***
"BEFORE YOU GO up front, Spence, I want a picture of all of you." Their mother, a pretty sight in a sage dress, lifted her camera as her boys came together. They wore matching, raven tuxes, snowy white shirts and green cummerbunds. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen three more beautiful men."
They gave her indulgent smiles. Cole noticed how fake Joey’s expression was, but no one else seemed to. He was proud of his brother for putting up such a good front after what had happened yesterday.
What is it? Cole had asked him when he’d seen the bleak look on Joey’s face after he’d arrived at church.
Dana. She, um, said no to taking our relationship further. She said she can’t risk getting hurt. He’d scanned the church as if he was searching for solace. She left me a damned voice mail!
I’m sorry, Joe.
Don’t tell Spence. He deserves a happy day.
Cole had clapped him on the shoulder. She’s a fool to have let you go. You’re such a good guy.
After being dutiful sons, Spence left, and Cole and Joe stayed in the back of the church. In minutes, they were busy with the arriving guests—family, friends, kids of friends. Though Annie and Spence had kept their wedding small, half of the pews were filled. Ellie was already down front in her baby seat with Joe’s girls, who were entertaining her. At nine months old, the child was so good-natured, all Cole could hear from her when he escorted someone down front was a coo or babble. And she looked like a little doll in a green dress that his mother had picked out for her. It matched the color scheme in the wedding, as did a green-and-white bow in her hair. Those beautiful locks had grown into a mass of wispy dark curls.
Cole began to feel an ache in his heart again. He wanted a woman to love like Spence had, someone to share his life and his daughter’s with. The timing was so odd, too. He’d never felt this way until he’d gotten Ellie. He loved women—the sight and scent of them—but he’d never sought out a long-term relationship with one. Huh! Having Ellie had changed him in so many ways.
Once again, he thought of Beth, the woman online he’d been watching, studying. He bet he could open up to her about his new feelings. He’d have to lie about his age, though, and, glancing at Joey, whose deception had brought him to this point, he flinched. Cole had some thinking to do.
***
AS HE ESCORTED guests down the aisle, Joe tried to keep his smile from looking phony, to hide the fact that his joy for his brother was tainted. He’d succeeded. The most important people in the world to him sat in this church and he promised himself he wouldn’t spoil the day by wallowing in his sadness. Damn Dana for her fear and cowardice. She didn’t even have the gumption to talk to him in person and let him know she was done with him. She just blew him off in a voice mail.
Apparently, he didn’t do a good enough job of concealing his mood, because his mother pulled him aside when there was a lull in the arrivals.
"Where’s Dana?" she asked gently.
"She, um, isn’t coming."
"Why?"
"Lots of reasons." He didn’t want to tell her any details because it would hurt her to know he’d kept his dad’s condition a secret. "We had a tiff. I asked her to come today, but she’s not interested in forgiveness."
"Then she doesn’t deserve you, sweetheart."
His mom had gotten that reversed, but he didn’t correct her.
Cole approached them. "Take Mom down, then it’s time to join Spence, bro."
"Okay." He held out his crooked arm. "Come on, Mom, let’s celebrate Spence’s happiness."
After escorting her to a seat, he and Cole headed to the vestibule to walk out to the altar with their brother. There was undiluted joy on Spence’s face when they found him sitting alone in the room.
"Nervous, big brother?" Joe asked in a light tone.
"Are you kidding? I’ve waited my whole life for this and didn’t even know it. I’m the luckiest guy on the planet."
Instead of the normal snort expected from preteens today, Annie’s son Alex, who also wore a tux, beamed. Spence clapped him on the shoulder and the boy leaned into him. Joe managed to smile—he was glad Spence would have kids in his life now.
When it was time to go into the church, they walked to the middle aisle, stopped, and the bridal party began their trek down the white-covered floor. First, Annie’s daughter Hope, strewing flower petals, then Annie’s best friends, Lauren and Julia, all in simple dresses of varying shades of green. Finally, Joe saw Annie appear at the back entrance. The bridal song swelled, the guests stood, and she and her mother, who was escorting her, started down the long aisle.
