Brave the Heat (25 page)

“What are you guys doin’ in there?” Ronan’s muffled voice came through clearly enough, and the teasing lilt only made Gavin’s expression darken further. “I’m tellin’ Mom.”

Jordan pressed her mouth against the warmth of his throat as she dissolved into giggles.

“I’m gonna kick his ass,” Gavin grumbled as he reluctantly let her dress fall back into place. He kissed the tip of her nose before shouting through the closed door, “You better run, Ronan! If I catch you, you’re gonna wish you brought Bowser with you for protection.”

Ronan’s laughter faded slowly as he obviously left for safer territory.

“Who’s Bowser?” Jordan asked, tugging her dress back into place.

Gavin opened the door, looking for his younger brother, but the hallway was empty.

“It’s his partner.” Standing in the open doorway, he held his hand out to her. “Ronan is a K-9 cop in New York. He usually brings Bowser everywhere, but he had to have some kind of medical procedure and is on the mend at the vet. Ronan doesn’t seem to know what to do with himself without that dog around.”

Hand in hand, Gavin and Jordan strolled through the house. When they reached the kitchen, they found Ronan eating cookies out of the jar.

“Dude?” Gavin draped his arm over Jordan’s shoulder. “What are you doing? Mom has the best caterer in the state outside with all kinds of great food, and you’re stuffing your face with cookies?”

“Yeah.” Ronan swallowed the last bite and put the lid back on the green ceramic jar before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “But they’re
Mom’s
cookies. No caterer, I don’t care how fancy they are, can make
her
chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.”

“Good point.” Gavin nodded and kissed the top of Jordan’s head.

“Oh wait.” Ronan reached in his pocket and tossed a set of keys to Gavin. He looked flustered, but in spite of that caught them midair. “I almost forgot to give these back to you, big brother.”

“Right.” Gavin cleared his throat and stuck the keys in his pants pocket. “Did you get everything settled alright?”

“Yup.” Ronan grinned broadly at Jordan. Mischief. That word always came to mind with Ronan. He always looked like the cat who ate the canary. “Sure did.”

“What’s up with you two?” Jordan narrowed her eyes and looked back and forth between the brothers. “Ronan looks like he’s up to something.”

“Nope.” He brushed crumbs off his hands. “Gavin offered to let me crash at his cottage. Mom’s highly allergic to dogs and Bowser’s dog hair is all over my stuff, so I’m staying out there so it won’t make her allergies go crazy.”

“Yup.” Gavin shifted his weight and pulled her closer. “Uh…can I stay at your place tonight, babe?”

“Sure,” she said through a confused laugh. “But…”

She was about to ask him why he was acting so weird when a ruckus outside caught their attention. The distinct sound of male laughter grew louder as Tristan, Dillon, and Finn burst through the side door and piled into the kitchen. All of them had ditched the bow tie one way or another. Except for Finn. He still looked well pressed and put together.

Dillon’s smile faded when he saw the cookie jar out and brown crumbs strewn across the granite countertop. Finn and Tristan bumped into him when he stopped short, and now all three of them were glaring at Ronan.

“Did you eat all the cookies?” Dillon leaned over and grabbed the cookie jar before yanking off the top. His irritation faded as he reached in and pulled out two. “Ha! Two left.”

The lid clattered back on, and before his brothers could react, Dillon strolled out to the family room with both cookies in hand. By the time Finn and Tristan got to him, he’d already eaten the cookies and his brothers were loudly voicing their dissent.

“Aha!” Maddy’s voice cut through the chaos. She sidled in next to Jordan, the door closing behind her and muffling the music from the party outside. “I should have known we’d find you with your hand in the cookie jar, Ronan McGuire.”

“Well, you know me, Maddy.” His grin widened and he leaned both hands on the counter. “I just can’t help myself. Resisting temptation has never been one of my strengths.”

“Is that so?” Maddy arched one eyebrow and slipped her small evening bag under her arm before folding her hands in front of her. “Run into a lot of temptation in the kitchen, do you?”

“I’ve got a wicked sweet tooth.” He winked. “And the kitchen is my second favorite room in the house.”

