The Wrong Wedding

by Maggie Rivers

  CHAPTER TEN

  Phyllis Hatfield opened the door and hurried inside. Laying her purse and gloves on the hall table, she removed her coat and hung it on the coat hook. She loved that coat rack. She had taken an old wooden door, turned it sideways, placed photos behind the glass windows and added the hooks at the other end. She was really quite proud of herself and her ability to create usable things out of castaways.

  Picking up the portable phone from the hall table, she noticed the blinking message light but had no time to check it now. She wanted to take advantage of every moment Dean was gone. Besides she also wanted to rehash the night’s festivities over in her head.

  Sex with Ralph was always phenomenal and it put her in a great mood for days. Maybe she could reach Betty Jean and go shopping over in the big city. Might even do a girls’ luncheon thing. The message was probably from Dean anyway. He always called when he was gone. She knew he was just calling to be sure she was still at home. Well, he could just wonder for a bit. Might do him some good.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Claire watched as Jack tightened her snowshoes and handed her the poles before donning his own.

  “Okay, this is the easiest to do. All you have to do is walk like this and use the poles to assist you. Pretty simple stuff really,” he said as he walked toward her.

  “Easy for you maybe. You’ve done this before.” Claire took several steps forward. “Not too difficult. I can probably handle this.”

  “Great. Now, here’s the next lesson. There’s wolves, cougars and bears out there. Don’t think we have to worry about bears. They’re sleeping. But wolves and cougars can get a little hungry this time of the year so keep your eyes peeled. I don’t think we’ll have any trouble at all but it’s better to know what to do just in case.”

  “Okay.”

  “First of all, don’t run. Stand your ground. Make yourself look as big and tall as possible. Don’t look the animal in the eye and if it looks like it’s gonna attack, you attack it first. Got that.”

  “Like I’m going to remember that when I’m face to face with a cougar!”

  “Trust me. You will. And here’s a can of Mace. Just pull this off, aim and press. Make sure the animal is downwind or it’ll blow in your face. If you get attacked, go for the eyes. Gouge them out if you can.”

  “Oh that’s horrible!”

  “Yeah, it is but it could save your life.”

  “Okay. Maybe we should just go back inside,” Claire said glancing around quickly as though she expected something to spring at her.

  “Like I said, chances are we’ll be perfectly safe. We aren’t going too far up the trail but you never know. Just follow behind me and you’ll see some pretty country up here.”

  “Great, let’s go. Maybe whatever it is can just eat you first and it’ll be too full to come after me.”

  “Thanks a lot.”

  Claire and Jack snowshoed for a little over an hour before heading back down the trail towards home. They had spent plenty of time just stopping and looking at the scenery.

  After helping Claire remove her snow shoes, Jack said, “Go on inside and get warm while I get mine off and get them hung up out here. I’ll be in shortly.”

  “Okay.”

  Claire hurried into the cabin and placed a few more logs on the fire to chase the chill out of the room.

  She turned just as Jack opened the door and started to enter the cabin. At that moment snow on the rooftop gave way and slid down landing directly on top of Jack.

  “Bloody hell,” Jack said as he shoved snow off his head and shoulders.

  Claire sat on the floor in front of the fireplace laughing.

  “And what are you laughing about?”

  “I think I should add you to our snow family out there in the yard. You’d fit right in.”

  Jack knocked his shoes against the side of the cabin to get as much snow off the bottoms as he could and then hurried inside. He walked over to Claire.

  “Is that right?”

  He knelt down in front of her and rubbed the snow he had kept hidden in his hand into her face. Claire screamed and fought against him, kicking and laughing. She fell back onto the floor as Jack continued his onslaught. Leaning over her, Jack lost himself in her eyes.

  He’s going to kiss me now.

  Claire’s lips parted slightly, inviting Jack to take his fill. He leaned down and brushed her lips slowly at first like a flame igniting a fire. Claire moaned and Jack deepened the kiss. She’d wanted him to do that since that first morning. Something about him was driving her crazy. She felt his hands grab handfuls of her hair and held her face at just the right angle. She wondered if he had been wanting to kiss her, too.