She was a vision in a calf-length dress, strapless, simple, with just a bit of lace and beading; the material flowed around her legs as she came toward Spence. He heard his brother gasp, and for the first time in their entire lives together, he saw Spence’s eyes moisten.
His own misery forgotten, Joe took his place at the altar, across from Annie’s bridesmaids. One of them looked a bit like Dana. Damn it, he didn’t want to think of her while he was up on the altar of this momentous day. With strength he’d garnered through all the difficulties in his life, Joe concentrated on the vows. They’d each written their own and Spence started first.
"Thank you, Annie, for joining your life with mine. I promise to always love you deeply and unreservedly, to treat you as an equal, never lie to you, never keep important things from you. I’ll love your children as my own. I’ll be here for you no matter what happens. You can always count on me."
Tears streamed down Annie’s face, so before she spoke, Spence reached up and rubbed his thumbs over her cheeks. "I love you, Spence, more than I realized I could ever love a man. I’m grateful for all you’ve brought to my life, but I’m most grateful for you, the man, the person you are. I’ll spend the rest of my days loving you, caring for you and being your partner."
A tender moment came when Annie’s daughter Hope slipped out of her spot, crept over to Spence and hugged him. Alex gave him the rings, smiling broadly.
Joey found his spirits lifted at the heartfelt emotion in Spence’s family. Just as the newlyweds kissed, Cole leaned over and whispered in Joe’s ear, "Check out the back pew, Joey."
Joe’s head turned to the side.
His throat clogged.
And his own eyes got watery.
Because there Dana sat in her chair, near the double doors, dressed in pink and sparkles, staring up at the altar. Staring up at him.
***
DANA LEFT THE church as the wedding party started down the aisle. Not wanting to get caught in a crowd, she headed out to the ramp to avoid the exiting mass. As always, she took the unfamiliar terrain slowly but still made it down the ramp and to the sidewalk ahead of everybody else. She waited off to the left until the bridesmaids and groomsmen reached the open double doors of the church.
And there he was in the sunlight; its beams sparkled off his dark hair, his white shirt accented his tan, and his muscles bulged beneath the tux. He looked so incredibly virile that she felt the stirrings of arousal right out there in the broad daylight. Then his gaze found her in the crowd, locked on her, and everything clicked into place for Dana. Though she’d acted on instinct, she knew in her heart that coming here to show Joey that she’d pursue a relationship with him was the right thing to do.
As soon as he could, he threaded his way through the guests, stopping to shake a few hands and take a few pecks on the cheek; but soon he approached her, giving her the kind of onceover that she used to get from men all the time. He stopped a few feet away and plopped his hands on his hips. "So, pretty lady, does this mean what I think it does?"
God, she loved the cocky side of him.
"It does."
Again the searing perusal. "Dressed up for me?"
"Uh-huh." She batted her eyelashes.
"Good." He came in close and braced his arms on the chair. "This is it, Dana. No more waffling. We’re both going to give the relationship our best shot."
<
br /> Dana was glad he didn’t ask for guarantees and promises. That would be premature at this point. She cupped his cheek. "I can do that, Joey. I want to."
His pupils dilated as he looked at her. "I want to kiss you really bad."
She glanced around. "Too many people."
Bending over farther, he whispered, "But it’s a wedding" and took her mouth. Immediately, his scent, his bulk, his animal masculinity surrounded her as his lips pressed insistently onto her own.
When he let her go, she shaded her eyes so she could see him better. "Do you have to stay here for pictures?"
"We took a few in church. The rest are being shot at the outdoor area at Spence’s golf community. The reception is at the clubhouse. I can ride over with you. We came to the church in a limo."
"Maybe you should go with the wedding party."
"Not necessary." Another man’s deep voice came from behind Joe. When Joe stepped aside, she saw the groom and the other groomsman standing there. His brothers. God, they were all gorgeous.
"Congratulations, Spence. Nice to see you again, Cole."
