Slow Burn

by Janice Maynard

Never stop moving. Never put down roots. Never look back.

  On the morning of the wedding, he ran out of options. He sent a brief text: I’m picking you up at noon.

  It took ten minutes for Nikki’s reply: I’ll be ready.

  He sighed. Thanksgiving was five days away. Maybe he should get out of New Jersey. The sooner, the better. Nothing was the way he thought it would be. Too many messy emotions. Too many people. Too many regrets.

  He pulled up in front of Nikki’s now-familiar house at twelve sharp. Before he could exit the car, she started down the walk, her long legs shown to advantage in silver heels. He met her halfway. “Hello.”

  She eyed him coolly. “Hello.”

  Though she carried a winter coat over her arm, the silvery-pink scarf around her shoulders protected her from the light breeze.

  She looked stunning. Her golden-red hair was caught up on top of her head in a fancy knot of loose curls. The lustrous strand of pearls around her neck complemented the fabric of her dress. He wondered if Roberta had managed to hang on to one piece of valuable jewelry for her daughter, or if the pearls were costume.

  The dress’s strapless bodice and fitted waist fluffed out in what Emma would probably call a princess skirt. It ended midcalf. Jake opened the passenger door for Nikki and helped her in, carefully tucking in her skirt so the door wouldn’t catch it.

  When he ran around and slid behind the wheel, Nikki’s familiar scent enveloped him. Her perfume wasn’t heavy. Perhaps she had barely spritzed her throat. But he was intensely aware of it. And of her.

  He started the engine. “You look beautiful, Nik. That dress was made for you.”

  She stared out the windshield. “Thank you.”

  “Are we going to act normal today?”

  “I don’t know. You tell me.”

  “C’mon, Nikki. Can’t we call a truce?”

  Now her head snapped around in his direction. Her eyes shot fire. He’d always thought that was just an expression, but Nikki nailed it. “You mean a truce during the wedding or until you leave town?” she asked.

  He counted to ten. “For my brother’s wedding. It’s an important day.”

  “I know what weddings are, Jake. I had one, remember?”

  The reminder hit him hard. He’d tried to forget that. “I know,” he said, reeling from the pain of imagining it. Suddenly, he wanted details. “Was it a big wedding?”

  “Mom and I were broke. Timothy and I went to the courthouse.”

  “I’m sorry it didn’t work out.” He said the words quietly, but he meant them. “You deserve to be happy.”

  “Thank you.” She crossed her arms. The curves of her breasts peeked over the silky fabric that covered her chest. She looked lush, untouched, intensely feminine.

  She belonged to him. The certainty came out of nowhere. Implacable. Undeniable. What was he going to do about it?

  They arrived in Falling Brook and parked in a garage near the hotel. The half-a-block walk wasn’t bad. Nikki put on her coat. Jake helped. The bare nape of her neck gave him ideas, but he reined in his impulses. It would be hours until he could get her alone.

  Weddings happened every day, all the time. Half of them ended. He hoped his brother and Sophie would not be one of the failures, but who knew? Jake wasn’t a sentimental man, or at least he hadn’t been. But today, the woman beside him and his brother’s big day were making Jake feel things.

  At the Bismarck, they left Nikki’s outerwear at the coat check in the main lobby. In the elevator, riding up to the twentieth floor, he studied her. She wasn’t looking at him, so it was easy to sneak a peek.

  She was so beautiful, it made his chest hurt. As a seventeen-year-old teenager, she had been cute and pretty and full of life. Now, she carried the maturity of a woman—a woman who had faced many of life’s challenges and persevered.

  Her magnolia skin, so often associated with redheads, was still the same. Soft, unblemished. Begging to be touched. Lust stirred uneasily in his gut. Today was about his brother, his twin. But despite the occasion, or perhaps because of it, Jake was drawn to his wedding date, his Nikki. He had missed her fiercely the last two days. The strength of that feeling convinced him he needed to move forward carefully.

