“You remember Abby?” Carly asked with an innocent face.
“Yes,” he said through tight lips.
Carly knew damned well he knew Abby—and in the biblical sense. She should have warned him Abby would be here before he made arrangements to come early and remain here so long. He’d speak to Carly about that later.
“I didn’t expect you either.” Abby’s hand trembled in his, and she avoided looking at his face, which indicated she also hadn’t wanted to see him—probably just as much as he didn’t want to see her. Fleetingly, in a moment of weakness, he wondered if she was still seeing Vince Michaels.
“I’m sorry if it’s my fault that you cut yourself.”
“It’s not, Jack. It’s nothing. I’m okay.”
While one of the staff members took over and put a bandage on Abby’s finger, Jack asked her why she was there.
“I’m the Maid of Honor.”
“I’m the Best Man,” he informed her dryly. He narrowed his eyes and flicked a gaze to Carly. “Was this a plot to throw us together, Carly? If it was, you’ve wasted your time… Why don’t you concentrate on your own life?”
“Jack, please. You’re being Best Man was only settled last minute, remember? At first you said you couldn’t come, so you’re making a big deal about nothing,” Carly rattled on. “It’s my wedding. I want my best friend here—and my cousin. Now why don’t you go on out there? Abby and I will be out in a minute to join everyone.”
Jack gave Carly a curt nod and left the kitchen with apprehension still swirling in his gut and still a little disturbed that he’d flustered Abby. So much so, that she’d cut herself just because she’d seen him.
Several minutes later, Carly and Abby strode out of the kitchen and joined his group of cousins.
Carly beamed a smile. “Well Jack has already been reacquainted with Abby, but do the rest of you remember her? Some of you must have met Abby before.”
Jack introduced the cousins that Abby hadn’t met before. In the middle of the introductions, Monica sashayed up to the table and linked her arm with Jack’s.
“Monica, do you remember, Abby?” Carly asked, too sweetly.
Monica’s eyes narrowed. She tightened her fingers on Jack’s elbow. “How could I forget Abby? You know we were once roommates, Carly. Hello, Abby. It’s been awhile.”
Jack noticed the shadows deepen in Abby’s pretty aqua-blue eyes. “Yes, it has been,” she said in a low voice. “I hope you’re doing well.”
Was she sincere?
All Jack wanted in that moment was to ask her what the hell had happened to them: Why, Abby? Why did you cheat on me? He’d been so attracted to her, and until he found out about Vince and the others, he thought she was in love with him. Even now, he could feel the almost electrical quality that sizzled like a live wire between them. His attraction to her was still there.
As if by instinct, he reached out his hand to touch her but caught himself before he made a real fool of himself.
Carly smiled up at him. “Jack, since you’re the Best Man, and Abby is the Maid of Honor, it looks like you two will be paired together a bit this weekend.”
Monica pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “I hope not too much. I hate to be away from my fiancé for long. That’s what it’s like when you’re in love.”
Abby’s face fell at the mention of fiancé.
“I-I see… I hope you’ll both be happy… Excuse me I remember something I have to do in the kitchen.” And with that, Abby strode away.
Carly frowned. “Excuse me, too.” She followed Abby into the kitchen.
Jack took Monica aside, a little perturbed at her. “Our engagement is not official,” he whispered. “Nothing has been formally decided between us. I’ve been gone for five months. You presume too much… After this weekend, we need to discuss whether or not it is a good idea to get engaged.”
Monica gave him a brief smile. “Sorry, Jack, I couldn’t help myself. I know you might feel a bit rushed, but I love you so much. I just want to make sure Abby knows that you and I are together.”
CHAPTER THREE
Abby stepped into the elegant ballroom. Glittering chandeliers soared above on the high ceiling. Numerous round tables with white tablecloths, flowers, and candles, were placed about the enormous room. On one wall, French doors led to a stone patio, pool, lawns, flower gardens, and steps that lead down to the lake. On the other side, a large stage was setup for several entertainments that were scheduled throughout the week.
