The Bridesmaid and the Billionaire

by Shirley Jump

  Kane suspected more was involved in Susannah’s reaction. If she’d even experienced a tenth of what he had up there on that altar, of that eerie sense of reality surrounding them, as if he had on a tux and she a dress and veil instead of Jackie and Paul—then Kane couldn’t blame her for running. “Maybe. Either way Jackie shouldn’t have put Susannah in that situation in the first place.”

  “Well, that’s kind of Jackie’s way. She’s a little…forgetful. And Susannah, well, she’d do about anything for Jackie, and she always has, ever since their parents died when Susannah was eighteen.”

  “Their parents are both dead?” Kane hadn’t put those pieces together. Both her parents were gone, and at such a young age. He’d lost his own mother to cancer in college, and noticed his father had drawn even further into himself and the business. But to lose both parents—

  That explained so much. Her commitment to her sister. Her emphasis on responsibility. And most of all her desire to leave, and finally live her own life.

  The minister nodded. “I baptized those girls, and buried their parents eight years ago.” He glanced over at Kane and read the clear question in the other man’s eyes. “A boating accident. The Wilsons were fishing out on Lake Michigan when this storm came, out of nowhere. Their boat swamped when they were trying to get back to shore and they drowned.”

  Kane’s gaze went to the doors. “Susannah was so young.”

  “Old enough to have her own life, but she chose instead to put that on hold and raise Jackie. Let me tell you, that girl was a handful at fourteen, bless her heart. But Susannah wouldn’t have any part of breaking up her family. Jackie had lived in that house all her life, and Susannah refused to move her from there, or from the town that loved her.” Pastor Weatherly laid a hand on Kane’s. “After tomorrow, it’s finally Susannah’s turn. Even though we’re all going to miss her around here, we understand why she’s leaving. She deserves to have her moment in the sun.”

  Kane thought of the woman he had met. No wonder she was so strong. So determined. So invested in her sister’s welfare. “She’s never gone anywhere? College?”

  “Susannah has never taken so much as a vacation. That girl has made Jackie her life.” A tender smile took over Pastor Weatherly’s face. “I can tell you care about Susannah, but remember everyone here in Chapel Ridge does, too. Whatever you do, do it in her best interests.” He rose, laying a firm hand on Kane’s shoulders before disappearing into the back of the church.

  A rock of guilt sank to the pit of Kane’s gut. Had Pastor Weatherly peeked inside Kane’s conscience? Not five minutes before arriving at the church, Kane had been considering his exit strategy. Get out, get back to New York before he got any more wrapped up in this town, or Susannah Wilson. Staying in Chapel Ridge any longer than absolutely necessary would be a mistake. He saw no way to have both his life in New York and Susannah Wilson.

  Except…

  She wanted to explore the world, to leave this town. Maybe they could continue this on his turf, if she’d consider making New York City part of her itinerary.

  One pesky problem remained. He had lied to her from the moment he met her. Undoing that was nearly impossible, not without bringing him the very thing he didn’t want, not quite yet.

  A return to his regular life.

  Or worse, the look of betrayal in Susannah’s green eyes. He might not know Susannah Wilson very well, but he knew one thing. She valued honesty above everything else.

  And a woman like Susannah could never love a man who lied.

  “How’d it go?” Jackie said. “Sorry I’m late.”

  Susannah swiped at her face and turned around, grateful night had fallen and would mask her tears. “Fine.”

  “Were you crying just now?” Jackie leaned in close, peering at Susannah’s face.

  “No.” Her voice betrayed her, hooking on the last syllable.

  “You were crying.” Jackie’s voice lowered in sympathy. “Why?”

  “I…I miss Mom, that’s all. I started thinking about her missing the ceremony and it got me upset.” There was a lot more emotion mixed up in those tears. Feelings about lost chances and the last few days, but Susannah kept that to herself. Instead, she reached out to her sister, clasping Jackie’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “That was a really nice touch, you adding the hymn.”

  A smile trembled on Jackie’s lips. “I wanted to surprise you. I thought you’d like it, too.”

