“I can’t breathe … you’re so beautiful,” he whispered in her ear as he offered his arm.
“Luke …” she shook her head.
Jessica dabbed her eyes as they exited the church. He wasn’t trying to make her cry. It was just something that had to be said.
Luke’s parents took the canines back to their house on the way to the reception lodge by the lake while Luke and Jessica drove the bride and groom in the GTO, tin cans, and a “Just Married” sign in the back window because Luke wouldn’t let them write anything on the actual window.
“I’m driving home,” she whispered in his ear as he helped her out.
“Ahem, enough canoodling, you two. Help me out of the back. I think my groom is lost in the sea of my dress.” Kelly laughed.
Luke helped her out and sure enough, there was a groom buried under a million layers of chiffon and tulle.
“That dress has got to go,” Gabe declared as he crawled out of the backseat.
“Five hours, baby, and you can take it all off.” Kelly fisted his lapels and kissed him.
“Enough canoodling, you two. Your guests await.”
Kelly pushed away and elbowed Jessica with a grin as they made their way to the lodge. Toasts, dinner, cake, and dancing filled the late summer evening along the banks of Lake Tahoe. Luke stood on the sidelines with a cold beer, watching Jessica float around the room, throwing her head back in laughter as she talked with family and friends or danced like a young girl born of innocence and blooming with hope. Not another soul in the room would ever imagine that she carried a hundred lifetimes of pain inside those amber eyes.
“Luke … dance with me!” She held out her hands from the edge of the dance floor.
He grinned and waited a few seconds, needing to let that image of her find its perfect spot in his memory. Then he set his beer on the table and weaved his way through the crowd to those open arms.
“I love you, babe.” She threw her arms around his neck as he lifted her off the ground, kissing her like they were the only two people in the room.
Gasping for air as he eased her back to the floor, she stared at him with wide eyes. “Oh my God …”
“What?” He smirked, wiping her lipstick from his mouth.
Jessica leaned into him. “That kiss.”
“What about it?”
She wet her lips and swallowed. “It’s how you kiss me when you want me … really want me.”
He hugged her to his body, swaying to the music. “I do really want you.”
Her breath hitched. “Dr. Jones, you’re really hard.” She slid her hands down to his ass and curled her fingers.
“Fuck,” he seethed while rocking into her with a jerk. “Don’t do that,” he warned in her ear. His parents were seated at a table twenty feet away. The last thing he needed was them watching him grind into Jessica on the dance floor, sporting the world’s hardest erection.
A playful laugh vibrated from her chest. “Please, please, please tell me we’re going to remedy this situation before we go back to your parents’ house.”
Luke was ready to remedy the “situation” right then and there. Watching his greatest adoration float around all day in that dress, with that smile, wetting those lips if he stared at her too long … it had been a slow burn of seduction. They would not be going back to his parents’ place until the situation was remedied. He just wasn’t certain of the specific details.
“Attention, everyone. The bride is going to toss her bouquet.”
Jessica grinned. “In the bag.”
Luke smiled. “You and me, sexy, in the lake, if you catch the bouquet.”
“Oh, Jones … I love all your little wagers. But you always try to squirm your way out of those lake promises.” She blew him a kiss as she followed the throng of women to the other side of the dance floor.
“Jess, stand by me,” Lake said, grabbing Jessica’s hand. “I turn eighteen tomorrow and I’ve never caught a bouquet. Do you think it’s my lucky night?”
Jessica smiled at Lake. “Yeah … I think it will be.”
Two of the groomsmen lifted Kelly into the air with her back to the mass of hopeful women.
“One. Two. Three!” Kelly tossed it over her head.
Luke smiled while shaking his head in complete disbelief. It was headed straight for Jessica. He imagined her taking out half the women to catch it, but it appeared fate had her back. However, at the last second, she shoved Lake right in front of her. Lake caught the bouquet with a huge grin, eyes wide with surprise. Jessica wrapped her arms around Lake and whispered something in her ear.
As Jessica made her way back to Luke, she shrugged and smiled. “Guess it wasn’t in the stars for me tonight.”