Both men greeted her.
The bride joined them and when she caught sight of Dana, she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, oh! You must be Joe’s girl." The woman’s eyes glistened in the sun. She hugged Joe. "I’m so glad." Then she leaned over and hugged Dana. "Sorry, too soon for that, probably," she uttered when she drew back. "But I’m emotional today."
Spence tugged her to his side.
"You’re fine. Congratulations, Annie."
The introductions continued when their mother, who was lovely, joined them and fawned over her boys. The woman seemed inordinately glad to see Dana, and she wondered if Joe had told her, them all, about their separation. Then Kara and Kaelyn came up to them, Kaelyn wheeling a carriage.
"Miss Dana!" they said simultaneously.
"Hi, girls."
Kaelyn asked, "Is Ruth with you?"
Briefly, she glanced to Joe. "No, honey," their father said. "I invited Miss Dana."
"Like, as a date?" Kaelyn asked, her eyes huge.
They were interrupted by a loud babbling from the carriage.
Cole said, "Uh-oh. She wants to meet Dana, too."
"I’ll get her." Joe bent over and scooped the child out of her carriage.
And Dana just about lost her breath. He pressed Ellie to his shoulder, kissed her head and said, "Hey, sweetheart. We didn’t forget about you."
Dana couldn’t speak, couldn’t even swallow. She’d never in her life seen anything more beautiful than big macho cop, JoeyD, cuddling his niece.
***
THE HANDICAP PARKING space with Dana’s van was directly in front of the church, so Joe kept his hands to himself until they’d driven out of sight of the guests. Then he ordered, "Pull over."
"What? Where?"
"That lot right there." It was an apartment complex. She drove in and he directed her to an area under some trees.
After she’d shut the engine off, Joe moved in; he grasped her arms and took her mouth. Nipped at it. Demanded entry and explored her thoroughly. "There," he said when he came up for air, then he whispered against her lips, "What made you change your mind?"
"I got mad at myself for being such a coward. And I was miserable. It finally dawned on me that I had the power to change the situation if I wanted to." She gestured to the chair. "I’m so used to not having control over things…but I did for you and me."
A slow smile. "I’ll do my part," he said and kissed her again. "I promise." Then he added, "We’ll be good together, Dana."
"We can talk about all that later. What I really want is to enjoy today."
"I like the sound of that."
When they arrived at the club, parking was easy, the accessibility better than average. Joe walked beside her around the clubhouse to the back outdoor area which overlooked colorful gardens. Spence approached them. "I’m afraid I need to borrow him, Dana."
"Go ahead. I’ll be fine."
Joe snagged a glass from a passing waiter. "Want some bubbly?"
"I’ll have a sip or two. Go on now, I’ll watch from over here."
Throughout the photo session, Joe couldn’t stop thinking about Dana, about the future they could have together. He’d been morose when he’d woken up this morning. Now he felt like he could scale mountains. Sure, a relationship with her would be different from those he’d had in the past. But at least she was giving him a chance.
And this time, he didn’t intend to blow it.
***
DANA SIPPED CHAMPAGNE, and the bubbles tickled her nose while she watched the formal picture session. The photographer took shots with Kara and Kaelyn and Ellie first. Then the girls commandeered the baby and returned to the patio, making a beeline for Dana. Kara leaned over and whispered something in Kaelyn’s ear.
Kae frowned, said "Okay," reluctantly, and wheeled Ellie away.
Joe’s older daughter faced her squarely, looking very much like her dad. "Can I talk to you, Miss Dana?"
"Of course, Kara. Let’s go to a table in the shade."
When they were settled, the girl turned to her again. The expression in her eyes was one of challenge.
"Is something wrong, Kara?"
"You like my dad."
"Yes."
"You’re his date here." She motioned to the club grounds.
"I am."
Her chin lifted a bit. "Are you going to keep dating him?"
Oh, Lord. Was the girl going to object because Dana was in a wheelchair? She’d never expected this. Her heart thudded in her chest.
