Risqué Business (Club Risqué #8)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

“ C hristian, we need to set a date.” His fiancée looked frazzled and decidedly cross.

Trinity was having the worst morning sickness of all time. Well, that’s what she claimed anyway, and he had to admit, it did seem like she was constantly ill. Never mind just in the mornings.

At eight weeks, she still wasn’t showing, and he guessed it would be a while before she did. But Trinity was such a tiny, fairy-like creature, he knew she was terrified she’d soon be huge. She wasn’t a vain woman, but he guessed it was natural to want to look your best on your wedding day. But his mother… Christian had already denied her one wedding, and even though they hadn’t spoken for six years, he didn’t want her to miss another. Especially when she and Trinity had once been so close.

“Maybe just a few more weeks?” he beseeched, imploring her without words to understand.

“We don’t have a few more weeks, Christian. Do you know how long it takes to organise a wedding?” She threw her arms up in the air. His usually placid girl had a temper these days. “What am I saying? Of course you do. You didn’t make Bianca wait though, did you? Oh no. She got just what she wanted, when she wanted it.” Trinity stalked across the room with a scowl on her beautiful, elfin face. “But I’m just stupid bloody Taryn, willing to be everyone’s damn dogsbody. Why should it matter what I want, eh? Perhaps we should just forget it altogether if it’s just too much trouble.”

She stomped over to the door and slammed out of the room, the frame rattling as wood hit wood and reverberated.

“Shit,” Christian muttered, pushing up from his seat and hurrying after her. Trinity’s mood swings from her pregnancy hormones were epic. His normally poised and conciliatory service submissive had discovered her roar, and boy, did she use it.

Christian found he enjoyed this unexpected side of her. It sure as hell led to some fireworks in bed. But it also meant she was like a loose cannon.

Unpredictable.

If she made threats like this, there was a high chance she might just follow through, and that was the last thing Christian wanted.

“Trinity, sweetheart…” he called as he hurried after her.

He found her in their bedroom, fat tears running down her already blotchy face. “Ah baby,” he soothed as he took her in his arms and cradled her, rocking her back and forth until her sobs subsided. Damn, he hated it when she cried. He’d give her almost anything to keep her happy.

“Okay. You’re right,” he agreed with a sigh. “This is your day, and you deserve to have it exactly how you want it.”

Trinity palmed the tears away and shook her head. “No. I’m sorry. I’m being a bitch. I didn’t mean it. I know how important it is to you for your mother to be there.”

“Well, I did,” Christian appeased. “And you’re right. It is important to me, but… Well, how about we compromise?”

Trinity sniffled and looked at him with tear-drenched eyes. “What sort of a compromise?” she asked, blinking spiky eyelashes at him.

“What’s the last date you’d be comfortable having the wedding?”

Trinity nodded her understanding. “Sixteen weeks. I’m happy to push it that far out, even though the doctor says I could start showing at twelve weeks because of my size.”

Pulling out his phone, Christian gave a nod and found his calendar app. “Sixteen weeks it is then.”

She peered over his shoulder as they looked up dates. They’d already agreed the wedding would take place on either a Monday or a Tuesday since those were the easiest days for their Club Risqué friend group to work around, the club was closed on those days.

“So, one of these two dates.” Christian tapped on the screen. “I’ll ring the officiant tomorrow and see if he’s available. Does that work for you? Can you arrange things that quickly?”

Trinity nodded with quiet confidence. She was amazing when it came to organisational skills. If anyone could pull off a wedding in just a few short weeks, then Trinity could. “Yes, I can. But will you be alright with it if we haven’t located your mother by then?”

Christian huffed out a sigh. “In an ideal world, of course I’d want her to be there, but you’re right. How long do we give it? We’ve both tried everything we can think of. I can’t believe she doesn’t know we’ve tried to contact her. At least one of the attempts we’ve made must have gotten through. So, as much as I want to be reconciled, it seems like she still doesn’t want to be found,” he admitted sadly.

And he might not like it… might not want to accept it, but he guessed he had his answer about whether his mother had forgiven him. He’d thought - hoped - becoming a grandmother might have softened her stance.

Trinity sighed and pressed her soft lips to his. “We can’t put the wedding off indefinitely in the hope she turns up. I know it hurts, but at some point, we have to draw the line…”

Christian pursed his lips and nodded. “Well, I guess we just did.”