Twice in a Lifetime (Love Found) (42 page)

She tore her eyes away to meet his gaze. “I woke you.”

“Yes you did. And thank you.”

A grin stretched across her face. “We’re getting married today.”

“And it’s about time.”

That sexy smile melted her every time. She pushed her nest of hair off her face and rocked back until she sat on her heels. “Did you know you snore? Well, it’s actually more like heavy breathing, but it’s kind of cute and your abs do this really sexy rolling flex thi–”

“Do you know how beautiful you are?”

Her breath trapped in her chest, then rushed out. “But it’s still so early and I probably have yesterday’s mascara smeared under my—”

“And you’re still beautiful.” Raising a hand, he captured her neck and held her. His abs clenched as he lifted his head to nip at the slope of her breast through her thin nightgown, the abrasion of his beard causing her nipples to bead and pucker, and overwhelming fire rushing to her core. He tugged her down until she lay against him. “Now come here.”

Jake wandered into the living room from the bathroom after Allie asked him to leave. Well, kicked him out, really—but hell, she was parading around in nothing but scraps of silk and dental floss and had those sheer stockings that… yeah. The joke was on him that the private showing she promised wouldn’t actually happen until much later than she realized.

He paced as he waited for her, in steps measuring the length of the room, around the expanse of leather sofa and to the table on the other side. The photographs Allie kept on display were a chronicle of the family inhabiting the home.

Trey at Christmas, about four years old. Trey with Allie and Maddie on some kind of school field trip. He picked up a small snapshot in a simple frame, a young Ben and Allie cradling a sleeping Trey, probably taken the day he was born. Their goofy grins had him smiling. The possibility of him featured in a shot like that was gone now, but with Allie as the prize he was more than satisfied.

Here was one he didn’t remember—him standing between both of his parents, saluting the photographer with a bottle of beer. His father had apparently arrived late from the hospital, he still wore scrubs. His mom was wearing a cocktail dress and making bunny ears behind his head. He replaced the photo. It didn’t do any good to wish they were here today, but he liked to think they would have become friends with Allie.

Trey, dressed in a classic navy suit similar to his own entered from the hallway, his finger digging into the collar of crisp white shirt. “My mom went through a few of the boxes you brought over. She thought you might like to have that out.” He peered closer. “It’s a good picture of you, but I don’t remember meeting your parents.”

“It was my twenty first birthday.” He studied the picture again. “My dad died the next month—heart attack. My mom died a few years ago.”

“Oh man, I’m sorry. Mom moved the pictures of my dad into my room. All except that one.” He pointed to the silver frame on the table. “She didn’t think you’d mind if we kept it out.”

Jake had to clear his throat to speak. “Of course not. I remember that day like yesterday. They were so happy.”

He turned as heels clicked across the tile floor. The breath he suddenly couldn’t control caught in his chest as Allie glided into the room to stand beside him. He caught a hint of her subtle perfume and dove his face into her neck. “You’re stunning.”

Her hair was pulled into a fancy knot at the back of her head. He had hours to imagine yanking those pins out and letting it sift through his fingers.

Allie grinned and raked him over him until he arched a brow, settled his jacket on his shoulders and yanked his tie loose. “Thank you for not making us wear monkey suits today.

With an exasperated smirk she lifted her hands to his shoulders and pressed a kiss to his lips. “You look fabulous, too. You’re both very handsome.” She turned to Trey and adjusted his loosened tie. “After today we’ll have a few more photos to set out.”

“I remembered my homework, teach.” Jake unfolded a paper he had in his jacket pocket and handed it to her.

Her head snapped up when she finished reading. “Wow.” His chest puffed at her whispered word. “This is really good.”

Allie folded herself into his car, adjusting her skirt and fastening the safety harness. Her startled gaze whipped to him when he started the car and pulled out of the driveway. “Trey’s not following us?”

He shook his head. “He had something to do first. He’ll meet us there.” He allowed his eyes to skim over her from eyebrows to peep toes, then settle on her smile. “By the way, have I told you how much I love you?”

