With These Four Rings - Book Five: Wedding Bonus (Billionaire Brides of Granite Falls 5) (2 page)

Kaya’s back went ramrod straight. “You can’t mean Desire Summers of Weddings by Desire?” She looked anxiously from one woman to the next.

“Yes, that Desire.” Tashi reached across the table and rested her hand on Kaya’s. She understood Kaya’s reaction to the news that Desire Summers would be planning her wedding—their wedding. The Summerses and the Fontaines had some bad blood between them.

“Bryce will not go for this. You guys know that, right?” Kaya was a bit disappointed that her friends would even consider the option, much less decide on it behind her back.

“I imagine he’ll have objections, but like you mentioned earlier, we don’t have the time to look around,” Shaina replied in a soothing voice. “It’s not like we have a long list of planners to choose from. Fae and Desire are the only two in Granite Falls, and Fae has already turned over our account to Desire. She’s all caught up and ready to move forward with our plans—Desire style.”

“We agreed to hire a local planner for this wedding and we chose Elegant Brides together. Nobody consulted me about this change.” Kaya made no attempt to disguise her disapproval.

“In all fairness, you weren’t here when we had to make the decision,” Michelle said. “You and Bryce were off on your private island in the South Pacific.”

“And Mass and Shaina were visiting Jabari in Kenya,” Tashi added. “So Michelle and I had to make the decision.” Tashi knew that even though she was the newest member of the Billionaire Brides Club—now the Billionaire Wives Club—her opinions and suggestions carried just as much weight as everyone else’s.

Shaina swallowed a mouthful of bruschetta topped with tomatoes, then glanced briefly at Michelle and Tashi before catching and holding Kaya’s gaze. “To be honest, we initially wanted to hire Desire, simply because she
is
better than Fae. But out of sensitivity for you and Bryce, we opted not to. We have no choice, now. Maybe the cosmos is trying to tell us something.”

“Like maybe it’s time to forgive and move on,” Michelle said, gently.

Kaya crossed her arms and shifted uneasily in her chair. “That is strictly up to Bryce. He has as much say in this as any of us.”

“Well, not technically. It was agreed that we, the wives, would take care of the wedding and our husbands would take care of the honeymoon.”

“It’s not that simple anymore, Tashi. Bryce needs to approve, and if he doesn’t we’ll just have to go fishing again.” Kaya frowned at her friends. “Have you told your husbands about the change? How do they feel about it?”

Michelle spoke up. “Mass and Shaina returned from Kenya only three days ago, and Erik is still in South America on a humanitarian mission, so,
no
. We wanted to wait to tell you first. And,” she added, glancing at Kaya through lowered lashes, “we were hoping you’d be the one to break it to Bryce.”

Kaya threw her hands in the air. “Oh sure, take me deep into the thick dark forest and leave me alone with the giant grumpy bear.”

“Well, he’s kinda big and intimidating. And since he’s
your
bear, we figured he wouldn’t hurt you.” Shaina gave Kaya a hopeful smile.

Kaya glanced out the window at the blue waters of Crystal Lake as she thought of the weeklong break from which she and Bryce had recently returned. It was more of a break for Bryce since he and Massimo had been working double time running Fontaine Enterprises and Andretti Industries, respectively, and also Fonandt Energy—the wind energy company they’d founded together a few years ago.

Kaya’s ire dissipated, and a smile played at the corners of her mouth as she remembered the intimate, bonding moments she and Bryce had spent walking and playing naked along the sandy white shores of
Kaya
, and the countless hours of passionate lovemaking every single day and night. Oh, yes, he’d bought her an island in the South Pacific as a first wedding anniversary present, and named it
Kaya
—to make up for the unceremonious way they’d gotten married, he’d told her.

He’d learned well from Erik, who’d bought Michelle her own private island—
Michelle
—in the Seychelles as an apology for hurting her during the months they’d spent apart when she was pregnant with Little Erik. To avoid jealousy and harassment, Mass had followed suit with
Shaina
in the Mediterranean. And for Christmas last year, Adam had purchased
Tashi
off the Amalfi Coast of Italy, where all four couples had celebrated last New Year’s Eve.

