by Francis Ray
From the number of packages she later handed him, she had found what she was looking for. When asked what she bought, she sent him a saucy look and said, “You’ll see.”
The slumbering sensuality in her eyes had his blood pounding through his veins. He wanted very much to lower his mouth and taste her lips again and keep right on tasting. The urge had steadily been growing all afternoon.
He couldn’t. Not yet.
“Shoes are next.”
She might not have wanted him to see her other purchases, but the shoes were a different matter. Red, high-heeled, and sexy. She had great ankles. The red patent leather evening sandals by an Italian designer had a tiny padlocked ankle strap that could only be opened with a key. When she handed him the key so she wouldn’t lose it, he thought his heart would stop.
He was in trouble. Jessica was sending out signals a blind man could see. He’d have to do a delicate balancing act to keep from hurting her. Too bad her aunt wasn’t due back until next week. He needed a buffer. It was going to be a long evening.
Gabe’s reaction to seeing her in the fitted red silk chemise gown was everything she had hoped and prayed for. The hour she had spent on her makeup, and all the aborted efforts with her contact lenses had been worth the effort.
He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her then nor during their candlelit dinner in the quaint restaurant. Darned if he wasn’t staring hungrily at her lips. When they danced, his heart beat as erratically as hers. Yet, when they were back at her aunt’s apartment, he stopped at the door.
“Aren’t you coming in for a drink?”
“No. You have a big day tomorrow. You need your rest,” he said, sliding his hand into his pocket.
“Are you coming to the party?”
“No. I need to catch up on some work.”
“Oh,” she said, biting her lip.
“Here,” he said, the key to her shoes in his hand.
Hurt and embarrassed, she lifted the key from his palm, making sure she touched him as little as possible. Love wasn’t supposed to hurt. “Good night.”
“I enjoyed our evening together. You looked sensational.”
“Apparently not sensational enough. Good-bye, Gabe.”
The palm of his hand caught the closing door. “I’ll see you before you leave.”
She wished for the courage to tell him that wasn’t necessary. “If you want.”
“Lady, you have no idea of what I want, but you will before you leave New York, that I promise.” Whirling, he stalked away.
The sensual undertone in Gabe’s voice sliced through her misery. He was angry, but she no longer doubted he wanted her. “If you break your promise I’ll never speak to you again,” she yelled, ignoring years of training again.
He turned, the lines of strain clearing from his face. “I won’t. Good night, Jessica.”
“Good night, Gabe.” Stepping into the apartment, she closed the door, trying to figure out what Gabe had meant. He wanted her, yet he didn’t even try to kiss her again. Even Shelton had kissed her twice on the cheek. She’d just have to wait. She trusted Gabe. That thought was the only thing that got her through the long, lonely night.
“My goodness! What did you do to yourself?” A wide-eyed, disapproving Shelton asked the moment Jessica walked into the living room.
“Just as you suggested,” Jessica said, handing him the floor-length matching cape to her figure-revealing red beaded halter gown.
Automatically, he took the cape and held it for her. She turned. Breath hissed through his teeth. “This thing hardly has a back! I said nothing about braids or this kind of dress.”
“I know. It’s what I wanted, Shelton. Your opinion didn’t enter into the situation.” Drawing the cape around her shoulders, she pulled on her long red gloves and went to stand by the door. “We should leave or we’ll be late.”
“This is all Gabe’s fault,” he muttered beneath his breath as he opened the door.
Jessica heard him and decided to ignore the remark. She hadn’t expected Shelton to like her makeover, but she hadn’t expected him to be this annoyed. If this was his reaction, there was no telling about her parents.
The elderly Ameses were both speechless. As she had for Gabe, she pirouetted in the red gown, then raised her hands. “It’s the new me.”
Before her parents could say anything, her father’s elderly partner, Oscar Koch entered the room. “Jessica, is that you?”
“Yes, sir,” she answered affectionately. She had always liked the robust, no-nonsense man.
