Alex answered in the same solemn tone. “Thank you, sir. I won’t let you down.” As her father made his way to the front pew to sit beside her already sniffling mother, he held her hand and simply said, “Mine,” then let his admiring gaze travel from head to toe.
Uncle Eduardo did his part. He told their guests that they weren’t there to witness them declare their love because they’d already done that. The love was old news. No, he told them. They were here today to support the bride and groom and pledge to honor the vows they declared in front of them. He said it was everyone’s responsibility to nurture their marriage and added a bunch of touching stuff about the families we make.
The rest was a blur. When she said her vows and promised to obey, Alex grinned, she winked, and Father Ed quietly chuckled. It was the perfect moment. Lost in a haze of love and happiness, she was barely functioning when they went to exchange rings.
There was a slight pause, when her Maid of Honor and his Best Man were supposed to come forward with the rings, and she saw Alex jerk with surprise. Then Tori stepped up, put two fingers into her mouth, and let out a whistle that bounced off the perfect acoustics of the cathedral’s walls.
What the hell was going on? She looked at Alex. He looked at her and shrugged. And then everyone’s attention turned to the rear of the church where Carmen was hovering in the aisle a few pews behind the last of their guests.
Tori bent, patted a hand on her thigh and said, “C’mon girl.”
Alex started to laugh when Carmen shooed a confused looking Zeus from a pew and pushed her down the aisle.
Meghan was flabbergasted. The big black Labrador was wearing some sort of doggie harness of green ribbons with a small pillow perched on her back. She heard Angie giggle. “Recognize your ring bearer?”
Seriously? It just didn’t get better than this. Zeus started to trot happily when she saw her and Alex but just before she reached them, and without warning, the dog dropped on the carpeted aisle and lay down. Meghan figured Zeus taking a time out probably hadn’t been part of the plan.
Tori groaned, patted her thigh again, and said, “C’mon girl. You’re almost there.”
Zeus didn’t budge. Everyone started to titter with laughter. Even Alex tried to coax her forward, but she wasn’t having it. That was when Meghan saw the reason why the dog was on her belly, tongue hanging out and her tail thumping the floor.
Brody. She’d been trotting along, noticed the dog trainer, and did what she always did when she saw him. The dog really did have excellent manners.
Brody leaned out of the pew, spoke quietly to Zeus, who sat up but still wouldn’t move. He tried again and all she did was lick his face. With an embarrassed shrug, he stood up, motioned for the dog, and walked toward them with the damn dog obediently pacing at his heel.
“Sorry, man,” Brody drawled when he reached them and extended his hand to Alex. “Sometimes she’s a little too well trained.”
Meghan just grinned. Alex looked like his smile couldn’t possibly get any bigger.
While Brody hurried back to his seat, Parker and Angie untied the rings from the pillow attached to the dog’s dressy harness and got back into place. Meghan was having a mild attack of nervousness. They skipped this part out in the desert. Alex wanted to save the symbolic exchange for the church.
When he slid the dazzling diamond band onto her ring finger, then raised her hand and kissed it, she felt her knees start to shake. Placing the heavy metal band on his finger was easier than she thought. She squeezed his fingers then felt a tear sting her eye when he held up his hand, looked at the powerful symbol, and smiled.
Vows spoken, rings exchanged, the deed was more or less done. There was more churchy stuff and whatever else, but she was oblivious. Standing still while she waited for the big moment was a bitch and a half.
After the husband and wife pronouncement, Alex grabbed her and planted an incendiary kiss that left no one watching in any doubt that they were a passionate couple.
After a quick blessing, Angie handed her bouquet back; she gripped it and waited while her train was arranged. Alex offered his arm and gave her a proprietary look, which promptly melted her bones. Looking out at the assemblage of people who were watching with broad smiles, she heard Uncle Eduardo say the words that made it all official.
“Friends and loved ones, it is with much honor that I introduce to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Valleja-Marquez.”