Abby spotted Jack and Monica sitting together at one of the dinner tables. They were getting married! Abby’s heart ached with an inner despair as she headed for the other side of the room. When she found a vacant seat at another table, she sighed in relief, thankful she wouldn’t have to speak to them that evening.
However, during the meal, Abby couldn’t stop her eyes from wandering to where they sat. Jack must be really happy to want to marry Monica. Tears burned the backs of her eyes, but Abby managed to maintain her composure throughout dinner. She immersed herself in the lively conversation at the table.
After dinner, Abby left the ballroom, tired of keeping her fake smile in place all evening. She sought refuge in her pretty, colonial-style bedroom at the mansion. She threw herself on the comfortable four-poster bed and let all her emotions burst free.
Silent tears flowed as Abby pressed her hands to her cheeks. She faced the facts: Jack had broken up with her to be with her roommate. Although she tried to forget him, she couldn’t stop all those painful memories from surfacing now that she’d seen him again.
Abby sniffled and grabbed several tissues from the nightstand. Damn. Jack still got to her. From the first time she’d seen him, years ago, she’d thought he was her soul mate, the love of her life. And it had been love at first sight for her, just hadn’t been the same for him.
Why can’t I move on too?
When morning arrived, Abby decided she’d cried enough over a man who didn’t love her. She wouldn’t hide in her room and ruin her entire weekend or tarnish these events for her best friend. This was Carly’s wedding celebration and memories of these days would shine for the rest of Carly’s life…if she didn’t ruin it.
She would just ignore Jack and Monica. Hello and good-bye would be the extent of her conversation with either of them. The only reason she’d broken down the night before was because it had been such a shock to see them here as a couple.
She could do this, and she had to forget this man who didn’t love her. Maybe that’s what she needed all along…to see Jack again, to feel this pain, and then she’d finally get over him.
* * *
Several boats were going out on the lake, so after a quick breakfast with the other bridesmaids, Abby stepped out into the sunshine and headed for the docks. She was determined to enjoy all the activities at this fabulous mansion before the wedding.
When she arrived at the shore, the water stretched in the distance and sparkled a brilliant blue.
Mr. James Farrington waved her over and quickly escorted her by the elbow across the wooden dock to a sleek and sporty, open vessel.
Trent sat at the helm with one hand on the steering wheel. As she scanned the group already on board, Abby’s heart sank to her toes. Seated at the back of the boat, Jack and Monica lounged on the wrap-around bench.
Mr. James Farrington beamed at Abby. “There you go, dear,” he said, handing Abby onto the boat. “You know Jack and Monica. You’re all old friends I hear. And I do believe you said you were single. Why don’t you sit here, next to my grandson? Trent is single as well.”
Trent’s grandpa wasn’t going to take no for an answer and waved his hand, signaling her toward the control panel where the captain’s seat could sit two people romantically.
Trent’s friendly expression stilled and grew serious. “I just remembered something I have to do at the house. You will excuse me, Abby?” He turned to Jack. “Do you mind driving the boat? I’ll take in another ride on the lake l
ater.”
“All right.” Jack moved to the bench at the helm to take over the controls. Of course, Monica joined him.
Abby’s cheeks burned. Trent had walked away like she was poison. Had Jack said something bad about her to Trent? No…she couldn’t believe Jack would do that to her.
Mr. James Farrington threw out his hands in frustration, then stalked toward the house, following his grandson.
With a pleasant smile, Sam Preston strode across the dock toward the boat, looking to board before it left the dock. Abby’s nerves tensed when she recognized him. She didn’t expect him to arrive until later in the week.
“Hey, Jack,” Sam called out, “I just got here. I haven’t seen you in years. Can I catch a ride with you?”
“Sure,” Jack said.
Sam hopped on the boat. “I’m glad to see you, Abby,” he said with a warm look in his brown eyes. Of medium build, he had a smattering of freckles on his face and dark reddish-brown hair. “Why don’t we sit back here? I hoped we’d have a chance to talk.”
She reluctantly sat at the bench at the back of the boat with him.