“Oh Lord.” Maddy rolled her eyes, but in spite of her feigned annoyance, Jordan thought she saw a spark of attraction. Maddy’s cheeks pinkened and she quickly turned her attention to Jordan. “I’d love to stay and play with the
children
.” Shooting a sidelong glance at Ronan, she continued, “And Gracie and Lily too…but I’m really beat. I don’t want to distract your parents, Gavin. They don’t need the grieving girlfriend bumming them out on their special night. Would you tell them I said good-bye?”

“Sure.” Gavin nodded. “You gonna be okay getting home?”

“I’d be happy to provide you with a police escort,” Ronan interjected.

“No, thanks.” Maddy held up one hand before pulling Jordan into a hug. “I love you, girl, but I can’t stay.” Her voice wavered. “This is all a little too much for me right now. I guess I’m not ready for a party like this.”

“Well, let me at least walk you out and make sure the valets can find your car.” Ronan jutted a thumb toward the front door. “Come on. I promise I’ll keep my hands out of the cookie jar and be on my best behavior.”

Jordan’s heart ached as Maddy followed Ronan out, and she heard the good-byes from the other men. She curled her arms around Gavin’s waist and hugged him tightly.

Her life seemed charmed at the moment. So painfully perfect that part of her felt guilty in light of the loss Maddy had suffered.

All of this could vanish in a blink.

Love was precious, and taking it for granted was so easy. All those years ago, that’s what she had done with Gavin. As a young girl, she hadn’t been savvy enough or worldly enough to realize what an amazing man she had in Gavin. If she had, she wouldn’t have been so quick to turn away from him—and not believe in him or them.

It was a mistake she vowed never to make again.

“I love you, Gavin,” she said, her cheek buried against his shoulder. Pulling back, she looked in him the face. “I love you and your entire crazy, male-dominated family.” Her lips quivered as she struggled to get the words out without crying. “I was alone for so long and now…now it seems like I have more love around me than I know what to do with. I want you to know how much I appreciate you. Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for making me and my girls part of your family.”

“You have no idea, do you?” He cradled her face with one hand, gently rasping his thumb along her cheek. “None at all,” he murmured.

“What?”

“
You’re
my family,” he whispered gruffly.

Tears blurred Jordan’s vision as she stared into his ruggedly handsome face. Laughing through her tears, she pressed her mouth to his and threw a prayer of gratitude to the universe or God or the fates, or whatever, for bringing him back to her. For bringing them back to each other.

“Now, what do you say we get out there and hit that dance floor?” He winked. “Gracie and Lily are hogging it.”

Their sweet moment was broken when Tristan, Finn, and Dillon came barreling out of the family room, running past them to the door.

“What’s going on?” Gavin asked, pulling Jordan out of the path of the stampede.

“It’s Mom.” Dillon held the door open as Finn and Tristan disappeared outside. “She spotted us through the window and gave us
the
look
,” he said through a laugh. “Gavin, you better get your butt outside or you’re gonna be in deep shit. You too, Jordan. After all, you’re practically part of the family now. But then again, you kinda always were.”

“Good-bye, Dillon,” Gavin said in a warning tone.

As Dillon closed the door behind him and disappeared outside, Jordan laughed and rested her head against Gavin’s shoulder. A moment later, she heard Dillon loudly blaming Ronan and the others for the cookie kitchen invasion.

“He’s right, you know.” Gavin dragged her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips over her knuckles as he opened the door. “May I have this dance? Scratch that. Not only this dance. I call dibs on every dance with you for the rest of your life.”

Her hand linked firmly in Gavin’s, Jordan followed him outside with a huge smile on her face and a heart full of love. In that instant, she felt like Cinderella at the ball. Everything was perfect. The right man. The right time. All of it.

Happiness was a choice, and it had taken her a long time to figure that out.

With effortless strength, Gavin pulled her through the crowd and twirled her onto the dance floor, pulling her against his tall, muscular frame. She sighed as the heat of his body seeped through his tux and surrounded her. They’d only been out there a few minutes when Gracie ran up to Gavin and tugged on the back of his jacket.

