Page 31

THREE MONTHS LATER

“I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

Jenny watched as Gideon tenderly kissed Jada. She watched for just a moment, but then turned away, it was too private a moment. Their love was a beautiful thing, and Jenny was amazed and honored that Jada had asked her to be one of her bridesmaids.

When they were done, everybody started to clap and hoot and holler, and Jenny turned back to see Jada and Gideon’s big grins.

“Let’s get this party started,” Jada yelled.

There was no subdued walk back down the aisle for Jada Marlow-Smith, nope, she practically ran with Gideon as they headed to the back of the church and a waiting limousine that would take them to the reception venue.

The rest of the bridal party was moving along behind, as they should be. Kostya escorted Lark down the aisle at a subdued pace, followed by Ryker and Amy, then Linc and Leila, Jase and Bonnie, Mateo and Lainie, and finally her and Brax. They met up in the parking lot with the single members of Omega Sky and members of Night Storm and Jada’s family, then everyone went to their cars to head over to the magical venue that had been chosen for the reception.

When they got to the reception, it was even more beautiful than the pictures Jada had shown the women. Brax went to go get them something to drink, and Jenny looked up at all the balloons that covered the ceiling.

“Isn’t this amazing?” Bonnie asked her as she sidled up next to her.

Jenny gave Bonnie’s tummy a sideways glance.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not having twins again. I promised Jase. It’s just that he’s a big guy, and I’m having his big baby.”

Jenny laughed. “How’s everything going?”

“A lot better than I could have ever imagined.”

“Brax has been worried.”

“Tell him to stop. Jase is part of a huge family, and he knows more than most how life isn’t fair and you just need to move on sometimes. That’s how he feels about this.”

“So, you’re really moving to Jasper Creek?”

“Not until the baby is born. I want to be around my friends here when I give birth. We’re thinking in the summer.”

“What about you? How are you doing?” Bonnie asked. “You’ve been kidnapped twice.”

“Brax talked me into counseling.”

“Talked?”

“Forcefully encouraged,” Jenny laughed ruefully. “It helped. There were other… older things I needed to work out, so it’s helped a lot. I think I might even be a good mom one day.”

“I’m sorry, did I just hear you say you thought you might be a good mom one day?” Brax asked as he handed her a glass of champagne.

Jenny blushed. “Maybe.”

“This is my cue to exit,” Bonnie said. She leaned over and kissed Jenny’s cheek.

When she turned, she saw Brax staring down at her, his expression, intent.

“That’s a pretty big step, Ms. Rivers. You believing in yourself that much.”

Jenny nodded.

“You know, I had a lot of things planned for this evening. Us all dressed up nice, a band, there’s dancing, we’re in front of our friends. Seemed to me like a perfect setup.”

“What are you talking about?” He was so confusing.

Brax plucked her champagne glass out of her hand and put it on one of the round tables and put his arm around her. “How about we go home and celebrate Jada and Gideon’s nuptials alone? I can put on some music, and we can dance.”

She saw the banked heat in his eyes, and her core clenched.

She nodded.

He took her hand and guided her outside to his truck. He lifted her into the passenger seat. On the way home her hands twisted in her lap. Tonight was her big night. She’d been planning for two weeks. She could do this.

Brax looked over at her.

“You holding up okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”

“They’re probably going to reach a settlement next week on your suit against New Era Cyber Tech. I noticed you were kind of twisted up lately.”

“No, it wasn’t that.”

“Then you admit it’s something.”

“We’re almost home, can we wait until then?” Jenny asked.

Brax held out his hand, and she grabbed it like a lifeline.

Brax felt like he could finally breathe now that Jenny was clutching his hand. He’d wanted her to go to counseling so she could feel better about herself. So she could work out her childhood demons and the kidnappings, but lately he’d worried that maybe she’d decided to kick him to the curb. Having her hold onto him like this eased an ache deep inside him.

“Stay there,” he said when he pulled into his driveway. “I don’t want you to mess up your dress or twist an ankle as you try to get out of the truck.”

“Okay.”

Brax came to the passenger seat and lifted her out, and they went into the house.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked.

“No, I want a clear head. Can you come sit down on the couch with me?”

Now he was worried again. But he nodded and did as she asked. When he sat down, and she stood in front of him, he drew in a deep breath and waited. He didn’t have to wait long. She started to draw up the hem of her long bridesmaid dress until it came up to her thighs.

Fuck, she’s wearing thigh high stockings.

“What are you doing?” he croaked out the question.

“Wait and see.”

With a dainty wiggle, she lowered herself so that her knees bracketed his legs, and she was sitting on his lap, eye to eye. “I needed to get your full attention,” she whispered.

“You’ve got it.”

God, is this my voice? I sound like I swallowed a frog or something.

“I’ve told you many times how much I adore you. You know I adore you, right?”

He nodded. His gaze drifted down to her cleavage that somehow was sparkling tonight. Had she put some kind of sparkling makeup on?

She cupped his cheeks and lifted his head, then she bit his lower lip, hard.

“Concentrate, boy. I’m talking, here.”

“I’m multi-tasking,” he grinned.

“I need your total focus,” she grinned back.

“Okay, you have it.”

“Good. My speech isn’t done. Now, I adore you. I adore your body, your spirit, and the way you care and protect me.”

Brax felt his heart melt, and he clutched her hips. “I love you, baby. I’ll always be here for you.”

“That’s what I want you to know,” she whispered. “I love you, too. No matter what comes at us in the future, whether we are together or not, you need to know I will love you forever. You need to know that my love for you is the best thing that has ever happened. You are the best thing that has ever happened in my life. You are a miracle.”

He felt tears burning the backs of his eyes. “Damn, Jenny, when you go for it, you really go for it.”

Her smile was beautiful.

“You got one thing wrong, though,” he whispered.

She tilted her head to the side. “What?”

“Reach into my pants pocket.”

She started to.

“Other pocket.”

He saw her eyes go wide when she felt the jeweler’s box.

“Open it,” he commanded.

“No. Tell me what I got wrong first.”

“You said whether we are together or not. Open the box so I can put on your ring. I want you to know that we will be together for always and beyond baby. For always and beyond.”