Take Me (Take Me 1)

30

“That was such a beautiful ceremony,” Kate mused as she sank deeper into the scented suds that filled the bathtub in Jude’s master suite of his Tribeca apartment.

Her back was pressed to his chest and one of his strong arms was draped across her breasts as she sipped a glass of merlot, then held it steady for him to take a drink.

Candles lined the ledge of the marble-encased Jacuzzi tub and rose petals had been scattered all over the place.

Despite her declaration on the plane earlier that morning, he’d had his housekeeper prep the bath prior to their arrival. Sexy jazz music added to the romantic ambience and it made Kate even more ecstatic that Jude had read between the lines and had turned their wedding night into this sensual bliss.

His warm lips grazed her temple as he said, “I will admit that Charlotte and Denny professing their never-ending love to each other in front of friends and family who mean so much to them has a certain compelling quality to it.”

Kate smiled. “We can have a wedding at the Plaza, Jude. I’m okay with that.”

“On the other hand,” he quickly added, “how many of those guests did they truly know? Personally, intimately?”

Kate had considered this as well. She said, “Both of their parents have a vast network of acquaintances.”

“And, ultimately, Kate, that’s how it felt. As though we were all swimming in a sea of acquaintances.”

She shifted slightly, so she could glance at him over her shoulder.

“What are you saying?” she asked, needing absolute clarity on this subject.

“I’m saying that what we did this morning works for us. And if we choose to be more public, then let’s do a small ceremony and reception somewhere. Surrounded only by people who truly know us.”

Kate’s eyes searched his, looking for any sign that Jude might actually want more than that, but didn’t know whether he should verbalize it. She saw nothing but conviction in his gaze.

“Sooo, like a Maui beach at sunset?” she ventured. “Or a Paris balcony with a glittery Eiffel Tower in the backdrop? Or a Tuscan courtyard in the springtime, smelling of lilacs and Italian food?”

He chuckled, “Italian food?”

“We both prefer it…”

“True.” He kissed the tip of her nose.

“Just my family and our closest friends? Nikki and, well, I suppose that circle now encompasses Mirabeth Presley, Tulia Evers and McCarthy Andrews.”

“Who would have thunk it?” Jude teased.

“Sure as hell not me. I remember the day I sat with them at the Champagne Bar and they tried so desperately to get me to commit to an escort for Charlotte’s wedding. And only one name sprang to mind.”

He grinned. “How reluctant you were to invite me along for the ride.”

“A therapist shouldn’t fall for her patient,” Kate reminded him.

“I’m not your patient, baby,” he reminded her.

“Mm, well…anyway… I guess a slip of the tongue was all we really needed to get the ball rolling.”

He fell silent for a moment.

Then he pinned her with an intent look and said, “Kate, we have something very special. And we have to be careful with it. When you went over that railing at the hotel…” His dark eyes clouded.

With a small nod, Kate said, “You were terrified.”

“I can’t lose you,” he told her, his eyes still locked with hers.

“You’re not going to lose me, Jude. We belong together. Every single sign in the universe is confirming that. The only dangling thread is Sophie.”