Coveting Love (Jessica Crawford) (39 page)

Jessica stood back and admired her mother. Brandon came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

“
Our turn,” he said, insistently.

She sighed. “Yes, I guess it is about time to think of our wedding now.”

He turned her and kissed her hard on the lips. “I’m anxious. I want it soon. Why don’t you let me hire a wedding planner?”

“
No. I want to do it myself.” She waved her arm around. “Look at this ceremony; it’s beautiful. Amy’s was, too, and Mom, Amy, and I did all the work. I can, and I want to do my own wedding.”

He backed off. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. Of course, the wedding is beautiful. I only meant to ease the burden from you. I thought you might be tired after planning two weddings on top of the Australia ordeal.”

She sighed. “I’m sorry, Brandon. It’s okay, really. You’re right; I am a little on edge. Nevertheless, I still want to plan our wedding. Just give me a little time to recover, okay?”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Okay. I understand, but don’t take too long. I want to put that ring on your finger before someone else snatches you up.” He kissed her again and went off to find Randy.

Jessica walked around, mingling with the guests, checking glasses to make sure they were full, checking food supplies. This was, of course, the caterer’s job, but she fussed anyway.

A moment later, she heard someone clanging a fork against a glass. She looked up to see Randy standing on a chair.

“
Please, may I have everyone’s attention?” All eyes traveled to him. “It is my great pleasure to give the best man’s toast before we cut the cake.” He walked over to stand beside his father. “Dad, what can I say about you, except you’re the best dad in the world?” The guests clapped. “My father single handedly raised me after my mother’s death, and he did a fantastic job. He never, and I mean never, missed a little league game, basketball game, football game…well, you get the point. He mended my trousers, sewed on missing buttons, and helped me fix my car when I started to drive. He even played nursemaid to me when I was sick. He is an amazing man.

He climbed down and stood between the bride and groom.

“
Now, here’s the ironic part.” He put his arm around Sarah. “Sarah here also raised a daughter single handedly.” They clapped again. “She did all those things for Jessica, as well.” He shrugged. “Well, maybe not all those things, I’m not sure about the football thing, maybe they built doll houses instead.”

The crowed laughed and Jessica grinned sarcastically at him. “But truly, folks, if two people ever deserved happiness with each other, it is these two. So please, raise your glasses with me.” He turned to face both of them and threw an arm around Jessica’s shoulder.

“
Dad, thank you for all you have done for me over the years. Be happy with Sarah. She’s an amazing woman. Sarah, welcome to our family. I look forward to all the family holidays with more anticipation than ever before. You are a remarkable woman. You and Dad deserve each other. Thanks for the sister; I have always wanted one. Here’s to Grant and Sarah,” he said as he raised his glass high and drained it in one swallow. The crowd cheered and drained theirs in similar fashion.

Sarah and Grant left soon after. They would take only a brief honeymoon as Grant couldn’t spare too much time from the store. He had a reliable assistant helping him out, but he still didn’t feel comfortable leaving for any length of time.

Randy had missed quite a bit of time from his company when he came to help his father out before, so he and Amy had to leave the following morning.

Jessica had arranged a few days leave from work, to make sure everything was cleaned and properly stored.

Brandon also had to leave right away, also. Jessica felt a bit melancholy at seeing all her friends go. She was not looking forward to the isolation of the house, but was looking forward to the peacefulness of a few days alone. It seemed lately everyone was worried about her and asked too many questions. Even Brandon had noticed her mood and had eyed her suspiciously the entire evening. She had assured them all she was just tired and needed to catch up on her rest.

After seeing off the last of the crowd, she packed a lunch, put on her swimsuit, grabbed her memo pad, and headed for the lake. She liked the serenity of the lake during the summertime, and she always managed to find an isolated space away from the crowds.

She particularly needed some isolation today, after the hustle of the past few days. She had in mind to make a few notes regarding some of the photographs she had taken during her trip to Australia. She smiled at the memory of John’s enthusiasm. He was right, as usual. The photographs were unusually exceptional. It would have been a waste not to put them to use. Clair had loved John’s idea, and presented it with gusto to the new chain of command at the stores. Jessica had promised she and John would get started on it right away.

With high spirits, and a mind full of ideas, she took her blanket and lunch and headed over the bridge. Midway, she stopped to look into the stream that flowed beneath, remembering for a moment the times she and her mother had thrown crackers to the ducks. She resumed her walk, breathing deeply to get as much of the country air as she could. A baby rabbit scurried from underneath a bush, startling her. She laughed at herself. “You silly thing,” she said. “Run and find your Mama.” The rabbit, stopped, as if listening, wiggled its nose at her, then hopped quickly back under the cover of the brush. She giggled and continued on her way.

The sun was rising high and the temperature getting warm. She began to look for a shady place to stop. She walked a little ways farther before finding a small grassy area in a small alcove. Trees surrounded it. This would give her some privacy, and the water was only a few feet away. Already, she could feel the icy coolness of it. She spread out her blanket and sat down.

With a clear head, she picked up her memo pad and began to make notes. The magazine was now preparing for their fall wardrobe. Jessica always found it hard to concentrate on a different season, when she was right in the middle of another. Summer was especially difficult. It was rather hard to think of jackets and jeans when she was roasting in a swimsuit.

The sun beat down upon her. She picked up her towel and wiped the perspiration from her forehead. Gazing out upon the lake, the invitation beckoned her. Before long, the need for cool water overcame her. She cast aside her work, kicked off her sandals, and jumped into the water. The iciness instantly penetrated her skin, sending shivers throughout her body. She reveled in the coolness, savoring the velvety smoothness of the water. She swam so hard her limbs ached for relief.

