Finn laughed. “Well, I don’t sleep with the men I paint. But of course I sleep with all the women. Wouldn’t you?” He winked at her.
Okay, so it had been a stupid question. But she was kind of curious. The idea of having male models strip at her direction had a certain appeal. “Not the women. But the men, sure I would. At least that way you get to check out the goods first.”
“You’re a mercenary little thing, aren’t you?” The corner of his mouth lifted.
Allison didn’t like his tone. “So is your cousin, Brad. He worships at the altar of accumulate.”
At times, Allison wasn’t completely convinced that wasn’t why Brad had married Caroline. To gather the prettiest, proper society wife, who would balance a career and a family and leave him free to do whatever he felt like.
“If you have the money, why not?”
But he didn’t look like he meant it.
And Allison decided this guy was probably a better match for Jamie than Jonathon. Not that Jonathon looked like he’d be willing to give Jamie up anytime soon.
“So you think Caroline and Brad will live happily ever after in banker’s bliss?”
He flicked his hair out of his eyes and gave her a wild spin that was dangerous in a strapless dress. “What do I know? I’m just the artist cousin with his head in the clouds.”
“Whatever, brush boy.”
Chapter 19
Jack wasn’t going to have sex with Jamie in the retiring room. He really meant that.
But he couldn’t stop himself from giving her pleasure, a little taste of what he could give her later, if she came home with him.
Her breasts had burst eagerly out of the dress with barely any effort from him, and he was staring at her bare chest, creamy flesh, and dusky apricot nipples.
“Jack!” she said in shock. “You can’t do that. We’ll never get them back in.”
He grabbed her hands before she could stuff her breasts back into her dress. “Maybe they want a little fresh air.”
She laughed. “They don’t have a brain, they can’t think for themselves.”
“I don’t know. They seem to have a mind of their own…you’re telling me to stop and they’re looking pretty ready to go.” Jack plucked at one very tight nipple, his mouth going dry.
Jamie sighed. “Betrayed by my breasts. What can I say? But the breasts don’t always know best.”
“In this case, I think they’re smarter than their owner. They know sometimes you just have to feel.” Like he was. He wasn’t thinking, he was just feeling. Going with gut instinct. Jack ran his lips over her nipple, the taut pebble gliding over his flesh.
“Their owner?” Jamie said, a hitch in her voice. “That sounds completely bizarre. Like they’re pets. Like I could take them for a walk, feed them, play fetch. Though I have to say I’ve always kind of thought of them as beasts. Big monsters that shouldn’t really be there.”
“Not a healthy view to take of your own body. You need to make peace with your breasts, embrace them. Learn to love them the way I do. See, wouldn’t I make a good social worker?” Jack took her hand and placed it over her bare flesh. “Just feel it. Isn’t it just the most sexy thing you’ve ever touched?” He put his hand over hers, pushed them both forward a little, squeezing and cupping her with both their fingers.
“Touching you is sexier,” she said, and her free hand slid across the front of his tux pants.
Holy crap, he hadn’t been expecting her to do that. Jack gave a little groan.
“But now we need to get back to the reception before your mother comes looking for us.”
Now, there was a scary thought. “Okay, okay, we’ll go back. But promise me you’ll spend the night with me.”
Her eyes were glassy with desire, darkened with something else, an emotion Jack couldn’t quite pinpoint. “I’ll spend the night with you.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her softly. Then deeper. Then harder.
Every little taste made him want more. Jack trailed his lips over her warm flesh, down to her breasts, wanting just one last lick to tide him over until they could decently ditch out of the reception and head home.
Only she moaned. Which spurred his own desire. Which led him to give another lick. Then a suck. Which escalated into tugging and nipping and groping.
And somehow his hand found its way up her skirt, where she was wearing a scrap of nothing for panties. “Oh, Jamie, damn, what kind of panties are these?” He tugged at the spandex material and cupped her.
“Seamless panties. So you can’t see lines on my butt.” Then she gave a startled yelp as he sank inside her with his thumb.