  He cleared his throat, feeling claustrophobic in the small space. “Joshua and Sophie asked their guests, in lieu of gifts, to make a donation to Haley Shaw’s charity. I wrote a check. But I also sent Sophie a large potted orchid this morning from you and me with best wishes for a wonderful wedding day.”

  Nikki’s head came up, and she actually smiled. “That was a lovely gesture. Thanks for including me.”

  The elevator dinged, and they exited. The entire top floor of the Bismarck had been completely transformed. Plate-glass windows in every direction showcased the view. One section of the giant room was set up with rows of white chairs and a center aisle marked with a satin runner. At the front, seasonal live flowers covered a trellised arch. Along the center aisle, candles burned inside crystal globes atop brass stands.

  “This is beautiful,” Nikki said, scanning the room with interest.

  “C’mon. Let’s get a seat.” The front row on the right-hand side was reserved for Jake’s mother, for Oliver and his fiancée, Samantha, and for Jake and Nikki. Jake watched as Nikki greeted each member of his family. Then they sat down.

  Eve shot her son a knowing glance, but he ignored it.

  The area set aside for the ceremony filled up quickly. The guest list might have ended up closer to sixty than fifty, but the crowd was still small enough to be described as intimate. A buzz filled the space as anticipation mounted.

  Suddenly, Jake needed air. He had been blind for far too long. He was beginning to know what he wanted, but he had to make plans. Now he was trapped by the time. Three minutes before the hour.

  From a side alcove, Joshua appeared, beaming. The minister accompanied him. The two men took their positions. A stringed quartet had been playing for the last twenty minutes. Now they paused and began the first notes of “Pachelbel’s Canon.”

  Nikki touched his forearm. He jumped at the unexpected contact. His skin felt too tight for his body, and his chest was constricted.

  She looked at him with concern. “Are you okay?” she whispered.

  Nikki knew without any doubt that Jake was definitely not okay. He ignored her question. They stood with the other guests as the bride began to walk down the modest aisle. The expression on Sophie’s face when she looked at Josh made Nikki’s eyes damp with emotion.

  Weddings always got to her, but this one more than most. Joshua had borne the weight of his father’s sins and had worked for years to restore the community’s trust in Black Crescent. He deserved to be the man of the hour.

  His bride was stunning in an off-the-shoulder white satin gown with dozens of cloth-covered buttons down the back. Her hair was twined with tiny white flowers. She had opted for no veil.

  Sophie and Joshua held hands and faced the minister. Their voices as they spoke their vows were clear and strong. They had chosen a traditional wedding liturgy with phrases like “love, honor and cherish” and “’til death do us part.”

  At last, the minister placed his palm over the couple’s hands for a blessing. Then he said words that rang out over the small assembly: “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Everyone cheered and clapped. Josh bent Sophie over his arm and kissed her enthusiastically, not seeming to mind that they had an audience.

  Nikki, without thinking, twined her fingers with Jake’s, fighting a flood of feelings that threatened to overwhelm her. When he shot her a surprised sideways glance, she realized what she had done and dropped his hand immediately. But it was too late. She had inadvertently let him know how much she cared about him. Her face heated with humiliation.

  The bride and groom exited. Ever
yone stood up and moved toward the reception area, talking and laughing.

  Nikki spoke in Jake’s direction without actually looking him in the eye. “Excuse me,” she said stiffly. “I’d like to speak to Haley Shaw.” She fled, managing not to run.

  Fortunately, Haley was nearby. She had been sitting with Chase Hargrove. But Chase had moved away to chat with someone else.

  “Hi, Haley,” Nikki said. “You look beautiful.”

  Haley beamed. “Thanks. So do you.”

  “I didn’t get a chance to say everything I wanted to the day I showed up at Black Crescent to talk to your boss.”

  Haley seemed surprised. “Oh?”

  “I never thanked you for all those years you’ve stood by Black Crescent. Your loyalty to Vernon and my dad. And the way you stayed to help Joshua after everything fell apart.”

  Haley grimaced. “Well, I felt guilty, to be honest.”

  Nikki gaped at her. “Why?”

