by Andre, Bella
Didn’t she realize there was nothing she could have said that would have gotten to him more? He couldn’t have her, but damn it, there wasn’t another man alive who was good enough for her, either. The thought of anyone else kissing her the way he had—the thought of her actively going out there to look for that kind of treatment—made him want to lock her up in a tower.
There was no way she could still be a virgin at twenty-five. But Jake still felt as if he’d taken something from her with that rough kiss. That he’d dirtied up her innocence by shoving his tongue in her mouth and putting his hands on her.
He couldn’t argue with her about the kiss. Not when he was damned sure there’d never be one as hot…or as sweet. So he told her the truth instead.
“You deserve better.” And yet, he couldn’t seem to make himself step away from her.
Sophie cocked her head to the side and frowned at him just as Lori hurried around the corner of the shed.
“There you are, Soph! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
Lori skidded to a stop when she realized her twin wasn’t alone.
“Jake? What are you doing with—” Sophie’s sister didn’t finish her question as she frowned, looking between the two of them.
There was no way Lori could miss the fact that Sophie was standing really, really close to him with her hand still pressed to his chest and her mouth swollen from his rough kisses.
The Sullivan boys were definitely going to tear him apart with their bare hands for this.
But Lori? Jake knew damn well that her punishment was going to be even worse to make him pay for kissing her twin. She and Sophie had always been so close, two halves of a whole, whether they wanted to admit it or not. Lori would protect Sophie with everything she had. And if she thought Jake was a threat to her twin, she wouldn’t care that they were friends. She would tear him limb from limb first and ask questions later.
“The speeches are about to start,” Lori informed them both. “Everyone is wondering where you are, Soph, especially Ellen.” She pinned Jake with a look so sharp it could have sliced right through him. “And you, too.”
“Okay,” Sophie said in an overly bright voice. “Thanks for letting us know. We’ll be there in just a minute.”
But instead of leaving them alone, Lori put her hand around Sophie’s forearm and pulled her away from Jake. “You can’t go back looking like this.” She ran her hands through Sophie’s hair, fixing the mess Jake had made of it when he was pawing her. She brushed off a smudge of lipstick at the corner of her sister’s mouth and shifted the dress an inch to the right. “That’s better. And, seriously, you should get back there before Ellen has a heart attack thinking some unruly loser of a guest was stupid enough to pull you off into the vines.”
Sophie was silent for a moment. “You’re right. I don’t want anything to fall through the cracks today. It wouldn’t be fair to Chase and Chloe.”
“I’ll be there in a sec,” Lori said. “I need to talk to Jake about something.”
“He kissed me, which you’ve clearly already figured out,” Sophie told her sister, her expression stubborn as she faced Lori. “Now you two don’t have to talk about it, because I’ve told you everything that happened. Let’s go.” She grabbed her sister’s hand and made sure they walked together past the shed.
Yet again, Jake was impressed with Sophie. Lori had a will strong enough to push most people around. He’d always assumed Sophie was the beta to her sister’s alpha.
Had he gotten it wrong all these years? Had he made the mistake of underestimating Sophie just because she didn’t feel the need to be the center of attention like the rest of them?
“Oh, no!” Sophie exclaimed. “That little boy is about to knock over the chocolate Eiffel Tower.” She quickly moved toward the long food table and the hungry boy, leaving Jake alone with Lori.
He was a dead man.
“What the hell was going on back there?” Lori narrowed her eyes and snarled, “What were you doing to my sister?”
Jake wished he knew. One moment he’d been trying to protect Sophie from some worthless wedding guest who only wanted her in his bed…the next she’d been in his arms and he’d been kissing her as if his life depended on it. Nothing had ever felt more right.
Or had been so wrong.