The place literally erupted in a stadium-sized cheer. She heard the cathedral bells ring out and imagined all the angels in heaven stopping to look down and smile at them. As long as she lived, Meghan would never forget the joy and peace she felt at that moment. It would stay with her all the days of her life.
They started their recessional walk, stopped to kiss and hug both their parents, then grinned and nodded to everyone on their way out. The second they cleared the last pew of guests and no one could hear them, her alpha husband gave her a lusty smirk and said, “I get to fuck you now, right?”
She threw back her head and roared with laughter. Smart ass. He always knew just the right thing to say.
MEGHAN WAS STILL pinching herself over the best wedding surprise of them all. When their limousine rolled up to the Boston Public Library, and she and Alex made their way up the beautiful grand staircase, she was sure they’d died and gone to heaven. With what had to be every twinkle light ever made and long, shimmery swaths of sheer fabric draped everywhere, the stately old library was transformed into a romantic wonderland.
Magnificent arrangements of red and white roses studded with sparkling crystal accents filled the air with their sweet scent and at each place setting, a small single serving bottle of Jameson’s was wrapped with a small tag that read: Glenfiddich is for pussies. Angie managed to take all of Meghan’s disjointed and sometimes fantastical visions for the reception and create something magical.
Wrapped in her husband’s loving embrace, Meghan swayed gracefully to the song they chose for their first dance together as husband and wife. With Parker and Angelina delivering a spine-tingling harmony that would get a nod from Nat King Cole himself, they sang “Unforgettable” as she and Alex gazed lovingly into each other’s eyes.
Not to be outdone, their wedding party hit the dance floor in a choreographed mini-flashdance that got her and Alex laughing their asses off. Dancing along to Bruno Mars, “I Think I’m Gonna Marry You,” Drae, Cam, and Parker held their own as Angie, Tori, and Lacey gave the performance of a lifetime.
Her new husband surprised the holy hell out of her when, after quite a few glasses of champagne, he’d formally escorted her to the center of the dance floor, whispered, “Bitches like romance, right?” then whirled her through a swoon-worthy waltz to the theme song from Beauty and the Beast.
With her Alpha beats’s hand possessively caressing her ass despite the hundreds of eyes watching Meghan sighed from the happiness she could barely contain. She was Meghan Marquez now. An unexpected giggle got her husband’s attention.
“Think my dancing’s funny, do you?” His loveable smirk turned her knees to jelly.
Safe in Alex’s arms, his beautifyul eyes locked on hers, she snuggled closer as they slowed their dance to a deep sway. Meghan feathered her fingers through his hair and smiled. “I just realized my intials are MM.”
The adorable smirk shifted to a confused brow arch.
“Double M’s. Mrs. Marquez, Marilyn Monroe.” She said all this with serious intent but ended with another short giggle. “Sorry. Must be the champagne.” He chortled and gave her a body squeeze. “Or the seriously hot guy in the sexy-as-fuck vest. Thanks for wearing the pocket watch,” she added.
Alex pulled her close and murmured, “I was thinking we might consider the name Aidan for our first son.”
She stumbled but he held her tight enough that no one would notice. Aidan. Dammit. Her lip was trembling and tears were rushing into her eyes.
“Now, as for the double M thing. I kind of like
that. Weirdly cowboy-ish if you think about it. Maybe we can call the new rec center the Double M—like it’s a ranch.”
Meghan could tell he was serious but the impulse to tease him a little was too great to ignore.
“Oh, for god’s sake, husband! Really? You’re making me into a friggin’ ranch? What happened to Marilyn? Dammit,” she groaned. “Couple weeks of abstinence and you’ve forgotten all about me.” The pout got her a pinch on the ass.
“Listen here, Double M,” he growled. “Your lord and master has to find some way to keep that wicked tongue of yours busy before that wise-ass mouth of yours gets you in trouble.”
With her most dazzling bridal smile, Meghan blew her man a puckered kiss then shimmied against him and chuckled, “Shut up.”