“Goodness, young lady. Where have you been hiding this other you?” he asked, his brown eyes twinkling.
She laughed. “I don’t know, but I’m glad I let her out.” She turned to her mother. “How about you?”
“What can I say except we should have sent you to New York by yourself years ago?” Smiling, Henrietta Ames took her daughter’s hands in hers. “You look fabulous, even with the braids, doesn’t she, George?”
“I suppose,” her ultra-conservative, normally outspoken father said slowly.
“Coming from you, Dad, I’ll take that as a compliment.” Guests began to arrive. “Looks like we’re on.” Taking her parents by the arm, they went to greet them.
The party was a resounding success and so was Jessica’s new look. However, the more compliments she received, the more Shelton glowered at her. Finally, she had had enough and took him aside. “What is your problem?”
“You.”
“Me?”
“You’ve changed, Jessica. I thought you’d make the perfect wife, but I was wrong.”
Her mouth worked for a long time before she could get the words out. “You thought what?”
“Keep your voice down,” he warned, glancing around the crowded room as people turned toward them. “Your parents and I discussed everything. But that was before Gabe entered the picture. He changed you.”
“Did you tell Gabe you wanted to marry me?”
“Of course. I asked him to keep you company.” His mouth narrowed into a tight line. “Instead of doing just that, he somehow managed to change you. I’m sorry, but you won’t do as my wife.”
She laughed in his face. “I’m not and you’re right. I’d do much better as a sister-in-law, if I can get your brother to ask me. Maybe I’ll have to ask him.”
“What?”
“Lower your voice, Shelton. You wouldn’t want to create a scene.” Patting his cheek, she then tweaked his nose for good measure. “Excuse me, I need to call someone.” She started for the door just as it opened and Gabe walked in.
The smile started in her heart and bloomed on her face. “Gabe! I was going to call you.”
“Then I’m glad I saved you the trouble.” Gabe figured he had wasted enough time. “Did you turn down his proposal yet?”
“Yes,” Jessica told him, her heart thudding again. He was dressed the way he was the first time they met. In a black leather jacket, jeans minus the paint, and aviator glasses. He looked hard and dangerous and gorgeous. She wanted to curl up in his lap and purr. This time, she was more than ready to tempt fate and go with him wherever he asked.
“Good, then I think it’s time we went someplace and talked,” he said, his gaze roaming boldly over her. “By the way, you look incredible.”
“So do you,” she said.
His gaze heated. “Let’s go.”
“Now, hold on a minute, Gabe,” Shelton said, grabbing his brother by the arm as he turned to leave. “Do you mean to tell me while you were supposed to be watching my girl, you stole her from me?”
“I never was your girl, Shelton, so there was nothing for Gabe to steal,” Jessica said indignantly.
Gabe’s arm curved around her bare shoulder. “I gave you every opportunity to win her and I’ll always be grateful you didn’t. If you want to blame someone, blame your overinflated ego.”
“What is going on here?” asked Mr. Ames, pushing his way through the gathering crowd with his wife by his
side.
“My own brother stole Jessica from me,” Shelton fumed.
“You can’t steal what you never had,” Gabe pointed out, drawing her possessively closer. “Besides, you’ll make a much better brother-in-law than a husband.”
“Wait a minute,” Jessica said, pushing out of Gabe’s arms, her hands on her slim hips, happiness soaring through her. Seems she didn’t have to ask him to marry her, but there was something else she desperately wanted, needed, and she wasn’t waiting another minute. “I’m not about to consider marrying a man who barely kissed me.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He took her in his arms, his mouth finding hers, shaping itself effortlessly and beautifully. There was no hesitancy, no fumbling, just sweetness and fire.
Finally Gabe lifted his head, his breathing unsteady. “I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”
It took a second before Jessica could draw in enough breath to speak. “You talked me into it.”
His lips found hers again.
Shelton folded his arms, glaring at the two. “If he thinks I’m going to be the best man, he has another think coming.”
