“So, do you feel any different?” Lia asks me, nudging me with her elbow. My new sister-in-law, who’s dressed in black cargo pants and a toxic-green T-shirt, is not one to stand on ceremony.
“I think I’m in shock,” I say. “It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
The ceremony is over, and everyone’s mingling in either the foyer or the dining room, grazing on Gina’s amazing spread of finger foods. The men are in the great room, removing the folding chairs to clear the way for dancing.
She laughs. “I guess we’re officially sisters now.”
I give her a tight squeeze. “Yes, we are. I always wanted a sister.”
“You ready for your first dance as a married couple?”
“Oh, God, please don’t remind me.” Shane and I are supposed to start off the reception with our first dance as a married couple. I’m too self-conscious to enjoy dancing under the best of circumstances, but the idea of the two of us dancing alone in front of all these people is just too much.
“Beth, hi!” Molly says, coming up beside me. “Congratulations!” She gives me a hug. “It was a beautiful ceremony, and you look radiant.”
I smile. “Thanks, Molly. I’m so glad you came.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” She glances around the spacious foyer. “And this place – holy cow! It’s magnificent.”
“Where’s Jamie?” I ask her, glancing around for my brother-in-law.
She nods toward the great room. “He’s helping his brothers clear away the chairs.”
“You guys came together, right?” I say.
She smiles, blushing a little if I’m not mistaken. “Yes.” She shrugs. “It made sense to share the cost of the ride.”
“Are you going to dance with him?”
She makes a face. “God, no. I’m not dancing. I’m just here to watch and eat cake.”
I try not to let my disappointment show. I was hoping that having Molly here might spur things along, but I guess I was wrong. It’s just that Jamie’s so incredibly amazing, he’d make some woman very happy if she’d just give him a chance.
Lia wanders back into the great room to see if Jonah needs anything. When it’s just the two of us, I decide to feel Molly out a bit on the subject. “You know, Jamie’s really amazing. I mean, not only is he easy on the eyes, but he’s a genuinely nice person.”
Molly eyes me warily. “Yes, he is amazing.”
“And he doesn’t let his blindness stop him.”
“No, he doesn’t. You know, the first time I met him was on the day he moved into our building. We were both walking into the building at the same time. I was juggling two big sacks of groceries, and I stumbled on the stairs and nearly fell. He was right behind me, and he caught both me and my groceries. Then he carried my groceries up to my apartment for me and handed them to me at my door. I didn’t even realize he was blind. I mean, yeah, he had dark sunglasses on, and he had Gus with him, but I just assumed he was just my neighbor out walking his dog. I didn’t realize Gus was a service dog, and I didn’t realize Jamie was blind until two days later when some of his mail ended up in my mailbox, and I returned it to him. God, I was so embarrassed.”
I smile. “Typical Jamie, always coming to someone’s rescue. I guess you can remove the man from the Navy, but you can’t remove the SEAL from the man.”
Her eyes widen just a tad. “Navy? He was a Navy SEAL? Seriously?”
I nod. “Until he was blinded a few years ago in an explosion, yes. That’s why he challenges himself so much to be self-sufficient. He used to live here on this estate, but he felt like he was being coddled too much by Ellie and the rest of the staff. That’s why he moved out on his own, to prove to everyone that he could take care of himself.” I smile hopefully. “So, maybe you could consider dancing with him? Maybe just once? I promise you he won’t step on your toes.”
Her expression falls, revealing a hint of sorrow that catches me by surprise. “I can’t, Beth.” Her voice is so quiet I can barely make out her words. “It’s not because of his blindness, God no. He’s incredible. Jamie’s – ” She stops and swallows hard, shaking her head. “I just can’t. Trust me, it’s for his own good.” And then she abruptly walks away, after murmuring, “I’m sorry.”
I have to wonder what Molly Ferguson is hiding. I also wonder if her reluctance to get any closer to Jamie has anything to do with that awful ex-husband of hers, the one who had her pinned to the wall with his hand around her throat.
