The Billionaire's Christmas Baby(42)

“You look wonderful, my dear.” The woman beamed and Hannah truly felt like Cinderella at that moment. Would it be so bad to allow herself this fantasy? Would it be so horrible to enjoy this gorgeous gown? She thought of the night in her room, when he’d whispered to her, I’ve never had so much respect for another human being…marry me tomorrow, Hannah. She felt a delicious shiver tease her bare arms. She was fooling herself if she thought they were doing this purely for business.

“And this adorable little baby,” she said kneeling down in front of Emily, “this must be Louise’s little girl.” The baby stared at her, wide-eyed, blue eyes fixed on the woman’s smile. And when Hannah thought that Jackson couldn’t do anything else to surprise her, Mrs. Holbrook opened the small closet behind Emily and took out an angelic ivory silk dress with tiny pink rosebuds around the waist.

“This is what Jackson picked out for this little dear,” she said, holding the dress out to Hannah.

“Jackson picked this for her?”

Mrs. Holbrook nodded. “Yes, he picked them both out. He said when he saw your dress in the window of the custom shop he knew it was you. He was a little hesitant about Emily’s dress, asking me if it was the right size.” Mrs. Holbrook was already unclasping Emily’s seatbelt in the car seat, as if she knew Hannah was incapable of moving.

“I don’t know what he’s doing,” Hannah whispered, not really to anyone.

“Jackson knows exactly what he’s doing, Hannah. You are what he needs, my dear,” the woman said with a reassuring smile, standing and holding Emily in her arms. “And soon you’ll realize that Jackson is exactly what you need.”

…

Jackson felt nerves…no, fear, for the first time in a long, long time as he stood at the altar. Would Hannah tell him to go to hell? Did she walk out of here as soon as she realized he’d changed plans on her? Would she like the dress?

That day after he dropped Hannah off at home, as he drove back into the city, he couldn’t shake the feeling that getting married at City Hall was wrong. For Hannah it was wrong. He wanted her to have everything, the best of everything. After what she’d told him at her house, about her past, he wanted her to feel special. He tried hard to tell himself that it was merely attraction to a beautiful woman, but he knew it was a lie. If that were true he wouldn’t have contacted the Holbrooks. He wouldn’t have bought the dress that he knew would fit Hannah like a glove, because he’d memorized every single inch, every luscious curve of her body. He wouldn’t have picked the only chapel that held such significance to him. He never would have let her into this part of his past.

“Jackson, man, you look like you’re about to hurl.” Ethan laughed, slapping him on the back. Jackson bit back a curse as he glared at the man he considered his best friend. Ethan, it seemed, had gotten over his shock since yesterday. Today he was just overly irritating, asking him questions involving feelings. He wasn’t about to enter into that discussion with a guy who had an even worse record with women than he did.

“I’m not going to hurl, you idiot,” he said, straightening his tie, wondering if that was what the unsettled feeling in his stomach meant.

His friend rolled back and forth on his heels, way too happily. “Have you been drinking?”

Ethan scowled at him. “No. But who are those people that keep waving at you?” Ethan whispered under his breath.

Jackson forced a smile and waved at Mr. And Mrs. Sampson. “Friends of the bride.”

“Who’s that?” Ethan said as a pretty, slender brunette stood at the top of the aisle, then began walking toward them.

“Hannah’s best friend, Allison. They work together. And hands off. She’s not your type.” Jackson said out of the corner of his mouth as Allison approached them.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She’s nice,” Jackson said in a low voice.

“Hannah will be out in a minute,” Allison said with a big smile. Jackson tried not to let his relief show.

“Thanks,” he said, his eyes shifting from hers to the back of the chapel. Allison gave him a small wink and then walked away.

Hannah was at the top of the aisle and was more beautiful than he imagined, a cross between an angel and a goddess. He couldn’t read the expression in her eyes, but he bet she was torn between fury and confusion. His heart tightened as Allison and Emily made their way down the aisle. Little Emily evoked such an overwhelming feeling of love in him that he was taken aback.

Jackson heard the elderly minister of his youth shuffle across the altar to join him. He gave Jackson a reassuring nod, so similar to the one he gave when Jackson was a boy, coming to church with his mother and sister. He’d turned his back on his faith for so many years. But yesterday on that drive, after being with Hannah and his niece, he’d felt an inexplicable pull here, as though this place could bring him back to a time of peace and serenity. Everything around him faded as Hannah walked down the aisle, a simple bouquet of ivory roses in her hand.

…

Hannah was barely aware of anything other than Jackson. And boy, was the man a sight to behold. Tall and lean, wide shoulders and proud stance, he was a man who could stop traffic. He stood in a dark grey suit waiting for her, watching her with eyes that glittered with emotion. She saw a hint of that vulnerability as the corner of his mouth turned up. As soon as she stood beside him he took her hand in his.