Finding Forever (20 page)

It warmed Jake’s heart to hear her talk about them having a future together. “Plenty of it.” He brushed a kiss over her lips. “And I can’t wait. In the meantime, what do you say we ditch this party and go upstairs and have one of our own.”

“You aren’t subtle, that’s for sure.” Jordan jabbed him in the arm. “Are you going to try to stall the elevator again?”

“Do you want me to?”

“Hell, yes!”

Judge Benson banged his gavel with authority, signaling the end of Trey’s plea and sentencing hearing.

“You saved me again, Jordan.” Trey said. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You can thank me by never ending up back in a courtroom.” Jordan found herself a little troubled by his remark that she’d saved him again, wondering if any of her lectures had paid off. “If you do, the outcome won’t be nearly as kind.” It also wouldn’t be her problem. She’d done everything she could to help him. If Trey couldn’t take advantage of this chance, it wouldn’t be because his attorney failed him.

He’d had to move his mom into a nursing facility since he was going into the halfway house, and she knew it was difficult for him. It was a better alternative than prison, though, and Jordan was pleased he seemed to realize it. “I can do it this time,” Trey said, and Jordan wanted to believe him. “I got signed up for a film class at the community college.”

“That sounds great.” Maybe some good had come of him working on the movie set, even if it hadn’t managed to keep him out of trouble. “I’m glad you found something that interests you.”

“Thank Jake for me, will you?” Trey asked, a grin forming on his face. “I assume you’ll be seeing him again.”

“I think there’s a pretty good chance of that, yeah.” Jordan said goodbye to him and waited until he’d left the courtroom before addressing Beth. “Thanks for the help in getting this wrapped up so quickly.”

The district attorney smiled. “You’re welcome. I’m sure you’re anxious to get out of here.”

“Definitely.” The last time she’d been in court on Trey’s case, she’d gone back to her office to find Jake waiting there for her. This time he waited for her on a beach in Saint Lucia, and Jordan couldn’t wait to join him there. “Just so you know, I cast an absentee ballot, since I don’t know if I’ll be back by election day. Good luck, Beth.”

“Thanks. And don’t hurry back on my account. You’ve earned the vacation.”

“Yeah, I think I have.” She intended to enjoy it, too.

“You better come back here with some big news,” Beth challenged. “Or I may have to step in.”

Jordan let out an exaggerated groan. “I’m sure you’d love that, too. I think I can take care of this on my own, though.”

***

Saint Lucia

Jake immersed himself in his role of a detective investigating a murder at a beachfront retirement community by staying at one. When he wasn’t filming, he passed the time observing and mingling with the residents. He even entertained them every Thursday with karaoke.

One of the residents, a charming widow named Ethel who was on wrong side of seventy, claimed to have watched him on
General Hospital
. Since Jake was a sucker for flattery, he ate up her compliments, but stopped himself short of accepting her marriage proposals, which now numbered two in the short time he’d been on the island. Jake hoped he’d let her down gently when he told her his heart belonged to a woman from Texas who would be joining him soon.  Though he talked to Jordan every day, she remained cryptic about when she would arrive in Castries. Jake told himself it was because she intended to surprise him, and not because she was having second thoughts.

“How about some Gene Pitney?” Ethel suggested. “Maybe
Only Love Can Break a Heart
. I always liked that one.”

Jake had no idea who Gene Pitney was, but he certainly agreed with the song’s title. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find it in the karaoke directory. Instead, he settled for a classic tune from his own youth, Foreigner’s
I Want to Know What Love Is
. Maybe they were close? At least they both had love in the title.

She walked in during the final verse, causing Jake to stumble over the words, even though he knew them by heart and they were displayed on the video monitor in front of him. What was it about her that damn near took his breath away, anyway?

Jordan waved, but made no move in the direction of the makeshift stage. Instead, she took a seat at a table in the back.

“Okay, last one for tonight,” Jake said, suddenly feeling a little like a rock star. He needed to make it a good one, too. He scrolled through the songs in the directory, finally settling on what he thought—hoped—was the perfect song for them. “This one’s dedicated to the beautiful woman in the green dress who just walked in the room.”

