Blaze of Winter: A Loveswept Contemporary Romance (33 page)

“Thanks, bro,” Seb responded, turning to check himself out in the full-length mirror on the door to the bathroom. “And thanks again for letting us use your room. Lexie didn’t want me to see her dress before the wedding.”

“No problem.” All of the Grayson brothers were getting ready in the room. Val was slipping on his jacket near the bed, and in the bathroom, Cole was combing his hair, humming under his breath.

Val finished adjusting his jacket and walked over to Sebastian. “Seb, I have something for you.”

“What is it, man?” Seb asked.

“Here.” Val removed a box from his pocket and opened it up. “Mom’s wedding ring. You’re the first of us to get married, and I know she would have wanted you to have it. I should have given it to you earlier, but I didn’t have the time.”

For a second, Seb looked stunned. He took a moment to collect himself before speaking. “I—I can’t take it.”

“You can and you will,” Val said firmly.

Seb shook his head. “No. I got Lexie a ring of my own. This one is yours. It’s always been yours.”

“He’s right, Val,” Theo said softly. “It belongs to you.” Of all the brothers, Val was the one who’d kept their mom afloat after their father’s death. He’d been her rock, and theirs, too.

Cole piped in from the bathroom. “Agreed.”

Val opened his mouth and shut it again, realizing he was outvoted. Then he closed the box and slipped it back into his pocket. “I’ll just hold onto it, then.”

“Do that,” Seb said. “For when you find the right woman.”

A faraway look passed over Val’s face for a moment, but it disappeared just as suddenly. In a flash, it was gone. Was Val actually seeing someone? The thought of his older brother having a secret lover didn’t shock Theo. Val had always played his cards close to his chest. But before he could try to puzzle it out, it was time to leave.

They walked over to the LMK in silence, the crunching sound of crisp snow following them. Before he knew it, they were inside, and the wedding—simple and understated—was underway. Father Phillips and Rabbi Goldberg were jointly performing the ceremony.

Lexie looked gorgeous in a vintage ivory gown, and Seb looked handsome and unbelievably proud. If Theo were marrying someone as incredible as Lexie, he’d be pretty pleased with himself, too.

Come to think of it, he
did
have someone like that. The idea of making Avery his own stirred his imagination. He could just picture it: Avery coming home from work and greeting him at his writing desk. He’d tell her about the best and worst parts of his day—his triumphs, his struggles—and she’d do the same. Then he’d loosen her hair and let it cascade down. They wouldn’t be able to keep their hands off each other as they ate dinner. And as evening fell, they’d make love, content with each other and the life they’d carved out together.

He looked for her in the gathered audience. There she was, sitting in the third row, one hand clasping Kate’s. She was wearing a green dress that emphasized her bright hair, which she’d left long and loose for the occasion. Later, when they pushed the chairs back to make room for dancing, Theo would hold her close, her body pressed against his, the shimmering strands of her hair between his fingers.

Forcing himself to pay attention to the ceremony, he caught the end of the vows.

“…  and I promise that I will always be there for you, wherever our careers may take us. Lexie,” Seb said, gazing into her eyes. “You are my life, my other half, in the kitchen and out. I love you and I always will.”

Lexie was crying now, so Sebastian gently kissed her.

“Ah, Sebastian,” Father Phillips said, “I haven’t pronounced you man and wife yet.”

“That’s right,” Rabbi Goldberg said with an answering smile. “If you’ll just be patient, my colleague and I will finish the ceremony.” He gave the new couple a blessing in Hebrew, the rector gave them one in English, and together the two members of the clergy pronounced them married.

The rabbi stepped back from the couple. “And now you may kiss the bride again.”

Seb did. An indecent kiss that lasted far too long. The small crowd roared with approval as Lexie threw her arms around his neck.

“Ladies and gentlemen. I now present Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Grayson,” Father Phillips said when they finally broke away from one another. Over Lexie’s protests that she was keeping her name, Sebastian escorted her back down the aisle and into the kitchen.

Theo still had to make a speech with his brothers, but the bulk of his duties as a groomsman were done, so he made a beeline for Avery. Her hair made her easy to spot. She was in the corner with her back to him, talking with her aunt, Julie Kensington, and Cameron Stahl.

