Jarod's Heart (King Brothers Stories #2) (32 page)

S
ound sleep was impossible, thanks to the nurses who kept prodding her awake every hour or so. Lauren would just feel the Sandman’s tug into peaceful sleep when she was nudged back into painful consciousness.

At least they’d let Jessica stay, thanks to Jarod’s insistence. She was surprised that he’d opted to sleep in the uncomfortable chair next to her bed, instead of heading to the hotel room with the rest of his family. She’d only spoken to Camille and Julie once via Jason’s cell phone to reassure them that she was fine.

Jessica would squeeze her every now and then, as if to reassure them both that they were together, though she didn’t wake up. Her brave little girl had endured enough in her short life. Lauren would be damned before she’d make her uncomfortable ever again. Bending over to kiss Jessica made the room shift in her concussed head, but she needed the contact. As soon as her lips swept across her her forehead, Jessica relaxed a tiny bit.

“She loves you, you know,” a husky male whisper proclaimed in the dark.

Without skipping a beat, Lauren admitted, “I love her, too.” A tear slipped from her eye, but she ignored it, letting it fall into Jessica’s dark hair.

Jarod stood up from his chair to stand near the bed. He leaned a hip on the mattress and braced himself with one arm on the other side of Lauren’s hip, making Jessica the filling in their family sandwich.

He gently bent down and kissed his daughter’s head before moving his lips to Lauren’s. His kiss was gentle and sweet, an offer of comfort. Another tear slipped from her eye, and he kissed that one away. It was sexy the way he ran his tongue over his lower lip to taste the tear, but there was no sensual heat in his eyes. No, there was something different in their blue depths, something she’d wished to see a long time ago but had been too afraid to ask for.

The corner of his mouth turned up into a little smirk before he kissed her a little more passionately, but just as gently as he had before. When he was through making her pulse jump around on the monitors, he smiled his killer smile—the one he so rarely showed to anyone anymore.

“Jarod…,” she began.

“Jessica isn’t the only one who loves you, Lauren.”

Her eyes widened and his handsome face began to blur through the tears pooling in her eyes.

“She’s not the only one who needs you, either.” He gently played with a matted curl that was lying on the pillow.

God, she must look atrocious!

As if reading her mind, he chuckled. “Good God, woman,” he whispered. “How can I ever live without you? You make me crazy, you know that?” He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. You’re confident, but insecure at the same time. You love without reservation, but you don’t put up with anyone’s crap, either. You fight for what you want, and you don’t stop until you get it and, Lauren, believe me…you’ve got me.”

When he lifted his head to meet her gaze, she saw in his sapphire eyes the truth of his words and all the love that she’d hoped for. He put his lips to hers again. This was no gentle kiss; this was a kiss telling her that she was his.

When he finally came up for air, he said, “I love you so much that it’s hard for me to breathe.” Then a tear slipped down his own cheek as he implored, “Please don’t ever leave me.”

She hiccupped before she answered, “Never. