Dr. Walters spoke in a soothing almost-whisper. “You’ve had no one to share your past. My parents and I have each other to remember all the good times.”
“My dad loved to tell me how beautiful my mother was on their wedding day and that, as she walked down the aisle, he couldn’t believe how lucky he was. The next time he felt that fortunate was when I was born. And after he shared his memory, he’d pretend to inspect my face to see if I might ‘measure up to my mother someday.’ It was our joke since I looked exactly like my mom.”
Maddy felt the awful burn behind her eyes. She never cried. And today she was turning into a spouting geyser. The idea of her parents being happy for her wedding triggered a hope. A long-suppressed hope.
She choked on a half-sob, half-laugh. “I’d like to have a soft, flowing wedding dress like my mother’s to honor my parents and my wonderful memories. It would make me feel as if they were sharing my special moment with me—my father beaming with a teasing look in his eyes; my mother proud and patting her tears.”
Dr. Walters reached across the space between the chairs and took Maddy’s hand. “Can you let us share your wedding with you? I’m sure your parents would love to see you with people who care about you.”
Maddy couldn’t speak. She nodded.
Chapter Three
Major Hunter Hines took a swig of the holiday microbrew, fortifying himself before Drew arrived at the Tippe and Drague Alehouse. He was about to spring a shock, an earthquake-caliber shock, on his marriage-phobic Special Forces buddy.
The small wedding at the courthouse had grown into spectacular proportions. Under her tough, take-no-prisoners attitude, Maddy was like every other woman—wanting to have her day as a bride be special. The venue would be Aunt Aideen’s house, with the Colonel flying in to perform the ceremony.
Hunter didn’t care one bit about the ceremony or who would be there, as long as Maddy was happy and he finally had her as his wife. He was glad Dr. Walters and her friends had adopted Maddy into their circle, and that the women and James were going over the top with the wedding details. Maddy deserved every bit of their attention and love. Without parents, she had learned to be self-sufficient at such an early age. He wanted her to be pampered since she soon would be back on duty as a tough Marine.
Hunter hadn’t planned to invite his friends, but Maddy had insisted. And there was the problem. Drew, his best friend, would demand an explanation as to why Hunter had drastically reversed his views on women and marriage. How could he explain love to someone who was more cynical and jaded than he had been? He and Drew had sworn together that they’d never buy into the illusion of happily ever after.
They had never discussed the origins of their aversion to marriage. Hunter always knew his mother’s desertion when he was sixteen had played a big part in his refusal to commit to one woman. He knew nothing about Drew’s past except that his parents were divorced and he had been engaged at one point.
Hunter scanned the small pub—mostly men and women in flannel shirts, boots, and North Face jackets. Seattle was unseasonably cold for December, usually a month of darkness and rain. Because of the crisp, cold weather, he knew Maddy was hoping it would snow on their wedding day. Her bright baby-blues lit up when she envisioned the beauty of a snowy, Christmas Eve wedding.
His Marine buddies had ribbed him when he’d called to invite them to the wedding. But if they had any idea the lengths their tough-ass buddy would go to make Maddy happy, he’d never hear the end of the digs about leg shackles, marriage traps, and being pussy-whipped.
But Drew wouldn’t be into the usual male razzing. He would want the truth. He and Drew had thrived on being the lone wolves—not needing anyone, not relying on anyone. Of course, specializing in intelligence work did make you leery about trusting people. How could Hunter admit now that everything he’d said, before Maddy, about women and love was ignorant and self-protecting? He’d never admitted the truth: that he was afraid to allow any woman the power to hurt him like his mother had.
Hunter wasn’t much of a drinker, but he took another swig when he spotted Drew walk into the Beacon Hill watering hole.
Drew sighted Hunter immediately and quickly made his way through the wall-to-wall crowd, using his imposing size and presence. He bent over the wooden table and shook Hunter’s hand. “Hey, man.”
Hunter stood. He didn’t have to look up to many men, but Drew, six foot five and built like a linebacker, was one of the few.