When they arrived he led her to join their crowd bunched into the courthouse lobby. Trey arrived within minutes, gave him a nod and made a beeline to stand beside Jax. Maddie produced a cellophane box, enlisting her daughters to pass out perfect white calla lilies.

Jake somehow got separated from Allie. He glanced around until he found her and stilled. She mesmerized him, standing in her soft white dress and shimmery silver shoes, holding a white bouquet that was nowhere near as silky smooth nor as fragrant as she was. He worked his way closer to her and snaked his arm around her waist, tucking her against him.

“Ready?” He glanced at his watch. Ten fifty; their appointment was for eleven. “It should only be a few more minutes.”

She flashed him a nervous smile as a clerk bellowed their names into the noisy room. “Looks like we’re up.”

They filed into a vacant courtroom. Moments later a judge swept through a discreet door at the rear and shook his hand. “Mr. Taylor, is everybody here?”

He ignored the jitters rolling in waves through his body. They’d calm down as soon as Allie was beside him. “We’re ready, sir.”

“Then please take your places at the front of the room.”

He motioned Trey and Nick to his side while Reese and Maddie stepped forward to join Allie. The judge moved before them. This was it. Allie’s hand slid into his and his eyelids lowered. Yep. All smoothed out. He met her gaze and smiled.

“We are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses—”

Eager anticipation rushed through him as the judge recited the generic ceremony. When it came time for the vows the judge opened the paper he passed him during their introductions.

He turned to face Allie and took her hands as she spoke.

“I, Allie Harper Tate, love you. You are my best friend. Today I gladly and without reservation join you in marriage, pledging my faith and my heart for the last time.”

They were simple promises, but she made them to him. All traces of nerves were gone. He couldn’t wait to swear his to her. “I, Jake Taylor, love you. You are my best friend. Today I joyfully and with great anticipation join you in marriage, pledging my faith and my heart for the first and last time.” Suddenly the weight of what he just did pressed against his heart and he grinned.

As one they turned to face the judge as he spoke. “Do you promise to laugh together when life seems easy? To comfort each other when life seems hard? To cherish each other when love is simple and more importantly, when it requires effort? To honor and respect each other, all the days of your life?

“We do.”

The band he’d selected for her was simple yet elegant. He slipped it on with traditional vows. Then grinned in surprise when she reached for his hand.

With a smile as brilliant as the Arizona summer sun, Allie slipped a matching band on his finger. “I love you.”

Allie passed through the bustling restaurant beside Jake and entered a small, private dining room where eleven chairs were crowded around a table meant for ten. She turned to Trey and pointed toward a square table set for four nearby. “Looks like they set that up for you, Jax and the girls.”

After Jake seated her, her eyes darted around the room. There were two unoccupied chairs. “Maddie and Michael aren’t here yet.”

The waitress set a pitcher of margaritas on the table before them. Jake patted her hand then poured them each a glass of the slushy concoction. “They’re fine. Maddie forgot her camera so they ran home. They should be here any minute.”

She turned as Reese asked her a question. “I’m sorry Reese, what did you say?”

“I asked if you’ll be staying at your school next year. Maddie told me you’re getting a new principal.” Reese made a snarly face, indicating her opinion of a change in administration.

Amusement bubbled at the expression on her friend’s face. “I never really thought of leaving.” She delivered the confession along with another rumor. “I heard the assistant principal is getting promoted. I’ll admit she can be callous and snarky, but I’m not familiar with the other principals in the district.” She shrugged. “Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.”

“It would be easier to stay where you are, that’s for certain.”

Maddie and Michael hurried in. There was the unmistakable jingle of keys as Maddie she leaned over and gave her and then Jake a quick hug. “So sorry we’re late.” With a bland expression, she held up her camera and moved to the other side of the table. “Sit together you two. Let me get a few good shots.”

She grabbed Jake and posed for picture after picture, then sicced Maddie on the rest of the wedding guests.

The room grew louder, voices raising and lowering as lunch orders were taken and food delivered. On mother’s instinct she checked on the teenagers sitting quietly at their own table. Their water glasses were all filled with icy margaritas.

