On the day of the wedding, Arryn and her friends arrived at Rhys' just after noon. With the groom sequestered at his parents' house, the two helpers had a chance to explore the place, and the bride an opportunity to consider jumping back in the car and living out her life hiding out as a fisherwoman in Alaska. Too cold. She'd have a better shot in Colombia. Maybe she could snag a job at some fancy resort where white people could fawn all over her for speaking English so well. She stared at the back deck, where clusters of orange and white pumpkins, interspersed with yellow, tangerine, and snowy mums bunched along the railing. An archway intertwined with ivy, autumn leaves, and tulle stood at one end. The fall hues of the surrounding trees looked as if God had colored them just for her wedding day.

"Damn, I might marry him to live here," Yennefer said. "This place is beautiful."

"No lie," Darcy said.

Arryn frowned. "Could we please not use the word lie?" Then she walked to the kitchen and gestured to each appliance as if it was a game show prize. "Look at these. Double ovens. I can't believe I'm going to live here."

Darcy wagged her head. "I hate to pour water on your fantasy, but don't get attached to this place. He's made it clear, once his job situation is taken care of, you're outta here."

"Oh, hush." Yennefer shook her finger. "This is her home. Maybe temporary. But if she wants to enjoy it while it lasts, then let her. Stop being Downer Darcy."

"It's okay," Arryn said. "She's right. None of this is mine, and it never will be. Sometimes, for a few seconds, I see the Rhys from Memorial Day before he knew what I'd done, and I think maybe I can get that version back for good. Stupid, huh?"

Yennefer took her hands. "Not at all. I noticed there's only one bed in this house, so I'm assuming you'll be sleeping together. Your relationship began with sex, so start over."

Arryn spread her arms out on each side of her belly. "See this. Not the sexiest shape right now. He won't be interested."

"Are you?"

She raised her eyes toward heaven. "Oh, God. So much."

"Well, you won't know until you try. I say go for it. Besides, who doesn't do the deed on their wedding night?"

"Big fat liars?"

Yennefer bent with laughter. "If I was into women, I'd do you."

Now Arryn laughed. "Good to know."

Darcy raised a critical eyebrow. "You two are nuts. I can't believe you'd even consider doing anything with him after the way he's been acting. I recommend staying as far away from him as possible until this ordeal is over."

Arryn nodded solemnly. "You're probably right. Now, I need to get ready."

At two o'clock, Arryn placed her arm in Papi's, and they strolled to the end of the aisle. When Rhys saw her, his lips parted, as if trying to take a breath. He kept his eyes fixed on her until she stood next to him, and they joined hands. Facing him, the vein below his ear pulsed. She had his attention. Her heart quickened.

As he repeated his vows, he gazed into her eyes, and she almost believed he meant them. And when the minister said to kiss the bride, Rhys placed one hand on Arryn's stomach, and the other on her cheek, then covered her mouth with the most sensuous kiss she'd had since meeting him. She leaned into him, sliding her hands up his chest, then around his neck. He broke the kiss but came back for another, and her head spun. This time when it ended, she stared into his eyes, and there he was. The sweet, gentle, romantic Rhys from the bar and she wanted to keep him forever. But then he turned to face the crowd, and the moment was over.

After the ceremony, Arryn mingled among the small gathering, which included Rhys' friend, Brandon, and his wife, who Arryn found out was also pregnant, and Devon, her original victim. He was a gorgeous man with killer dimples.

He approached and smiled at her. "This is crazy, we didn't even know he was still seeing you, and come to find out last week you were getting married."

Arryn chuckled and rubbed her tummy. "This had something to do with that."

"Well, whatever the reason, I'm happy for him. He seems better, with you. You won't stop us from watching the games on the big screen, will you?"

"Wouldn't dream of it." She smirked and tried to keep a good attitude. He seems better with you. If only they knew their friend was worthy of an Oscar. "Of course not." The breeze caught strands of her hair and blew them across her face. She tucked them behind her ear.

"Wow, that's some ring." He grasped her hand for a closer look.

"It was his grandmother's."

He double dimpled her. "Well, it's beautiful. Do you want some punch?"

"No, thanks. I need to find my groom." She took a few more minutes to enjoy the view and soak in the decorations. Even if the marriage wasn't real, this was a day she never wanted to forget. After giving Guinivere a pat on the head, she went inside and found Rhys sitting on the sofa drinking whiskey. She sat, leaving plenty of space between them.

"You have a nice conversation with Devon?"

She thought it an odd question and wondered how many drinks he'd had. "He wanted assurance the big screen would still be available for games each week."

"Oh."

An hour later, after what seemed like an endless photo session, the guests had all gone. Olive and Effy rearranged pumpkins outside. Guinivere lay in her favorite spot. Hugh and Papi visited on the porch. Yennefer and Darcy walked down to the lake.

Tawny and Mom came into the room, and Rhys pulled Arryn closer and kissed her lightly on the lips. Act or not, she liked it and wondered about what Yennefer had said. If Arryn made advances later, would he be interested?

"There is nothing sweeter than young love." Tawny placed her hand against her throat. "It was the most beautiful wedding I've ever seen. I wasn't sure I'd like one without attendants, but it was perfect."

"Tawny and I were discussing how each of us will decorate the baby's room at our houses. As soon as we know what you're having. You plan to find out, don't you?"

"Yes."

