Chapter 401

Kayla kept her word. The estate that we named Juniper Acres because of the dozens of Juniper trees on the grounds became ours a few days after my talk with her.

I liked the small trees. They had a pleasant, fresh, and woodsy scent, and the blue/ green berries were pretty and had many uses.

Besides making arrangements for our wedding, Victor and I spent the last three weeks getting our mansion ready for us to move in. It was a labor of love, knowing it was all ours.

We painted some of the rooms in different colors that we preferred. I especially liked the shade of yellow that we painted our breakfast room.

Like Alex’s mansion, our breakfast room had many windows facing east for plenty of natural sunlight. We would enjoy our mornings together, enjoying our first cup of coffee in the room.

The living room now had comfy, overstuffed furniture in light blue and walnut. The carpets and drapes were neutral colors that set off the polished wooden floors.

It was an inviting room. I looked forward to spending much of my time there. The TV, over six feet across, would make watching a movie feel like we were part of the action.

Our family dining room seated twelve, and our formal dining room could accommodate up to seventy-five guests. I planned on using both.

Best of all was our bedroom suite. We painted the walls a rich cream color with pearl gray drapes, bedding, and throw rugs.

The king-sized bed was placed opposite the fireplace between multi-candle sconces on the wall. It would be a romantic spot to spend our nights.

Thanks to Benson, we were fully staffed with four footmen, six maids, a cook and two kitchen maids, a housekeeper, a valet for Victor, and our own butler named Barrow.

Barrow was the son of Benson’s cousin. He was fifteen years younger than Benson, but he was experienced and efficient. He also had a sense of humor when nobody else was around.

“Will the new barbecue pit be ready for tomorrow?” I asked Barrow. “I can’t believe my wedding day is almost here.”

There was a whole deer and a pig ready to be roasted in the pantry. We knew our guests enjoyed meat.

“Yes, Miss,” Barrow replied. “And the tents are up, the dance floor is being installed beneath the stage, and the tables and chairs arrived an hour ago.”

“What about the food and drink?” I asked. “I wish we knew for sure how many guests were coming.”

“I doubt anyone will turn down their invitation,” Barrow said. “Therefore, with plus ones, we should prepare for five hundred.”

I bit my lip.“Are we prepared for that many?”

“Easily, Miss,” Barrow replied. “Don’t worry about a thing.”

The doorbell chimed, and Barrow hurried to answer the door.

He returned in less than a minute with Lana.

“Have you moved in yet?” Lana asked as she ran a hand over the living room upholstery.

“Almost all of our things arrived yesterday,” I told her. “Anna has been instructing the maids on where I want everything while the doormen have been outside getting things ready for the reception.”

Lana moved across the room to examine a painting I recently bought at the gallery. “You’ve shown a lot of restraint by not spending your nights here until your wedding night. This place is divine. I don’t think I could have resisted moving in early.”

“We thought it would make our wedding night more special to wait,” I said. “But we might not want to leave on our honeymoon trip the next day.”

The house had a vibe that it was meant to be ours from the moment we first walked in the front door. Now that we’ve worked to make it our own, that feeling was magnified tenfold.

Juniper Acres would be our home for the rest of our lives. Our children would be raised here. All of our holidays and life milestones will be celebrated here.

It would be a happy place, full of love and laughter. I had no doubt Victor and I would be blissfully happy in this house.

“I should throw you a housewarming party when you return from the islands,” Lana said. “All the ladies would come just to get a good look inside this house.”

“I don’t know,” I said. The thought of a pack of nosy Lunas sniffing around our new home wasn’t worth a few gifts.

“It will be considered a gesture of goodwill between you and the Alpha society,” Lana explained. “And you only have to put up with it once.”

“Okay,” I said with a sigh. “But plan it for at least two weeks from when we return from our honeymoon.”

“That works,” Lana agreed. “Where is my son?”

“He’s upstairs instructing the new valet Benson insisted he hire,” I replied. “He would rather be outside working on the new barbecue pit and putting up tents with the footmen.”

“He will find a good valet is worth their weight in gold,” Lana said. “His father didn’t want a valet when we were first married. Now he can’t do without him.”

“I don’t want to leave to go back to Alex’s, but I’m spending the night there,” I said.

“What about Victor?” Lana asked. “Are you letting him stay here by himself?”

“He’s spending the night at his old apartment in the city,” I explained. “The sale of the apartment won’t be final until next week.”

“Here he comes.” Lana grinned as Victor walked in, looking grumpy but extremely well-groomed.

“You look splendid this afternoon, dear,” Lana teased. “Is that a new suit?”

“No,” he grumbled. “Daisy, what time are we eating dinner with Alex and Cassidy?”

I checked the time on my phone. “We should leave in an hour.”

“I’m going outside,” he said as he loosened his tie. “Call

me when you’re ready to go.”

We watched Victor walk away and giggled.

“He’s so much like his father,” Lana said.

I walked Lana through the house to show off what we had done until Victor came back inside. He found us in the breakfast room admiring the new golden oak table and chairs.

“I’m ready to go,” Victor said.

“Okay,” I replied. “Lana, do you and Harry want to eat with us at Alex’s?”

“I’m afraid we have another commitment.” Lana kissed us both goodbye, and we walked out of the house with her.

“See you in the morning, kids,” Lana called from her limo.

We climbed into Victor’s car and drove to Alex’s.

“Are you going to miss me tonight?” I asked before we went inside.

“Very much,” he replied. “But it’s the last night we will ever be apart.”

I kissed him and nuzzled his neck. “I’m so excited I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”

“You better try,” Victor said before giving me a passionate kiss. “You won’t get much sleep tomorrow night.”

“Do you promise,” I asked and licked his lips.

“I swear,” he replied and caressed my breast.

“We’d better save this for tomorrow,” I said and began to get out of the car. “You have to leave after dinner, and don’t sneak into my bed later by jumping onto the balcony.”

“I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Victor said as he followed me inside Alex’s mansion.

Dinner was ready, so we went straight to the dining room. Alex and Cassidy were in a good mood as Benson served a special dinner.

“Maybe we should have had a practice ceremony,” I said. “I’m getting a little nervous.”

“As long as you have your vows ready,” Victor said.

“Of course, I have them ready,” I replied. But I wanted to reread them before bed. They weren’t quite right.

“Alex, would you check on Juniper Acres for us while we’re on our honeymoon?” Alex asked. “Mom said she’d try to remember to stop in, but with a new staff, I think someone needs to stop by more than once.”

“Of course,” Alex agreed. “I’d be glad to look after it for you while you’re gone.”

I ate my fill of the roast chicken, potatoes, and vegetables and was delighted when Benson brought my favorite chocolate fudge cake from the kitchen.

But when the cake was gone, it was time for Victor to leave.

I walked him to the front doors and kissed him goodbye before running upstairs. Going to a spare bedroom, I examined my wedding gown that Anna spread carefully over the bed.

I carefully touched the silver lace at the neckline and realized it was really happening. At ten o’clock in the morning, I would become Victor’s wife!

After a last look at my wedding gown, I went to my bedroom to work on my vows. I knew exactly what I had forgotten to put in them.