Gabe ignored his brother and apparently everyone else in the room did also. They were too busy watching this real-life drama unfold. “Please don’t leave tomorrow. Stay and spend some time with me.”
“I’d like to see anyone try to stop me.”
“That’s my girl. Get your coat and we can get out of here.”
Jessica took off in a flash, grinning, her gown drawn up to her knees.
“Jessica, don’t run,” her mother admonished. She never slowed.
Gabe turned to her puzzled parents. “As you may have guessed, I’m Gabe Jackson, Shelton’s older brother. I know this entire situation is a little crazy, but please know one thing: I love your daughter very much and I’d never do anything to hurt her.”
Their expression didn’t alter.
Gabe smiled. “It’s the beard. My mother always said it made me look like a hoodlum. For the past thirteen days I’ve been with or spoken to Jessica every day. And did she appear the least bit reluctant to leave with me?”
“No, in fact, I’ve never seen her happier,” her mother confided, slowly relaxing.
“I could have made her happy, too, given the chance,” Shelton growled for good measure.
“You would have tried and failed and Jessica would have been the one to pay,” Gabe said softly to his brother. “Do you remember all the things you said you wanted when you were growing up, only to get tired of them and stick them in the back of your closet and forget about them? I couldn’t let you do that to Jessica. I love her.”
Shelton snatched his arms to his sides. “I still want to punch you in the nose.”
“For Jessica it would be worth it.”
More than one woman aahed, Jessica’s mother included.
“You’re not playing fair.” Shelton knew when he had lost. “It’s a good thing I love you.”
“Likewise.” As if they were connected somehow, he turned to see Jessica struggling to get her cape on. He rushed over to help.
“What does your brother do, Shelton?” Mrs. Ames asked.
“He paints.”
“Paints?” Mr. Ames repeated loudly, then shared a look of pure horror with his wife. Recently they had had the trim on their one-hundred-year-old mansion expertly restored.
“Portraits,” Shelton clarified, watching Jessica and Gabe make a hurried exit out the door.
The frown on Mrs. Ames’s perfectly arched brow lessened only slightly. “Is he solvent?”
The door closed behind the fleeing couple. Oddly, Shelton wasn’t as ticked off as he wanted to be. Partly because Gabe was right. He hadn’t exactly been looking forward to marriage with Jessica, but he fully planned on becoming a partner one day with her father’s firm.
“Shelton, is he solvent?”
He glanced at his former-future in-laws. At least Gabe had kept Jessica all in the family. Actually this could work out better.
“My brother’s not bringing down the high figures he once did as a stockbroker, but that’s about to change. He’s been commissioned by some very influential people to do their portraits. In the meantime, knowing Gabe, he has more pots of money in various funds than a leprechaun.”
“Influential people?” Mrs. Ames asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.
“Funds?” Mr. Ames questioned, his interest equally piqued.
“Why don’t we join our guests and I’ll tell you?” Shelton said, a genuine smile on his handsome face for the first time that evening.
EPILOGUE
It was the longest and happiest day of Gabe Jackson’s life. A sunny June day with the scent of magnolia in the air and the faint chirp of blue jays. He couldn’t seem to get the smile off his face, nor did he try. Each time someone patted him on the back and congratulated him on marrying such a beautiful and vivacious young woman, he almost felt like thanking Shelton all over again.
“You think she’s ever going to throw that bouquet or is she just teasing the horde of women waiting to catch it?”
Gabe, a silly grin on his darkly handsome face, winked at his wife, who winked back. “Shelton, your guess is as good as mine. Jessica has a mind of her own.”
A manicured hand settled on his shoulder. “You’re right about that. She’s nothing like I thought she was.”
“She’s everything I thought and more,” Gabe said softly.
Shelton chuckled. “Spoken like a man in love. That’s one of the main reasons I forgave you, you know. I may not believe in it, but I know you do.”
Gabe glanced at his brother. “When the right woman comes along, you will. And I’ll tell you something else. You won’t mind leaving the office and going home to her.”