“So can we count on you to tell Bryce about Desire?”

Kaya started as Tashi’s questions cut into her reveries. “Sure,” she said, bringing her attention back to her friends. She took a sip of her Bloody Mary. “I’ll try to break it to him gently.” She would just have to remind Bryce that there were many more passionate moments to come once they left on their honeymoon, the location of which was still a secret to her, as it was for the other women. They knew their husbands were planning something big, but none of them had been able to squeeze any information out of any of them. “What happened to Fae? Why can’t she finish the wedding?” she asked grasping at straws.

“She slipped on a blanket one of her kids left at the top of the stairs, and went flying down them. She suffered a concussion, broke both arms, and twisted an ankle.” Michelle said.

“Oh my God, that’s awful. I hope she’ll be okay.”

“As long as she follows her doctor’s orders and stays off her feet,” Shaina said. “So how do you feel about Desire?” she added. “You think you can work with her?”

“It’s not like I have a choice at this late hour. Bryce will just have to deal with it.”

“I’m sure you know how to help him deal with it,” Tashi said with a grin.

“Well, listen to Miss Cloistered and Innocent,” Michelle murmured over the rim of her lemonade glass.

Kaya stared Tashi full in the eyes. “This chick may have been cloistered, but she hasn’t been innocent since the day she walked up on Adam naked in his garden. Played any games lately, Tashi?”

“Lost any panties lately, Kaya?” Tashi threw a piece of focaccia at her and squealed when Kaya caught it and popped it into her mouth with aplomb.

“Go, Tashi. You’re learning the art of backlash, girl.” Shaina high-fived her.

“Actually, I seldom wear panties anymore since Bryce is always taking them off and never giving them back,” Kaya said with a dreamy look in her eyes. “It just makes more sense to go commando. Easy access, entrance, and withdrawal, especially when he corners me at odd places in the house for a hot and raunchy quickie, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh, we know.” The women’s undiluted amusement echoed throughout the room.

“Well, I’m glad to find you all in good spirits.”

“Desire’s here,” Tashi whispered.

The ladies turned their heads toward the door and, immediately—as if on cue—they sobered up as a young woman with long black hair walked in.

“Please, don’t stop on my account.” Desire advanced farther into the room. “What’s so amusing?” she asked, setting an oversized tote on the floor.

“We’re just messing around.” Michelle tossed clandestine smiles at her soul sisters. It was one thing to share their secrets with each other, but nobody from outside their circle had knowledge of their relations and daily interactions with their husbands, especially not about their bedroom activities.

She knew it was the same for the men. She and her friends were always wondering how much their husbands shared with each other. There were tacit codes of ethics and protocol within and among the male and female clubs. One thing the women were certain of was that their husbands were always extremely amorous after spending time with each other—which indicated that they shared intimate marriage details. Not that the ladies were objecting. This was
Sex and the Country
, the rustic equivalent to New York’s
Sex and the City
.

“Yeah, just inside jokes. You wouldn’t get it.” Shaina smiled up at Desire. “Welcome aboard,” she added, to move the conversation away from their personal lives and on to the business they’d gathered for.

“Thanks. It’s really an honor to be working with you ladies. Planning the wedding of four of the most powerful couples in the country will definitely look good on my resume.” She gave Kaya a fleeting glance before peering out the window, clearly to avoid her gaze.

Deciding to confront the elephant that had appeared in the room, Kaya turned to Desire. “I’m fine with you taking over for Fae, Desire, and I—” She paused and made an all-inclusive motion with her hands. “
We
appreciate you taking us on at such short notice. We know you’re the best, and for obvious reasons we didn’t hire you initially, but now that we have, I’m sure you’re aware that it will probably cause some tension where my husband is concerned.”

“
Probably
? You haven’t told him yet?” Desire asked, a disparaging tilt to her voice.

“I was just told about this a few minutes ago. And once we’re done here, I will head over to Fontaine Enterprises to speak with Bryce.”