  Jack couldn’t get enough of her. Her warm, moist lips seemed so inviting. Her hair so luscious and soft, his hands were lost in it. The word ‘virgin’ popped into his mind and he abruptly stopped the kiss just as quickly as he’d started it.

  “I’m sorry,” Jack said as he released Claire and sat up.

  “I’m not,” replied Claire. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. We just forgot for a moment who we were here with, that’s all.” And if you believe that, I’ve got a Golden bridge to sell you, too.

  “Sure, that’s what happened. I’ll try not to forget again.”

  Running his fingers through his hair, Jack got up and walked over to the kitchen to begin preparations for their evening meal. He opened a cabinet and took out a frying pan, slamming the door closed. Then he opened another cabinet gathering the ingredients he needed to make a pan of spaghetti, slamming the door closed again.

  Claire sat and watched. Feelings of guilt crept over her. After all, Ralph was true to her. He was still a virgin, too. Here she was with another man thinking such frustratingly naughty thoughts. Maybe she wasn’t good enough for Ralph.

  Jack was obviously frustrated. He was supposed to be getting married in just a few more days. But he’d kissed her. And it wasn’t just a ‘we’re having fun and playing’ kind of kiss either. He had curled her toes. And they were still curled!

  She was the one who had every right to be frustrated and she was. The more she was around Jack, the more she wanted to feel his touch, his caress.

  Jack was nothing like Ralph. Jack was a bad boy and just once in her life, she wanted a bad boy. But just any old bad boy wouldn’t do. She wanted Jack. How would she get through the next few days with him so close? Or did she really want to get through those days?

  Her thoughts were such a jumble. Ralph was safe, secure, always there but with no emotion, no liveliness. Jack on the other hand – well, Jack was already spoken for and off limits and she’d do good to remember that.

  She was off limits and already spoken for and she’d do good to remember that, too.

  Claire got up and went to help Jack with the meal. She took the makings for a salad out of the fridge and began its preparation.

  “So you’ve known Priscilla for how long again?” Claire asked.

  “About a year and a half. Met her at an office party. We seemed to hit it off okay. She’s a great asset. Knows lots of people so it’s more like a strategic move I guess you could say. We have no secrets going into this marriage.” Jack glanced away.

  “An asset. You’re marrying a girl because she’s an asset – an asset to what?”

  “It’s a career move. You know. She needs what I have to offer and I need what she has to offer. That kind of thing.”

  “You mean you’re marrying her and you don’t really love her.”

  “I’ve seen marriages based on love. They don’t last.”

  “What do you mean they don’t last? My parents were married for sixty-five years before my father died. Then my mother, bless her heart, just couldn’t go on without him and she died six months later.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t know your parents were gone.”

  “It’s okay. They loved each other. That’s the kind of love I want. You know, till death do us part.”


  “Is that what you have with Ralph?”

  Claire’s eyes widened. She’d never thought of it like that before. She didn’t have that with Ralph. Oh sure, she had safety and security with Ralph. She always knew they’d be together for the rest of their lives.

  All of a sudden, Claire felt suffocated, as though she couldn’t breathe, trapped. She put her hand to her throat and took some deep breaths forcing her mind back to the duty at hand.

  “The salad’s ready. How about the spaghetti?” she said, abruptly changing the subject.

  “Yep, it’s ready,” replied Jack as he watched Claire from the corner of his eye.

  Claire’s mind raced. Why had Ralph never wanted to have sex with her? Wasn’t that part of being in love with someone? Or for that matter, why had she never wanted sex with Ralph? Then realization dawned as she felt the color drain from her face.

  She knew it would really never matter why Ralph had never wanted to have sex with her and, at that moment, she knew why she had never wanted to have sex with him. She wasn’t in love with Ralph.