Lori took a step closer, and he had to fight the urge to take a step back in retreat. “If you hurt my sister, I will hunt you down and take great pleasure in hurting you. Badly.” She smiled at him, a turning up of the lips that promised a great deal of future pain should he ever screw up again where Sophie was concerned. “And you’d better believe that I’ll keep you alive just so that I can send my brothers in to finish you off.” She cleared the expression of fury from her face before saying, “Now walk me back to my table and make it look believable that you and I were off getting into our usual trouble.”
She slid her hand into the crook of his arm and pinched him hard, just in case he needed a reminder that tangling with Sophie was where the real trouble was.
Bigger trouble than any a screwup like him had ever been in before.
Five
After righting the fondue tower in the nick of time, and pointing the little boy toward a bowl of Hershey’s Kisses, Sophie went to wash her hands and to take a few extra moments to compose herself. She put her hand on her belly as butterflies flew at the memory of how deliciously sensual she’d felt in Jake’s arms. He was even yummier, even more dangerous, even more potent, than she’d dreamed he’d be.
If only Lori hadn’t come searching for them, then maybe Sophie could have gotten past Jake’s all-too-clear remorse. “You deserve better,” was what he’d said to her just after the sweetness of his kiss had shot straight past her heart, all the way to her soul. At the very least, she wished she’d had time to convince him that his guilt and remorse were both misplaced.
She’d wanted that kiss just as much as he had. And they were two full-grown adults who could kiss whomever they wanted.
In any case, for the next few hours, she needed to push Jake’s kiss to the back of her mind and concentrate her attention where it should be: on making sure Chase and Chloe’s wedding was absolutely perfect. Later, she’d relive those moments when all her dreams came true, when she’d been in Jake’s arms and it felt like the sun was never going to stop shining, and it seemed utterly impossible that he might not actually want her beyond that kiss.
She let the guests’ laughter warm her before she headed to the big, round table she was sharing with her siblings and their significant others. Noting that her mother, who was sitting with her close friends, had a worried look on her face, Sophie made sure to stop by her seat.
Mary Sullivan was dressed in a beautiful, floor-length, lace-and-silk dress in a soft coral that perfectly set off her coloring, and Sophie stopped and stared at her mother for a few moments. She knew her mom had been a model before marrying their father and having eight kids, but sometimes Sophie forgot just how pretty she was. Not just pretty, but glamorous, too. No one believed her mother was in her seventies, and Sophie hoped she’d look half as good when she was the same age. Clearly, Sophie noted, as she looked around and saw half a dozen gray-haired gentlemen appreciating her mother’s beauty, she wasn’t the only one who had noticed just how attractive the mother of the groom was. Funny, though, she couldn’t remember her mother ever dating anyone.
“It was a beautiful wedding, wasn’t it, Mom?”
“It was,” her mother agreed. “You are a natural at wedding planning. Everyone can’t stop talking about all of the perfect little details you thought of to celebrate Chase and Chloe.” But Mary Sullivan was too perceptive as she added, “Jake was your perfect partner, it seems.”
Sophie’s eyes widened at what her mother had just said. She knew there was no way that she could know what had just happened with Jake—and that perfect had been the exact word for it—but somehow her mother’s comment was incredibly on point nonetheless.
&nb
sp; She worked to keep her voice easy as she said, “He’s doing a great job with the bar setup and service. In fact, I should probably get back to—”
Her mother stopped her with a soft hand on her arm. “You’ve done enough work already, Sophie. Have some fun.”
“I am,” she told her mother. And she was.
Because kissing Jake McCann was the most fun she’d ever had in her life.
Lori and Jake walked by just then, arm in arm, Lori laughing at something he’d said, then punching him in the shoulder, hard enough that Sophie was fairly certain he was hiding a wince of pain behind his smile.
“I want Jake to celebrate with the rest of us,” Mary said, “not feel like he needs to work during Chase and Chloe’s wedding. He’s family.”
Her mother had never asked her about her feelings for Jake, but Sophie had never been able to hide anything from her. Especially not now, when she was feeling more than she ever had for the man who had stolen her heart when she’d been a little girl, and took more of it with every year that passed.