“My decision to take over from Fae was contingent upon you informing Mr. Fontaine, immediately. What if he says no? I don’t want to waste any more time on a project that I might not be able to follow through to the end. I have two more weddings I’m working on, and—”

“We understand,” Shaina assured her. “And we promise that you’ll have an answer by the end of the day.” She caught Kaya’s gaze, silently pleading with her to convince her husband to make it a positive one.

“I’ll call you after I talk with him,” Kaya promised Desire.

“Perfect.” Michelle indicated the vacant chair at the round table. “Should we get down to business?”

Desire’s face broke out into a grin as she scooted into the chair between Kaya and Tashi. “Fae told me you’re taking pole dancing lessons. Is that for your individual honeymoons?”

“Actually, we’re planning to crash our husbands’ bachelor party on Saturday.” Tashi’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“That should get a big rise out of them,” Desire said.

“Massive rises that we’ll all be eager to relieve.”

“No wonder you’re always pregnant,” Shaina said, eyeballing Michelle.

“Right. Like you and Mass don’t get your groove on every chance you get. All you all. I know all your dirty little secrets. So don’t you sit there acting all prim and proper, chastising me, just because I once lived on the wrong side of the tracks.”

Michelle’s fitting retort made everyone laugh, even Desire.

“I wish I had a circle of friends like you,” Desire said of their innocuous sparring. “But it’s hard to make friends in a town when your family’s name has been tainted.”

The wives looked at each other, having no idea how to respond.

“At least I have my cousin, Lisa. We’re as tight as sisters,” Desire added with a faint smile.

“Well, blood is thicker than water.” Kaya immediately gave herself a mental kick in the behind.
Oh, this was going to be difficult,
she thought, as she watched Desire pull her laptop, two white binders, and an assortment of fabrics from her tote and place them on the table. “Would you like something to eat, Desire?” she asked to redeem herself. “We still have a ton of food—some we haven’t even touched yet,” she said pointing at a side table laden with appetizers, lunch dishes, pitchers of ice tea and lemonade, and virgin specialties from the bar. “The Kobe fillet is to die for.”

“And so is the Wagyu rib eye,” Shaina added. “It was imported from Tokyo.”

Michelle snickered. “Not everyone is into the kind of steak rich people eat to remind themselves of their wealth and elevated social status.” Ignoring the gasps from her friends, she continued, “From someone who doesn’t eat beef, I vouch for the broiled eggplant and the stuffed red peppers.”

Desire gave the buffet table a fleeting glance. “It smells and looks delicious, and I’m tempted, but I’m meeting Chad for lunch when I’m done here. It would be rude if I arrived with a full stomach. I hope you understand.”

“No problem. Maybe next time.” Tashi gave Desire a tight smile. She was the first person Tashi had ever known to pass up the chance to eat at Ristorante Andreas. It was hard not to take it personally, seeing that her husband owned the restaurant.

“You’re meeting Chad Hunter?” Kaya asked. He was the only Chad she knew.

Desire’s eyes narrowed. “You know him?”

“I’ve never met him, but I know he’s an attorney. Steven Lynd, Bryce’s friend, has mentioned him in conversation. They’ve butted heads a few times in court.”

“I know his mom,” Michelle added. “She works at Granite Falls General. She’s one of the best nurses there. Are you and Chad dating?”

“No. We grew up next door to each other, so we touch base once in a while.”

“Doesn’t he have an older brother?” Michelle snapped her fingers. “Chase! I’ve heard his mother talk about him. He left town some years ago and never came back. Where is he?”

Desire’s mouth pulled into a tight line and she trembled slightly. “I have no idea. I’ll take a glass of water in lieu of the food.” She opened her laptop, indicating to the women that her personal life, like theirs, was not open to discussion.

Touché.
Kaya grabbed a clean glass from a mobile cart behind her and filled it with water from a crystal pitcher while her friends scrambled to clear the table, taking the half-eaten plates of food over to one end of the buffet table. She refilled everyone’s water glasses, and soon they all settled down in their seats again.