  “You okay, Claire?” asked Jack.

  “Uh, what, oh, yeah, I’m fine. I’ll get the wine.”

  * * *

  After dinner, Jack and Claire cleared the dishes together then took their glasses of wine and sat on the rug in front of the fireplace.

  “Where does this habit you have of saying bloody hell come from anyway?”

  “Well, I was blessed with two parents who didn’t have time for each other, much less time for me. I did, however, have a wonderful nanny who was English. She taught me a lot of things and one of the things was bloody hell. Every time something didn’t go her way, it was always bloody hell and I guess I just picked it up as a kid and it’s stuck with me over the years.”

  “Ah, that explains it. I knew you didn’t seem very English to me.”

  Jacked took another sip of his wine before looking at Claire.

  “Would you like to go hot tubbing in a bit?”

  “You have a hot tub up here?” Claire asked.

  “Yep, sure do.”

  “Where? I haven’t seen one.”

  “It’s hidden out of sight. Didn’t want the locals to use it as a drinking fountain.”

  “Yuk, you mean people up here would actually drink out of your hot tub?”

  “No, but the locals might – locals, as in animals. There aren’t any people for miles. I didn’t want animals coming around when I was gone helping themselves to a drink of water. Not that I’d mind them drinking water but they’d get used to finding water here and I’d hate to have one start coming around to find food, too. Could be dangerous. So, I have one, it’s just out of sight is all – not that that really would stop them. They probably smell it anyway.”

  “Okay, where is it?”

  “It’s out behind the garage. Come on, I’ll show you.”

  Jack took Claire by the hand and helped her up from the floor and continued to hold her hand as he led her out the side door into the garage. Flipping on the light switch, he walked over to the back door of the garage. A path had already been shoveled out to the tub.

  “When’d you shovel this?”

  “Earlier today, while you were reading. Stand inside here while I get it uncovered.”

  Claire watched as Jack moved a section of the cover revealing a large hot tub beneath.

  “Wow, that’s great.”

  “Yeah, I thought it was cool myself. And, wait’ll you get in it. It’s great. You can sit in the tub and look at the stars.”

  “Oh that’s perfect.”

  “I’ll get the wine and you hop in.”

  “I don’t have a suit with me, Jack.”

  “Listen, Claire. There’s nobody here but you and me. I’ll turn the overhead light off. That way you won’t be able to see anything that’s below the water and we can sit here and relax, have our wine and watch the stars.”

  “Well.” Claire hesitated but only briefly. “I’ll let you know when I’m all in. And don’t you peek either!”

  “Deal. Now, just drop your clothes inside the garage here and run like hell to the tub and jump in before you freeze. I’ll bring the towels.”

  Jack returned inside the cabin, grabbed two towels and took out another bottle of wine and waited for Claire to call.

  Claire cautiously slipped out of her clothes and hurried to the tub. The water was just hot enough and she quickly slipped down into it. It felt very wicked somehow just sitting there in the nude. Never in her wildest dreams had she ever imagined herself like this. It felt freeing. Nothing between her and the world. It was naughty yet nice.

  She heard Jack open the door from the kitchen that led to the garage.

  “I’m in,” she called out.

  Standing just inside the garage door, Jack could see the outline of Claire’s head against the moonlight.

  Where’s an artist when you need one?

  “Here’s another bottle of wine,” said Jack as he walked out and shoved it down into the snow beside the hot tub. “I’ll just slip out of these pants,” he continued as he began unbuckling his belt.

  Claire hid her face in her hands covering her eyes.

  “Let me know when you’re all in.”

  Jack walked back to the garage and removed his clothes.

  Claire heard Jack’s pants drop to the garage floor and felt her heart skip a beat. She desperately wanted to sneak another peek. Her face flushed at the thought. A moment later, Jack stepped into the hot tub. She held her breath for a moment in anticipation – of what, she didn’t really know.

  “Okay, I’m all in,” said Jack.