Ethel craned her neck to see her competition, then turned back to him, a crestfallen look on her face.
Sorry, Ethel, I’m sure you were a stunning woman in your time, but my heart belongs to her.

The early chords of Matt Nathanson’s
Come On Get Higher
emanated from the speaker, followed by the first line appearing on the monitor. Jake sang them as if Jordan were the only other person in the room, and by the time he reached the final verse it seemed as if they were the only two people in the world.

He politely thanked his audience, replaced the microphone on its stand and walked off the
stage. He stopped by the bar, ordered two club sodas with lemon, and carried them to her table.

“You’re leaving your adoring public?” Jordan asked, her tone amused.

“For now.” Jake shrugged. “They know I’ll be back.”

Jordan smirked. “I think the woman in the front is sweet on you.”

Jake nodded. “That’s Ethel. She definitely wants my body. I told her it was spoken for, though.” He smiled sheepishly. “I hope I didn’t lie to her.”

***

God, he was sexy. It took every bit of willpower Jordan possessed not suggest they go to his room so she could stake her claim on that body.
First things first, Jordan. You have a negotiation to complete before the recreational activities start.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Yes, finally.” Jake sat down next to her. “Everything settled at home?”

She liked how he referred to Grande Valley as ‘home,’ as if he truly could see himself living there, at least part of the time. “For now, yes. Trey’s case is done, and I cleared my schedule to be away for a while.”

“How long is a while?”

“How long are you here for?”

“Another month, at least,” Jake said. “Maybe six weeks.”

Jordan considered that and nodded. “I think I can swing that.” She took a drink of club soda, readying herself for the toughest part of the negotiation. “Are you able to spend a little time back in Texas once this movie wraps?”

“I’d like to, yes.” Jake traced his finger along the table. “I’d also like to go home around Christmas, see my folks.” He looked up. “I’m hoping you’ll come along. You can meet my family.”

Family. It was something they hadn’t discussed much. Jordan didn’t have any, but Jake was close to his. She wasn’t opposed to meeting them. Under the right circumstances, she looked forward to it. There was just one more thing to resolve before she agreed to it. “We’ll talk about that,” Jordan said, hoping to table the ‘meet the family’ discussion at least temporarily. “Award season is January and February, right?”

“Yes. I need to be in L.A. for that. You know, just in case...” Jake’s efforts to remain nonchalant completely failed. There was no mistaking the excitement in his voice, not that Jordan could blame him. She’d talked to a few former contacts in California, and the buzz about
Border Cowboys
was picking up, especially now that filming was done. It wasn’t a long shot to predict award nominations.

“Of course,” Jordan said casually. “It’s probably time for me to go back there, anyway; maybe take care of a few things.”
Like visit my mother’s grave.

“If you’re up for it.”

He was being considerate and not forcing it on her, which Jordan appreciated. It was time, though. “I’m pretty sure I am.” There was no way to know for sure until she got there.

“You’ll be fine,” Jake said with confidence, then paused. “The Vancouver shoot starts in May.”

“Right. I’ve been thinking maybe we should go a little early.”

“Any particular reason?”

“I hear the shopping’s good,” Jordan said casually, trying to work up her nerve. It was time, especially if he expected her to meet his family. “And it might be a good honeymoon spot.”

Jordan held her breath
, waiting for his response.

***

Jake stared at her, uncertain he’d heard correctly. “Did you just say—”

“That Vancouver has great little shops?” Jordan asked innocently.

“Not that. The other part.”

“That Vancouver would be a lovely honeymoon location?” she repeated. “Yes. What do you think? Maybe late March, after awards season is over?”

“You want to get married?” Jake was still trying to wrap his head around it. Oh, he’d thought about it, plenty of times, but he hadn’t asked because he didn’t want to rush her, didn’t want to scare her away. And now here she was, stealing his thunder by asking him first. No, Jake would never understand women, especially the fascinating one sitting next to him.

“Well, if I’m going to be spending all this time on movie sets, watching your adoring fans try to throw themselves at you, they need to know they have to go through me first to get to you.”

