Laughing, Char took the lingerie from Grandma and put it on the bed, then stripped down to what God gave her.
Grandma sighed.
“What?” Char paused as she grabbed the corset.
“Nothing.” Grandma waved. “It’s just that, I don’t believe Jake will make it through the ceremony. Don’t you dare allow him to ravish you early, Char! You hear me? God frowns on those things.”
“Uh.” Char put on the corset. “What? Married people ravishing each other?”
“ ’Course not.” Grandma gave her a scolding look. “God just don’t like to see pretty things go to waste is all, and you my dear, will be spectacular. So, let him take his fill, before you give him his drink, you understand?”
Char’s grin was huge. “Completely.”
Grandma grunted.
Ten minutes later, Char was dressed in the most beautiful silk gown she’d ever seen in her entire life. Grandma hadn’t stopped at the lingerie. Nope, she’d also bought Char tall crystal heels that made Char look like a supermodel. Bless Grandma’s manipulative little heart.
Char turned and examined herself in the mirror.
Grandma stood behind her beaming. “Give him hell.”
Chapter Fifty-eight
Jake took a long sip of his whiskey on the rocks and winced as the liquid poured down his throat. The heat was intense; it didn’t help that he was wearing a black suit, with suspenders. At least his suit wasn’t as bad as Char’s dress. The poor thing had looked miserable when she went off to get dressed with Kacey and the rest of the girls.
He took another slow swallow and grimaced when Jace made his way toward him.
“So.” Jace ordered a tequila shot and downed it with a wince. “How are things?”
“Ah, small talk.” Jake laughed. “Great. How’s your eye?”
“It feels like hell, thanks.” Jace shook his head.
Jake looked beyond him for Char. Where was she? They were
supposed to meet a half hour ago. He grabbed Travis’s arm as he walked by. “Have you seen my wife?”
“Nope.” Travis shrugged and then laughed. “Wife, Shit, I never thought I’d see the day.”
Petunia walked by just as Travis cursed, earning him a smack in the back of the head and a scolding. He put his arm around Petunia, apologized, and ordered two shots of whiskey behind her back. Ah, it seemed all the apples from Grandma’s tree were firmly planted side by side.
“Wife?” Jace said. “You have a wife? What about Char?”
Jake couldn’t hide his smile. “Long story, but Grandma accidentally married us.” He held up fake quotations.
“Lucky bastard.”
Jake grinned wider. “Guilty.” His eyes scanned the outdoor patio one last time and then fell on a girl in a white dress. He kept scanning, and then looked back at the girl.
It was his wife.
It was Char.
She was wearing the dress from the store. He couldn’t pull his eyes away; heat seared every part of his body.
“Fight you for her?” Jace whispered.
“Already won.” Jake moved past him and stalked toward his bride—his wife. He wanted to kiss her so bad, but it would ruin the perfect picture he was staring at. Her hair was pulled back into a low bun with pieces falling around her face. And she was taller, somehow, maybe high heels; he couldn’t really think at the moment. With a bright smile, she only had eyes for him.