“I know how much you love to dance at weddings, and Jake is the perfect height to be your partner,” Mary Sullivan suggested, before kissing her daughter’s cheek.
Sophie felt her eyes grow wet. Of course, at no point had her mother commented on her makeup, her hair or the dress the way Sophie’s brothers had. She’d simply seen beneath everything on the outside straight to what was going on inside.
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart.” Mary Sullivan kissed her again. “Now, be sure to tell your brothers to keep those speeches clean.”
Budding tears gave way to laughter as Sophie said, “Would it be bad if I told Zach and Ryan they’re needed on the other side of town instead?”
Her mother laughed with her at the idea that her brothers would even think about staying in line when given the chance to say something shocking about Chase in front of such a large crowd.
Sophie quickly stopped by Chase’s and Chloe’s seats. “Is everything going okay so far?”
Chloe hugged her tight. “It’s the most beautiful wedding in the world. I can hardly believe it’s mine.”
“Thanks, sis,” Chase said, “You’re one heck of a wedding planner.”
Sophie didn’t bother to hide her wide grin. She adored Chloe and was beyond thrilled for Chase. “If it’s okay with both of you, I think we should get rolling on the speeches.”
After they agreed, Sophie walked up to the table where her brothers and sister were waiting. Before anyone could ask her where she’d been for the past half hour, she gave the microphone to Marcus. “We’re going to start the speeches now. You’re first. When you’re finished just pass the mic to the next oldest. Jake will go after the boys, then Lori and I will go last.”
Smith was frowning as he looked between her and Jake. She’d known her family was going to be watching her very carefully when she walked back into the reception area and that even the slightest indication that something had happened to her would send all six of her brothers on a rampage. Especially given her new look for the wedding. She knew they were already suspicious that something was going on. She took her seat and flashed a bright smile at Smith, thankful when Marcus stood up and all eyes turned to him.
“This is a big day for the Sullivans.”
The guests immediately stopped talking and focused their attention on Marcus. The oldest of all the Sullivans, he’d stepped in to help take care of his seven younger siblings at fourteen when their father passed away. He was the one they all automatically looked up to, and Sophie was beyond pleased that he’d finally found love of his own with Nicola. Together, they were splitting their time between Marcus’s winery in Napa Valley and Nicola’s tour bus as she put on pop concerts around the world.
“I’m sure there are some who thought the day would never come when one of us would say, ‘I do.’”
As the crowd laughed at his on-point observation, Sophie worked like crazy not to stare at Jake, who was seated next to Lori at the far end of the large table.
“Now that it has, I know there isn’t a single one of us who is surprised.” Marcus turned from the crowd to face Chase and Chloe. “Chloe, if I had tried, I couldn’t have found a partner more perfect for my brother.” The bride’s eyes were already filling with tears as her new husband threaded his fingers through hers. “Chase, I’m as happy for you as I’ve ever been. And so damn proud. Our father was one of the best men I’ve ever known, and you’ve always reminded me so much of him. He would be as proud of you, Chase, and he would love you, Chloe, as much as the rest of us do.”
Marcus’s strong voice broke slightly on the last word, and he looked up toward the sky and paused like that for a few long moments. Sophie could hear sniffles throughout the reception area. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her mother beginning to cry, but Sophie knew if she actually looked at Mary, she’d dissolve into a wet puddle, too. Smith gripped Sophie’s hand hard, and she squeezed back with all her strength, the two of them holding on to each other as Marcus continued.
“One other thing I’m absolutely sure of—” Marcus paused again to smile at Chase and Chloe and turned to briefly look at each of his brothers and sisters, before focusing on his mother “—is that he’s here with all of us today.”
Marcus was holding his hand over his heart by now, and Sophie knew why. That place was exactly where they all held the memories of their father. He’d passed away when she was only two, but she’d heard so many stories about him over the years, and had each of his pictures memorized, that she felt she could remember him just as well as any of her older siblings.
