Pierce tore his gaze from her to scowl at him. “You’re married now, and Brea is mine. That’s my baby she’s carrying. So. Back. The. Fuck. Off.”
“Hey, looks like she doesn’t want your company tonight, big guy,” Josiah cajoled. “Turn around, get in your Jeep, and head to Lafayette.”
Darn it all, Josiah had no idea what she wanted, much less how badly she wanted to touch Pierce. He was working off old gossip. She’d venture most people here were. And she appreciated that Josiah meant to protect her, but this was ridiculous. “No. It’s—”
“Like hell,” Pierce growled, then settled his weighty stare on her again. “I’ve waited weeks for this.”
They both had.
After more squabbling Brea ignored, Cutter’s bride approached, holding out her hand to Pierce. “Shealyn West. Well, Bryant now. Pierce, Brea is dealing with a lot. She will talk to you when she’s ready. I know she wants to. She just needs a little more space and a bit more time to decide what to do.”
What?
Brea hadn’t spilled the details of her relationship with Pierce to the actress. Apparently, Cutter had respected her privacy, too. Either that or Shealyn had been too busy planning their wedding over the last four weeks while flying back and forth between big-city LA and small-town middle-Texas to get the 411. Either way, she wished all the well-meaning people who didn’t understand what was going on would simply shut up.
Pierce took Shealyn’s hand with a scowl. “What is there to decide? She’s going to marry me.”
Marry? Brea’s breath caught. Had he really just said that? Pierce had never used that word…yet he spoke like it was a forgone conclusion.
Shealyn cocked her head as if trying to make him see reason. “You can’t force her—”
“It’s okay. I’ll talk to him.” Brea placated the woman. It would take far longer to explain, and it was none of anyone’s business. Still, she struggled to keep a silly grin off her face. Marry? “We’re drawing attention, and the last thing I want is for you to stop your festivities for me. Go. Enjoy your honeymoon. I’ll be fine.”
Cutter looked reluctant. “I won’t leave you when you need me.”
“Yes.” She took his hand and squeezed it. “You will. You and your wife have two amazing weeks in paradise at the most beautiful little bed-and-breakfast in Maui, ignoring the rest of the world, including me. I’ll talk to Pierce. Josiah and Logan are nearby, just in case.” She wouldn’t need them, but it seemed to make everyone feel better if she had “bodyguards.”
“Are you sure?” Cutter still looked reluctant to leave her.
He needed to stop being overprotective.
“Really.” She hugged him. “I’ll text you later.” At that point, she lost all patience for everyone’s well-meaning interference. “Excuse us.”
People mercifully backed off. Pierce didn’t waste any time taking her hand in his. He felt so warm and big and alive. It was all she could do not to cry tears of joy.
Then he dropped to his knees and placed a hand on her belly, cradling their baby. Around them, the small crowd gasped. She ignored everyone else as he touched her with such tenderness. Then there was no stopping the tears from welling in her eyes.
“Come on,” Shealyn murmured to Cutter. “Let’s give them some privacy and get started on our married life.”
“All right, sweetheart,” Cutter conceded. “Brea, call if you need anything at all.”
Nodding absently, she fisted a trembling hand at her side, trying so hard not to throw herself against Pierce in a sobbing puddle, ask him a million questions, and make him promise he’d never leave her again.
He settled her into a chair and crouched in front of her, his hands in hers. “You okay, baby?”
She nodded. “Are you?”
“Yeah. Don’t cry. I’m fine. I promise.”
She pressed a hand to her mouth to hold in a sob, but it was useless. “Another month with no word from you… It scared me so much. Then I heard this morning that Montilla is dead. Is it true?”
He nodded. “I killed him last night and I started making my way back to you as soon as the deed was done.”
“So it really is over?”
“Yeah. I’m home for good,” he promised. “We can finally be together without you being in danger, and I don’t give a fuck who knows. No, I hope everyone knows. I’m here to finally make you mine.”
Relief crashed through her. Happiness flooded in, destroying the last of her composure. Tears fell in earnest.
He cupped her shoulders and pressed his forehead to hers. “That shouldn’t make you sad.”
She shook her head. “It makes me so happy. But I was scared. I didn’t know what I was going to do if you didn’t come back and—”
“Shh. You’ve got nothing to worry about.” He gave her belly another stroke. “Neither does the baby. Everything okay?”