“I wanna dance wif you too.” Gracie’s gap-toothed grin widened. “You and Mama.”

Before Jordan could say a word, Gavin gathered her daughter up in one fell swoop and placed her on his hip.

“You bet, Princess Grace.” His other arm was wrapped firmly around Jordan’s waist as he swayed them both gently to the music. “I’ll dance with you ladies any day of the week.”

Gracie’s giggles peppered the air as Gavin swung them around the dance floor but it didn’t stop there. He spent the rest of the party showing off his goofy dance moves with Jordan, Lily, and Gracie, and he even coaxed Claire into one twirl around the floor.

It seemed that Gavin’s magic wasn’t limited to cards and quarters.

“Gavin, are you ever going to tell me where we’re going?” Jordan sat next to him in the passenger seat of his truck wearing his bow tie as a makeshift blindfold. “It’s late, my poor mother is probably exhausted, and if I know my girls, they’re bouncing off the walls with a sugar high from all that cake they ate at the party. To say nothing of the cookies your mother sent home with them.”

“Claire is fine.” He made the turn into the parking lot of Lighthouse Park and drove through the deserted area with a big, stupid grin on his face. “She and the girls are settled in at her house, and I’m sure they’re all fast asleep by now.”

“At her house?” Jordan fidgeted in her seat, her long, delicate fingers immediately going to the tie currently tied around her head. “What’s going on? I thought she was staying at my place until we got back. Gavin, where are we? For goodness’ sake, I’m still wearing this ridiculous dress.”

“Nope. No more questions. I made all the arrangements for a sleepover with their Meemaw, who is so excited about it she can barely see straight. Now, stop being such a nudge.”

He shut off the ignition and opened his door, but stopped and looked at her before he got out. Her hands were curled in her lap, and she was fidgeting with the gold bracelet on her wrist. He sensed her excitement and a hint of nervousness, and even though he wanted to shout from the rooftops what he was up to, Gavin held on to his surprise a little longer.

“Are you this much of a pill at Christmas, trying to sneak a peek at your presents?”

“Gavin!”

“Oh, fine. Stay right there—and don’t you dare take that blindfold off.”

Jordan grumbled her discontent as he shut the door and went around the front of the truck to let her out. So far everything had gone as planned. Claire had the girls sleeping over at her house, and Ronan had assured him that he’d set everything up on the watch deck of the lighthouse.

Tonight was going to be perfect.

Gavin opened the passenger door and took Jordan by the hand, gently helping her from the truck. When her feet hit the gravel, she reached out for his other hand and clutched him tightly. Tilting her face to the air, she breathed deeply and a smile curved those lovely lips. Lips he couldn’t wait to kiss again and again for the rest of his life.

“We’re by the ocean, and I’d say we’re at the beach. But if we were going to the beach, you would have taken me home.”

“True.” Closing the door, he linked her arm through his and led her around the truck toward the base of the lighthouse. Sucking in a deep breath, he took Jordan by the shoulders and turned her body so she was facing the tall white-and-red structure. “Are you ready?”

“Are you kidding?” She clapped her hands together and shivered as a gust of wind came off the water. “I’m more than ready and I’m freezing, so I hope this little surprise is somewhere warm.”

Reaching behind her, he breathed in her perfume, a mix of lilacs and Ivory soap, as he lifted the blindfold off. He stepped aside, finally revealing their location. Her expression shifted from surprised to confused, then her openmouthed smile grew wider by the second.

“We’re at the lighthouse,” she stated, as though confirming that fact for herself. Standing by his side, her fingers swept out and captured his. “
Our
lighthouse.”

“Yup.” Gavin escorted her to the small set of wooden steps and took out the lighthouse keys. “But that’s not the whole surprise.”

“You’ve got a key this time.” She poked him playfully in the side. “Last time you broke in.”

“Yeah.” Gavin laughed. “Well, they got wise over the years and replaced the faulty lock. William Heffernan is the volunteer keeper; he has been for about ten years. He’s done a better job than the old guy who used to do it when we were kids.”

He went to unlock the door, but it was already open. Gavin frowned and made a mental note to bust Ronan’s chops. Some cop, forgetting to lock the door.

