Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)(20)

Guilt, sharp and jagged, tears through me.

Marrying Paige is a terrible idea.

Because I remember the look in her eyes when Danny called her out all those years ago for letting her feelings for me confuse her.

I’m not all that sure it was a harmless crush, like she claims.

Maybe it was more.

I feel like Paige and I are a Pandora’s box rigged with explosives, and one wrong move will make it blow up in my face.

Someone knocks on the bathroom door, and I shove my phone in my pocket as my brothers barge in.

Jace slings his arm over Beau’s shoulders. “Look at Rhett. Our big bro is all grown up.” He dabs at his eyes. “I’m getting choked up over here.”

“Shut up, asshole.” My brothers laugh. I try to adjust my tie, but it’s tight, and I feel like I might choke. I glance at the toilet. There’s a possibility I might hurl.

Beau frowns. “You okay?”

I nod, but the truth is I’m kinda shaken up from reading my “wedding announcement” in the Gazette. Paige warned me that Georgia Hightower cornered her at the diner, but nothing prepared me to read about her gushing over me.

I splash some water on my face. It’s all bullshit. It has to be. But it makes me uncomfortable nonetheless.

Mav sticks his head in my bathroom. “We gotta go if you want to be on time for your wedding.” He shakes his head. “Can’t believe you’re doing this. Talk about taking one for the team. At least Paige is awesome.”

Mav would know this because he and Paige grew up together and went to the same college. Really, she’s much more suited to be marrying someone Maverick’s age. Not a divorced single father of two.

What the fuck am I doing?

And why did I think it was a good idea to get hitched without my boys? Since Paige won’t be sticking around after those six months, I figured this transition might be easier for my kids if they didn’t watch me tie the knot. Now, I don’t know.

If people ask me about it, I’m just telling them Gabriel and Austin are on vacation with their mom and leaving it at that.

Maverick nudges me. “Just watch. I’m gonna get drafted, make a shitload of money, and pay you back for all of this crap.”

After I dry my face, I grab Mav in a chokehold and scruff his head. “Don’t worry ’bout us. You don’t need that pressure. Just do your thing and focus on the game.”

He breaks out of my hold and goes to tackle me, but Beau holds him off. “We don’t have time for y’all to go wrestling around on the floor, and Mav, the last thing you need is to break something being an idiot. Come on.”

I point to my little brother. “You think you’re all big and tough, but I can still whoop your ass.”

His chest puffs up, and he hops up and down. “Oh, yeah? I’d like to see you try.”

I laugh and pat his back. I’m just talking shit. My little bro ain’t so little anymore.

Jace drives Mav, and I let Beau drive me because I’m distracted and I need a minute to gather my thoughts.

As we head toward town, Beau lifts a finger off the steering wheel. “Just wanna give you a heads-up. Baylee’s mom rented that cabin off the lake for y’all this weekend. She said you and Paige needed some ‘special time away,’ just the two of you. She said it’s her wedding gift to you. She hasn’t told Paige yet. It’s supposed to be a surprise, so act surprised.”

“Christ.” I scrub my face. “I was hoping to relax with a few beers tonight after I set Paige up in the boys’ room. Thought she could sleep there until they get back, but now we have this damn reception. I can’t even think about that cabin.”

“You can still have that beer, but now it’s with the ultra-romantic backdrop of the cabin. So no one will hear you railing your little wife.”

I growl. “Paige is not getting railed, okay? Get that through your head.”

He chuckles. “Got it, chief.”

After I roll down the window, I tug at my collar. “Is it hot? I’m hot.”

“I have the air conditioning blasting in your face.”

When we park, Beau starts to get out, but I grab his shoulder. “I need a minute.”

“You gonna bolt?”

“I’d never do that to Paige. I just… I’m not sure this is a smart idea.”

“Coulda told ya that, but it’s kinda late now.” He points to Harlan’s Cadillac, which is pulling into a parking spot. He and his wife get out, and I watch them stroll to the courthouse.

I take a deep breath. “I don’t want to hurt Paige.”

Beau gives me a look. “Then don’t hurt her.”

“It’s that easy?”

He nods. “Yeah. Don’t be a dick. Treat her with respect, be kind, talk shit out, and you’ll be okay.”

I scratch the back of my head. “Where’d you learn all that?”

“I read it on a Hallmark card.”

“A Hallmark card said don’t be a dick?”

He chuckles. “It said don’t be rude, but I put it in my own words, okay? Anyway, if you treat her like a friend, you should be cool.”

“How’d you get to be so wise? And how come I don’t know that shit, and I’m older?”