten. But can I at least convince you to take some spa time with me on Thursday? Did you pick out what you’re going to wear yet? Oh my, what about some flowers—let me take care of that, okay? And if you’d like, I’ll ask Maxamin to come and take a few pictures. He’ll be happy to, and that way you can still have something to flash for the clan when they all ask.”
Tasha forced herself to cut in before the bubbly outburst continued for too long. “So…you’re okay with the idea of Max and I getting married?”
“Are you crazy? I think it’s awesome. Tasha, you’ve been around forever, and you guys fit perfect, really. Only I’m a little choked that I didn’t notice that you were dating. He only told me the night of Gramma’s party, and I thought that was like your first date. You guys have been sneaky, but I don’t care too much. It’s your life, and again, that whole Turner thing… Secrets can be a good thing.”
A short laugh escaped Tasha, the tightness in her chest easing. “Maxy, I can’t tell you how much this means to me. I’m touched.”
“You’re touched? I’m going to have a sister! I’m over the moon. It may seem like I’ve got people around all the time, what with the clan and everyone, but you’re special. You’ve always been special.”
Damn it, the girl was going to have her in tears again without even trying. “I’m very glad you’re pleased. Thank you for being willing to witness for us. And the pictures sound like a great idea. The spa as well.”
“Do you have a dress picked out? Can I help with that?”
A dress? Pictures, a spa trip? She’d planned to wear a nice suit she had and figured that would be enough. Suddenly, it wasn’t, and all of Maxine’s enthusiasm helped to ease the pain of Lila’s rejection. It didn’t wipe it away completely, but it was certainly a step in the right direction.
“I don’t want anything too fancy, but yeah, if you’d like to go shopping with me, we can do that. Monday?”
Maxine gushed a bit more before setting up a time and place to meet, and passing the phone back to her brother. Tasha’s thoughts spun as she considered what to say to him. Somehow in one move he’d accomplished the impossible, without even trying.
“Tasha?”
“You have the sweetest sister in the world, you know that?”
He chuckled. “I seem to have told her that a few times. She argues with me, but the proof is all there.” His voice dropped a notch. “You all right? I’ll be done my to-do list in about an hour, then I can join you.”
“You’re nearly done already? How the hell did you do that?” They’d split the list of things they had to accomplish, and she’d done…none of hers, since number one had been to get her witness lined up.
“Efficient task planning, and a whole lot of bullying my relatives into favors. Tell you what. Go home. I’ll meet you there. If I help you with your stuff, we’ll be done in no time. Also, if you’re okay with it, my parents wanted to have us over for a celebratory dinner.”
“That sounds…like just what I needed to hear.” She paused for a second. “Hey, Max?”
“Yeah?”
She could picture him, that flirty smile on his face, his eyes attentive and bright as he waited for her. “Thanks. I’m going to be okay.”
“We’re going to be more than okay, but it will take time. I’ll catch you in a bit.”
She hung up and stared out the window. There were a few clouds floating against the brilliant blue sky, but for the most part, it was clear and bright. She wasn’t crazy, she had to trust that the situation with Lila was merely a cloud passing in front of the sun for a brief moment.
She turned and headed home, surprised, but pleased to be looking forward to Maxwell’s company for the rest of the day. It made the bitter a little easier to deal with.
Chapter Eleven
Max had a difficult time remembering to keep it light. From the moment he’d picked up Tasha from his sister’s where she’d been getting ready for the ceremony, he’d been fighting to hold back the sweet words that wanted to escape.
It was much more than she made him dizzy with lust. The fact she trusted him enough to tie her life to his without loving him—that appealed to him more than she could possibly know. He knew what he felt, and how it motivated him to want to give everything to her. She on the other hand, was going into this based strictly on logic, and somehow that impressed him more than if she had confessed her undying love.
Although he really wanted that as well.
Now she stood across from him, repeating the simple words they’d written together. Promises to be there for each other, and for their family when one came along. He grinned harder, remembering how smug Tasha had seemed that she’d managed to successfully avoid using the word love in their vows.
What was love, but a commitment? He hoped he’d be able to rub that in sometime during their first anniversary.
Having his sister there was sweet, and bitter, considering Lila had refused to reconsider and continued to give Tasha the cold shoulder. He couldn’t see how his cousin could be so self-centered and stubborn, especially after he’d called her to try and talk sense into her.
They finished the simple ceremony, kissed Maxine and his parents farewell, and ducked into his car.
“Are you finally going to tell me where we’re going?” Tasha undid her sandals, leaned back in the car seat and propped her feet up on the dash. He swallowed hard at the sight of her legs extending from under the pale purple of her dress. “I assume it’s not back to the apartment, since you insisted I pack an overnight bag. You know, we didn’t need a weekend away.”
Max pulled onto the highway, hoping he hadn’t pushed it too far, but there was no way he was going to let their honeymoon weekend be back at her apartment, doing ordinary everyday things. He was intent on making memories, secret though it be for now. He gave her the explanation he’d prepped.
“My parents wanted to give us something.”
“That’s sweet, but they didn’t need to.”
He nodded. “I know, and I told them that. But since we already have all the house stuff we need, and we said we didn’t want them to host a luncheon or anything, they insisted. The only other thing I could come up with that worked was a booking at an oceanfront cabin. It made them happy, and I thought it would suit our plans. We can talk about some of those habits we want to get into, and the beach is a great place for long walks and workouts. And, there’s no junk food there.”
Natasha didn’t say anything for a bit, and he thought he heard the gears spinning in her brain. “That sounds…great.”
“I’m also planning on having lots of uninterrupted sex.”
She laughed. “No ulterior motive on your part to hide us away, was there?”
“Just because we’re now officially a couple doesn’t mean the Turner clan will cease to exercise their uncanny ability to interrupt us. In fact, over the next while we’ll probably have to run the gamut, with every one of the individual families inviting us over for celebratory coffee and cake, and what have you. Rejoice in your final moments of relative freedom from the excesses of relatives.”
Tasha’s smile faded. “Not everyone is celebrating.”
She turned to look out the window, and he sighed. Damn Lila. He reached over and grabbed Tasha’s fingers, ignoring her surprised response. He nudged up the music volume, discouraging talk and letting the miles pass as they sat in silence. He wasn’t going to try to fight the hurt her friend’s disapproval had caused, and unless Tasha decided to get mad and tell Lila to grow up, he was trapped. At least until he had a little more time on his hands.