Sister of the Bride
Page 9

She'd tackled tough interviews, developed a network of friends and been happy. Except romantically. There she'd always been cautious, mostly because she was afraid of being hurt. But pain or not, she was falling for Jackson. Maybe it was time to do something about it.
She shifted on the bench so she was facing him. "You head home in the morning."
"That's the plan. Unless you want me to stick around."
She stared at him. "As in..."
"You could show me the town. Invite me to a sleep-over." He cupped her face in his strong hands. "This has been great, Katie. I owe my mom, big-time. You're amazing. I don't want to lose you."
"I don't want to be lost," she admitted. "I'd love to show you around. I've enjoyed our time together. I never thought I could get involved with someone this quickly."
"Me, either."
She took one of his hands. "I've really enjoyed all our time together. You're exactly who--"
"There you are!" Katie's mom hurried across the grass toward the gazebo. "I've been looking for you everywhere. It's a madhouse. I say that because disaster is so negative, but trust me, it's not going well. Morning, Jackson."
"Janis."
Reluctantly Katie rose. "What's going on?" She checked her watch. "It's not time for us to be getting ready."
"No, you have a few hours before the stylist Courtney had flown in from San Francisco clucks over all of us. The big news is about Rachel and Bruce."
Katie winced, trying not to picture the older man in a passionate embrace with Tully.
"They're getting a divorce," Janis announced.
"What?"
"Apparently they've been separated for months, but Rachel didn't want anyone to know." Katie's mother lowered her voice. "It was Rachel's idea and she left Bruce for another woman."
Katie didn't know what to say.
Jackson moved next to her and whispered in her ear. "Are all your family events like this? I've got to tell you, it's better than dinner theater."
"Have you ever been to dinner theater?"
"You mentioned it this morning. It sounded fun."
Katie turned back to her mom. "Seriously? So it's okay that Bruce and Tully are involved?"
"I don't know if it's okay. Bruce isn't a young man. Tully will probably kill him, but he'll die happy. I saw them sucking face on the porch on my way to find you."
Katie winced. "Mom, do me a favor. Please don't say sucking face."
"Isn't that the right term? You young people today, always changing the language. It's hard to keep up."
Katie linked arms with her mom. "I know. We do it on purpose. Now is there anything else I should know? Are Alex and Courtney speaking?"
"That is a question for the ages."
Jackson had to surrender Katie to the stylist at about one-thirty. He spent the next few hours exploring the Fool's Gold city Web site and checking out real estate. From what he could see, the town was great and he could understand Katie's reluctance to move.
Shortly after four, he dressed in the dark suit he'd brought along, then went down to the lobby to wait for his mother. His father had gotten out of having to attend by a carefully scheduled business trip to Hong Kong.
He spotted his mom as soon as she walked in.
"You look great," he said, kissing her cheek.
"So do you." She put her hands on his upper arms and kissed his cheek. "Very handsome. And yet you're not the one getting married. Have I mentioned my need for grandchildren?"
"Sometimes you go a whole hour without mentioning it."
"Hmm, I must be slipping. How are things here?"
"Frantic," he admitted. "Trouble in paradise. Courtney and Alex are at odds. I have no idea where they stand now."
His mother winced. "No wonder Janis left me a voice mail telling me it would help if I drank before the wedding. I hope everything goes all right."
He agreed, although he wasn't sure what would define all right. At this point he would think the odds of Alex and Courtney figuring out how to be happy together were fairly slim, yet he agreed with Janis. The couple was oddly right together.
He glanced around to make sure they wouldn't be overheard. "Alex showed up at Katie's door, drunk, a couple of nights ago."
"What did he want?"
"Guess."
His mother shook her head. "Talk about a mess. What happened?"
"She called me, and I got him out of there." He wasn't going to mention how he'd then spent the night. Some details were best left undiscussed.
"So you've enjoyed your time with Katie," his mother said.
He led them to the bar and ordered them each a drink. While they waited, he faced her.
"Yes, Mom. You were right."
She sighed happily. "Hearing that never gets old. So you like her?"
"Katie's great. Funny and charming. Sweet, pretty, smart. We've had a great time. I'm sorry I waited so long to let you get us together."
His mother's gaze turned speculative. "Interesting. That's a little more enthusiasm than I was expecting. Are you planning to see her again?"
"Yes. She's going to show me around Fool's Gold tomorrow."
The pleasure bled from his mother's face. "Why would you do that? You don't have any interest in the town."
"I want to see where she lives."
"Is that all? Because I know you're thinking about moving your company. You can't move it here, Howie."
He did his best to keep from wincing as she spoke his name. "Why not? There's an educated workforce, great school and inexpensive housing."
"If you move the company here, Katie's going to think you're moving because of her. She's the daughter of my best friend. You can't do that if you're not one hundred percent sure of this relationship. I don't want you to hurt her."
"I don't want to hurt her, either."
"You never want to hurt them. But you do. You get involved to a certain degree and then you back off. I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm sure none of the young women you've dumped have been 'the one.' But Katie is different. If or until you know how serious you are about her, don't lead her on."
The bartender served their drinks. Jackson automatically handed the guy a twenty and waved off change.
He wanted to say his mother was mistaken. That he didn't have a pattern. Except looking over his past, he could see where she was right. He did get involved--to a point. But when it came to getting serious, when it came to getting married, he'd always backed away. He'd never been able to see himself spending the rest of his life with someone.
Until now.