  “Because I saw both of them that morning—Vernon and your dad. And I knew something was going down. But I never said anything to anybody. And then it was too late.”

  “Oh, gosh no, Haley. What could you have done? None of us had a clue what they were planning.”

  “Maybe. But you should know—I stayed with Black Crescent because I loved working there, and Joshua is a great boss.”

  Nikki shook her head slowly. “Life is strange. I’ve felt guilty all these years, too. I was still living at home back then. I overheard pieces of several odd phone calls. Conversations that made me uncomfortable. But I never said anything, either. I blamed myself afterward. Jake blamed me, too.”

  “Well, he must have gotten over it. The way he looks at you gives me the shivers. The man is in love with you in a bad way.”

  “Oh, no,” Nikki said quickly. “You’re mistaken. We’re old friends, that’s all. He asked me to be his plus-one because he’s been gone forever and doesn’t really know any women in Falling Brook.”

  Haley wrinkled her nose, unconvinced. “I think you’re kidding yourself. Chase and I had our ups and downs and misunderstandings before we got engaged. Relationships are difficult. We had to learn to trust each other.”

  “I didn’t know you were engaged.”

  Haley held out her hand, showing off her ring. “Yep. No wedding date yet. I’m waiting to see if Josh is going to be able to find a new CEO before making plans.”

  “I thought he had been interviewing candidates.”

  “He has. For months. But it has to be the right fit. Look at the Lowell men over there. It’s probably what they’re talking about right now.”

  The groom had separated from his bride for the moment. Sophie was surrounded by a crowd of family and friends. Joshua stood in a tight circle with Oliver and Jake. The three men were gorgeous. With both twins in dress clothes, Jake looked far more like his identical brother than usual.

  “You’re probably right,” Nikki said. “I think I’ll go get some food. I skimped on lunch. And I see that your handsome fiancé is headed this way.”

  Joshua, Jake and Oliver were deep in conversation when Nikki slipped past them. She picked up enough words here and there to know Haley was right. They were talking about the CEO search. Maybe the Lowells should sell Black Crescent. She wondered if any of the three had floated that idea.

  Feeling somewhat out of place, Nikki picked up a plate and began filling it with appetizers. The cake would be cut later. She found a corner and sipped her champagne. The day, unlike the expensive alcohol, had gone flat. She shouldn’t have come. Things with Jake were rocky at best.

  She was looking down at her glass when a deep voice startled her. “There you are.”

  “Jake,” she said.

  “So you do remember my name. That’s a start.”

  His attempt at humor failed.

  “Don’t feel like you have to entertain me,” she said. “I know you have lots of catching up to do with old friends.” Even after fifteen years, she and Jake knew many of the guests personally.

  “How about a dance?” he said, taking her empty plate and glass and setting them on a nearby tray.

  “I don’t think so.”

  “We agreed to a truce, remember?”

  His gentle smile and half-hearted grin made her stomach curl with anxiety and heartbreak. “Sure.”

  He tucked her tiny beaded clutch in his jacket pocket, then took her by the hand and led her out onto the dance floor. Other couples had the same idea. Jake put an arm around her waist and pulled her close. The string quartet had yielded to a bluesy band that began playing romantic standards.

  When the musicians launched into “I Only Have Eyes for You,” Nikki stumbled and gasped. “I don’t want to dance,” she said, trying to pull away.

  Jake held her tightly, looking almost as miserable as she felt. “Dance, Nik. For old times’ sake.”

  He might as well have stabbed her through the heart. She wanted to run away. This was agonizing. She loved him, but he didn’t feel the same.

  No matter the pain, she wouldn’t cause a scene at Josh and Sophie’s wedding.

  She kept her gaze focused on the third button of Jake’s pristine white dress shirt, trying not to cry. His body was big and hard and warm, and he smelled amazing. His hand clasping hers was strong and tanned. He had mentioned Greece. Probably because he had a favorite villa there that he rented whenever the mood took him.