  A look of understanding passed between them, of shared grief. How long had it been since the two of them had connected? On a sister level, not on a pseudo mother/daughter level? Susannah’s heart swelled near to bursting. “It’ll be beautiful, Jackie. Mom would have loved it.”

  Jackie sniffled, then rubbed her arms against the night chill. “Did the rehearsal work out all right otherwise?”

  “Yep. Pastor Weatherly has a funeral in a little while, so Kane and I walked through the ceremony.” Susannah didn’t tell Jackie about the experience of standing at the front of the church and “marrying” Kane. About how real it had been. How…nice. How terrifying. For a moment at least, she’d forgotten what a completely insane idea marrying Kane would be. Then she’d come to her senses, thank goodness, and gotten out of there before things went any further. “I can go over the details if you want.”

  Jackie waved a hand. “Tomorrow morning is soon enough. Tonight, it’s time to party.” She grinned. “Remember, we’re all meeting over at the Corner Kitchen for the rehearsal dinner? The pay-for-yourself rehearsal dinner, because Paul and I are poor, and we’re saving our money for retirement.”

  Kane had gotten through to Jackie, on the financial end. Thank goodness. Nevertheless, even though Susannah had told her sister the rehearsal had made her upset because it made her miss her mother, she had really been more unsettled by Kane. She couldn’t imagine sitting across from him at the Corner Kitchen tonight and acting as if nothing had happened, after just standing at the altar and hearing him feign a forever pledge. “Jackie, I’m not in much of a party mood.”

  “You always say that.” Jackie let out a gust. “Susannah, why won’t you just go? It’ll be fun.”

  “You go. You have fun.” Susannah started toward her car. “I’ll go home and start the thank-you cards for the bridal shower gifts—”

  Jackie grabbed her sleeve and stopped Susannah in her tracks. “No. Don’t.”

  “You won’t have time, Jackie. You know how disorganized you get with those things. And plus, you’ll be back at work right after the honeymoon, and—”

  “Susannah, I want you to have fun tonight.” Jackie toed at the grass, tracing a half circle before raising her gaze to her sister’s. “This is my wedding, and I should be doing these things.”

  Jackie had said the very same thing a dozen times before. Made promises she hadn’t kept. Susannah shook her head. “Like being at your own rehearsal?”

  “Yeah, like that.”

  Susannah bit her lip, refusing to get angry, to have an argument over this. “It’s fine. I took care of it.”

  “That’s the problem, Susannah. You’re always taking care of me. And I let you, because it’s so damned easy.” Jackie turned away and crossed to a curved wrought iron bench beneath a magnolia tree. She took a seat, bracing her hands on either side, and swung her legs back and forth, leaving deep indents in the grass. “When I got to the church tonight and found out everyone was gone, and that you had already taken care of the rehearsal, I was…mad. Even though it was my fault.”

  “Jackie, what did you want me to do?” Susannah threw up her hands. “You weren’t here. As usual. I had to do something.”

  “That wasn’t why I was mad. I was mad at myself. For missing something I really wanted to be at. I know, I know, I did it to myself. It seems like every time I have good intentions, I do the wrong thing.”

  Susannah knew she could take the opportunity to jump on Jackie for all the mistakes of the past. Point out her faults, the areas where her younger sister h
ad taken advantage. What would be the point? She’d rather hang tight to that thread of connection they’d begun to build tonight, and knit an even thicker rope. “You try, Jackie. And you’re trying harder now.”

  “It’s not enough. Not yet. I’m trying to get my life together, Suzie-Q, but you make it too easy for me not to.”

  Susannah rubbed at her temples. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  Jackie took Susannah’s hand and pulled her onto the bench beside her. She hesitated so long before speaking, Susannah wondered if Jackie would just brush off the conversation like she always did, with a joke or a distraction. Instead, she drew in a long breath, then let it out. “Ever since Mom and Dad died, you’ve taken good care of me. Really good care.”

  “That’s my job, sis. I didn’t want you to have to live with strangers or with some relatives in Arizona that we hardly knew.”