Extricating her from the others would be easy, and then he’d have her all to himself. All night long.

CHAPTER 27

“What a beautiful wedding,” Kate said to Avery while the tables were being arranged for dinner and dancing. “And the joint ceremony was very nicely done. Thank you for taking me, dear.”

“Don’t thank me,” Avery said, looking down at her aunt, who was seated nearby. “Thank your doctor. You are feeling all right, aren’t you?”

“Yes, yes,” Kate said impatiently, suddenly restless in her seat.

Julie smiled at her. “Honestly, Kate, you’re on the mend and I didn’t see a problem with you being here tonight. But don’t stay out too late and if you see someone coughing, walk the other way. And definitely no dancing with sick people.” Although she was clearly trying, it was hard for Julie to look cross. Even in jest, she looked angelic, her sandy blond hair swept back from her face and her hazel-green eyes more concerned than stern.

“Humph. You mean to tell me I got all dressed up for nothing?” Kate joked, pulling on her dove-gray satin skirt. The top she wore shimmered in the dim lights, as did her silvery head scarf.

“Hardly,” Avery said, thinking about Luke Bedwin, and hoping Kate was, too. “You look beautiful.”

“I’ve got to run,” Cameron murmured. “I’m heading back to Boston tonight. Tell Lexie she looked gorgeous.”

“Did you help her pick the dress out?” Avery asked. “You have such great taste.”

Cameron gave an elegant little shrug as she pulled on her wrap. “She wanted something unique, so I helped her look. Believe me, the decision was hers.”

“All that lace,” Kate sighed. “It was just right for her.”

“But if you leave now, you’ll miss dinner. And it’s snowing,” Julie protested, gesturing outside.

“I’ll be fine. It really isn’t that bad yet, and besides, my car has four-wheel drive. I’m sorry to miss dinner, though. I just wish I didn’t have that stupid event in the morning.”

“What event?” Julie asked.

Cameron waved her hand around. “Oh, just something my parents are insisting I attend.”

“There have been a lot of those lately,” Julie said.

“Unfortunately, yes,” she said with a small frown.

“Just be safe,” Avery said.

“I will,” Cameron replied, sweeping up the jeweled clutch that matched her burgundy dress. “Good night, everyone,” she called over her shoulder as she walked toward the front door.

“Ah, I see that dinner is almost ready to be served. Shall we, girls?” Kate was about to rise, when she suddenly stopped and looked up.

Avery didn’t need to turn to know that Theodore Grayson was standing directly behind her. She could tell by the way the nape of her neck was prickling. She turned and, sure enough, there he was.

“Hello, ladies,” Theo said with a small incline of his head. “You all look lovely this evening. Avery.” His gaze met hers before he gave her a slow once-over. When his lip curled, she knew he liked what he saw. She should be immune to his gaze by now, but no matter how many times he looked at her this way, it always burned her up from the inside out.

The suit he wore was utterly masculine, the expensive fabric skimming every line of his body perfectly, almost as if it had been cut for him. Actually, it probably had been. What had he said to her the first day they met? Oh, yes. Cost wasn’t an issue.

He shifted and his spicy, masculine scent hit her. Trying to fight the wave of desire that was threatening to sweep her under, she forced herself to stay calm.

“Hello, Theo,” she said, pleased that her voice didn’t quaver.

He smiled at her, a deep, wicked grin, before turning to her aunt. “Kate,” he said, gallantly holding out his arm for her. After he helped Kate up, he turned back to her and held out his other arm. When Avery took it, he pulled her closer, tucking her against his side in a way that promised more later. Much more.

Julie’s eyes widened. “I’m going to talk to John,” she said, gesturing toward the pharmacist, who was standing nearby, mingling with Royce and Trina Hogan. She quickly moved away.

Theo helped Kate take a seat at one of the long tables, then held out the seat next to her for Avery. As soon as the two women were settled, Luke Bedwin walked up to Kate. “Is this seat taken?” he asked.

“It’s free,” her aunt said, a bit nervously, it seemed. Avery hoped—prayed—that Luke had blatantly sought Kate out for a reason. That he was going to man up and declare his interest in her instead of hiding it.