“Well, it looks a lot cleaner around here than it used to be.” Jordan stood behind him as he put the keys in his pocket and pushed the door open for her. “Are you sure we’re allowed to be here?”

“Yup.”

Gavin took Jordan by the hand and brought her inside, closing the door tightly behind him. He flipped the light switch, illuminating the cylindrical space. The brick walls and stone floor were worn by time, and the round, cavernous area was barren, except for some dust bunnies and a couple of old crates underneath the black metal staircase. The enormous spiral staircase wound up three stories high, and old wooden support beams crisscrossed below each of the three landings. The town had done a great job of taking care of the old lighthouse. Even though it no longer worked, it was still beautiful and in many ways the heart of the town.

“Uh…you might want to take off those shoes.”

He and Jordan simultaneously peered down at the three-inch spike heels she was wearing before giving each other a knowing look. Gavin bent at the knees as Jordan steadied herself with one hand on his shoulder, and he helped her step out of the daring footwear. Rising to his feet, he dangled them over two fingers by their straps.

“They’re sexy as hell, and later I’d love to see you in nothing but these shoes.” He ran the back of his fingers down her bare arm with one long, languid stroke. “Since you’re not wearing any underwear, all I have to do now is get this dress off you.”

“Maybe.” Jordan popped up on her toes and grabbed the shoes before planting a kiss on his lips. She tasted like champagne, which reminded him of what was waiting for them up on the gallery deck. “If you play your cards right.”

“Nope.” He pulled away when she tried to kiss him again and wagged a finger at her. “No funny business yet. This isn’t the surprise. At least not all of it.”

“Oh, fine.” Jordan pouted. Gathering her long skirt in her hand, she placed her shoes by the bottom of the metal spiral staircase. Taking Gavin’s fingers in hers, she leaned over the railing, looked up, and let out a whistle. “I don’t remember there being so many stairs.”

“Ah, it’s only three stories to the gallery walk.” Pulling her up the stairs, he murmured, “And the watch room.”

Jordan’s face reddened and she looked away, knowing full well what he was referring to. The watch room of this lighthouse was the place they’d first made love and, until recently, the last. As bittersweet as that night had been, Gavin couldn’t think of a better place to propose.

The two of them ascended the towering, metal spiral staircase quickly and carefully. There were two small landings at each story, and at each landing there were three windows peering out over the ocean. When Jordan and Gavin finally reached the third landing and the door to the watch room, she was out of breath and laughing. With her hand to her chest and her long blond hair starting to spill out of her fancy hair clip, she had never looked lovelier than she did right at that moment.

“Oh boy.” Jordan clutched Gavin’s arm tightly and pressed herself against him as she peered down. “That is a dizzying view,” she said breathlessly. “And a long way to fall.”

“You know what they say, babe.” Gavin opened the door and kissed her cheek. “Don’t look down.”

Jordan shot him a narrow-eyed gaze and looked like she was about to make a snappy retort, but when she stepped into the watch room, she seemed to be at a loss for words. Her hands flew to her mouth as a small cry of wonder mixed with disbelief escaped her lips. Gavin stood behind her and settled his hands on her bare shoulders, brushing his thumbs along the silky-soft flesh below the back of her neck.

Ronan had come through like a champ.

Ivory-colored electric candles were scattered around the window ledges in the semicircular room, giving it a soft, romantic glow. The flickering lights reflected off the windows that surrounded the space. At the center of the room, a large plaid blanket was spread out over the red-painted wooden floor, and next to it stood a tall silver bucket filled with ice water. A bottle of champagne lay nestled in the icy bath, and on the ledge by the windows were two crystal flutes and a vase holding a single red rose.

It was exactly how Gavin had pictured it, and based on Jordan’s speechless reaction, he’d done it right.

“Gavin,” she whispered through her fingers. “You did this?”

“Yes.” He kissed the back of her head before trailing his fingertips down her arms and taking her by the hand. “Well, Ronan helped and so did the Heffernan family. They gave me the keys to the place and Ronan set this up for me tonight before the party. So that ice is probably really cold water by now.”

