“We’ll see how you feel after you hear everything. Things are going to change for me at work.”
“I’m all ears, Tristan, and don’t worry. As long as you don’t change what’s inside you, we’ll be A-OK.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nina
I listened as Tristan explained how he would have to devote more time to Stone Worldwide business from now on, knowing that he feared I wouldn’t want to be with a man like that. He was wrong, though. It didn’t matter if he was a CEO or a doorman. All that mattered to me was that he was the Tristan I loved.
By the time he was finished, he looked like a weight had been lifted from him. Even though he’d decided to be more hands on with the company, the fact that he could shape Stone Worldwide into a business he could be proud of was important.
“So it looks like I’m going to become what I never thought I’d want to be—a real CEO. How do you feel about that? This wasn’t who I was when you said yes to marrying me.”
Lifting his chin with my fingertip, I looked him straight in the eyes. “Tristan, you have to do what’s right for you. If that means taking on more responsibility, how could I have a problem with that? You’re still the same man I fell in love with. It’s not like you’ve decided to give up everything you’ve ever been and live in the wilderness without running water. That I’d have a problem with.”
He kissed my hand and smiled. “I’m not much of a wilderness type of guy. I couldn’t even handle the beard and long hair, and I’m pretty attached to running water myself. I just don’t want you to think that I’m turning into my father. I promise I’m not.”
Who Victor Stone had been was basically a mystery to me, except for what my father had believed about him. I knew nothing about him other than that he was the man I blamed for taking my only parent from me. But never once had I feared Tristan would turn into that man. I saw in the slight frown he wore as he spoke about becoming like his father that he did fear that, though.
“Tristan, you’re not your father. I don’t worry about you turning into him.”
“I swear I never will. I won’t let that happen to me or to us.”
“Speaking of us, I’ve got a million and one things to do before next weekend. One week isn’t a lot of time to plan a wedding.”
“That’s the good part about being the groom. All we have to do is put on the tux and be there on time.”
“I thought the good part was getting married to the woman you love.”
“Well, yeah, of course,” he said with a chuckle. “But not having to do all that wedding stuff is pretty good too.”
I jabbed him in the side. “For that comment, I hope I take up all the bed tonight and leave you with just a sliver of mattress.”
Pulling me close to him, he gave me one of those truly rare Tristan smiles that told me he was truly happy. “As long as you’re next to me, I don’t care how much I have. All that matters is I have you.”
***
I hit the last step to Jordan’s building and struggled to catch my breath as the door flew open. Jordan stood there grinning from ear to ear, arms wide open to envelope me with a hug. “I am so ready to check out some wedding dresses. We can have lunch, gossip about all the things we need to catch up on, and, of course, find you the perfect gown to marry that man of yours in.”
“Let me catch my breath! I think you might be more excited than I am about this shopping trip.”
Grabbing me, she hugged me close and then held me at arm’s length to take a look at me. “This is going to happen this time. I swear to God, if I have to chain you and Tristan down, it’s happening.”
“I promise no more false starts. This time we’re doing this. You ready to go?”
Jordan looked past me at Jensen and the car waiting for us. “I’ve missed that old guy.” Looking around left and then right, she giggled. “And where would your bodyguards be today?”
“They’re somewhere. Tristan told them to make themselves scarce, so we may not see them. Don’t worry, though. You’ll see Gage at the wedding.”
We nearly bounced down the stairs to the car, and Jordan turned toward me, her expression suddenly serious. “By the way, what other females will be there? I need to know who my competition is for the bouquet.”
I opened the car door and held it for her. “It’s going to be a small affair. I promise to make sure you catch the bouquet.”
“Make it look good, though. We don’t want people thinking the fix was in,” she joked as she climbed into the back seat.