Chapter 2

Ava

Jude Jacobs.

That name had enough power to knock the life right out of me. It had enough power to melt me like butter, too. It had enough power to do everything to me.

My fingers tightened around the stem of my floral bouquet.

It didn’t help that Jude Jacobs had gotten sexier since the last time I’d seen him. He was still tall, easily towering over everyone in the church, and tattoos peeked from behind the collar of his crisp white shirt. A black vest stretched over his broad chest. His eyes were still that piercing blue color that reminded me of glaciers. The only difference was his hairstyle, which appeared to be a pompadour with fingers raked through it. He looked even more dangerous, and the crowds in the pews looked back at him nervously.

When it came to Jude Jacobs, no one knew what sort of danger he was getting into. It was like the man had invented the word himself.

The floor threatened to give out beneath my feet when Jude looked directly at me with a small, appreciative grin tugging at his lips. Fiery trails erupted over my skin where his eyes skimmed.

I forced myself to look at Emily as she walked down the aisle with her father. She looked as beautiful as ever with her white dress and perfect hair. Today was about her, not about the fact that Jude’s appearance was already sparking controversy in the church. I could feel the tension in the air, along with the hushed whispers.

It was a mistake for Jude to come back to town. Everyone, including Emily, had tried to talk Dean out of sending an invitation to Jude’s manager’s office.

Manager’s office. He was that famous now. Enough to have his own manager who sorted through all of his personal mail. I wondered how many angry letters Jude had gotten over the years since skipping town after high school graduation. After that summer.

Then there was the other half, too. The enamored half of the town who thought JJ was a legend. It was mainly all those stupid young kids who thought dangerous tricks were a good way to make money because Jude had managed to make a career out of it. If they only knew the truth of how dangerous his crew had been, no rational person would encourage it.

Tears prickled the back of my eyes. I couldn’t bring myself to look back at Jude, even though I could feel his eyes wanting to burn holes right into my skin. I knew how dangerous those tricks of his were. It still haunted me every damn day.

I managed to keep my composure throughout the exchange of wedding vows. After watching Emily and Dean share a passionate kiss, I made it a point to take John’s arm when he offered it. I kept my eyes focused on the floor as we walked back down the aisle in the direction of the church lobby while the chatter of family and friends echoed about.

Marcie Keller, another bridesmaid, pointed out the obvious while we waited for the wedding planner to direct us across the street for the reception.

“JJ still looks fucking hot,” she said, fanning herself. “I mean, he’s JJ, but he’s a man now. Did you see him, Ava?”

I shrugged my shoulders as noncommittally as possible. “I haven’t seen Jude since high school.”

“I don’t think I believe that.” Marcie gave me a long and piercing look. “I think you still have the hots. I see the way JJ is looking at you.”

“He is not,” I hissed, adjusting the hemline of my dress.

“I thought you said you didn’t see—”

“Stop talking about it, Marcie. You have no idea what you’re saying, as usual.”

Marcie looked affronted at that. “I do, too. Everyone could see it in the church.”

“Everyone else has no idea, either. I don’t care that he’s here. He’s here for our friends. That’s it. So, just drop it. Okay?”

“Fine,” Marcie said, shrugging. “I guess he’s up for grabs, then?”

I’d never felt more relieved than when the wedding planner called everyone to the only restaurant and bar in town. I didn’t wait for the rest of the bridesmaids. Hell, I didn’t even wait for any of the other wedding guests, including my parents. I just wanted to get far away from Jude while I still could, before I fell back into that one place in my past that I didn’t want to go to. Hitching up the fabric of my dress, I exited the church doors to walk down the stone steps.

It was hot and stifling outside compared to that air-conditioned interior. Sweat gathered at the back of my neck. My heels clicked against the only paved road in Gypsum as I made my way to the restaurant across the street. The inside of the restaurant was decorated thoroughly for Emily’s wedding reception. The smell of taco meat and onions filled my nose while I found my spot at the main table—far away from Jude. I sat down next to Emily’s chair while the rest of the wedding guests arrived at the reception.

My parents were the first ones to walk through the reception doors with a stream of guests behind them. They approached the table with anxious expressions before Emily and Dean could make it to the table.

It was my father who voiced his disapproval. “Did you know that Jude Jacobs was going to be here?”

“I knew that he was invited,” I said, uncomfortable. “I didn’t think he was going to show up. None of us thought he would.”