“We can’t wait to meet the first of the next generation of Sullivans,” Marcus concluded.
Then the applause started, and everyone got to their feet to toast not only Chase and Chloe, but also the baby growing inside of the beautiful bride. Chase’s hand rested possessively over his wife’s gently rounded stomach as he kissed Chloe, and Sophie leaned into Smith’s shoulder as she whispered, “They’re so beautiful together, aren’t they?”
Smith kissed her forehead, then said, “They really are, Soph. He did good.”
A moment later, Smith took the mic from Marcus. As he stood up, everyone let out a collective gasp. It wasn’t just that he was an incredibly famous movie star. Smith had always had a huge presence, had always been mesmerizing, especially when he was decked out in a black tux with tails. Even when he’d been a teenager, all he’d had to do was walk into a room and every eye would be on him. Not because he was a show-off, but because he had an unstoppable charisma and charm. Fortunately, he was also a truly good man. Sophie was sure every woman at the wedding—taken or not—was dreaming about what it would be like to have Smith Sullivan give her a second glance.
“My brothers and sisters like to tell me I live in a world of make-believe,” Smith said in the voice that a billion people around the globe could have recognized with their eyes closed. “I don’t know what they’re talking about. My life is perfectly normal.”
Laughter rolled through the crowd as Ryan and Gabe shook their heads as theatrically as possible.
“One thing we can all agree on,” Smith continued when the laughter subsided, “is that there’s nothing imaginary about the love between Chase and Chloe.”
Oh, my. Sophie knew her big brothers could be big softies. But had any of them ever let anyone but the family see just how sweet they could be before? Especially Smith, who had to guard himself from the pressures of fame and from strangers who thought they knew the real man when they definitely didn’t.
And yet, in this moment, for the brother he loved, Smith was pure emotion. If he was willing to risk baring his soul for a few moments like this, Sophie knew she didn’t have a prayer of being anything but a big old splashy puddle by the time the microphone landed in her hand.
Smith raised his glass. “To your forever.”
Everyone clinked their glasses as Smith toasted the bride
and groom, and Chase nodded at his brother with a big grin in acknowledgment of the beautiful wish he’d just made for them.
Ryan was next as he took the microphone from Smith and stood up. Any of the women who hadn’t just lost their hearts to Smith would have been hard-pressed not to give it up to the pro baseball player. Sophie couldn’t think of the last time she’d seen Ryan or Zach in a tux. Both of them had complained when she’d informed them that that was what they were going to wear as groomsmen. Knowing her brothers and the way they charmed absolutely any woman they came into contact with, Sophie made sure to let the rental company know she’d be extremely upset if they caved and gave her brothers alternatives to the tuxes.
And she’d been right to hold firm. All of her brothers looked absolutely fantastic. Sophie shot a glance at Lori, silently acknowledging that the two of them didn’t look half bad, either. Their mother, Mary, was pure elegance, of course.
“Guys like me tend to look at life as a game.”
Sophie could see how much the crowd loved Ryan’s easy manner. He’d always been the most relaxed and easygoing of them all. On the baseball field, he took no prisoners, but even then, he made it all look so easy. So effortless. It was the same now, as he surveyed the guests with a lazy appreciation.
“It helps if early on you realize that some games are gonna go better than others.” Ryan shrugged. “A year ago, if you’d asked me for my thoughts on the game of love, I would have told you to ask some other sap.”
Surprised laughter burst from the crowd, and Sophie had to shake her head and roll her eyes at Ryan, before catching her mother’s gaze and grinning. They’d predicted just this, hadn’t they? It was nice to know there were some things you could count on, she thought with a grin that she didn’t bother repressing.
“But I’ve watched my brother and his bride pretty closely since they first found each other and, even for a guy like me, there’s no denying that if life is a game, I’m betting on their chances at taking home the pennant.” He lifted his glass to Chase and Chloe. “To both of you.”