  “I know, but when I got older, you just kept on taking care of me.” Jackie looked down at her hands. “And I let you. Because, well, I was lazy.”

  Susannah started to disagree. And stopped.

  “I let you do everything for me, including my wedding. I shouldn’t have done that.” She took in a breath, let it out. “I don’t want to miss any more of my wedding, Suzie. It’s my wedding, not yours, and I’ll only have the one. So, you are officially fired as my helper.” She met Susannah’s eyes and grinned.

  “Fired?”

  “Yep. From now on, all I want you to do is be my sister. And my maid of honor. That means, just show up tomorrow night and hold my bouquet when I’m at the altar.”

  Susannah leaned back against the bench, studying her sister. “What’s with this sudden change of heart? I mean, I’m all for it, but—”

  “Don’t use that word. But. I’m working on being more responsible, and while I bet I’m going to screw up a lot, I’m going to try really hard. When you say ‘but,’ it’s like you already doubt me.” A tentative smile spread across Jackie’s face, one that said she had her own doubts about herself but she was holding tight to her confidence. “Okay?”

  “Okay.” Jackie was grown up, and Susannah wanted to cry, both happy and sad, and full of love that threatened to burst from her heart. Her sister finally appreciated her, and understood what she had done—and now wanted to spread her own wings. Susannah leaned forward and drew Jackie into a tight hug. Jackie’s arms went around Susannah’s back, and the two of them embraced, the thread weaving together finally, bringing two sisters together again. Susannah’s throat closed, and the tears spilled over, onto Jackie’s shoulder. She cupped her sister’s head. “Mom and Dad would be really proud of you,” she whispered.

  “No, Susannah,” Jackie said softly, her voice hoarse. “They’d be really proud of you. Just as proud as I am that you’re my sister.” She drew back and their watery gazes met. “Thank you.”

  And with those two words, the bridge between them was finally healed.

  The envelope had been a warning. The only person who had a contact address for Kane—his personal assistant, Laura—had sent the overnight message to warn him that his father had pulled out all the stops to find his son. Kane paid Laura well enough that he doubted she would talk, and either way, he hadn’t given even her specific information. Just in case.

  But it was only a matter of time. His father was not a man who would be denied anything, especially access to his son.

  Kane paced the small cabin, Bandit running circles around his legs, unnerved by his temporary owner’s continual movements. So much for a vacation. Four short days and already reality was dragging him back kicking and screaming.

  Maybe it was a good thing. After all, twelve hours ago he’d been standing at the front of a church, before a minister, pledging to love Susannah till death did them part.

  He had definitely not come here for that.

  Except that moment hadn’t been so bad. Or frightening. Or any of the other adjectives Kane had always associated with the thought of marriage. Maybe he could find a way to have it all. Or at least take baby steps in that direction.

  For now, though, he had the envelope to deal with.

  Kane crossed to the hearth and started a fire, this time with quick success. Susannah had shown him how to use a bit of newspaper to help the kindling catch the flame, then add the logs a little at a time, as well as how to operate the flue. Give him a few more days and he’d be a regular Grizzly Adams.

  Bandit padded over to the fireplace and settled down at Kane’s feet. Kane reached out and tousled the dog’s ears. Bandit sighed and leaned into Kane’s leg, tail beating a drum of happiness against the wood floor. “You like me?”

  Bandit wagged some more.

  He ran his hand down the dog’s neck, patting the silky hair. “I’ve never had a dog, you know.”

  That apparently didn’t bother Bandit, who wagged harder.

  “I heard you’re spoiled.”

  The dog whimpered a disagreement.

  When he left, he’d be leaving the dog behind. Could he do that? Could he just pick up and go, and become the same old Kane Lennox again?

  Did he even want to?

  Kane’s gaze traveled to the overnight envelope on the table.

  Did he have a choice?

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “ISN’T it a little early in the morning for alcohol?” Kane settled on the bar stool inside Flanagan’s Pub beside Paul and ordered a coffee, waving off Paul’s offer of a beer.

  “I’m getting married today, Kane. Married.” Paul gripped the beer bottle like a life preserver. “Am I insane?”

