Afterward we head out to the barn for photos. Selene is here with another photographer, taking pictures for a social media piece she’s running on Spark House. Her date happens to be Trent. It wasn’t long after she stopped by Spark House asking me to talk to Jackson that the two of them ended up together.
I guess they’d long held a torch for each other, but circumstances prevented them from acting on it. At least until it became clear that Jackson’s heart was taken, and Selene’s was free for the taking. Jackson is surprisingly totally fine with them dating, which helped make his friendships with them both even stronger. I’m glad she found her happily ever after, especially after putting her own heart on hold for so long.
It isn’t until later, after the ceremony and the speeches are over, that I find myself in Jackson’s arms, floating around the dance floor.
“Has today been fun for you?”
“It has. Not nearly as stressful as all the planning was.” Today has been almost perfect. Only the tiniest of hitches when there was a slight mishap with one of the dessert trays. But it’s only something I would have picked up on, and I managed to get it fixed before anyone else could notice.
He spins and dips me, bringing me back up so we’re chest to chest again. “What would you do differently for your wedding?”
“I wouldn’t have any kind of obstacle course. Not great with heels and dresses.”
“Unless you’re wearing shorts under your dress and the bottom half detaches.” Jackson arches a brow.
“That was a real showstopper, wasn’t it?” I chuckle.
“It was something. I thought this wedding was taking a seriously X-rated turn for a moment there. I was concerned about all the people over eighty, and also glad that there are very few of them. Although, my worry was for nothing. I’ve never seen an obstacle course as part of the wedding party entrance at the reception.”
“Avery isn’t big on conventional, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“I’ve noticed. I’m very glad your dress is a solid color.”
“And also not a jersey.”
“No obstacle course, no shorts under your wedding dress, no jersey-style bridesmaid dresses. I’m getting a good picture of what you don’t want, but not much of a picture of what you do.”
You, I want to tell him. Standing at the end of an aisle, with his hair looking like it’s due for a trim, dressed in a tux, smiling just the way he is right now. “I don’t know exactly. I don’t have a traditional family unit, so I don’t think traditional truly fits.”
He nods pensively. “This is also true.”
“What about you? What kind of wedding do you want?”
He smiles softly and brings my knuckles to his lips. “Whatever you want.”
I don’t get a chance to react because the music changes tempo and the bride and groom are called to the dance floor for the bouquet toss. Harley, who usually isn’t big on competition, elbows two people out of the way and manages to catch the bouquet.
At the end of the night, we take a car back to Jackson’s place. Whenever he’s in Colorado, I spend my nights there with him, and I’ve been flying to New York for long weekends at least once a month, so we’re finding a system that works for us. And when Avery returns from her honeymoon, I’m going to spend a week in New York with him. But he’s been talking about Trent taking over in New York so he can manage the Colorado branch full-time, so we’ll see what the next few months bring.
As soon as the door closes, I tackle his lips with mine.
“Someone’s ramped up on the wedding high.”
“I’m ramped up on you in a suit.”
“I’m always in a suit.”
“Not true. Sometimes you’re in jeans.”
“Rarely.” I try to slide my tongue past his lips, but he takes my face in his hands and gently pulls me back. “Slow down, my love, we have all night.”
“I’ve been waiting all night.”
“Patience is a virtue.”
“It’s also overrated.”
“I have something I want to give you, and after that, you can get me naked and have me any way you want me.”
“Can’t you give me whatever it is after I have you any way I want?”
He smiles and shakes his head. “I’m afraid not.”
I blow out a frustrated breath. “Fine. I guess I can wait if I have to.”
He chuckles softly and runs his nose along the column of my throat, his lips following. “Have I told you how much I love it when you get surly over having to wait for sex?”
“Is that why you’re making me wait?”
“Maybe.” He threads his fingers through mine and pulls me toward the stairs.
The hall is dimly lit, and a path of candles and rose petals are sprinkled on the floor.
“What is this?”