“I pity anyone who tries that.” Jake chuckled, picturing it in his head.

“I’m being serious,” Jordan said, frowning a little. “And this whole thing about meeting your mom frankly terrifies me.  She’ll probably think I seduced her perfect little angel. At least with a ring on my finger, maybe it won’t be so bad.”

She wanted a ring, too? Yes, she was definitely serious, and Jake found it very difficult to keep up. “Don’t worry about my mom. She already knows I’m not an angel, and she’ll be so happy someone finally tamed me. She’s gonna love you,” Jake assured her. “We’ll get you a ring, though.” He planned to make it a big one. Good thing he was being paid well for this movie.

“So you’re saying yes?” Jordan’s eyes lit up.

“Are you officially asking?” Jake countered. “Because I didn’t really catch the question.” He knew the teasing might rile her up, but Jake couldn’t resist. It wasn’t every day a woman proposed marriage to him—though it had happened three times in the past two weeks, if he counted Ethel—and Jake was determined to milk the moment for what it was worth.

“Ah, you’re going make me work for it, huh?” Jordan rolled her eyes in mock exaggeration. “Fine. Don’t expect me to get down on one knee in this short dress, though.”

As much as he’d like to see that, Jake shrugged. “Okay, knee not required.”

“Good. Jacob Thomas Morrison, would—”

“Wait a minute,” Jake interrupted. “How’d you know my middle name?”

“I wrote your first contract, remember?”

It shouldn’t have surprised him. She paid attention to every little detail. “What’s yours?” he asked.

“My middle name? Leigh. I think my mother wanted a boy. Why?”

“Just asking,” he said. “Hey, when we get married, are you taking my name?”

“I haven’t decided,” Jordan said. “It’s negotiable.”

“I can live with that.”  Jake smiled. “Carry on.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “Since I just flew over three thousand miles to get here, I really don’t want to leave empty
-handed. Jacob Thomas Morrison, would you give me the honor and privilege of being your wife?”

It might not have been the most traditional of proposals, but Jake thought it was perfect. He couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he said, “Yes. Jordan Leigh Priestley, I’d like nothing better than becoming your husband.”

“Great.” Jordan threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I’d like to go ring shopping tomorrow, if that’s okay.”

She was definitely serious about the ring. “Sure. And I’ll call Val in the morning and tell her I’m getting married.” He suspected she’d be thrilled, and hopefully stop teasing him about dalliances.

“Call her now,” Jordan suggested. “You know, just in case.”

“Just in case what?”

“There might be paparazzi around. She should have a statement ready. I don’t want to be tabloid fodder, Jake.”

“Paparazzi? Here?” Jake looked around the retirement center. It looked pretty safe, but then again, you never could tell about octogenarians who wore plaid shorts with black knee socks. “Fine. I’ll call Val now.” He pulled out his phone. “You’re incredible, you know that? I wish you would have been around a year and a half ago.” Then maybe he could have avoided the Macy debacle.

“I wouldn’t have been ready then,” Jordan said. “But now the timing’s perfect.”

Jake thought so, too.

Six months later

If Jake could have written a movie script of the perfect life, it probably wouldn’t look any different than the one he’d actually lived over the past half year. Okay, there might be one thing he’d change. A shiny Oscar to pair with his recently won Golden Globe award. Alas, the Academy had other ideas. He considered it an honor to simply be nominated, but he was still human and an actor. He wanted to win. The sting of disappointment was tempered, at least, by the Best Picture Oscar that
Border Cowboys
took home, along with being able to share the night with Jordan by his side.

Jake remained confident an Oscar victory would happen someday, and perhaps someday soon. New scripts were rolling in, and there were plenty of good roles to choose from, but they’d have to wait a while. He didn’t intend to spend his honeymoon reading movie scripts. First things first, though. He had a wedding to get through, and a bachelor party.

“Earth to Jake.” Aaron came over and slapped him on the back. “What’s the matter, man? Getting nervous about tomorrow?”

“Of course not,” Jake lied. “I’m marrying the woman of my dreams. Why would I be nervous?”