Jack cleared his throat, catching their attention. “Sam,” he said, nodding in Monica’s direction. “This is Monica Stevens.”
“Happy to meet you, Sam,” Monica said in a glib voice. “Especially since you seem to be such a good friend of Abby’s.”
Abby winced. If she ever decided to consider Sam seriously as someone to date, she didn’t want to do so in front of Monica’s prying eyes.
Sam turned his attention back to Abby. “You are as beautiful as ever, Abby.”
Her face heated at his compliment. “Thank you.”
Abby was surprised, when, on his way to untie the boat from the dock, Jack shot her a surly, sideways glance.
Anger sizzled inside her. What was that supposed to mean? She was the injured party in their relationship. He got what he wanted. Monica.
Jack scowled at her again, returned to the console, and turned the ignition. The engines rumbled to life. The boat jerked away from the dock. Abby gripped the seat to steady herself, wishing she hadn’t come, especially with the way Jack had looked at her—as if he blamed her for everything.
The waterway glistened before them. The sun warmed Abby’s skin and was refreshing after the piles of snow and the colder-than-normal winter and spring they’d had.
When she glanced up, Monica had her arm draped around Jack’s waist as he steered the boat.
Jealousy slammed Abby. She jerked her attention back toward the shore lined with pines and maple trees. After all this time, why was she bothered, seeing the two of them together? Jack had become Monica’s boyfriend only three months after he’d broken up with Abby. She had known that because, a few months into their relationship, Monica had called Abby to let her know.
At that time, Monica had said she wasn’t gloating, but that she’d called Abby just to check in and gauge her feelings for the situation. “I hope you don’t mind that Jack and I are seeing each other? I wanted to make sure you weren’t too hurt.”
Awash with pain, Abby had choked out a lie. “N-no, no, why should I be hurt? We broke up.”
“Well, I told you how he was, remember? And you knew he liked me, so it was expected, wasn’t it?”
Yeah, Abby thought as she glanced at them now. When they were roommates, Monica had often told her how Jack had flirted with her when she wasn’t looking or when they were alone. Even then, Monica had asked if Abby was jealous. However, Abby had been deeply crushed when she heard they were together. But enough of that…
It was a beautiful day to be on the water.
She couldn’t see Jack’s face as he steered the boat, but she saw that Monica still leaned against him, her breast brushing his arm.
Abby sighed and settled in the seat. I’m okay with them being together. It’s much better to have found out I’d been nothing special to him.
Abby lifted her chin. She was glad to have found out that he wasn’t loyal. And good riddance, considering the way he had broken up with her after she’d shared the scary news that she was pregnant. He’d been upset, then deserted her to handle the pregnancy on her own and gone in search of greener pastures. He had let her suffer alone.
Although she suspected he didn’t cheat on her while they were dating, Jack must have been unable to contain his attraction for her ex-roommate. A twinge of pain hit Abby again because he had preferred the perfect Monica.
Abby pulled her hat low over her forehead and sighed. Her mistake today was that she didn’t jump ship when Trent did. Good grief, was she a glutton for punishment?
They cruised on the lake for about a mile, when another boat headed toward them, speeding and throwing out a huge wake of water in its path.
Abby’s heart pounded and she gripped the seat when she realized the boat could hit them head-on.
At the last minute, Jack pulled to the side and let the maniac drive by. The man raised his hat in salute.
“Damn it. It’s Uncle Peter,” Jack grumbled. “What the hell?”
Monica had her hands clenched on the back of the chair. “Was he trying to kill us?”
Jack shook his head. “No, Uncle Peter is harmless. He’s probably showing off a bit for this woman he’s been hanging out with here.”
“He doesn’t look harmless to me,” Monica muttered.
Jack kept on driving. “It was crazy of him, but maybe he’s just blowing off steam. I’ll have a talk with him. He has no reason to be angry with me, and I don’t even know if he knew that was us. I don’t think it was personal.”
“Looked like he was furious to me when he passed us, Jack,” Monica said.
