Then I took my place on the raised dais, opposite them. I glanced toward the guests, and Nigel gave me an encouraging nod. He’d taken the seat reserved formyfamily and friends, and I loved him for that. Mom was seated in the front with Aunt Mary, and at the happiness in her eyes, and seeing her smile, I knew I wouldn’t regret anything I had to do. She was here, safe and well, and that alone mattered.
Leland Sinclair and Tanner sat in the front row on the groom’s side. The rest of the congregation, I didn’t know, but they appeared to be the crème de la crème of San Francisco’s elite.
Charli joined me a moment later. War’s focused shifted to her, which she avoided. It made me want to smile. I knew War. He never gave up if he wanted something. Poor Charli. Then the music changed, and the guests rose as Dad walked my sister down the aisle. A brief bout of melancholy tugged at me. My unexpected wedding hadn’t allowed me to be given away by my father.
However, I refused to dwell on what should have been. I had Jack in my life, and that was all that mattered.
Dad kissed Ila’s cheek and then handed her over to a smiling Max, who pressed his lips to her knuckles. The love in his eyes had my own misting. I was so happy for her—for them. Ila handed me her cream calla lilies bouquet as Dad found his seat next to Mom and clasped her hand.
The music faded, and the clergy began, “Dearly beloved…”
Max and Ila went through their vows, and the I dos.
More memories flashed through my mind of Vegas. I met Jack’s gaze. His expression remained inscrutable, but I saw the tenderness in his eyes, and my heart skipped. He was remembering, too. After tonight, we would never be parted.
I listened in a daze, finding it hard to focus on the wedding. My attention kept slipping to Jack as the vows were taken, rings exchanged…
Then it was over.
The bells tolled as Max and Ila walked out of the cathedral. Jack and I followed, with my hand in the crook of his arm, but the cold, steely brown eyes on us burned a hole in my back. Did she think we’d hump each other inside a church?
Moments later, we stood on the top step of the cathedral in the bright sun as congratulations rained on Max and Ila, along with the flash of cameras.
Jack stroked my fingers clutching his coat as if to get my attention. Hell, I was so aware of him, his warm body brushing mine every few seconds. Man, I was a living, breathing tripwire of need about to erupt. I wondered if he’d done that deliberately.
“I couldn’t tell you earlier, but you look beautiful,” Jack murmured, slaying my thoughts apart. “And so damn hot. I can’t wait to peel this gown off you with my teeth and lick every inch of you, then move to my favorite part between your thighs…”
Goddd!Desire hiked my traitorous body up another hundred degrees, leaving me edgy.
Naturally, his first words to me would border on wicked.
“Jack—” I pinched his arm, but that didn’t work with those hard muscles. My face flamed as if I’d gotten sunstroke. “Your family’s watching.”
His stoic expression remained, but I sensed his amusement. “You changed your hair color.”
“What? Oh, yeah. The purple was fading, so I decided to go natural for a while.”
Then Margo appeared with Vivienne, and I pressed my lips together, but his mother cast me a little smile, her expression warm.
Jack nodded, maybe at his mother or to the both of them, I couldn’t be sure.
Once Margo Blackstone had given Ila and Max her congratulations or a black spell—one couldn’t be too sure with her—she floated down the steps to her waiting limo that would whisk them to the hotel for the reception. Vivienne trailed behind her.
After more photos had been taken, we followed Ila and Max down to the waiting cars.
* * *
The reception held at the Ritz went off flawlessly. And the speeches, too. Yes, Jack had to torment Max a little, considering they’d grown up together.“…Max is the brother I never had, but he always had my back”—I knew more than anyone how much that mattered to Jack—“and I got my first tatt because of this ink monster. He dragged us off so we’d be three brothers in ink—”He grinned.“But the truth is, I always thought he’d end up in a nunnery—I mean a monastery—”Which got loads of laughter. But without a doubt, I could see the affection between the guys. Thenhe raised his glass in a toast to the couple.“Max and Ila, may all that you wish for come true.”
His gaze slid to me briefly before he joined me at the table again. His fingers lightly grazed mine. My breath caught, along with reality. Jack was my husband.
The cake cutting was another laugh-out-loud but tender moment. Max had accidentally gotten some of the cake’s whipped cream frosting on Ila’s chin. “I messed you, love. Here, let me clean that off…” He cupped her face and proceeded to lick her chin.
Yeah, I’d always thought the neatly fed cake scenario was a total yawn. This was so much better.
The five-course lunch that followed was utterly delicious. No matter how much I adored Jack, food and I were still in a serious relationship.
Finally, the girls gathered for the bouquet toss. I had no choice but to take part, so I stood off to the side. Ila glanced at me, then pitched her gorgeous bouquet behind her, and the thing flew toward where I stood with Charli. She shoved me forward, in front of the other girls. In reflex, I grabbed it and recalled a smaller bunch of pink rosebuds.