“What’s up with that?” Lacey asked Heather when she found her alone at the bar watching what appeared to be an intense conversation between Cam and Brody happening about fifty feet away.
“I have no idea.”
Lacey glanced back and forth between where her husband was engrossed in a frowning talk and at Heather, who knew her face was a mask of confusion.
“Ever since they talked on the phone earlier, Brody’s been quiet.”
“Hmph. Probably something about work then I suppose.”
Heather thought that at first too but what could possibly be important enough to make this happy occasion an instant downer? Brody wasn’t saying, and she didn’t know how to ask.
“Well, whatever it is, let’s go break it up. It’s time to party, and I, for one, intend to drink an ocean of champagne since the babies are well minded until tomorrow morning.”
Taking her by the hand, Lacey walked them right up to Brody and Cam. “That’s enough, fellas,” she chirped happily. “We’re at a wedding. Save the work talk for your next admin meeting.”
Heather noted that as they approached, both men were staring at something on Cam’s phone, but when Lacey made their presence known, he quickly exited the screen and shut the phone down.
Brody looked ashen. Like he’d just seen the ghost of his parents or something. She had an uneasy feeling about whatever was going on.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” she asked.
He whisked her quickly away as if he knew what was coming next and didn’t want any witnesses. Finding a quiet out of the way place for them to talk took a few minutes but they were finally alone.
To Brody’s credit, he didn’t play dumb or wait for her to ask. She was a counselor and knew the significance of his actions. That part, at least, felt like a relief. He’d asked her to trust him and that trust came with an expectation of honesty, which he was willingly giving.
“First,” he told her in a husky voice. Taking her hands, he squeezed and looked her in the eye. “In case I haven’t made this clear, I’m in love with you.”
“I love you too,” she blurted out in a rush. The words shocked her, but they needed to be said.
He nodded. “Please don’t freak out.”
What could he say to make her freak out? She was more confused now.
“Couple of months ago, Cameron started looking for my kid.”
She didn’t know the public library rooms could spin. Cold panic kept her standing, but the room was seriously wobbly.
“He thinks he found her.”
“What?” Was he speaking English? She wasn’t sure.
“Yeah, I know how you feel.”
No, he didn’t. Who the hell was he kidding? He had no idea how she felt.
“Uhhhh, what happens now?”
He pulled her into a fierce hug, but she felt like a block of wood as he hugged her. Free-falling panic was invading her senses.
“He thinks we have to act while we have the element of surprise on our side. I wasn’t sure until he told me that the kid’s mother is dead. Tracey. Died three years ago. Pneumonia.”
“And your, uh, daughter? Where’s she been?”
He sighed heavily. “Tracey went underground to avoid her gambling debts. Hooked up with a bunch of hard-core survivalists with a compound in the Montana mountains. Bunch of scary folks who stay far from the reach of the government and social services.”
“Oh, my god.” She shuddered. Kids kept far from prying eyes usually have a tough time surviving.
Brody fowned at her reaction but nodded his understanding. “I know. Tracey changed their names and tried her damnedest to erase any ties to a digital identity. Ever heard the expression going off grid?”
She nodded. Going off the grid was in no way a good thing in a child welfare case.
“Yeah, well, fucking Tracey left a pretty barren trail. Wouldn’t have found the kid at all if not for a DNA scan and a foster family who at some point took the girl to an emergency room.”
“So what are you going to do?”
He looked uncomfortable with the question. She really didn’t even know what to do or say.
“Sawyer’s going to be busy flying everyone home in the next couple of days, so Cam and I are going to …”
“I understand,” she quickly interjected. “You can’t swoop in on a private jet and expect anyone not to be suspicious.”
“Exactly. To find out what’s happening off the grid, you have to go there yourself. We’ll be traveling anonymously. Assumed names. Shitty motels. Nothing that draws attention.”
“You’ve done this before.”
He just looked at her. Of course, he had. Maybe not exactly like this but she knew damn well what sort of shit he’d done in the war. Surveilling some kid in a survival camp wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle.
