Eternally Yours (28 page)

Syneda had all intention of aiming her bouquet straight toward Christy in hopes of shaking the three overprotective Madaris brothers up a bit over the thought of their nineteen-year-old baby sister being next in line for marriage. Unfortunately, Syneda’s aim was off, and her bouquet landed right smack in Corinthians Avery’s hands.

Jonathan Madaris came over to join his youngest brother, who was standing against a wall. Both of their tall forms looked elegant in their white tuxedoes.

“I thought I’d better warn you that Clayton is about ready to do the garter toss, and Mama is herding together all the single men to participate,” Jonathan said, his eyes twinkling with humor.

Jake raised a dark brow. “Why would you want to warn me about something like that?”

Jonathan smiled. “Because I know for a fact she wants you included in on it. With Clayton out of the way, she wants you to be next. She thinks it’s time for you to remarry.”

Jake took a sip of his champagne. He then met his brother’s gaze. “I have remarried.”

Jonathan smiled. “But she doesn’t know that, and unless you’re ready to share your secret with the family, I suggest you make yourself scarce for a few minutes.”

Jake took another sip of his champagne. Only a few people knew about his marriage to Diamond Swain, and Jonathan was one of them. He loved all of his brothers, but Jonathan was the one he was closest to.

“By the way,” Jonathan said a few moments later. “How’s Diamond? I guess it was hard coming here and leaving her at Whispering Pines.”

Jake lifted an inquiring eyebrow. “How did you know she was at the ranch, Jon?”

Jonathan chuckled. “That was pretty easy to figure out. You couldn’t leave the rehearsal dinner quick enough last night. You seemed somewhat relieved when Syntel offered to put up the wedding guests at this hotel, which eliminated you from having to put them up at Whispering Pines, and you barely made it to the church on time today. You almost gave Clayton heart failure.”

He shook his head, smiling. “Even now you’re biting at the bit to get out of here.”

Jake laughed a rich throaty laugh. “Am I that obvious?”

“Only to me and Marilyn. And she picked up on it right away. She says you always have a better disposition whenever Diamond is around. She thinks your wife is good for you.”

“Oh? And does she still think Diamond and I are making a mistake by keeping our marriage a secret for now?”

“I think she’s decided differently after seeing how the media hounded Syneda when word got out that Syntel Remington was her father. Marilyn knows they’ll do the same thing to you and Diamond.”

Jake nodded. “I want Whispering Pines to always be a place Diamond can come to when she wants to escape the lights and glamour and stress of California for a while.”

“And how long will her infrequent visits be enough for you? I can’t help but remember why your marriage to Jessie didn’t work out.”

Jake rubbed the top of his head, struggling to ignore the resentment and old feelings of anger whenever his first wife was mentioned. “I swore after Jessie I would never get involved with another city woman. But when Diamond came along, I couldn’t help myself. For as long as Diamond is comfortable with our arrangements, this is the way we’ll do things.”

Jonathan studied his brother. “And what about you? Are you comfortable with the arrangements?”

Jake’s dark eyes met Jonathan’s. There was no way he could lie to him. “Not really, but I don’t have a choice. I knew what the deal was when I fell in love with her.” His gaze sharpened when he saw his mother headed in their direction.

“Look, Jon, here comes Mama so I’m out of here. Tell the newlyweds that I’ll see them after they get back from their honeymoon.”

He turned and quickly made his exit.

Clayton looked at the fifteen or so single men gathered around him. None of them looked overly anxious to participate in this part of the wedding ceremony. At least three of them he knew for a fact did not relish the thought of possibly being next in line for marriage.

His gaze sought out those three, Alex Maxwell, Trevor Grant and Trask Maxwell. They were deliberately standing as far away in the back as they could. He smiled when he noticed Trask walking toward him.

“Why do we have to do this?” Trask Maxwell asked when he had reached Clayton.

“Because Gramma Madaris said so. She’s all wrapped up in traditions today.” Then he used the same tactic on Trask that his mother had used on him earlier. “And if you want to risk making her mad and never eating any of her bread pudding again, then go right ahead and don’t participate.”

Trask shook his head, smiling. “Do I look like a fool? Now, toss the darn thing. Let’s get this over with. Just make sure you throw it to one of those guys in the front.” He turned and walked off, returning to his spot in the back.

A few minutes later, Clayton sent Syneda’s blue garter sailing through the air and over the heads of most of the men in the front before it finally landed right in Trevor Grant’s hands.

“I thought I was never going to get you alone,” Clayton said to his wife an hour or so later. Pulling that garter from around her thigh while hundreds of people looked on had been difficult. The feel of his hand on her skin had almost made him lose control. He had wanted to begin making love to her right then and there.

They would spend the night here in the hotel and, bright and early tomorrow morning, they would catch a flight to St. Thomas. He was more than ready for his honeymoon to begin.

He pulled Syneda closer into his arms. “And how do you like my present?”

Syneda laughed softly and tipped her head up to meet Clayton’s gaze. “I like it.”

When she had entered their hotel room, the honeymoon suite on the twenty-eighth floor, a beautiful gift-wrapped box was in the center of the bed. The card attached to it had indicated it was from Clayton. Like a child on Christmas morning, she had eagerly opened it up to find five brand-new men’s dress shirts with designer labels.

“Although you always look sexy as hell in those things, I prefer you not start wearing them until we get back from our honeymoon.”

She lifted a brow. “Why can’t I take them with me?”

“Because I don’t want you to wear anything at all in St. Thomas. I plan to keep you under lock and key those two weeks.”

Syneda smiled and placed her arms around his neck. “I think I’m going to like that.”

“I’m going to make sure you do,” Clayton said, cradling her body even closer to his. “I love you, Syneda.”

“And I love you. We aren’t going to argue about anything in St. Thomas, are we?”

Clayton smiled down at her. “We’ll make love, not war.” Clayton kissed the side of her neck. “Besides, I have a new way of dealing with you whenever you get too opinionated and sassy, Mrs. Madaris.”

“Oh? And what way is that?”

Clayton grinned as he picked her up in his arms. He began walking toward the bedroom. “You’re about to find out.”

Hours later, in their darkened hotel room, Clayton and Syneda lay wrapped in each other’s arms. Both were very satisfied with how their special day had turned out.

It had been a day filled with love, joy and tears. They had been blessed with the presence of a multitude of family and friends. But most important, it had been a day filled with anticipation, confidence and trust. It was a day they had committed themselves to each other.

“Happy?”

Syneda smiled up at Clayton, mesmerized by the handsome face staring down at her. His features held all the love, tenderness and passion she had come to adore. “Tremendously happy. What about you?”

“Extremely happy.” Clayton slipped an arm around her shoulder and leaned down to take her lips in a long kiss.

Syneda wrapped her arms around him, lost in the cravings and desires he could stir within her so easily again. Then in a surprise move, she shifted around until her body was on top of his. She looked down into his dark eyes.

“Now, Mr. Madaris, it’s my time to show you how I plan to deal with you when you get too opinionated and arrogant for your own good.”

Clayton smiled. “Is that a fact?”

“No, Madaris, that’s a promise.”

Syneda’s scent drifted all around him, and Clayton’s passion began flaring anew under the onslaught of her warm lips when she began placing kisses all over his face, neck and shoulders.

His hand came up and cupped her face. He looked up into her eyes, at the love, peace and contentment he saw there. He silently thanked God for bringing this special woman into his life, and for opening his eyes to her beauty, both inside and out. She was the half that made him whole. She was his sunshine after a storm. She would never bore him. With her his life would be filled with never-ending excitement.

She was eternally his and he was eternally hers. Forever.