“What brings you to town?” Drew pulled out the wooden chair and sat down across from Hunter.
“My sister.”
“You never said your sister lived in Seattle.”
Hunter shrugged. “Why would I? You’re not from here.”
“I’m going to be here now. I got transferred.”
Drew had become more secretive about his assignments when he transferred out of military intelligence. Hunter expected he was now NSA or CIA or DIA.
“FBI?” Hunter always asked, knowing it was futile, but that didn’t stop him from prodding.
Drew’s smile was slow and easy. “Yeah, something like that.”
Hunter glanced at Drew’s black thermal shirt and worn jeans. “You don’t look like Feeb.”
“What the hell? You the fashion police now?”
Hunter laughed. “Nah, just glad you’re in town since I’ve got a favor to ask.”
“You want me to set you up for New Year’s?” Drew’s success in attracting women made Hunter look like a monk.
Hunter couldn’t suppress a bark of laughter. “I’m already set.”
“Well, aren’t you the man!”
Hunter waved over the waitress, who was dressed all in black—high boots and a tight t-shirt tucked into her jeans. The twenty-something woman did a slow perusal of Drew’s outstretched muscular legs.
Drew gave the woman his best predatory smile. “I’ll have what he’s drinking, honey.”
The woman fluttered her heavily made-up eyelashes and smirked. “Sure thing, honey.”
Hunter watched Drew’s eyes follow the waitress’s slow, hip-swinging saunter. It was just like old times, with Drew on the make. “Looks like you’re not having any trouble adjusting to being back in Seattle.”
Drew lifted his arms over his head and shifted his hefty size in the small chair. “How long are you in town?”
“I’m here until after the New Year.”
“Two stewardesses from my flight back have a layover in Seattle on New Year’s Eve. If you want to ditch your plans, we can party with them. It’ll be like old times.”
“Flight back from where?”
Drew’s brow furrowed. “You don’t trust my judgment? Remember our layover in Budapest?”
While the waitress set the beer on the table, Drew got a familiar gleam in his green eyes that signaled he was about to recount one of their sexual escapades…which Hunter would rather forget. He felt like he would be betraying Maddy by reminiscing about his single-man’s exploits.
“Forget the women. The favor I need is something you’re not going to like.”
“Shit. You want me to take your sister out on New Year’s Eve.”
“My sister?” Hunter barked. “That’s hilarious. My sister is not the kind of woman who’d be interested in someone like you.”
“What the hell does that mean? Sisters always like me.”
“Sorry, man. Nothing about you, but my sister doesn’t get around.”
“What? She look like your old man?”
Hunter leaned across the table, invading Drew’s space. “My sister is fine. She just isn’t a player. She’s had a rough time with PTSD since her last assignment in Afghanistan and definitely doesn’t need a sexual cowboy.”
“Take a breath, dude. When did you become the protective big brother?”
“Since I’m marrying her best friend.”
Drew froze with his glass in midair. Hunter fought the impulse to laugh out loud at the bewildered look on the face of his fellow
covert officer, who had been thoroughly trained not to show emotion.
Then Drew started choking, coughing in spasms, his fair skin mottled a deep red. “What the hell? You trying to kill me? You’re not getting married. You don’t believe in marriage any more than I do.”
“I’m getting married on Christmas Eve.”
“Is this some kind of joke? You never said a word when I talked to you last month.”
“I couldn’t talk about it because Maddy and I were undercover.”
Drew ran his fingers through his sandy brown hair, causing clumps to stand up in irregular spikes. “Are you crazy? You know you can’t trust feelings when you’re undercover.”
Hunter was glad Maddy couldn’t hear this. Otherwise, she would have gotten the wrong impression of his closest friend.
“You had sex during your assignment, and now you feel like you have to marry her? You always were an honorable son of a bitch.”