She groaned, she shuddered, as he started to move in her. Jack held her waist, his mouth still on her breasts, and moved his finger with a desperate sort of urgency. The words weren’t there yet, weren’t making sense, but he had to show Jamie, had to reach in and grab her and not let go.
Needed her with him.
Nails clawed at him as she squirmed, rocking herself onto his finger in total abandon. There was a long pause, where Jamie went completely still, and her wide eyes locked with his. Then she came, shattering over him with soft desperate pants that were the most beautiful sound Jack had ever heard.
“That’s amazing, Jamie. Beautiful.” He kissed the side of her neck, her chin, the corner of her mouth, overwhelmed with what he was feeling.
And suddenly the words were there, gushing out of him like an unlocked fire hydrant.
“Jamie, I love you. I want to marry you.”
Jamie’s mouth fell open. Her jaw moved. But nothing came out.
Jack pulled his hand out from between her thighs. Let her skirt drop. Watched Jamie, this woman who had brought contentment to his life, which had been feeling aimless and dissatisfying.
“I’ll give it all up, Jamie, all the money. Donate it wherever you want me to, if it’s going to come between us. Just tell me who to give it to, and it’s done.”
“You really mean that, don’t you?” she asked, her voice quiet, awed.
“I do.” And it didn’t even hurt to say that. He meant it.
He took a small step back, amused at her reaction. He’d never seen Jamie at a total loss for words before, but she was staring at him, mouth so wide he could drive his Beemer on in. “Now let’s get you decent and rejoin the party.”
“Decent? Oh, God, I must look awful!” Her hand went to her head, patted her hair. She fussed with her skirt, until every inch from the waist down was covered and she looked like a respectable bridesmaid once more.
Except for the high color on her face, and the shine in her eyes. The rumpled state of her skirt, and the swollen bottom lip. The disheveled hair and the crushed top of her dress. Her still very much bare breasts, which didn’t seem to want to go back where they had come from, no matter how much she tugged and pushed.
Respectable? Hell, she looked like she had just been thoroughly loved. Which she had. By him.
Jack couldn’t help but grin. “Here, let me help you.” He palmed her left breast with one hand and tried to lift the dress with the other, and stuff everything back where it was supposed to be.
The door flew open, and a voice called out, “Jamie? Are you in here?”
His sister’s voice.
The bride.
Oh, damn.
Jamie tried to step back, but his hand was still in her dress, so he went with her. Jamie let out a whimper.
“My mom said you weren’t feeling well, so I wanted to make sure you’re okay—” Caroline’s words were cut off by her gasp. “Jamie? Jonathon? What are you doing?”
The obvious answer would be that he was feeling her up, which was wrong, since he was trying to help her back into the dress. Yet it wasn’t entirely a falsehood either, since he had been touching her breasts sexually just a minute ago. But that seemed kind of complicated to explain. There had to be an easier answer.
Jamie wasn’t going to answer at all. She was motionless and facing him. Her ch
eeks were stained red, and her green eyes were huge.
It was up to him to smooth this one over. He said with a shrug, “Jamie’s having some problems with her dress. She keeps, uh, falling out.”
He dropped his hand, which left the blue fabric askew, only covering half her breasts. It had her looking like Pam Anderson trying to wear a tissue as a blouse. “I was just trying to help,” he added lamely.
His sister’s face contorted into incredulous disbelief. It wasn’t a good look with the veil and the dress. Then she started toward them, shaking her head. “Keep your hands off my bridesmaid, Jonathon. Jamie, didn’t you use double-sided tape?”
“No.”
For which Jack was very grateful. He’d have never gotten the dress off her if it had been taped to her skin. “That sounds medieval, Caroline.”
“It’s the best way to keep a strapless dress up.” She jerked her thumb toward the door. “Move along, show’s over. We’re going to have to take Jamie’s dress completely off to do this.”
“That doesn’t bother me,” he said, most sincerely. “I can be an extra pair of hands in case they’re needed.”
