When I stepped back, I opened my eyes and nodded my head.

“I’ll let your mother know our plans.”

I couldn’t talk. I just stood there and watched him as he walked into the kitchen and said something that made my mother laugh. Then, her smile faded, and she looked at me. I was scared shitless she would start screaming about us wanting to leave and go to a hotel. She turned back and smiled at Reed as I watched my father shake Reed’s hand.

Wait, what’s happening? What did he tell them?

Reed walked up and took my hand as he said, “Let’s go pack up. I’ll call and make reservations at a hotel.”

I followed him up the stairs in silence. When we got in my room and Reed shut the door, I finally found my voice. “What did you tell them? Are they mad we’re leaving?”

He laughed as he put both suitcases on the bed and shook his head. “I simply told them that I was uncomfortable being under their roof, and that due to my respect for you and them, I just simply couldn’t make love to you while being here. And that since we are newlyweds still, I was going to have to take you to a hotel.”

My mouth dropped open. “You didn’t,” I whispered.

He looked at me and said, “Oh, yes, I did.”

“And my father didn’t kill you?”

Reed shrugged his shoulders. “Nope. He said he respected me for being honest and for thinking about their feelings on the matter. Married or not, he said you are still his little girl.”

I sat down on the bed and tried to let it all sink in.

That’s it. Reed Nickolas Moore has powers, very strong powers, that not only control my heart, soul, and libido, but apparently, he has the power to make my family fall so in love with him that he can do no wrong.

This is bad, very bad.

After we checked into the hotel and made our way to our room, I was exhausted. My cell phone began ringing, and Reed and I both moaned, “Not again.”

“She’s already called you three times since we left…an hour ago,” Reed said.

I collapsed onto the king-sized bed. I rolled my eyes as I hit Answer. “What is it now?”

“Excuse me, young lady, but that is no way to talk to your mother. I just want to make sure you asked the hotel to give you a wake-up call.”

I let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “Yes, Mother, I did. I have my alarm set, Reed has his set, I set the alarm in the hotel room, and the hotel is calling with a wake-up call. I will be there at six.”

“Did you leave your dress here? Oh, I hope you did, so it won’t get wrinkled. Meg, did she leave her dress?”

I heard Meg start laughing in the background.

“Mom, will you just chill the hell out? You’re going to drive Meg insane before she is even an official member of the family.”

Reed began rubbing my feet, and I let out a soft moan.

“Mom, I have to go. I’m exhausted. Do you want me to have bags under my eyes tomorrow?”

“Oh no, Court! You should call down and get some tea bags right now. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep. Take a hot bath, sweetheart, and make sure you are here by five forty-five.”

Reed was slowly moving his hand up before he began drawing circles on my inner thigh. I closed my eyes and willed him to put his lips on me.

I popped my eyes open and said, “Wait, now, it’s five forty-five, Mom? Are you crazy?”

She let out a laugh and said, “We have a lot to do to set up and get ready. Tyler is not coming back until right before the ceremony tomorrow, so we all need to pitch in and get things ready.”

I sat up. “What? Why does he get out of work? It’s his fucking wedding.”

“Language, please.”

“I’m pregnant! I deserve special treatment, too.”

Reed let out a giggle as I continued to argue with my mother.

“Where is the baby staying tonight anyway?” I asked as I flopped back down and pouted. Even though she couldn’t see me, I wanted her to feel my dissatisfaction.

“I’m not sure. He just said he was staying with a friend. Courtney, I need to ask you something,” my mother whispered.

I could tell she was walking outside when I heard the screen door opening.

“Sure.”

“Your brother was acting weird. Even Meg noticed it. Do you think he is having second thoughts?”

I smiled and shook my head. “No, Mom. He’s just nervous. He acted weird to me, too, before he left. I think he will be fine after the ceremony, and I’ll be able to kick his ass for being rude to Reed.”

My mother let out a sigh. “Yes. I’m still upset that he did that to Reed. It’s just not like your brother. It’s almost like he was…hiding something.”

My stomach dropped, and I had the same feeling sweep over my body as I had earlier. “Yeah. I thought the same thing, but…everything will be okay, Mom.”

“Courtney, he wouldn’t tell Meg who he is staying with. She’s beginning to have things run through her mind, and I don’t know what to tell her.”

“Why didn’t he tell her?” I asked as I looked at Reed nodding off to sleep. Great. There goes any hope of sex for me tonight.

“I’m not sure why he wouldn’t tell her. She is trying to act like it doesn’t bother her, but I know it does. She almost seems—”

“What? She almost seems what?”

My mother let out a sigh and said, “Never mind. I think I’m just a nervous wreck. Is it wrong I’m secretly hoping Sissy elopes like you did?”

I let out a gentle laugh, so I wouldn’t wake up Reed. “Nope, not at all. I’m heading to bed, Mom. I love you. Night.”

“Night, sweetie. Sleep good,” she said with an evil little laugh.

I could almost picture her wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

“Night, Mom.”

I hit End and set my phone on the side table. I turned to look at my passed-out husband. I watched his chest moving up and down. Each breath caused me to relax more and more until I could no longer keep my eyes open. As sleep took over, the pit in my stomach slowly started to go away.

He’s not here, Courtney. He can’t hurt you anymore.

The wedding was starting in two hours, and I was pretty sure my mother was going to have a breakdown. Meg had been too quiet all day, so I made my way up to my parents’ room where she was getting her hair done.

I knocked on the door and barely heard her say, “Come in.”

I opened the door to see her sitting there, alone, staring out the window. When she looked at me, she gave me a weak smile.