Hunter almost thought he was blushing. Yeah, they had sex. Crazy monkey sex. Maddy was a wild woman in the sack. Could a man get any luckier? He shook his head. “It’s not like that at all. When you meet Maddy, you’ll understand. Maddy is not a woman who would like to hear that you thought she needed to be rescued. She can take care of herself.” How could he explain to Drew he wanted to take care of Maddy because no one had in a long time? And that she deserved to be loved and protected.
Drew raised his eyebrows.
“Okay, you won’t understand. But Maddy’s the right woman for me. You can’t understand because you haven’t met the right woman.”
“I don’t believe this. The most cynical man I know spouting bullshit about the right woman? Look, I get it. You got hot and heavy undercover, but it isn’t real. It’s lust, man.”
He and Drew had been in many tight spots together, and he trusted the man with his life. “It isn’t just lust. Maddy helps my life make sense. And all I can think about is making her happy. Lust is definitely part of it, but it’s more than the sex.”
“You must have been tortured on your last assignment, or you’ve been reprogrammed or had a chip inserted in your brain. Hunter Hines would never say sex isn’t the big draw. I know…”
Hunter shook his head. He had tried. “You don’t have to buy into the whole marriage thing, but I’d really like you to be there for me. Will you be my best man?”
Drew narrowed his eyes then gave the boyish grin that melted women’s hearts. “Of course. You know I’ll be there for you. And I’ll keep my reservations to myself since I wouldn’t want to offend the little lady.”
“Oh, I don’t think you have to worry about offending Maddy. She’ll be in your face if you try any crap on her. She is very clear in communicating what she thinks.” Hunter didn’t add either by words or by her martial arts skills.
Chapter Four
Maddy stood in front of the mirror and tried to strike a nonchalant pose. She refused to be intimidated by a ritzy dress designer when she wasn’t frightened by her fellow battle-tough Marines. Maddy doubted many Marines had ever come to this fancy-schmancy Fourth Avenue dress store. Probably Bill Gates’s wife bought her dresses right here from Julie Lang, but not the likes of Maddy, who was outfitted in her usual black turtleneck sweater, black slacks, and leather boots.
Julie, in a slim, charcoal-gray skirt, a white blouse, and sling-back heels, her thick, black hair pulled back in a ponytail, didn’t match what Maddy had envisioned for an exclusive dress designer. But her understated, youthful appearance fit the style of the shop to a T. Although the store sparkled with white gowns, tiaras, and rows of stylish high heels, everything had a graceful simplicity, much like its owner.
The usually irreverent James couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. His dark eyes gleamed at the elegant surroundings and the fashion discussion. “Thank you for fitting us into your calendar on such short notice. I would have hated to go to Naomi B.”
“Your timing is perfect. I’ve just finished all the gowns for the Debutante Ball,” Julie said.
A champagne glass in hand, James paced around the stylish space filled with French furniture, crystal chandeliers, and opulent mirrors. “As we discussed on the phone, we need Maddy’s wedding gown quickly. I’m thinking something in off-white, perhaps pale pink.”
Julie stood next to James and studied Maddy. “With her coloring, more of a warm white or ivory. No blue or gray in the white.”
Maddy was definitely out of her league. Now, if they asked her about hand-to-hand combat, she’d be ready. But she had no clue that the color white required so much consideration.
James smiled at Maddy. “My vision is Maddy in something soft and flowing.”
Maddy might have been offended, that Dr. Walters had shared her wish, but Dr. Walters had treated Maddy’s hope with total seriousness.
“And for the maid of honor dress, a deep red—not any orange tones for Angie with her olive skin. I’m doing all white flowers—hydrangeas, orchids, roses. I want Angie to be the holiday color.”
Angie, seated in a blue velvet chair, sipped champagne and didn’t say a word. Maddy stuck to drinking water since she wanted to remember every moment of this day and the design of her wedding gown. She didn’t imagine she’d be coming back for more gowns in the future. Designer gowns were definitely not in her pay grade.
She and Hunter had agreed that it would offend Dr. Walters and James to try to reimburse them for their gift. Instead, they’d decided they would make a donation to Teen Feed in honor of Dr. Walters’s sister, Cassie.
