Page 222 of Dirty Rival

“I will always be him and I know Reid loves you. The man came to Montana to see me because he loves you.”

My eyes tear up. “Then will you give me away?”

“I would be honored.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes, honey, I would. Now tell me Elijah is not a problem. I don’t want him screwing things up.”

“He’s handled. It’s a long story I’ll tell you in person, but all is well.”

“Then tell me about the wedding.”

I walk to the edge of the ice rink and start talking, telling him about my dream spot, and how Reid surprised me with it. “And the dress?”

“Oh, the dress, dad. It’s outrageously expensive and gorgeous and a fantasy gown.”

He keeps asking questions and I keep talking. I’m debating cake flavors when Reid steps to my side. “Maybe strawberry filling in a chocolate cake.”

Reid smiles, kisses my temple, and then heads back inside, my best friend, leaving me to talk to my father. It’s a special moment for me. It’s a moment where I feel whole in a way I didn’t know I needed to feel whole. A moment where all the dots connect and make a perfect circle.

After one day of me trying to work and plan a wedding, I decide to take Reid’s advice and plan the wedding without work on my plate. Over the next few days that becomes a holiday joy. I jog with Reid and Nikki every morning despite the cold, and the three of us are greeted by Kesha with happy meows upon our return. Reid heads to work and holds down the fort, and he and Gabe handle the new properties for Grayson and quite well, or so Reid tells me. Actually, Mia does as well since I see her often. She and Cat are godsends helping me plan the wedding, and I even get to know Lori and Lauren, two of Cat’s close friends.

It’s three days before Christmas when Reid and I meet at lunch to taste cakes. We sit at a table in a hotel where samples have been delivered, compliments of Mia. She and Grayson are with us to pick their cake as well, and it’s a fun few hours that shifts the relationship between Grayson and Reid from distant business partners to friends. We even plan a dinner for after the honeymoon.

The next morning, after Reid leaves for work, Cat and I really bond at a new level. With both of us on the couch, snuggly in sweatpants, the kitty in her lap, and Nikki at my feet, coffee in hand, we share some very special moments. We officially order the flowers, and we’ve emailed invitations and made calls, to complete the list. We shift to planning Christmas day festivities when she tears up. “I’m glad Christmas is going to be about more than losing mom. It’ll be about weddings and Santa Claus. She’d like that. She’d want that.”

My eyes go wide. “Wait. What?”

“It’s a good thing, Carrie.”

“No. Wait.” I sit up straight. “You’re telling me that your mother died at Christmas?” I shove fingers through my hair.

“The twenty-sixth.”

“Why didn’t I know this? I should know this.” I stand up and start to pace. “Oh my God. Oh my God.”

Cat sets Kesha down and stands up. “Why are you freaking out?”

“We can’t get married the day after your mother died. I’m so selfish. I didn’t even know. I didn’t even ask him if this was a bad time of year.”

“It’s not. It’s crazy, I know, but it’s almost like she’ll be more present at the wedding.”

“Because you’re grieving for her. Because anniversaries of this type make that loss ripe again. I have to go talk to Reid. Now. Right now. I need to go.” I rush to the bedroom and grab my purse and hurry back to the living room. “I’m sorry, Cat,” I say rushing to the coatrack and pulling my coat on. “I have to go. I’ll be back. Stay. Go. I love you and thank you for everything including this.”

“You’re overreacting,” she says, hurrying to join me at the door. “But you know what? You love him. I see that.” She hugs me. “Go talk to your man. The critters can be my writing partners. I need to work on my column.”

“Thank you.”

I all but run to the elevator and, since Reid is at his office, several blocks to the Maxwell building. Once I’m there, I don’t announce myself. I hurry past the receptionist and find Connie at her desk and Reid’s door shut. “Is he alone?”

“Gabe’s in there.” Her brows furrow. “You okay, honey?”

“I just need Reid,” I say.

I walk to the door and I don’t knock, that would break our tradition. I walk in and Reid and Gabe are sitting at a conference table. “Hey, baby,” Reid says, standing up, looking gorgeous and perfect in a blue suit, his blond hair rumpled like he’d been deep in thought about a problem and got his fingers involved.

Gabe twists around to look at me. “Hey, Carrie.”