Plus, if news of what happened to her got out, how could she call a halt to the relationship? And how would everyone else take it when she back pedaled? She’d come across as a real bitch. And even if she wanted to keep her distance from Liam, Aggie didn’t want him to think she couldn’t manage her own feelings. That would only complicate matters.
“Normally, yes. But I’m good. It’s you I’m worried about.” April gave another glance in the mirror and adjusted the flowers in her hair. “I know you’re nervous.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I won’t let you down.” She swallowed, the panic bubbling slowly in her gut. Too many people and too many emotions. It was all going to send her into a meltdown if she didn’t stop and breathe.
April turned and grabbed her hand. “Listen to you. It’s not a case of letting me down. I want you to enjoy the day. Nothing you do will make me love you any less. And I’m sorry being dragged you into my wedding makes you so stressed out. You don’t need to be. Liam will be there to look after you.” She smiled. “You know you can trust him, right?”
Like she’d trusted him every night he’d helped her at the bakery? Yeah, the good times when she almost believed anything was possible when deep down, Aggie was just waiting for it to all explode in her face. It was only a matter of time until he found out what had happened to her.
“Yeah, I know I can.”
April smoothed down her hair and poked in another hair pin. “He told me about the classes Ben is running. You’re going to sign up, right?”
“What is it with everyone wanting me to learn to defend myself?” She spat the words out before thinking, and only when a shadow crossed over April’s eyes did Aggie kick herself. Of course April would want her to do the class. It made sense. Even to her own stubborn mind it seemed logical.
She’d given it plenty of thought over the last couple of weeks too. A few customers had asked about it when they came into the shop and said they were keen to sign up. They seemed to take it for granted that Aggie would be there since the sign was in her window.
Really, what could it hurt? It might make her feel less nervous and give Liam a break from keeping her company at night. Not that she needed him there as much as he thought she did. Still, it was nice to know someone had her back. How far she could take that was the question.
“Here’s Dad. You’d better get this started. I doubt Drew will appreciate being kept waiting.”
Her father stood at the open door and stared at them with misty eyes. “Ladies, ay I say how stunning you both are.”
Aggie nodded. “Is Deacon here waiting?”
“He certainly is. Horses look so pretty all dressed up in their finery. They’ve both got ribbons in their tails and manes.” He stepped forward and held out his hands to both of them. “But not as beautiful as you two ladies. I’m truly blown away.”
Aggie swallowed down her nerves but smiled anyway.
“Guess we’d better get going or my son is going to be sending out the troops to find us.” He held both arms out for the girls to link theirs through. “Shall we?”
* * *
“Holy shit.” Liam was lost for words when the music started and Aggie stood at the door of the little stone church. His throat closed up. His stomach did a double somersault.
“Man, you really do have it bad.” Drew leaned over his shoulder, and they watched her walk step by step down the aisle toward them.
“Oh man. She’s gorgeous.” In her bridesmaid dress and with her hair and makeup done, she looked nothing like the Aggie he knew who had flour in her hair, cheeks flushed from the hot oven and hard work. This woman was all style and charm. The two sides of her made up the complete package he wanted permanently in his life. He couldn’t let her go without a good fight.
“You really are gone on her, aren’t you?”
Why it came as such a surprise to Drew, Liam would never know. He’d always been sweet on Aggie. Everyone knew that. As she walked down the aisle toward him, he barely managed to get the word out. “Yeah.”
The tone of the music changed as Aggie took her place beside Liam and April appeared at the door on Atticus Hope’s arm. With no family of her own, it had seemed perfectly appropriate for Drew’s father to walk her down the aisle to stand beside her future husband.
“Man, oh man. Here she is.” Drew sucked in a breath, but Liam only had eyes for Aggie standing beside him. And she blushed delightfully under his scrutiny despite the panic filling her eyes.
He slid his hand down to hers and clutched her fingers. “I’ve got you, Aggie. You’re safe with me. Just relax and enjoy the day.”
She gave him a quick glance and then pulled her hand away, turned to April and waited to take the bride’s bouquet.
Throughout the service, Liam kept his eye on her and watched the emotions running over her face. She went from joyful to despondent in minutes then back to happy. But he couldn’t deny the dreamy look on Aggie’s face as Drew and April said their vows.
“April, I love you. To me, you are the most perfect woman in the world and I’m humbled that you have chosen me for your husband. I promise to love you, honor you, and take care