“When?”
“Tomorrow. Soon as Alex and Meghan take off.”
Whoa. She didn’t know what to say.
“Look, I know this isn’t what you expected, and it’s a lot to take on. Probably fucked up of me to ask you to trust me about this, but honestly, Heather. That’s all I can do right now.”
“Will you stay in touch while you’re gone?”
The long, anxious sigh did nothing to calm her fears. “Can’t. We’ll have to use burner phones to avoid tipping our hand. Justice has an encrypted way of communicating, but it’s all symbols and secure shorthand. Drae will keep Lacey informed, and I’ll make sure she keeps you in the loop.”
“So I’m leaving here alone? Going back to Maryland without you. What about work?”
“I’ll ask for emergency family leave, but it’s so late in the school year that they’ll have to replace me.”
“So you’re finished then? Being a teacher, I mean.”
“Looks that way.”
He wasn’t kidding. This was a lot to absorb.
“Don’t say anything to the others, okay? Cam and I agree. If Alex and Meghan knew, they’d cancel their honeymoon. Time enough to let everyone know what’s what after they’re gone.”
God. The last few days were the happiest she’d ever known. For the first time since her ordeal, she thought the future was in sight. And now? And now she didn’t know what to think.
“Come on,” he urged. “Let’s go celebrate. Tomorrow can wait. I want to dance with you in that magnificent room and then go back to our hotel and make love until the sun comes up.”
She had to know one thing before they went back to the reception. “Brody. How do you see this playing out?”
He looked at her long and hard.
“If Cam’s right, I want to go get my kid and take her to Arizona. That’s where she should grow up. Somewhere I can keep her safe and erase whatever fuckery her piece of shit mother brought into the poor kid’s life.”
“What about me?” She wished her voice didn’t sound so small, but there you have it.
“I’m not sure I get to call the shots in your life. Not yet, anyway. But if you’re asking what would make me happy, Heather, I’ll give it to you without any bullshit.”
“Go on.”
“I want you to pack up your shit and come to Arizona with me. I want you to be the last thing I
see before I close my eyes every night and the first thing I see in the morning. I want you to meet my daughter and fall in love with her, and if all this turns out the way I hope it does, I want you to be the woman by my side who helps me raise her.”
“You want me to be her mom?” Heather thought she might be having a heart attack.
Brody cupped the side of her face. “I love you and you said you love me. Let’s just concentrate on that for now and take this one step at a time.”
God. She really wished it were as simple as that.
AFTER A GRUELING eleven-hour flight on a British Airways luxury jet, they finally made it to their hotel in the heart of Madrid. The opulent suite at the Ritz was everything an exhausted bride could hope for.
While Alex took care of arranging for champagne and food to be delivered, she took a long steamy shower after telling her new husband in no uncertain terms that he was strictly forbidden from entering the bathroom while she was in there. Surprising her with a stealth fuck was so not going to happen if she had anything to say about it. They were going to start things off right, goddammit.
Unwrapping the exquisite negligee she’d spent months searching for, a little fluttery sigh escaped her mouth. It was perfect. White, of course. Sheer, lots of lace, romantic and sexy at the same time, Meghan was eager to put it on. But first, she slid on a pair of white satin panties that rode high enough on her ass that the tattoo would remain unseen until the right moment. Was it a style she usually wore? Not really. So she added a sexy lace garter with ribbons and crystals covering it, which she hoped would be shiny enough to distract her beastly husband.
By the time she drifted into the main area of the opulent suite, she was dressed for seduction from head to toe. And her husband? She found him standing in the waning light at the doors to the French balcony. He looked ruggedly handsome but in a completely bemused way.
Having ditched the jacket and tie of his suit, he’d rolled the sleeves of his crisp white shirt to the elbows and undone a couple of buttons at his throat. He turned and looked at her, and Meghan’s heart almost stopped. The look on his face spoke of love, longing, and something else. Something she couldn’t define.
Sanctuary (Family Justice Book 3) Page 47