Abby tried to relax as she released her grip on the seat cushion.
“Are you okay, Abby?” Sam asked.
“Yeah.” She was just glad the crazy uncle was far away now.
When they approached the destination island, relief and apprehension swept her. Now, she’d have to endure a picnic lunch alone with Jack, Monica, and Sam.
Ten minutes later, Jack gently glided the boat onto the shore of a hilly and thickly wooded island.
“The island belongs to the estate, and is uninhabited,” he explained. “There is a cabin on the other side, which hasn’t been used in years. The estate owns several miles of lakefront.”
When the boat’s bow was beached on the muddy shoreline, Jack said, “By the marks already on the shore, it looks like someone else has been here recently. Perhaps Uncle Peter.”
A sign further up from the beach read: Private, no Trespassing.
Monica leaned into Jack and let her fingers play with the hair at his temple. “I’m glad we’ve arrived. And I’ve had such a nice time so far, Jack. I am really enjoying your family. They’ve all been so welcoming to me, as if we were already married.”
Abby clenched her teeth. Wanting to get off the boat quickly, she jumped from the side, and one foot sank into the muddier part of the beach.
“Darn it,” Abby muttered.
Sam leaped to a dryer part of the shore. “Mind if I help?” He took her hand and pulled her out of the sucking mud.
Once on dry land, Abby tugged her hand free from his. “Thanks, Sam.”
Not to be put off, Sam looped his arm around her and helped her get settled on a nearby log. When he bent and slipped off her shoe she had an uncomfortable feeling he was too close.
She grew even more uncomfortable when she glanced up, into his adoring eyes.
“I’m glad you’re here, Abby. While we have a moment alone, I want your answer. Will you go out with me again?” He lowered his voice. “I don’t want to be the nice guy who finishes last in this race.”
Abby blew out a breath. “I’m thinking about it.”
Sam gave her a nod. “All right. I won’t push you.” He washed the mud off her shoe in the water.
Why can’t I just give him a chance? They’d gone on two casual dates, one to the Cincinnati Zoo and the other to the art museum
. On those dates, she’d kept him at a distance though—as a friend only. He was a pleasant man, the ‘nice guy’ as he had said. He was attractive enough, but still, something held her back. Maybe because he had been the guy down the street when she was growing up, and her brother’s friend, she wasn’t physically attracted to Sam. However, she’d always known he had a thing for her.
And then there was Jack. Like a phantom, he’d stood in the way of any other relationship for her and had always been at the back of her mind, even though they’d broken up. She was crazy!
Abby gritted her teeth and watched Jack help Monica off the bow of the boat. He carried her and set her down on the drier part of the beach.
Jack being so close with Monica was all Abby needed to make her decision. This weekend she was going to give Sam a chance—a real chance.
Seeing Jack again was affecting her, and not in a good way… She needed a diversion. Her problem was she’d never been able to look past Jack, no matter how much she wanted to move on.
While Monica walked on past, Jack paused for a second by Abby and said for her ears only, “How fitting for you, Abby. You’re no damsel in distress, but the act must earn you points with men.”
Abby gaped at him, anger sizzling inside her. “I am not—”
“Don’t deny it.” The cold hard look in his green eyes stopped her. He stalked past Abby. “Monica,” he barked, “let’s explore the island.”
Monica set her bag on the ground. “Do you mind if we don’t, Jack? I didn’t bring the proper shoes for walking. Why don’t you bring out the chairs so I can work on my tan? We can catch up on old times with Abby. It has been so long.” She sent a sweet smile Abby’s way. “Wouldn’t you like that?”
Abby flushed. She didn’t want to catch up on anything with either of them. Besides, there was nothing to say. She didn’t blame Monica for wanting Jack. He was the one who had made the decision to split up. It was him who preferred the perfect Monica.
Just look at her. She must use a ton of hairspray. There wasn’t a hair out of place—unlike Abby’s own, which was escaping her ponytail and springing loose around her face.
Weekend Wedding Deception (Dangerous Millionaires Series) Page 4