Because while the thought of growing old with Ariel or any of the others would have sent him running for the impressive mountains behind the hotel, the thought of sixty or eighty years with Katie was appealing.
She would grow more beautiful with passing time. Her quirky humor and curious mind would challenge him. He found himself wanting to take care of her, make her feel safe. God knew he wanted to protect her from the few vicious elements in her family.
"Please don't take this wrong," his mother said earnestly. "I do love you, Howie, and I would love to see you and Katie together. But I don't want Katie to be hurt. You're amazing and the odds of her falling for you are huge. What woman wouldn't want you?"
"Spoken like a true mother," he murmured. "I get it."
"Are you sure?"
"I would do anything to avoid hurting Katie."
"Good. As long as you remember that."
Eleven
Despite the drama, the crying, the sulking, Courtney was ready to walk down the aisle right on time. Katie had already checked out the groom and he was waiting in place, up by the minister. Both main players were excited, happy and telling whoever would listen how much they loved each other.
The nearly three hundred guests were in place--a number that made Katie's stomach flip over. At least she wasn't the one who had to deal with the crowd.
Or pay for it, she thought, wondering how much the wedding had cost her parents. She returned to the bride's room.
"I look perfect," Courtney said, turning in front of the mirror and checking out her reflection.
Katie did her best to shake off her irritation at Courtney's vanity. After all, it was her wedding day, and it was only a few hours, she reminded herself. She would get through this because Courtney was her sister. But then it would be over and she could escape back to her regularly scheduled life.
"Everyone is waiting," Janis said as she entered the room. "Courtney, you look lovely. Your father is right here. Let's go."
Courtney adjusted her veil, picked up her flowers and smiled. "Hasn't this been the best weekend ever? Everything has been perfect, Mom. Alex and I really appreciate how you've made it so romantic."
"You're welcome."
Her mother took Katie's arm and pulled her out of the room.
"Thanks for all your help," Janis said. "I couldn't have gotten through this without you. I keep telling myself that in a few hours, this will all be over."
"That's what I was thinking. I swear, when I get married, I'm going to elope. Or have no more than fifty people."
"Your father and I will spend exactly the same on your wedding as we spent on your sister's."
Katie grinned at her mom. "Can I have the cash instead?"
Her mother hugged her. "With interest."
The ceremony was beautiful and went off smoothly. At the reception, the first dance made everyone sigh, the food was perfect and the cake had a place of honor in the corner.
The bride and groom had decided against a head table. Instead there was a special table just for them--under a fabric-draped archway, with twinkling lights.
Jackson pulled Katie close, moving in time with the music. "Would you be mad if I asked how much longer we have to stay?"
She grinned up at him. "No, because I already have an answer. Fifty-seven minutes. I promised my mom we'd be here until nine-thirty. Then we're free."
"Good. Your room or mine?"
She tilted her head as she considered the question. The soft light spilled onto her beautiful face, illuminating the light dusting of freckles, the shape of her mouth and the humor in her eyes.
"Your room," she said at last. "Mostly because no one will look for me there."
"You're saying I'm little more than an excuse."
"Is that a problem?"
"Not at all."
She laughed, and he felt the sound clear down to his gut. The sense of rightness he felt when he was around her had only grown.
His mother's words still lingered, making him aware that he would have to tread carefully. He wanted to make it clear to Katie and everyone else that she was important to him. He wasn't playing games. She was the one and he intended to have her.
Courtney came up and tapped Katie on the shoulder. "I'm going to throw the bouquet. I'm going to throw it directly at you. You know, for luck." Then Courtney hugged her. "I love you, Katie."
"I love you, too."
Courtney released her and glanced at Jackson. "Thanks for coming to my wedding."
"I thought you hated me."
She giggled the laugh of the very tipsy. "Don't be silly. Although you'd better be careful with my sister. I know all about you."
"What does that mean?" he asked.
Courtney turned her attention back to Katie. "I can tell you really like him. I mean, he's an arranged date and all but he's been nice. Still, be careful. You know how things go with guys. You're not very lucky."
Katie's expression went blank. Obviously she was really great at hiding her feelings.
Jackson wasn't willing to just take Courtney's crap anymore. "Listen," he began.
Courtney's eyes narrowed. "No. You listen. You slept with Ariel. She told me. So don't you hurt my sister. Come on." Courtney grabbed her sister's arm. "I'm throwing the bouquet."
Katie slipped away before he could stop her.
Jackson stood in the middle of the dance floor, watching the woman he loved being led away.
He hadn't slept with Ariel, at least, not in a very long time. Surely Katie knew that. She had to understand Courtney was lying or misrepresenting the truth. Or Ariel was. Katie had to know how much she meant to him. That he would never do anything to hurt her.
"Is everything all right?" his mother asked.
"Fine."
"Katie looked upset."
He had to fix this, he thought grimly. But how? There had to be some way to convince her that she was...
He put his hands on his mother's shoulders. "I need you to get Courtney to hold off on throwing the bouquet."
"What?"
"She's going to do it any second. I need you to get them to delay."
"For how long?"
"Until I'm back." He headed for the door.
"Howie--"
He turned around. "Mom, you have to stop calling me that. I'll explain everything as soon as I can. Just help me."
"All right. But I don't know what I'm going to say."
"You'll think of something."
"This is stupid," Courtney said, sipping champagne and pacing by the edge of the ballroom. "I want to throw the bouquet and get on with my life."