hair and then smiled. “Done. You look gorgeous.” She whirled around and stole a look at A.J., shooting him a glare that read, Don’t break her heart. “One minute.” She held up a finger. “That’s all you get. Or I’ll send Brooke in here, and I know she’s one bridesmaid you’d prefer to avoid.”
“I don’t need to avoid her, but—”
“A.J.’s a taken man now, didn’t you hear?” Ella smiled. The first real one he’d seen since arriving a few hours ago.
Oh, he was sure Rory had heard. All of Alabama had to have heard that A.J. was dating Ana, the FBI agent whose face had been all over the international news recently.
“Well, it’s too bad your friend Chris didn’t come with you.” Rory started past him. “Surely Brooke would’ve left you alone if she’d set eyes on that man.”
“Ha.” He shook his head. “Like you would have been okay if Brooke threw herself at Chris?”
Rory’s mouth twisted, and she stuck her nose in the air. Uh-huh, just what I thought. A.J. gave her a smirk.
“I’ll give you that minute,” she said in a haughty tone.
A.J. waited for Rory to leave, then sat on Ella’s childhood bed. “I’m surprised you didn’t design your wedding gown yourself.” His gaze moved to the dress hanging on the back of her closet door.
Ella peered his way, and he saw pain in her eyes. “Yeah, well, you know . . .” She trailed off, looking back to the mirror. “And, um, it’s too bad Ana couldn’t come with you this weekend. Despite all the crazy Russian espionage stuff, and Beckett originally blowing a fuse about it, she fit in down here. I hope you don’t screw things up with her.” She stood and snatched her black, strappy wedge sandals and slipped them on.
“I won’t screw things up,” he muttered in protest, then tightened his hand on the brim of his hat as he held it on his lap. Way to turn the conversation, Ella. “I have every intention of marrying that woman. No doubt in my mind.” And he had no qualms about admitting it, either. “But, Ella Mae, do you have doubts about tomorrow?” And there, he said it. What choice did he have?
A.J. focused on Ella’s reflection in the mirror, her eyes revealing the truth that yes, she did have doubts. He’d seen his sister with Brian enough times to know that she’d never once looked like a woman in love when they were together because now, thanks to Ana, he was very familiar with that look. Ana’s love for him shined through her eyes and melted his heart every time they gazed at each other.
“Please, don’t do this. I already got an earful from Shep and Caleb. And a few grumpy warnings from Beckett last night, too.” She clutched the skirt of her dress. “I don’t know why you’re all so against my happiness.”
“Don’t you get it? We’re concerned you’re not happy.” He stood and circled a hand around her wrist. “Just tell me why you want to marry him. Tell me what the rest of your life would be like without him.”
Her eyes dropped closed, and her lower lip trembled.
“You know that horrible, empty feeling as though your soul has left your body, and you can’t breathe? Can’t eat. Everything hurts on the inside, and your heart is just . . . gone?” He took a shaky breath himself, finding a lump in his throat. “That’s how I feel when I imagine what my life would be like without Anastasia. And I just want to know if you have that same gut-wrenching, painful feeling when you imagine your life without Brian. Just think about it.” He released her and turned, then froze, worried he was seeing things again.
His heart was in his throat. His pulse racing. About every other emotion imaginable washed over him the second he saw Ana backing up, her beautiful face tinged pink as if embarrassed to have interrupted his conversation, but—
“Ana,” he breathed out, dropping his hat. “You’re here.” Once the shock wore off, he hurried to the door.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. Grant told me you’d be upstairs,” she said as he scooped her in his arms like he hadn’t seen her in months instead of just hours.
“What are you doing here? How did ya even get here?” He set her down, still utterly surprised by her presence.
“I know a guy who knows a guy.” She smiled, then pointed to the window.