Page 54

Seven Weeks Later

Cate

S even weeks. That was how long Jaden and I had been together when I attended Jamie and Emily’s wedding as his plus one. I’d received an invitation in my own right, but didn’t need it.

Jay spent more nights at my place than he did at Jamie, forcing me to remind myself I loved him as I adjusted to having his stuff everywhere. He wasn’t messy, per se, he just didn’t put things were I would put them. Jay reminded me every day that I didn’t need to be perfect to be loved.

Luckily, the therapist I was seeing for my captivity trauma was also helping me deal with my compulsive need to control everything reminded me of the same thing.

I was getting better, but still got frustrated when it seemed like he wasn’t trying.

Jay’d remind me it was an adjustment for him too, often saying, “It’s not easy living with someone so uptight.”

It always resulted in a fight. The fights always ended with Earth shattering makeup sex.

The sex. Sex with Jaden was everything I thought it’d be. And more . He was possessive and controlling, and I found I liked giving up control when I trusted the man I gave it to. Not that I didn’t occasionally take charge, I am who I am, after all.

Those thoughts were why I was blushing and had an ear-to-ear smile plastered on my face when I walked into Emily’s bridal room in the church.

“Oh, I know what you’re thinking about,” Ashley greeted me with a mimosa.

I laughed. I’d learned it was better to not respond at all if I wanted Ashley to give up on a topic.

“Cate,” Emily got up and hugged me. “I’m glad you’re here.” Another change, everyone called me Cate outside the office.

“Me, too.” I made my way around the room, hugging the women gathered with Emily. Meg, Mary, and the only Sheppard sister, Madi. Jay was right; I loved her. And Emily’s mom, Anne.

“You look gorgeous,” I said when I got back around to Emily. This was the first time I’d seen her in the white silk, spaghetti strap dress since she’d had it altered. “Where’s the train?”

“Oh, I’m not putting it on until the last minute so I don’t rip it.”

Ashley, Meg, and Madi wore dresses in matching shades of baby blue. Ashley’s low-cut, figure-hugging dress showed off her athletic figure. Madi’s dress had a similar style but was more modest, and the color brought out the flecks of blue in her hazel eyes. Meg’s dress showed off her barely-there baby bump.

I thought back to the shopping trip when I’d made the mistake of letting Jay help me pick out a dress. His first choice got an instant veto; it was a strappy, second-skin red mini dress. Not only was it inappropriate for a wedding, but there was no way in hell I’d ever leave the house in it.

When he bought it anyway, he said, “It’s a good thing you won’t leave the house, I’d have to gouge the eyes out of any man who looked at you.”

The first time I wore it, he scooped me up and carried me to the bedroom. He insisted I wear it, devouring me with his eyes while he slowly took his clothes off.

“Earth to Cate,” Mary said, waving her hand in front of my face.

“Sorry, I was just…” Heat crept up my cheeks. Thinking about having sex with your son. I finished my mimosa in one gulp.

While the stylist did Emily’s hair, Madi said I should go back to using Max.

“Why?” I asked. When I looked around, I felt like the only one who wasn’t in on the joke.

“Because, then all my brothers will be with women who have M names.”

I looked at the bride to be. “Emily doesn’t start with M.”

“No, but everyone calls her Em, which is basically just the letter,” Meg said .

It made sense, and I was a little embarrassed it took me so long to see it.

“You can call me Max if you want. Or Maxwell. That’s what the guys call me at work.”

“Wait, by that logic, you have to marry a guy who’s name starts with J,” Ashley said, pointing her mimosa filled flute at Madi.

“I’d need to date someone first.” Madi answered with a chuckle.

Ashley looked at Meg, then me and asked, “What’s the new guy’s name?”

Assuming she meant the new hires at SSI, I said, “There’s two, Nathan and Matt.” Nathan was starting in August, and Matt a couple of weeks later.

“Sorry Madi, no hunky SSI guy for you.” Ashley teased.

“Ew, half those guys are my brothers.” And one was her dad.

“Right, sorry. But it’s not my fault you have hot, sexy brothers.”

“Right.” She pretended to gag. “You know, someday they’ll be old and gray. Maybe then I won’t have to hear about how hot and sexy they are,” Madi shook her head as she laughed.

Mary and Anne chose not to participate in the conversation, but they laughed along with the rest of us.

“Then they’ll be silver foxes, so you’ll still have to hear it,” Meg said.

“John’s a silver fox,” Mary interjected.

“Ma!” Madi cried. “That isn’t helping. ”

After the laughter died down, Ashley asked, “Are the new guys hot?”

“Ashley!” Emily yelled at her maid of honor. “You’re incorrigible.”

“What, you can’t blame me for asking.”

“Nathan’s tall with dirty blond hair and blue eyes. He has a scar on his face,” Meg answered.

“Scars can be sexy,” Ashley refused to be put off.

I doubted Nathan would agree. The scar ran from above his left eye down his cheek to the corner of his mouth. Nathan had seen some shit, and from the look in his eyes it still haunted him. Something I could relate to. My nightmares were less frequent, but hadn’t stopped altogether.

The traditional church ceremony was beautiful. The look in Jamie’s eyes the moment he saw Emily was the stuff romance authors wrote about. Chris, his best friend and Emily’s older brother, clapped him on shoulder to break the spell.

Behind Chris were Jack and Jaden, looking handsome in their tuxes. Jack and Meg kept stealing glances across the aisle, no doubt remembering their own wedding. Madi wiped at her eyes as she watched her brother watch his bride. So did Ashley.

The ceremony was beautiful and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house by the time the pastor said, “You may now kiss the bride.”

After dinner, and all the typical reception traditions were over, Jay and I danced surrounded by a sea of decorations, the twinkle lights playing on the various shades of blue making them look like ocean waves.

Jay banded one arm around my back, and held my hand with the other.

“You look stunning.” I’d settled on a fitted, halter style, little black dress that hung just above my knees. “But I still think I like the red dress better.”

I felt the heat in my cheeks and was grateful no one was looking at us.

We swayed to the slow country ballad, losing ourselves in each other.

“Do you think we’ll have a big wedding or should we elope?” Jay asked.

“Your mother would kill you if we elope.”

“Are you saying yes?”

“Are you asking?” I teased, thinking this had to be a joke. We’d only been dating two months.

His laughter shook his chest, “No, not tonight. Jamie would kill me if he found out I proposed at his wedding reception.”

Not tonight? He’d thought about it?

Recovering from the shock, I said, “Maybe we should start with you moving in.”

“I think that ship has sailed, Snookems. I already have a key and I can’t remember the last time I didn’t spend the night with you.”

“I mean, make it official. You know, change the address on your employee records,” I said. “And don’t call me Snookems. ”

“Yes, ma’am”

“You’re impossible.”

“And yet you love me.”

I did. Turning my face, I leaned back so I could look him in the eye. “Against all logic and common sense, I love you.”

“Then I accept your proposal,” he said, bringing his smirking lips to mine.

Everything—the crowd, the celebration, the cheers—disappeared the instant our lips touched. It wasn’t our first kiss, but it was the kiss that finally made Weatherford feel like home.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Or does it? Pick up TRAPPED to find out. The next installment in my SSI series includes a scarred hero and a sassy heroine who get a second chance at love. There's also a black cat…