* * *
My mom pops out of the great room to grab my hand and pull me inside. “Beth, honey, the photographer is ready.”
Now that the chairs have been cleared away from the center of the room, we can take photographs. Since it’s pretty cold and windy outside, we decide to take the photographs indoors, using the big stone hearth as a backdrop. The photographer arranges us in a myriad of groups for picture time – Shane and me, the wedding party, the sibling groups, the parents, the nuclear families, and so on. Finally, with one last big group shot, the photographer declares that he’s done, and we’re all excused.
* * *
“Come with me, young lady,” Shane murmurs into my hair, taking my arm in a firm grasp and marching me into the library. He closes the door behind us, sequestering us in this quiet, dimly lit room that smells like lemon-scented furniture polish. There’s a blazing wood fire in the fireplace, and the warm light flickers over the dark, polished wood furniture and bookcases.
I have no idea what brought on his bossy mode all of a sudden. “What – ”
That’s all I get out before he presses me up against the heavy wood door and kisses me. And it’s just not any kiss – but the kind that steals my breath and makes my heart race. His fingers are in my hair, gripping my scalp and holding me in place as he devours me. I’m afraid Gabrielle’s elaborate work on my hair won’t hold up long to this kind of onslaught.
“God, I’ve been needing this all day,” he says. “I couldn’t go another minute without getting my hands on you. You look insanely beautiful, by the way.”
I run my hands up and down his tuxedo-covered arms, admiring how handsome he looks in his wedding clothes. I can feel his impressive erection pressing against my belly. A rush of liquid heat pools between my legs, leaving me flushed with need. I laugh, but it comes out breathless and shaky. “We’re married now, so I guess it’s okay.”
He laughs, laying his hand against my belly. “It’s a little late to be worrying about that, don’t you think?” And then he kisses me like he has to, like he’ll die in the next moment if he doesn’t. His fingers are rough, almost bruising as he holds my head for his kiss, and it feels so good.
There’s a light knock on the door, and I jump.
“Shit,” Shane hisses, lifting his mouth from mine. “What!”
The door knob turns and someone pushes on the door. Shane pulls me back a foot, and the door opens partway. Gabrielle pops her head through the opening.
“Sorry, but we need you two,” she says, smiling apologetically, as if she knows full well what she’s interrupting. “We’re going to throw the bouquet and the garter belt now.”
“Do we have to?” Shane says.
“Yes, you have to!” Gabrielle says, rolling her eyes at Shane. “It’s tradition. Now get out here, both of you.”
“We’ll be out in a bit,” Shane says, tamping down his frustration. “Stall for time.”
“Everyone’s in the great room, waiting.”
“I said stall.”
“Yes, sir,” Gabrielle says, giving Shane a mock salute.
After she closes the door behind her, and Shane locks it. He runs his finger along the neckline of my gown. “God, I want to strip this off, one slow inch at a time, and lick every inch of you.”
“We still have a few more wedding tasks to get through,” I remind him. “Tossing the bouquet, the garter, the cake – ”
“I know,” he sighs, laying his forehead against mine. “It’s just – we’re married. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this. I need to be inside you. Can’t we just tell everyone to pack up and go home? Technically, aren’t we on our honeymoon now?”
I’m already hot and flushed, and the longing in his voice makes me want to melt into a puddle at his feet. “We can’t do that,” I say, my voice little more than a whisper.
He exhales heavily. “Yes, we can. It’s our wedding, damn it.”
There’s a sharp rap on the door, then someone rattles the knocked door knob impatiently. “Open up!”
It’s Cooper.
Shane growls as he unlocks the door and opens it. “Do you mind? We’re busy here.”
Cooper gives Shane a fuck-all, knowing grin. “Tough luck, buddy. We’ve got a room full of people waiting out here for the two of you. Come finish the job, and then you can both run off to Timbuktu for all I care. I’m just trying to keep this show on the road.”
Shane shakes his head in exasperation, then glances down at me. “We’ll pick this up later. Let’s go.”