"When is your next appointment?" Rhys asked.

"Next week. I've made you a calendar with everything on it. It's in my purse."

His vision moved from her mouth to her eyes and back to her mouth again. Arryn took her bottom lip between her teeth, and he looked away.

One by one, the crowd thinned, and Arryn got more anxious. Her husband stood next to her as she thanked each one for their attendance. The secretary, Melissa, was one of the last to leave. "If he gives you any trouble, call me. I've been whipping him into shape for years."

Arryn went into shock when her mom and Papi left together, leaving Abuelito to drive home alone. She wondered what that was about. Was Papi going to stay the night with Mom? She shook the notion away. She had her own bed partner to consider.

The soft pink gown she'd bought accented her breasts in the best way, but she decided against wearing it. Instead, she put on her cotton nightshirt. She wasn't sure why he wanted them to sleep together, but from the way he acted when they were alone, it wasn't for touchy-feely, physical or otherwise.

Rhys was already in bed, and even though he had his eyes closed, she knew he wasn't sleeping. She turned on her lamp, then took something from the bedside drawer and crawled in next to him. "This is a wedding gift for you."

He turned to face her. "You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to. Here." She passed him the envelope.

He opened it, slid the photo out, and gazed down. "Is this...?"

"Yes. The first photo of your daughter."

He snapped his head toward her, and their eyes met. "Daughter?"

She nodded. "I haven't even told Darcy and Yennefer."

He stared back at the image. "A girl." He raised his eyes to Arryn again, and there was the look. The one that escaped his hard exterior for a few seconds when he let down his guard.

"I can't believe it. I mean, I know I'll be a dad, but seeing this makes it real."

Arryn smiled, followed by a grimace. "You want to feel her kick?"

He shifted his body. "Can I?"

She took his hand and placed it on her belly. At first, the baby shifted like a ripple in a pond, then she pushed hard, causing Arryn's stomach to rise on one side.

Rhys moved his palm from side to side, following the movement. "That's crazy. It's like a little alien."

"You should feel it from the inside."

He lay back, but kept his hand in place, sliding first one way and then the other, searching for the next move.

She'd hoped he'd say more. She wanted him to, but he'd gone right back to his stoic persona. So much for any sort of reconciliation. When she put her hand on top of his, not to push it away, but to hold it in place, he let her. She took a deep breath and was thankful for the intimacy, no matter how small. Within a few minutes, she drifted into sleep.

Rhys sat in a corner booth while a petite waitress with black nails, and a nose hoop piercing, filled his coffee mug. He glanced at his watch. Fifteen minutes late, Ace rushed through the door, and he waved to her.

"Sorry, I got tied up with a client." She scooted into the booth, pushing her purse to the side. "You've been off the market for two whole weeks. How's married life treating you?"

"Okay."

"Just okay?"

"What do you expect from me? We're not your typical couple. She cooks. I eat. I cook. She eats. We sleep together. The rest of the time, we avoid each other."

Ace pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't get it. You searched for months trying to find her. Now you have, and you act like you hate her, but we both know you don't."

"No, you don't get it. She lied. Not once, but over and over. Then, when she discovered she was pregnant, she had no intention of ever telling me about the baby. My baby. She made a fool of me. And for every month I mooned over her, she kept making me a sucker, because I was searching for someone who didn't exist."

"This is about your injured pride?"

"Partly. I'm a smart guy, but I keep letting people use me. Well, not anymore."

Ace leaned back and folded her arms. "You're making Arryn pay for everyone's sins?"

"I'm the one doing the right thing where the baby is concerned. Give me some credit. I married Arryn. The kid will have my name, a dad who'll love her, and be in her life. I'll take care of both her and her mother. I'm a good guy in this story. You seem to be overlooking that."

Ace paused. "You said her. It's a girl?"

Rhys smiled, and his chest swelled. He didn't know how he could have such feelings for a child who wasn't even born yet, but he did. "Yeah. A girl."

"Olive and Effy will be so happy! I can't wait to tell them." Ace reached across the table and took his hand. "You're right. You deserve respect for your actions. Even if this marriage is questionable, you're trying to do the right thing. All I'm saying is give yourself a chance to see beyond her mistake. Can you do that?"

He ran his hands through his hair and grimaced. "I don't know. Every morning I tell myself I'll treat her better, but then she cooks breakfast, makes my lunch, and acts like nothing is wrong, and it pisses me off all over again."

"Her being nice to you makes you mad? Would it be better if she acted like a bitch? That would make you happy?"

He stared into space a moment, then looked back at his sister. "She cuts my sandwiches into shapes. She does all sorts of crazy things with food, and it drives me nuts."

"Why?"

"That's just it. I don't know, but it does."

"Oh my God. You like it and that's what makes you mad. You're not pissed at her, you're pissed at yourself. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say the feelings you have for her are getting stronger." She smiled, saccharine. "Rhys is falling in loooooooove."

"Don't be ridiculous."

Ace laughed, and wiggled in her seat, then put her sentence to a rap beat. "A girl. My brother is having a sweet baby girl, and if he's willing to admit it or not, he's falling in love with her mother."

"Shut up and stop doing that. People are watching."

She didn't say anything else, but the expressions she sent his way made him even madder.

Your jealousy is showing, Rhys.

Ace knows best.

TEASER: "Let's get this over with."

Trouble in paradise?