  What kind of women did Jake entertain when he went to the Mediterranean? The odd thing was that Nikki didn’t really care about all those faceless females. She loved him as he was—imperfect, fierce, generous, sweet with Emma...and the perfect lover in Nikki’s bed.

  Once, he had been her whole world. Having him back in Jersey now, even fleetingly, had shown her why her marriage hadn’t worked out. It had also underlined the truth that some feelings never die. She loved Jake Lowell, and she probably always would.

  The dance finally ended. Jake and Nikki stood at the edge of the floor, not speaking, and watched as the bride and groom enjoyed their first dance. After that, the tempo picked up. Alcohol flowed freely, and the crowd became more raucous.

  “I have to go to the restroom,” Nikki said. She pulled her clutch from Jake’s pocket and slipped away before he could say anything. In the ladies’ lounge she found a seat and repaired her lipstick. One glance in the mirror told her she was hiding her feelings fairly well. Only her eyes gave her away. She pinched her cheeks and put a wet paper towel on the back of her neck.

  She wanted badly to go home. But it was a very long way. If she hired a car, it would cost a fortune.

  When she returned to the reception, Jake was nowhere in sight. Some kind of buzz circled the room. Clumps of guests stood here and there, looking either startled or worried or both.

  Nikki found Haley, who looked shell-shocked. “What happened?” Nikki asked. “I can’t find Jake. What’s going on?”

  Haley lowered her voice. “Somebody just brought word that Vernon has escaped from custody.”

  “Oh, no. Poor Joshua. Poor Sophie. What a dreadful thing to happen today of all days.”

  Suddenly, Joshua strode across the room in their direction. His face was stormy. When he stood right in front of the two women, he sighed. “Jake is gone, Nikki.”

  She gaped at him. “What do you mean gone? I don’t understand.”

  “He and Oliver left to go find our dad.”

  Nikki shook her head slowly. “No. That doesn’t even make sense.”

  Josh rubbed his forehead and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know that. Neither of them was particularly rational when we got the news.”

  “Vernon could be anywhere,” Haley said.

  Nikki felt sick. “I’m so sorry, Josh. Is Sophie upset?”

  At last, he smiled. “My new bride is a saint. We’re going to contact the
travel agency and delay our honeymoon for a few days. Once again, Vernon has screwed me over. I don’t know how this keeps happening.”

  Nikki touched his arm. “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Maybe keep my twin from losing his mind.”

  She winced. “I don’t have any control over your brother. Sorry. He told me he was leaving Falling Brook as soon as the wedding was over. He was pretty insistent about it. I tried to talk to him, but we had a big fight.”

  Haley frowned. “But you came to the wedding together.”

  “We had a temporary truce,” Nikki said. “I guess it’s over.”

  Joshua glanced over his shoulder, clearly looking for his bride. “I’ve got to get back to the lovely Mrs. Lowell. Jake sent you a text, Nikki. Check your phone. I’ll see you ladies later. God help us if they don’t find Vernon. I don’t know if this town can handle that kind of news.”

  Thirteen

  Nikki kicked off her high heels and stared at the message on her phone for the hundredth time:

  I called a limo to take you back to your place. The driver will be in the lobby to greet you at five. Sorry I had to leave...

  She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Here she was, sitting in a fancy, over-the-top hired car heading home from the ball without the handsome prince. It was a miracle her dress hadn’t turned into rags and the car into a pumpkin. In the whole history of bad wedding dates, today had to rank right up there in the top five.

  This was the end. Jake was who he was. She was never going to change him. Perhaps she should be glad Jake even remembered he had a date. Damn Vernon Lowell to hell and back. How could he do this to his sons, his ex-wife, the citizens of Falling Brook? Nikki’s heart ached for the man she loved. But at the same time, she was angry and hurt. How could Jake treat her this way? Whatever she thought she had with him was over.

  In fifteen years, Jake hadn’t managed to deal with his father’s betrayal. This stunt would rip open the wound for sure. She wanted to talk to Jake, but she was afraid that if she called, he wouldn’t answer. And that would hurt even more.