All Jacked Up (Rough Riders #8)(100)

She needed fresh air. She cracked open the door and peeked out.


The coast was clear.


Grabbing the billowy folds of her ivory wedding dress, she took off, the cushiony carpet muffling her footfalls. At the end of the long hallway stood a narrow set of stairs, which led to the first floor and her temporary freedom.


Hallelujah.


Keely’s hand had just connected with the antique brass handrail, when a deep voice behind her inquired, “Going somewhere?”


Jack.


Everything inside her jumped for joy.


Yet, Jack didn’t sound particularly overjoyed to see her. In fact, he sounded downright furious.


“Answer me.”


She stammered, “Uh, don’t you know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?”


“Yeah? It’s even worse luck for the groom to see his bride making a break for it ten minutes before the ceremony is set to start.”


Jack was close enough she felt his hot breath teasing her sweat-dampened neck.


“Keely, are you having second thoughts?”


“No!” She spun around so fast the veil whapped him in the face. “I just—” The words died in her mouth at his stunned expression.


Jack stayed absolutely still. Then he smiled the wicked smile that was hers alone. He captured her hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “You’d think by now I’d be used to the way you take my breath away every damn time I look at you, cowgirl.”


Speechless didn’t begin to explain Keely’s emotions. Before she could articulate a single one, voices echoed up the main staircase at the other end of the hall.


Jack read her panic and pulled her into the first available room—which wasn’t a room at all, but the closet Gib and his cohorts had hidden in. As soon as they were inside, Jack tugged at the string attached to the light bulb, plunging the space into darkness.


He enfolded her against his hard body and Keely sank into him, inhaling his familiar scent, subtle expensive cologne and warm man. Her man. She sighed. Her heart rate returned to normal. Everything returned to normal.



“Better?” he murmured.


“You have no idea. How did you know?”


“AJ tracked me down. But truthfully, I’d been lurking in the hallway hoping to see you.”


“You weren’t slamming shots of Wild Turkey with the groomsmen?”


“You heard about that?”


“Did you need liquid courage at the thought of tying yourself to me for the rest of your life, GQ?”


“No, buttercup, I had one to be polite and to keep me from ripping the damn hinges off the door to get to you.”


To get to you. “You never follow the rules. Why didn’t you just barge in?”


“With all those pregnant women throwing nasty looks my way?” Jack shuddered. “No thanks.


Besides, your damn sisters-in-law and assorted crazy female relatives locked the damn door.”


“Why?”


“‘Tradition’ they said.”


“I wouldn’t think you’d care what they said.”


“I didn’t. But my immediate response isn’t worth repeating.” His large hands tightened around her waist. “I was going crazy without you.” Jack’s warm lips tracked kisses across the slope of her shoulder. “I hardly slept last night, the bed seemed so big and lonely without my bed hog.”


Amazing, how quickly they’d melded into one unit. Sharing living space and office space. Sharing their lives, their hopes, their dreams, their fears, their love. The only thing left was to make it legal. Seeing Jack, touching him, knowing he was as anxious as she, set her world right again.


She twisted in his arms to face him. “Just so you know, I wasn’t running from you just now, I was running to you.” The veil fluttered with her every exhalation. “Here it is, my wedding day and I feel like I’m playing dress up.” Her voice dropped even lower. “I’m afraid I’ll wake up and find it’s not real.”


Jack’s hands slipped up under the veil and tenderly cupped her face. “I’m very real. It is real this time.”


“Prove it. Kiss me. Please, Jack.”


“No.” His hands dropped to her shoulders. “Not until my ring is on your finger and I know you’re mine forever.”


Forever. She liked the sound of that.


He paused. “Besides, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do with the veil.”


Keely laughed at his wariness. “You think the veil is bad, wait until you get a load of the hundred or so buttons on the back of this dress.”


Jack groaned.


“But what I’ve got on underneath will be worth learning how to work a buttonhook.”


He actually whimpered.


“Everyone is probably wondering where we are.”


“I know. I’d say let them wonder, but I’m ready to do this thing.”


“Me too.”


Keely stepped out of the comfort of his arms, giddy in the knowledge in a few short minutes, she could take comfort in those strong arms every day for the rest of their lives.