“Those were the keys he threw to you in the kitchen,” she said, looking around in awe. “But that night, the night we were here, that’s when it all fell apart. I don’t understand…”

Surprise and a hint of sadness filled her voice, and the combination almost sent Gavin right over the edge. She was right. That night had ended in a big, hot mess, but it sure hadn’t started that way. It had begun in love, lust, and longing…and that was where Gavin wanted it to finish.

“Jordan, that night was a landmark moment for a couple of reasons.” He gathered her face in his hands and tried to calm his own beating heart. “I don’t regret a lot of choices in my life, but if I could go back and change that night, I would have explained myself. I would have told you how scared I was of losing you instead of barking orders at you like a macho douche.” His mouth set in a tight line. “I would never have driven you away.”

“We can’t go back,” she whispered through trembling lips. “And I don’t want to, Gavin. I want to keep looking forward. For the first time in years, I’m excited about the future instead of afraid of it.”

“Do you remember when I first came in the flower shop after you came home?” He kept his voice low and did his best to keep it calm and even, but his nerves were starting to get the better of him. Jordan nodded and he sucked in a deep breath through trembling lips. “You told me we couldn’t magically make the past go away or change it.”

“I know.” A big, fat tear fell down her cheek. She inched her body closer, covering one hand with his as he cradled her face. “I’m sorry…I…”

“Stop,” he whispered gruffly. Love and yearning pulling at him like the tide. “No more apologies and no more regrets.”

Gavin curled his fingers around her ear, tucking that stray strand back. At the same time, he adjusted the prize he’d been hiding in the palm of his hand. Mustering his courage, Gavin dragged his hand down before holding the engagement ring up in front of her between two fingers.

“That’s not a quarter,” Jordan murmured, her eyes wide.

“We may not be able to change the past, but I promise that I’ll do my best to give you a magical future,” he rasped. Dropping to one knee, he held the diamond and sapphire ring out to her and finally asked her the question he’d wanted to ask for over fifteen years. “Jordan, will you be my wife and have me as the father of your children?” His smile grew. “Current and future.”

The tears spilled freely down her cheeks as she nodded furiously and sputtered, “Yes.”

Dropping to her knees with him, Jordan laughed through her tears as Gavin slipped the ring onto her finger. He gathered her in his arms and hugged her shivering body—or maybe that was him shaking? The one thing he’d wished for, secretly in the silence of dark, lonely nights, was actually happening.

Jordan was finally going to be his wife. His family.

Burying his face in her the nape of her neck, Gavin breathed in that clean, flowery scent of lilacs and Ivory soap. The one that was so uniquely hers. He pulled her hair from the confines of her hair clip and tossed it aside, dragging his fingers through the long, silky strands. He studied her as she held out her left hand, gazing at the ring he’d put there—where it belonged now and forever.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “This was your mother’s, wasn’t it? I mean, I think I remember her wearing one like it when we were kids.”

“It was my grandmother’s originally. One of several she left my mother.” Gavin popped the cork on the champagne and stopped it before it went flying. “My mom always said that when my brothers and I eventually got married, we could each pick one of the rings for our future wife. I thought you’d like this one best.”

“I love it,” she whispered. “So your whole family knew about this?” She sat on the blanket looking at the delicate platinum band and the round solitaire diamond framed by brilliant blue sapphires. “No wonder they were all so welcoming tonight.”

“They love you, Jordan. Almost as much as I do.” Gavin gathered the glasses and filled the flutes. He handed one to Jordan before sitting next to her on the blanket. “And your mother knows too.”

“What?”

“Well, I had to ask her for your hand, didn’t I?” He tilted his glass toward her. “I thought about asking the girls, but I was worried they wouldn’t be able to keep the secret and I didn’t want to overstep my bounds. I thought it would be best to let you tell them.”

“Us,” she corrected him. Jordan raised her glass. “Let
us
tell them, and you’re right. Gracie would’ve blabbed.”

“Yup.” He gave her a smug, satisfied smile, then snapped his fingers as though he forgot something. “Whoops. And Maddy knows.”

“Gavin!” Jordan feigned annoyance. “Did you tell the entire town?”