Exiting the water, she threw aside any idea of a towel, and plopped her dripping wet body down upon the blanket. The sun did its magic and within minutes, she began to doze off.

Just as she was about to enter that stage between floating and peaceful slumber, she was awakened by a rustling in the bushes behind her. She jumped awake and looked quickly about, scanning the tall brush for any sign of movement. Finding none, she began to feel a little foolish. Thinking it must have been the wind, and not wanting to admit there wasn’t much wind that day, she settled back down on the blanket and tried unsuccessfully to go back to sleep.

Each time she closed her eyes she had visions of Jeffrey and his maddening laugh that day in California. She wondered why, today of all days, she would think of that. It probably was the water. Being at the lake brought back the memories.

She couldn’t understand how she could be so fascinated, yet so frightened, of the same man. She hadn’t thought of Jeffrey the entire time she had been at her mother’s house. She had begun to think that perhaps she had gotten him out of her mind, but apparently, she had not.

Try as she might, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She decided to return to the house. Just as she was standing to collect her things, she heard another noise behind her. This time she was alert and knew it was not her imagination. Jumping quickly to her feet, she fell right into the arms of Brandon.

“
Brandon!” she exclaimed, surprised to see him. “What are you doing here? I thought you had gone home.”

“
I changed my mind,” he said enfolding her in his arms. “Just the mere thought of you up here all alone, no one around, with all this beautiful scenery…” he said huskily, trailing off this sentence as he traced the outline of her suit with his finger, starting along the bottoms, his fingers slipping ever so slightly inside the elastic. He ended at the dip between her breasts. She moaned. “Well, I just couldn’t resist,” he whispered.

He pulled back slightly. “I called Matthew. He said everything was under control, so I decided to come back and spend a few days with you.” He paused, scanning the lakeside. “That is, if you don’t have any other plans, or any other suitors that you’re hiding out.”

“
Were you just in the bushes spying on me a few minutes ago?”

He looked up at the bushes, confused. “No. Why?”

“
I thought I heard something in there, just before you showed up. It spooked me. Maybe it was a squirrel or some other small animal.”

“
Yeah, maybe it was,” Brandon agreed. “Do you want me to take a look?”

“
No. I’m sure it’s fine.” She shuddered.

“
Anyway, you shouldn’t be out here alone. It’s not safe for a beautiful girl like you to be way out here all alone. Madmen like me might come along and take advantage of you,” he teased, nibbling her neck.

She laughed nervously, glancing toward the bushes. “Now that you mention it, Mr. Phillips, I do happen to have a dozen or so secret admirers hiding out, waiting their turn.” She kissed him tenderly, playfully biting his lower lip.

He pretended to pout. “Well, if that’s the way it’s going to be.” He started to walk away, swung back around, and caught her by the waist. He threw her down on the blanket, settling himself next to her. He kissed her passionately. She responded to his urgency.

“
Know what?” she asked, mischief dancing in her eyes.

“
What?”

“
I’ve always had a fantasy about making love out in the open like this,” she confessed.

“
No kidding?”

“
Yep, true. I often came out here when I was a young girl and fantasized about making love to a man, right here at this very lake.”

“
What would your mother say?”

Jessica laughed. “She probably had the same fantasy.”

“
I make it my business to always please a lady.” He began to release her from the confines of her tight suit, inching it down slowly, kissing every part of her as the cloth left her body. Her skin glistened from the perspiration that formed upon her body. “You look so delicious.”

He lifted her from the blanket and plunged into the water with her.

“
Brandon!” she gasped, struggling to regain her breath. “You still have your clothes on.”

He looked down at himself, grinning. “So I do,” he said, peeling each item of wet clothing from his wet skin.

Jessica began to swim off. He swam after her, catching her around the waist. Her laughter echoed through the trees. He pulled her under the water.

Silent eyes burned with anger as they watched from their concealment. “She’s mine,” a voice whispered, anger flaring through it, hissing like hot coals. “I will have her, Brandon, if it is the last thing I do.”

Brandon pulled a gasping Jessica from the water. He laid her down upon the blanket as she fought to control her laughter.

“
It’s good to hear you laugh again,” he said, as his mouth came down hungrily upon hers.

She greeted him with equal hunger, fever coursing through her body. From the heat that soared through their bodies, it was hard to believe they had just come from the icy depths of the lake.

She whispered his name as he devoured her. A loud rustling noise came from the bushes and they both jumped. “I want to go now,” she said, squirming against him.

He pulled her tightly to him. “It’s okay. I’m here with you.” He could feel her trembling.

They dressed quickly and hurried on their way. Jessica glanced back over her shoulder. As she did, she would swear she saw the silhouette of a man running through the forest. With some discipline, she pushed aside the idea. Brandon was here with her now. She was safe. Or was she?

**********

CHAPTER 24

In the months following her mother’s wedding, Jessica’s life seemed to increase in activity. She was busy with her work and had little time to spare for herself.

Jeffrey called several times, but Jessica refused to see him. She still had not come to grips with her feelings, and she was not ready to confront them.

She saw Brandon as often as she could. Each time she saw him, he pressured her about the wedding. However, she couldn’t marry him until she put her feelings in perspective. She began to see him less often.

The holidays were fast approaching and this added to her stress. She talked to her mother often. But she, too, had become relatively busy since becoming Mrs. Grant Jackson.

Not only did she have her own usual church activities and her work at the group home, but also marriage to Grant brought on a completely new set of responsibilities. As a business owner, Grant was active in community affairs. Sarah found herself playing hostess at several dinner parties, and even began to attend Chamber of Commerce activities. She found she liked her new status, and the people she met.