It was her wedding day, she wasn’t going to be the bad guy today. She nudged Maddie to get her attention, cocking her head their way.

In her periphery Jake checked his watch. He’d been doing that since they sat. He couldn’t be in that big a hurry to leave could he? She chuckled to herself. Maybe he really was.

“Oh, for goodness sake.” Maddie blustered as she marched over and removed the glasses, placing three of them in the center of the round table. The fourth she set before her own plate and laughed. “If you guys drink these there won’t be enough for us.”

“But they’re good.” Emily whined after being relieved of what was probably her first taste of illicit alcohol.

“Fine, I’ll order you drinks without tequila.”

After a quick perusal of the table Jake stood and cleared his throat, raising his margarita, clinking the glass with his knife. The table went silent.

“We want to thank you all for joining us today.” Every face at the table wore a rapt expression. “You all mean a lot to Allie, and to me.”

Her gaze scanned the table, landing on everyone who was important in her life. Her mother and father were there, and Bentley, whom she’d loved as a father for many years.

“I promise to take good care of her, to make her as happy as she’s made me.” He smiled and reached for her hand to pull her up beside him. “I plan to spoil her every chance I get, the way she spoils me every day, with every gesture. And I plan to start today, with this.”

She opened the brown leather case he handed her. Cancun! “
Cancun
?”

He grinned and nodded. “Our flight’s in three hours.”

Her heart raced. “But Jake, we can’t go that soon! I’m not packed, and I have to find my passport –”

The light danced in the triumphant caress of his gaze. “Handled, and handled. Our suitcases are in the car, all ready for a week at the beach. And your passport is right here.” He pointed it out, hiding behind the airline tickets. “Do you want to tell everyone goodbye so we don’t miss our flight?”

Oh, how exciting! She threw her arms around him and rained kisses on his chin. “Who? How?” Her words wouldn’t come. He lowered his head so she could reach his lips.

“I picked up the tickets from the travel agent yesterday. Trey dug your passport out of your desk. And Maddie packed your suitcase. If she forgot anything we can get it there.” He nudged her into gear. “Now, grab your purse, please.”

She quickly made the rounds, tugging Jake along behind, hugging and kissing everyone goodbye, saving Trey for last. He walked out with them.

“You’ll be all right until we get back?” She stood in the parking lot with the car door open.

“Mom, I live by myself at school. Don’t call.”

She reached up and pressed her palm to his cheek. “Thank you so much. I love you.”

“Adios, mamacita. Love you too.” He took the hand Jake offered and shook it firmly, then reached in for a hard man hug. His voice was rough when he turned to his new stepfather. “Love you too, Jake.”

She kept her eyes on him as they backed out of their parking space. He yelled out as they pulled away, thrashing his arm in the air.

“You guys have fun. And don’t let her call!”

Jake hurried her through the airport terminal to check-in and handed the clerk their boarding passes.

Allie stretched to examine the papers with interest. “Where did you get those?”

He heaved the first suitcase on the scale.

“ID please.” The grumpy ticket clerk held his hand out.

“I checked us in online.” He fished out his wallet. “Thought we might be pressed for time today.”

“Very shrewd.” She passed her driver’s license across the counter.

“No, but I know you.” The clerk fastened a tag on the first bag and tossed it to the conveyer belt behind him. Jake dropped the second bag on the scale and passed the attendant his license.

“One of these days you won’t be so smart, Mr. Taylor.”

“Will you still love me?”

“I’ll always love you.”

“Let me guess, honeymoon?” The grumpy ticket clerk returned slid their boarding passes across the counter.

“Yep.”

“
Hmph
. Don’t drink the water.”

Following signs, Jake led the way to the correct gate and then through the creeping serpentine line of security. As the line stalled, Allie struggled to shift her heavy tote to her other shoulder and he took it from her, then checked his watch. He shuffled forward three feet and checked it again.

“Relax. There’s plenty of time to make the flight.”

“I’ll relax when we’re on the plane.”

“Come on, you’re standing here with the woman you love most in the world and we’re all dressed up in the pretty clothes we got married in. You’d rather be sitting on a stuffy airplane?”