Free Southern Belles 4 Blissmas by Amanda Heartley Page B

and
everything. It'll take me forever. Too bad Millie isn't working
today or we'd be at the salon, getting some amazing up do’s."
    "Y'all think you're not perfect, but you're
so lovey dovey. The ranch has some thin walls; I hear what's going
on in there all night." A sly grin slid across her face. "Y'all
really go for it, don't ya?"
    "Marti! You are my best friend and I love
you, but I am not telling you the details of what goes on in my bed
with my fiancé." Shaking her head. "You're crazy. Damaged, even."
She told Marti a lot of things, but her sex life with Tommy was not
one of them.
    When they got back to the house, Annie put on
some Christmas music and Marti went to call Nick. He was supposed
to be there and they would all go to the Christmas party, but he
hadn't arrived yet. No answer. He was probably already on the
plane, no service yet or driving through the mountains. She jumped
in the shower and quickly washed up.
    Tommy came home from work early and got ready
as well. Annie and Marti were running around, getting ready singing
Christmas carols at the top of their lungs. Marti grabbed a hair
brush and used it as a microphone. They stood in the hall singing,
"Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Glory To The New Born King!" and
busted up laughing when they were both off key.
    "Y'all better get ready, we're leaving
shortly. Marti have you heard from Nick?" She laughed at how silly
they were together. Having Marti there was like a breath of fresh
air for Annie, a pick-me-up.
    Annie looked amazing as always, in a red
sequined dress and a beautiful long white faux fur cape to keep her
warm. Marti was in an ivory satin gown with a green velvet cape.
She felt like Belle, and both ladies looked incredible.
    "Nope, let me try again. I hope everything is
okay with him." She sat on the sofa and dialed his number again.
Straight to voicemail. "Guys, I don't know what's going on, I don't
know whether to be mad or scared. He doesn't pick up or call me
back."
    Straightening his bow tie, he tried to assure
her. "Well, he's a big boy and pretty damn smart, so I'm sure he's
alright. When is the last time you talked to him?"
    Tommy looked amazing in his black tux with
red accents. Annie had ordered it so they would match. He was a
country boy, not used to the dress up of cocktail parties and fine
dining. Well, semi fine dining, the party was at the Elks Lodge and
the local steakhouse was catering.
    "I talked to him this morning, he said he had
some work to do and would be here on time. I took it to mean he was
flying in. How's the weather from here to there?"
    "Should be good, let me double check." He
pulled out his phone and scrolled, "Says it's clear, bit chilly, 38
and getting down in the 20's tonight. Are y'all going to be warm
enough?"
    "We'll be fine, honey." Annie pulled the cape
around her bare legs, "these capes are like blankies." She smiled,
walking over to him. "Ya wanna crawl up in here with me?" she cooed
to her fiancé.
    Marti cringed. "Stop! Get a room. I'm getting
worried over here."
    Tommy was holding Annie and looked up at
Marti, "Relax, he'll be okay. Why don't you text him the address
and he can meet us there? If he's flying over the mountains, he may
not have service and he will get it when he lands."
    Marti bit her lip, she was worried. It wasn't
like him to not answer, or at least text her. "You really think
he's okay?" She sent him a text with the address to the party, not
like he couldn't find it in the small town, everyone would be
there.
    They grabbed their things and headed out the
door. "Dang, it's cold." Marti wrapped herself up in the cape as
she slid onto the cool leather seat. She was concerned, but she
knew Nick was a grown man and could take care of himself. And she
needed a drink….Now.
    The four minute drive was silent. Marti
checked her phone again. No answer from Nick. She called, still no
answer. "Okay, guys, I'm really worried."
    After parking the car on the gravel lot,
Tommy got out and opened both