“I don’t know. Maybe because you’re marrying the woman of your dreams?” Aaron laughed. “It may not make sense, but trust me, it happens. I’ve been there.”

“And survived,” Jake said. “That’s comforting.” Since he’d been spending more time in Grande Valley, Jake had become friends with Beth’s husband, and Aaron was playing host for the bachelor party even though Jake didn’t think it was entirely accurate to call it a bachelor party since he’d promised Jordan there would
no strippers or drunken revelry. At least his brother Jared was in town and one of his best buddies from Los Angeles—a former co-star from
General Hospital
—had flown in. The group was rounded out by an attorney from Chicago named Steve who accompanied Jordan’s friend Tracey to Grande Valley for the wedding.

Jake grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. “I need some fresh air for a minute. I’ll be right back,” he said, and stepped out on the front porch of Aaron’s house. It was a decidedly weird feeling to be deliriously happy and scared to death at the same time, but Jake reasoned he wasn’t the first man to experience the phenomenon. He uncapped the beer, took a drink, and leaned against the exterior wall of the house, wondering what was happening a few miles away at his bride’s bachelorette party.

“You must be the groom-to-be.” The voice that jolted him from his thoughts sounded female, and sure enough, an auburn-haired woman approached the front steps.

“I guess the look of paranoia gave me away,” Jake said dryly. “Have you come to crash the party? Did Aaron hire a stripper after all?”

“Thank you, you just made my day.” The woman laughed. “I’m definitely not a stripper, though it might make a fun story to tell my kids when they’re older. My name’s Kelsey.”

After a second, recognition set in. “You’re Jordan’s friend from New Hampshire.”

She nodded. “One of them, anyway.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Jake said, extending a hand. “But what brings you to my bachelor party?”

***

Jordan was having a pinch-me-I’m-dreaming moment. She was still wasn’t sure she deserved the happiness, but she’d learned to stop questioning it. It was real. It was happening. In less than twenty-four hours she’d be a married woman on the way to her honeymoon. Tonight, she was celebrating her last night as a single woman with her three closest friends.

The absence of the fourth, whom Jordan had come to consider a good friend as well, led to a fair amount of grumbling from Sarah. “I can’t believe you sent my wife on a spy mission,” she said.

“Oh, please.” Jordan rolled her eyes. “You do tend to exaggerate. It’s not a spy mission, exactly.”

“So you’re not at all curious if the guys will have a stripper at the party?” Sarah asked dubiously.

“Okay, maybe a little,” Jordan said. “But it’s not like I twisted Kelsey’s arm or anything. She was perfectly willing to go.” Immediately, Jordan recognized it as the wrong thing to say.

Sarah glared at her. “Yes! Probably because she’s hoping there
will
be strippers.”

“Doubtful,” Beth chimed in. “But if she is, she’ll leave disappointed. Aaron’s in charge of this party. I can pretty much stake my life on there being no naked women. Unless, of course, Kel decides to take her clothes off.”

“You’re so not funny,” Sarah insisted, though she appeared to be fighting laughter herself.

“For being a
bachelorette
party,” Tracey said with chuckle, “we seem to be talking an awful lot about naked women. If we’re over that, though, I thought we’d play a game.”

Jordan was more than happy to oblige, with one condition. “Please tell me it’s nothing to do with law. I’m on vacation. So are you.”

“Relax,” Tracey said. “I’m borrowing from Jake’s profession for this one. We’re playing wedding movie charades.”

***

Initially, Jake wasn’t sure whether to be amused or offended that Jordan sent one of her lesbian friends to spy on him, but he quickly settled on amusement. Kelsey fit in right away as one of the guys, and he doubted she’d be offended if he said that.

She engaged in a spirited debate with Aaron over whose Ivy League alma mater—her Dartmouth or his Yale—was truly the best, then chewed on the end of a cigar while she studied her poker hand, her expression revealing nothing.

“I’m in,” she said after a few seconds, and moved a few chips to the center of the table.

“I’ll raise.” This
bold proclamation came from Steve, who, Jake learned, shared a child with Jordan’s friend, Tracey, though he claimed to be dating a woman named Meredith.