  Claire opened her eyes and found Jack sitting next to her. She felt a heat rush through her body and for a moment wondered if the temperature of the water had risen another degree.

  “Take a look out there,” said Jack pointing to a view that lay between two trees.

  “Oh Jack, it’s beautiful,” Claire exclaimed.

  And you’re even more beautiful than that. Jack ran his hand through his own hair to keep from reaching out and touching her.

  The snow was as high as the tub. The bright moonlight was clear and it hit the snow lighting up the scenery in the valley below. A zillion stars twinkled in the sky.

  “Yeah, I always liked sitting out here trying to count the stars.”

  “I don’t blame you. This is a pretty spectacular view.”

  “I’d say so,” replied Jack, his eyes on Claire.

  Claire sipped at her wine, her head relaxing against the tub’s edge.

  “So tell me more about Claire.”

  “Nothing more to tell really.”

  “You got any brothers and sisters?”

  “Yes. I have four brothers. They are just great and very protective of their little sis I might add.”

  “Great. Now you tell me! I’m sitting here naked in a hot tub with you and you go and tell me they’re protective. I’ll trust they won’t find out about this little escapade.”

  “I won’t tell if you won’t.” Claire laughed.

  “Great. Let’s just say whatever happens at the cabin stays at the cabin.”

  “Sounds like a plan to me,” said Claire, “and, by the way, I’m an only child.” She laughed.

  “Well, that’s good because I was getting a little nervous.”

  “I was adopted. Never knew my birth parents,” said Claire, already feeling a little light headed although she didn’t know if it was from the wine or from just being here with Jack.

  Jack reached over and gently brushed a tendril of Claire’s hair back behind her ear. Claire felt a jolt of excitement as his fingers touched her temples. She knew something was going to happen this night, something that seemed to feel right and wrong at the same time.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The scent of strawberries and almonds wafted over to Jack and he wanted to taste Claire’s lips again. He needed to get her out of his system before they were rescued and all he had to do wa
s convince Claire.

  Most women he could take or leave. He’d often stopped for a night cap after work. Being the son of two famous people, it seemed the paparazzi liked to follow him. He had given them what they wanted over the years in order to keep them away from the real Jack.

  Anytime reporters were around, he made sure to create a love ‘em and leave ‘em persona for them. He’d grab the closest girl and put a smooch on her mouth whether he knew her or not. The news crew ate it up.

  Then Prissy came along and their schedules seemed to fit so they just fell into a safe, reliable habit.

  But Claire was upsetting that safe, reliable feeling and Jack didn’t like it one bit. He knew love didn’t last. Love was just a feeling that he never wanted to indulge. He’d seen what it had done to his own family and he never wanted that to happen to a child of his. So, if he never found love and never had kids to worry about, it would simply save a lot of heartache for everyone.

  Now all he had to do was get this strange feeling he had concerning Claire out of his system and he’d be back to his old self again. It had to be sex – she was still a virgin and that had to be the attraction. He’d have to make Claire his conquest while they were together. Once he had her, he’d be just as quickly over her as he was all the rest.

  Claire turned her face to him.

  “This is such a gorgeous place, Jack.”

  “Yeah, I think it’s beautiful, too.” Without thinking, he laid his hand on the side of her face, tracing the outline of her lips with his thumb.

  “Jack,” Claire whispered.

  “Hmmm,” Jack replied, lost in his own thoughts. He wanted those luscious, full lips against his. He wanted to feel the warmth of them, the heat of them and he wanted the taste of them.

  “Jack. What are you doing?”

  “Shhhh. It’s okay. I just need to kiss you.”

  Before Claire could reply, Jack tilted her face towards his and tenderly placed his lips on hers. He pulled her to him, her ripe naked breasts tight against his chest. A sound escaped from Claire’s throat sending Jack over the edge. His hand traced down the side of her throat, over her shoulder, down the roundness at the top of her breast until it reached its destination and he cupped her breast and tweaked her taut nipple between his fingers.