She couldn’t help but look at the older couple. Luke and Kate were leaning toward one another, talking intently. When Luke reached out and took Kate’s hand in his, her aunt stiffened and Avery held her breath. Then Kate relaxed and leaned forward. Avery let her breath out in a soft whoosh. She wanted the two of them to get together so much. Luke was a good man.

Though she could potentially take credit for making her aunt more receptive, she couldn’t take credit for Luke’s actions. Maybe Kate’s illness had spurred him into action. Avery had learned that in times of crisis, people often broke apart, but they also came together. Sometimes bonds that were formed under stress were the strongest. Not that she was glad that Kate had gotten pneumonia—far from it—but if something good came out of it, all the better.

Theo had settled into the seat directly next to hers, the tiny fold-out chair nearly buckling under his weight.

“Did you wear your hair down just for me?” he asked huskily.

It was as if the whole room had faded away. “Yes,” she whispered back. In times past, she would surely have worn it up for an event like this.

“It’s beautiful,” he said simply.

A fresh blush crept up her neck. “Thank you.”

Seemingly satisfied with her reaction, he switched topics. “Seb told me the dinner is going to be incredible.”

Avery relaxed. “Not a surprise, given the fact that they’re both great chefs. Did they prepare all the food themselves, too?”

“No. Buster and Isis, Lexie’s head line cook, led the charge, with major support from Seb’s sous chef, Jorge, and some others from his restaurant, Helena.”

“I am surprised that the wedding is this low-key.”

“I’m not. Seb has a one-track mind when it comes to getting what he wants. And what he wants is Lexie. Once he heard that her parents were going to be in town this weekend, nothing could have stopped him from holding the wedding now. Not even the small issue of planning the damn thing.”

Avery laughed. “He
was
pretty intent about it. He even jumped the gun when it came to the kiss.”

“He couldn’t help himself. He told me even a month was too long. I know the feeling.” He gave her a look that could have melted ice.

Dinner passed by quickly, each course sublime. Before dessert was served—Lexie’s fabulous coconut cake, of course—the Grayson brothers joined together to deliver an expertly written toast to the happy couple. Luke insisted on taking Kate home directly afterward, and then there was dancing to old-time jazz from a record player. Held firmly in Theo’s arms, Avery swayed softly to the music, lost in the pleasure of the moment.

After a long, lovely evening, Theo walked her back to the Inn, where everyone was asleep. Everyone except for them.

They crept upstairs to Smuggler’s Cove as quietly as possible, the tension between them electric. By now, Avery knew Theo’s body almost as well as her own. She knew what pleased him, what made him hot, and what made him explode. Bolder now, more self-assured, she wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. While her tongue toyed with his, she swept her hand up and loosened his tie. She deliberately undid the buttons of his shirt one at a time, increasing the tension as each button slid from its hole. The large expanse of flesh underneath was too enticing to ignore, so she slipped her hand inside to sweep across the hard planes of his chest. He kept kissing her, devouring her mouth with his, the soft hitch of his breath the only indication that he’d felt her palm on his skin. She slowly pulled out his shirttails, then pushed his shirt and his suit jacket off his shoulders in one smooth movement.

While he worked the garments off his arms, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

When he had his hands free, he unzipped her dress. Silk slid down her body as the dress fell to the floor. She kicked it away impatiently, then quelled the desire to push him back on the bed. Slow sensuality was the name of his game, and she was learning to play it well.

The man simply smoldered, and not just because he liked what they were doing. Sensuality was intrinsic to his being. He undid her bra with ease and slowly peeled it from her body. Holding her by the arms, he leaned back to take a long look. The darkening of his eyes was one of the sexiest things she’d ever seen, and she couldn’t help the flush that suffused her body, warming her from head to toe.

Leading her to the bed, he swung her around, then gently pushed her on her back. Though he was a commanding presence, he didn’t dominate, and when she propped herself up on one elbow, using the other hand to undo the button of his pants, he smiled.

“Need some help?” he said, grinning, when it took her a bit longer than she’d anticipated to do it one-handed.

“No, thanks,” she responded. “I have this covered. Ah, there.” The button popped free and she slid the zipper down. Within an instant, his pants were on the floor, his shoes were off, and he was on the bed, kissing her senseless. When at last he lifted his head, she opened her eyes, dazed.