"I…I plan to. Unless you have objections." Her tone came out colder than she wanted.
Kara’s brow furrowed, again a lot like Joe’s did. "Why would I?"
Dana was confused. "What are you asking then?"
Again, the child held her gaze. "Is that why you accepted me into the studio?"
Ah, youthful insecurity. No matter how good you were, it plagued performers. "I did let you audition as a favor to your father."
The girl’s eyes welled.
"Listen to me, Kara. It’s important to be honest. You have to know he was the reason for the audition, because there’s a waiting list, and your dad says your mother calls every year to try to get you in."
"I know. I just wanted to be good enough."
"I said you got your audition because of your dad. In no way did you get into the studio because of him. I’d never, ever do that."
"Honest to God?"
Dana reiterated what appeared to be the Moretti’s solemn oath. "I wasn’t going to tell you this, Kara, but my reasoning might help you see the situation clearly. You are by far one of the best young dancers I’ve ever seen. You remind me of myself when I was your age."
Tears trickled down her face now. Kaelyn came rushing over, baby in tow. "Kara?" She gave Dana a menacing look. "What did you say to her?"
Could these girls be any more wonderful?
Kara spoke. "Sh-she said I remind her of herself as dancer when she was a girl."
"Oh."
Once again, tired of being ignored, the baby started to make noise. She didn’t cry, but she let her presence be known. Immediately, Kara stood and picked her up. "It’s all right, Ellie. We’re here."
The baby was so beautiful. From beside her, Kara said, "Want to hold Ellie, Miss Dana?"
For a moment, Dana froze. How could she tell the girls she’d never in her life held a baby? She’d never babysat because all of her time, since she was seven, had been given over to practice. She was an only child and her dancer friends had no children. And after the accident, she’d had no opportunity to be around babies and didn’t want to. Dana avoided any parent who came to the studio with one.
Swallowing hard, she said, "Yes, I’d like that," and the girls went into action.
Kaelyn got two blankets out of the carriage and looped one over the left arm of the wheelchair. She placed another on Dana’s lap. "Now you can have her.
" Kara placed the child in her lap.
Huge, blue eyes stared up at her. "Goo, goo, goo."
"Goo, goo to you, sweetheart." Dana touched the child’s downy hair, which was the color of Cole’s. She ran her knuckles over the petal-soft cheek. Ellie grabbed a finger and held on tight. Then she smiled, let go, and batted Dana’s cheek. When she grabbed Dana’s hair so hard it hurt, Dana laughed.
And when Ellie started to fuss at being in one position, Dana lifted her up to her shoulder, where Ellie cuddled sweetly into her neck. She smelled of baby powder and lemony shampoo. Dana closed her eyes and savored the moment.
It was then that Joe joined them, with Cole at his side.
Cole smiled. "Hey, Dana, she likes you."
"Why wouldn’t she?" Joe asked, placing his hand on her shoulder. "She’s one terrific woman."
And just like that, Dana felt included, like she fit in and was part of something. She vowed to enjoy it.
Chapter 10
* * *
THE NIGHT OF the wedding, Joe sat in Dana’s living room, eyes closed, head back, feet up on her coffee table. He only stirred when he heard her come into the room. He looked up at her and smiled.
"Seems like you need this," she said, holding out a mug.
Dropping his feet to the floor, he took the drink from her. "You having some, too?" When she shook her head, he remembered something she’d said online. "That’s right, you don’t do caffeine."
"I try to avoid putting chemicals in my body. I made some tea." Turning, she went back to the kitchen and got her cup. She couldn’t carry two at once and it bothered him she had to make a second trip.
When she returned, he said, "What kind is it?" He winked at her. "For future reference."
"Green tea. It helps me sleep better."
Arching a brow, he quipped, "I can think of better ways to put you to sleep, darlin’"
She laughed. "I bet."
With an agility he admired, she transferred herself to the couch—he noticed a table sat in front of half of it. Still he gripped his cup, struggling not to help her.
Wounded Heroes Boxed Set Page 34