Julie, standing next to James, carefully studied both women. It was difficult not to flinch under her close inspection.
“Angie, what do you think?” Maddy asked.
“I’m fashion challenged, so I have no idea, but I think you looking like a pint-sized fairy queen is perfect. You’re going to have my brother on his knees.”
Maddy tried to imagine Hunter’s response to seeing her in an elegant white wedding gown. He repeatedly reassured her that she was beautiful to him no matter what she wore. And he was most happy when she wore nothing at all.
“What do you want to wear, Ang?”
“You’re the bride. What I’m wearing is not important.”
“But are you okay with wearing red? Because you can pick any color you want.”
“James already informed me that red is my color. He wants me in red high heels to show off my fabulous legs. How can I argue with such a stylish dude?” Angie shrugged. “I’ve always wanted red high heels. And I’ve never had a red dress, so this will be fun.”
James ran his hand over his impeccably styled hair as he spoke to Julie. “My only indecision is what to do with Maddy’s hair and whether to do a veil or hat. Of course, it will depend on the dress.”
“Only one indecision?” Julie’s lips curved slightly. Maddy wasn’t sure if she was teasing. “Neither. Her stunning blue eyes should be the focal point. Besides, Maddy doesn’t strike me as a veil person.”
If Maddy hadn’t been trained in reading people’s body language, she would have missed the way the designer’s shoulders lifted as her tone got more precise. Julie was too skilled to offend her clients, but, like James, she also had definite views.
“I have the perfect dress for Maddy. I had planned to put the gown in the window for my holiday window display.”
Maddy had been stunned by the beautiful holiday windows. It was like something out of a glossy fashion magazine: the white gowns in the window glistening and glimmering like the backdrop of artificial snow and silver lights.
“Julie’s window is my favorite in the entire downtown area. It’s also a prime marketing space,” James added.
Excitement skittered along Maddy’s skin.
Julie walked toward the back of the shop. Her assistant, who had been hovering quietly, followed Julie into the back room.
“Julie loves lace and silks, but I’m thinking organza for the skirt to give the right amount of flow.”
Maddy held her breath. She d
idn’t know squat about the difference between silks and organza.
Angie squeezed her hand. “I can’t believe you’re going to be a bride. And to my brother. Life has the craziest twists.”
“Nothing is going to change our friendship. You know that, right?”
“I know. Now you are officially my sister.”
Maddy squeezed Angie’s hand back. “You’ve always been my family, but now I get both you and Hunter.”
James coughed dramatically. “Did I hear the mention of family?”
Maddy had been waiting for the perfect moment. She knew her father would approve of her decision to choose the generous and caring man.
She stepped toward James. “You and Dr. Walters are family, too. Hunter and I will never be able to repay you for the kindness.”
“Nothing to repay. I love weddings.” He paused. “Well, you could introduce me to one of Hunter’s friends.”
Maddy grabbed James’s hand. “I can do that. But I have one more favor to ask.”
James dragged out the words. “One more?”
“Since Aunt Aideen plans to have an aisle in her living room, would you be willing to give me away?”
The shock on James’s face was worth her sleepless night and all her insecurity about today. It had never occurred to Maddy that she might surprise the elegant man.
He took out a pristine handkerchief and patted his teary eyes. His voice was strained, and he swallowed with effort. “I’d be honored to give you away, but you know we’re never giving you away.” And then he pulled Maddy into his arms and hugged her tightly.
Yes, her father would be happy.
After she had run away from her second foster family, she had believed she would never find the feeling of family again. But her wandering had brought her around to the truth. Family was made from the heart. And though she missed her parents and always would, she was building a new family.
The wedding would be perfect, not because of the perfect dress or flowers, but because of the loving, caring people surrounding her. Maddy could feel her parents’ presence filling her heart.
Romancing the Holidays: Twelve Christmas Romances - Benefits Breast Cancer Research Page 77