“Yeah, right,” Shelton said, his disbelief obvious.
Shaking his head, Gabe turned to hear his bride of an hour ask the clamoring women if they were ready. Their shouts of “yes” shook the Rose Ballroom of the Grand Hotel in downtown Atlanta.
Jessica grinned, obviously giddy with happiness and simply beautiful in an elegant off-the-shoulder gown of ivory silk with beaded chantilly lace bordering the wide skirt. It was clearly her day.
She sent Gabe a secret look. “Just checking.”
Turning her back on the crowd, she tossed the bouquet. Women squealed and jumped. The jubilant woman held her trophy of miniature red and pink roses aloft.
“It’s time to throw Jessica’s garter,” advised Mrs. Applewhite, the bridal consultant.
“You’ll make sure my best man is there, won’t you?” Gabe asked, grabbing Shelton by the arm before he could make his getaway.
“Have I ever let you down, Mr. Jackson?”
“No, and thanks.” Gabe made his way toward Jessica. From six months’ experience with the forceful consultant, he knew he could count on her. Yet at times, between her, Jessica’s mother, and his mother, he had considered eloping. Since Jessica was in grad school, he was probably more a part of planning the wedding than most men.
He was glad she was taking off the summer and was going to enroll in the fall at New York University near their home. Planning the wedding for the first of June had been perfect. For the rest of the summer, he had his wife to himself. He was more than ready.
“I believe you have something I have to take off?” he said teasingly, his fingers brushing across her smooth cheek.
She leaned within an inch of his ear. “I know you have some things I want to take off.”
Resisting the urge to drag her into his arms and kiss her until they reached meltdown, he went down on one knee and reached for her foot to the applause of the women. Her white leather shoe settled on his tuxedoed thigh. Slowly she raised the hem of her dress. Gabe chastised himself, but he was unable to stop thinking she’d be taking the dress off shortly and he’d finally make her his.
His fingers trembling, he pulled the blue garter from her leg. Damn fine legs, too. To think
he’d fallen in love with a woman before he’d seen her legs. He hadn’t needed to. Her heart and soul were enough.
As he drew the garter over her ankle his heart rate kicked up. There was a tiny lock on the shoes, just like her red ones, and he had the key. Jessica had sent it to him just before the wedding.
Love shining in his eyes, he looked up, knowing she would be watching him. “I love you.”
“Impossible as it may be, I know.” Her trembling hand tenderly touched his face. He kissed her palm. Neither noticed the camera flash.
Garter in hand, Gabe stood. “Here goes.” The dainty blue garter sailed straight to Shelton, who instinctively caught it, then dropped it. The men beside him were only too happy to return it to him.
Amid the laughter and teasing, Gabe and Jessica said their good-byes and made their way to the private elevator of the hotel. His hungry lips crushed down on hers. She melted into him.
The elevator pinged open on the top floor. They kept on kissing.
“I think this is your floor.”
Gabe lifted his head to see an elderly couple smiling at them. “Yes, thanks.” Picking Jessica up in his arms he strode to the door of the bridal suite. It took two tries to get the key in the lock because Jessica was biting and blowing in his ear.
Finally, they were in. He sat her down immediately and drew her arms away from him. He swallowed. “Do you need any help changing?”
“No.”
Nodding, Gabe watched her go into the bedroom and close the doors behind her. His hands were sweaty. His throat dry. He had never wanted any woman like this or been so scared he’d mess up.
Jessica had such an expression of love and trust and, yes, pride, whenever she looked at him. He’d eat shredded glass rather than risk that changing. When she came over to his place last week to bring her things, the awesome responsibility he was about to undertake hit him.
He was going to be responsible for her the rest of his life—to love, to cherish, to honor in sickness and in health, on good days and bad days. He had looked up and she had been watching him.
There wasn’t a shadow of doubt on her beautiful face or in her eyes. He had searched his heart and soul and found none as well. Wherever life took him, Jessica would be at his side and would be a part of him.