“He shouldn’t be here in the first place. That boy is too cocky, coming back here.”

“Don’t make this about him,” my mother scolded, placing a hand on his arm. “This isn’t about Jude. This is Emily and Dean’s wedding. Don’t let that young man ruin everyone’s good time, Mark.”

I looked up at my father as his jaw clenched. “Mom’s right, Dad. We all need to put on some happy faces for Emily and Dean. No one needs to go throwing punches at Jude.”

“The bastard deserves it after what happened with your brother,” Dad choked.

“Mark. This is not the proper time to talk about Andy.”

“Memory Lane is closed,” I added sternly. Emily and Dean were crossing through the reception doors. “Just avoid him the best you can. That’s what I plan on doing.”

“I hope so, Ava,” Dad said. “Remember your brother.”

How could I not remember?

I forced a cheerful smile on my face when Emily took a seat next to me.

She didn’t waste any time, though, leaning in to whisper into my ear.

“I knew that JJ was going to cause a ruckus.”

“Don’t worry about him,” I said, forcing my voice to sound casual.

“What do I do if he comes up here to congratulate us?” Emily asked. “Ignore him? Dean insisted that JJ would be hurt if we didn’t invite him to the wedding, but I tried to tell him that he probably wouldn’t even notice if we got married. No one has seen him in years.”

“Yet half the town is in love with him,” I muttered, watching a group of people gather around Jude at the bar. “He didn’t even RVSP.”

“Hoping he wouldn’t show up?” Emily suggested. “Or that he would show up?”

“Maybe both,” I said honestly. “I don’t know what to think.”

Emily placed a hand on my forearm. “Don’t worry about it, Ava. I really doubt that JJ would come talk to you. Not after what happened with Andy. That’s the main reason why he left. We all know it.”

“I know, but he left for other reasons, too.”

“I still can’t believe that he’s a superstar,” Emily said. “All those stupid tricks of his back then. Who knew that it would make him millions of dollars?”

I swallowed thickly. “He proved every single one of us wrong. That’s for sure.”

“You really haven’t talked to him since Andy?” Emily asked curiously. “I mean, the two of you were hot and heavy. You said that you and he went all the way.”

“No need to hash out all the memories,” I said, clearing my throat. Just thinking of it made my body thrum. From the few rumors that I’d heard over the years, Jude’s reputation as a womanizer had been well-earned. “We aren’t here to talk about Jude. This is your wedding day, Emily. I’m not going to focus on him. This is all about you.”

Emily beamed at me. “

This is why you are my maid of honor. You’re never selfish. You never make anything about yourself.”

“I thought it was because we’re good friends,” I replied, laughing. “I’m glad to be here. I couldn’t imagine being in New York right now, knowing that my childhood best friend is marrying her Prince Charming. Who happened to be my friend, too.”

Everyone took a seat around the various tables in anticipation for toasts and dinner. I couldn’t help it. I found myself scanning the room to find which table Jude had settled himself at. I found him seated between a few cousins of Dean’s. They were wrapped up in what appeared to be a serious conversation as Jude cradled a glass of whiskey in his hands. He looked up at me suddenly. A seductive grin tugged at his lips when our eyes clashed together. The past and the future combined, all in one moment of time. It felt too stuffy and hot in the restaurant.

Look away, Ava. Look away. Don’t fall for it.

I couldn’t resist the tug, though. I need a shot of alcohol to get through this night.

Scooting my chair back, I left the main table and headed over to the small bar to order a shot of rum to burn my nerves away. The small local band took their place on the stage in the corner of the restaurant to play a sultry jazz number that had everyone in the room getting out of their seats to sway on the dance floor. I looked back at the main table where Emily and Dean sat with their heads bent together, whispering something to one another.

At least their love had survived past that summer and the many after that. Emily had stayed behind with Dean while the both of them immersed themselves in the Gypsum community. I had done the same thing that Jude had done—found my one-way ticket out of this shithole of a town. It was the only way that I could escape the last summer of hot days and happiness.

“Hello, Ava.”

Time had certainly not changed the gentle rumble of Jude’s voice, or how it flowed over me in a warm wave. I sucked in a deep breath to control the frantic pounding of my heart because I should’ve known better. There was no way in hell that Jude would leave me alone at the wedding reception. He’d rather take his chances in trying to talk to me than watch me from afar.

He couldn’t resist a good risk.