  “Do you love her?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then no, you’re not insane. At least not entirely.” Kane grinned.

  “Ha, ha.” Paul took a deep gulp of the beer, made a face, then pushed the brown bottle to the side. “You’re right. It is too early in the morning for beer.”

  Kane chuckled and signaled for a second cup of coffee. The bartender shook his head at the two men as he slid the steaming mugs across the bar. Kane thanked him. As the bartender walked away to finish drying glasses, Kane pulled out his wallet for some bills and laid enough money on the oak surface to cover the coffee and a generous tip. Kane turned back to Paul. “Did you and Jackie work everything out?”

  “Kane, what are you doing?”

  “Sitting here, talking to you…” Kane flicked out his wrist. “At nine in the morning, in a bar. Reminds me of our college days.”

  “I meant with that.” Paul gestured toward the tip, then leaned forward and lowered his voice to a whisper. “In this town, we don’t leave a bartender a hundred-dollar tip. The guy is going to have a coronary when he sees that.”

  “Oh. You told me about what happened with his family…how he’s been struggling. I know a hundred bucks isn’t going to make much difference, but it should at least make his day.”

  Paul leaned back on his bar stool, his jaw slack. “You are not the same guy I knew in college.”

  “What, just because I’m drinking coffee instead of beer in the morning? All of us grow up, Paul. I bet you cut back, too. You have a job. Teaching kids, at that. Can’t show up at school drunk or hung over, I’m sure.”

  “I’m not talking about the drinking. I’m talking about this…” he waved a hand over Kane “…this socially conscious, socially involved Kane.”

  He chuckled. “You make me sound like the next step up from Cro-Magnon Man.”

  “You are, compared to the rest of us guys.”

  Larry headed over, a pot of coffee in one hand. He started to refill Kane’s mug when he spied the money, and froze. “Whoa! Dude, is that a hundred-dollar bill?”

  “Yep.” Kane grinned. “And it’s for you.”

  The stout, tall man stared at the green paper. Then at Kane, then back again at the hundred dollars. “Uh…you only got coffee.”

  Kane smiled. “I know.”

  The bartender held the bill up to the light, as if he still couldn’t believe it was
real. “You sure? Is this really for me?”

  “The whole thing. Take your wife out for dinner, pay some bills. Relieve some stress.” Kane leaned forward. “I know all about needing to relieve stress. Hope that helps.”

  “Yeah, it will. Thanks. I mean, thanks.” The bartender backed up and reached for the wall phone, then started dialing. “Honey, you aren’t going to believe this…”

  As Larry chatted with his wife, Kane’s heart swelled. Damn. Who knew giving could feel this great? And all he’d done was overtip.

  Kane returned his attention to Paul. “That felt good. I mean, I give plenty of money to charities every year, but that’s writing a check. This was hands-on. Maybe I should start handing out money on the street to perfect strangers.”

  Paul arched a brow. “Are you dying or something?”

  “No. Just…” Kane drew in a breath, and when he did, he swore he could catch the floral notes of Susannah’s perfume. She’d rubbed off on him, that was for sure. She and the rest of this small town. “Just enjoying my life for the first time ever.”

  “Well, if handing over money makes you feel good…” Paul grinned, then put up his hands. “Just kidding, buddy. I never liked you for your money, you know that.”

  “I do. And I appreciate it.” Kane gave Paul a good-natured clap on the back. He had thought of giving his friend a healthy check for a wedding present but decided a more-personal gift—one that meant something to Kane himself—would be far better. He reached into the breast pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out an envelope. “I want you and Jackie to have this.”

  “What…” Paul’s voice trailed off, caught in a breath. He held the envelope tight, reading the name of the travel agency on the front, then the word Jamaica beneath the logo. “Jamaica? But, Kane, we can’t—”

  “You can and you will. Life’s too short, Paul. I know you guys are tight on money and you were planning just a simple three-day honeymoon in Chicago. Nothing against that city, but you two deserve more, especially for your honeymoon. I talked to your principal and to Jackie’s boss, and got you a few more days off. Two weeks, to be exact.”