Page 28 of Brazilian Surrender
Chapter Nine
“What a beautiful dress,” Satyanna said, fixing the short veil.
Camila couldn’t have agreed more—the white gown outlined Erika’s slight curves. Sheer organza snugged her top then dropped at the waist with layers of feathery ruffles.
“Do you think I’m showing?” Erika asked, smoothing her hand over her belly.
Satyanna, Addie, and Camila, the three bridesmaids, looked at one another in shock. Camila loved interacting with the little ones and knowing their family grew. Her parents would have been happy to know most of them made their own families. Maybe one day it’d happen for her, too. Just not with Jaeger.
“Congratulations. That’s so exciting.” Addie gave Erika a hug. “Are you guys waiting to make the news public?”
Erika nodded. “We wanted to make our wedding day about us, since from now on it won’t be just us anymore. I promised Emanuel I’d wait, but it’s so damn hard to keep this a secret.”
Someone knocked on the door.
“Maybe it’s the wedding planner,” Satyanna said. For the past few hours, Erika’s suite had been a revolving door of stylists, makeup artists, and other employees. Even though the wedding wasn’t anything huge—only one hundred guests or so—Erika had made sure it would be every bit the fairy tale wedding she’d imagined.
“I’ll open the door,” Camila said. God, she loved weddings. Another piece of information she’d better not discuss in front of Jaeger to keep things from getting awkward. Why would he care anyway? Once he found whoever wanted to hurt her, he’d be out of her life. How ironic—she’d experience relief and heartbreak simultaneously.
Heartbreak? No. My heart can’t be involved, she thought. She opened the door and the maid handed her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She inhaled them, the combination of daisies, lilies, and white roses an intoxicating mix. Maybe a guest who couldn’t make it to the wedding sent them.
Satyanna whistled. “They’re gorgeous.”
“Who are they from?” Addie chimed.
Erika took the envelope from the bouquet. “Oh. They’re for you,” she said, giving Camila the small square envelope.
“For me?” Camila frowned. She opened the envelope and read the message written in cursive handwriting: Not far enough. A cold shiver ran down her spine, and she parted her lips but hesitated to speak.
“So? Who sent them?” Addie asked, sniffing the flowers.
“Jaeger.” Camila hoped her voice sounded enthusiastic enough. How could she reveal she had a stalker now? When this nightmare ended, she’d share the news with her family, but today was Erika and Emanuel’s day. Hell, Erika had kept her own pregnancy a secret to enjoy this special day. There was nothing her siblings could do that she wasn’t already doing—hiring the best person to protect her and find the person guilty of threatening her.
“Niiice.” Erika whistled.
“I-I need to get some air. Is that okay?” Camila asked.
“Sure. Whatever he wrote on that note got you all flustered,” Addie said, chuckling.
The other women laughed, too, and murmured something Camila didn’t hear. She hoped they just assumed she was too shy to read a sexy note out loud. Her heart slammed against her rib cage as she walked out of the room, her pace quickening until she ran to the suite she occupied with Jaeger.
When she opened the door and slammed it behind her, Jaeger turned. He’d just put on his suit, and man, didn’t he look good enough to eat with the dark gray jacket and pants, crisp white shirt, and silky red tie. Maybe she’d eat him, if her stomach weren’t churning.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, picking up her nervous energy instantly. Over the last few days she had spent more time with him, he’d come to know her better than most people. Jaeger excelled at reading people, which sucked for her—she also had done a crappy job hiding her growing passion for him.
She showed him the note, her fingers still shaky and palm cold. “I just received some flowers and this note came with them. I didn’t tell anyone; they think it’s from you.”
He nodded, but she didn’t miss the vein flickering in his neck. “Stay here.”
Her stomach dropped to the floor. “What? Where are you going?”
“I’ll go to the flower shop and figure out who sent these to you. It’s a local store. I’ll be back in time for the wedding,” he said, after a glance at his watch.
“What do I tell people if they ask?”
“Tell them I got my clothes messed up and went to rent a suit. It’s crazy down there. I’ll doubt they’ll miss me.”
I’ll miss you. The words dangled at the tip of her tongue. Don’t do this to yourself, Camila. Don’t encourage this fascination for Jaeger. He’s made sure you know this…fling won’t go far. “Okay.”