Besides, he had just told Jamie he’d toss over ten plus million dollars for her. Big moment, major declaration, all of that. He’d kind of like to stick around and see if she had any other response to that besides open-mouthed shock.
Caroline laughed. “Get out.”
“Shouldn’t you be out there throwing your bouquet? I can handle this, honestly. You know I’ve always been a problem solver.” But he was already heading for the door, knowing Caroline wouldn’t trust either him or Jamie not to make a mess of it.
If there was a job to be done, Caro liked to do it. Besides, Jamie didn’t look as if she’d be speaking anytime soon. Maybe a few minutes with Caroline would unlock her lips.
“Go dance with Brad’s mother. I don’t want her to feel neglected by our family.” Caroline was digging in a travel tote and emerged with a roll of tape and scissors.
Yikes. Jack didn’t want to see whatever she was going to do with those. “Alright, I can see you have this under control. I’ll go play charming host at your bidding, Caroline Davidson-Black.”
Caro stopped and smiled at him. “That sounds so awesome. I’m actually Brad’s wife.”
“Yeah.” Jack felt emotion reach up, choke him. Close off his throat, and prick his eyes. “Times are a changin’, aren’t they?”
“Only in good ways.” Caroline patted his cheek with her smooth, cool hand and smiled. “Now leave us women to the mysteries of double-sided tape.”
“Okay. See you in a few.” He paused at the door. “Jamie, remember your promise.”
She was spending the night with him, one way or the other.
He’d need the comfort after dancing with his sister’s mother-in-law.
Jamie clutched the front of her dress and tried to function. But her head was like a hunk of Swiss cheese. There were too many holes in her thoughts for any of them to make sense.
“Sorry, Caroline. I’ve been having trouble with the dress and it never occurred to me to get tape.”
“Turn around.” Caroline spun her and unzipped. “So how long have you been sleeping with my brother?”
Just when she thought she couldn’t get any more embarrassed. “Um…what makes you think we are?”
There was a loud ripping sound as Caroline pulled off a length of tape. Jamie glanced back over her shoulder. At least Caro was smiling. “Jams, he had his hand on your breast. I know you. You are not casual about your breasts. Any man touching them has been granted the key to the kingdom, so to speak.”
“Oh.” Good to know her friends understood her. She turned back around. “Well, actually it only happened once, a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to tell you, but wasn’t sure how you’d feel about it, and with the wedding and all, I didn’t want to stress you out.”
The dress was pooled around her waist, and she was feeling a bit ridiculous as Caroline held up the tape against her breast, measuring for width.
“You’re always so busy worrying about everyone else, sometimes I wish you’d worry about yourself.” Caroline tore the backing off the tape.
Jamie winced. “There’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine.”
“So why only once?” With the precision of a surgeon she cut the tape and stuck it to Jamie’s breast.
“Why what?” Jamie tried not to squirm. She knew why it hadn’t occurred to her to put tape on her chest. It was really uncomfortable and weird.
“Why did you only have sex with Jonathon once?” Caroline slapped the other piece on the left breast and grabbed the dress.
As Caroline tugged and adjusted and pressed so the tape would stick, Jamie tried to come up with a coherent response. “Because I’m not his type.”
That sounded ridiculous, even to her.
“Jamie, that’s ridiculous. If you’re not interested, that’s one thing. But if you are, you should go for it. Jonathon is clearly head over heels for you.”
“He said he’s in love with me,” Jamie whispered as she was spun around again for a rezip. She wanted so desperately to believe that, but it seemed too unbelievable, too fragile, too circumstantial. “That he’d get rid of his money for me.”
Caroline paused. “Really? He doesn’t throw words around lightly, you know. Jonathon worked his ass off for years to earn what he has. But if he said it, he means it.”
“What if it’s an impulse?” And why was she even protesting? She already knew what she was going to do.
“What if it’s really love?” Caroline asked, patting her shoulders and turning her back face forward. “You once told me your aunt didn’t close the door of her double-wide trailer on love. Maybe you shouldn’t either.”