As Kelsey laid down her winning hand and swept the chips to her pile, Jake concluded that Steve was probably as adept at personal relationships as he was poker.

“Excuse me for a second.” Kelsey pushed back her chair, cell phone in hand.

Jake knew she would likely contact her partner to report on the goings on of his party, and it suddenly gave him an idea. “So how long have you been with Sarah?” he asked casually.

“Fourteen years,” Kelsey said.

“Impressive.” Jake nodded his approval. “And I bet you tell each other everything, right?” It seemed reasonable enough for two women.

“Most of the time,” Kelsey said. “With a few exceptions that ended badly and taught us a lesson.”

Perfect.
“Great. I have an idea...”

***

“Hurry up, Sarah,” Jordan said. “It’s our turn.” Truthfully, she wasn’t much interested in continuing the game. She’d just confused
The Princess Bride
with
The Runaway Bride
, then watched Beth channel her inner Andie McDowell in reenacting
Four Weddings and a Funeral
. To top it off, her teammate was now more interested in texting with her spouse-turned-spy.

“Hey, you’re the one that started this,” Sarah reminded her as she got back to the living room.

“So what are they doing?” Jordan asked. “Any naked or semi-naked women yet?”

“Not unless you count the Dallas Stars ice girls. They’re watching a hockey game and playing poker.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a party Aaron planned.” Beth laughed. “What can I say? He’s a nerd, but he’s my nerd, and I love him.”

“All in all, it sounds pretty uneventful over there. Kind of like over here.” Sarah took a sip of non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice. “If anyone called for male strippers, though, I feel obliged to warn you that Kelsey has apparently turned double agent.”

“What?” Jordan exclaimed. “How the hell did that happen?”

“No idea.” Sarah shrugged. “I guess your future husband recruited her to the dark side.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Jordan said.

“I think it’s hilarious,” Tracey said. “And, by the way, it further proves how perfect you are for each other.”

Since Tracey spoke the truth and Jordan had tired of the wedding charade game, she offered no protest and set down her glass. “There’s something I need to do,” she said. “And I’d like my three best friends with me when I do it.”

“Of course,” Beth said without hesitation. “Anything.”

Jordan laughed as she stood up. It was great to have friends she could count on.  “Come with me to the bathroom.”

No one objected or looked at Jordan like she was crazy; instead they simply followed her there. Jordan opened the medicine cabinet. “I’m getting married tomorrow, so it’s time to get rid of these,” she said, and dumped what was left of her birth-control pills in the toilet and flushed it. There was no turning back now, and Jordan felt surprisingly okay with that. This was real. All of it was real.

“Oh, wow.” Tracey’s eyes widened. “Does that mean you’re...”

“It means we’ve talked about it,” Jordan said. “Given my age, I don’t know if I can say we’re actively trying, but either way, we expect to get plenty of practice.” She felt the heat rise to her cheeks. “Whatever happens, happens, right?” 

***

Kelsey returned an hour later, asking for leftover pizza and confirming what Jordan already knew. “You’re marrying a good man,” she said. “And he’s crazy about you.”

Jordan nodded, smiling. “Thanks for taking one for the team, Kel. I owe you.”

“Anytime. They’re good guys. I missed my girl, though.” She put an arm around Sarah, who immediately crinkled up her nose.

“Ew. You smell like bourbon and cigars.”

“I know. Sorry. But I won three hundred bucks playing poker.” Kelsey grinned.

“Oh, well, in that case you’re forgiven.” Sarah laughed.

“Did you fleece my husband?” Beth demanded.

“Nope.” Kelsey looked in Tracey’s direction. “I fleeced your boyfriend.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” she said tersely. “He’s Meredith’s boyfriend. He’s only here to see Lindsay be the flower girl tomorrow.”

“Whatever,” Jordan said, happy that the scheme to get Steve to Texas with Tracey had succeeded. There was more to do, though. She linked arms with Beth and Sarah. “Let’s get me married off tomorrow, then we’ll work on her, okay?”

###