It was easy to believe with Caroline standing there in her wedding gown, looking serene and beautiful. “Oh, Caro.” Tears rose in her eyes like the sap that she was. “You don’t mind that I’m involved with your brother? I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”
Caroline wiped the tear that had slipped down her cheek. “Of course you wouldn’t, silly. And why would I mind two of my favorite people hooking up? I love both of you and I know you won’t hurt him, Jamie.” She squeezed her hands. “You wouldn’t hurt a fly. You’d let it swim in your soup if you thought it was happy there.”
Jamie gave a watery laugh. “Is he a privileged uptown fly or trapped in a cycle of poverty in the ghetto?” She reached out and gave Caroline a hug, watching both their heads so there wasn’t a hair entanglement. “Beckwith told me Jack is the one in my fortune, that he’s my destiny. I really, really want to believe him.”
It made her chest feel tight just thinking about it.
“This has nothing to do with Beckwith and his farfetched predictions. Just do what makes sense to you. Jonathon is a wonderful, intelligent man. You’re a smart, thoughtful woman. Why shouldn’t it work out?” She hooked her arm in Jamie’s and headed for the door. “Now let’s get back to the reception before my mother sends a SWAT team after me.”
“She would, wouldn’t she?”
“In a heartbeat.”
Jamie figured like mother, like daughter. Caroline had just managed to convince her that it was completely in Jamie’s best interest to have a relationship with Jack.
Jamie felt taken down by logic.
So she might as well enjoy it.
Except when Caroline stepped back into the hall, Jamie happened to glance left and nearly fainted. Beckwith was strolling down the hall in a hot-pink taffeta bridesmaid’s dress, floral bouquet and all.
Oh, good Lord. Jamie followed Caroline in half a step, then exclaimed, “Oh, shoot, I think my bracelet fell off. I’ll be right there, Caro.”
Then she ran as fast as she could in Beckwith’s direction, grabbing his hairy wrist and dragging him into the coat-room alcove. “What are you doing? You have got to leave!”
The last person in the world who would appreciate the presence of a cross-dresser
was Mrs. Davidson.
“I’m wedding crashing because I had to talk to you. And I thought if I wore this I might blend in.”
Jamie thought maybe that would have been better accomplished by wearing a man’s suit, but clearly that hadn’t occurred to Beckwith.
“I don’t think it’s going to work. The bridesmaids are all wearing ice blue.”
“Well, poo-poo.” He pouted as he sniffed the bouquet of teacup roses.
“Did you need something, sweetie?” Because if he didn’t, he needed to get the hell out.
“I can’t take it, sugar. I’m just plagued with worry for your friend. Are you sure you can’t convince Caroline to throw over her husband?”
“Positive.”
“And you’re sure you can’t work things out with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Touch My Soul?”
Jamie bit her lip. “Well, maybe I can. I want to try. But dang, I’m scared.”
“Well, I don’t give a shit!” Beckwith vowed, flinging his arms and bouquet around. “I can’t live my own life because I’m so bombarded by images of you screwing up your fate. You have got to trust this guy, for my sake, Jams.”
Well, gee, if it was all about him.
She couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes even as she reached out and squeezed his arm. “I’m trying. I’m seeing Jack tonight, after the wedding.”
“His name is Jack?” Beckwith narrowed his eyes.
“Yes.” And she was in love with him.
“Jamie.”
She about jumped out of her bridesmaid’s dress and probably would have if it wasn’t for the double-sided tape. Damn, that was Jack’s voice, and it was coming from no more than two feet behind her.
“Oh, hi,” she said as she turned and offered a weak smile.
“Do you know this…person? Everything okay?”
“Uh-huh.” She nodded rapidly. “I’ll be back in a second; we’re just finishing up here.”
“I’ll wait for you outside the door.” Jack pointed ten feet down the hallway. “Right there.”
He obviously wasn’t going to go back into the reception without her, so Jamie was going to have to work hard to get rid of Beckwith. As Jack started down the hall, she opened her mouth to encourage Beckwith to leave, when she noticed him frowning.
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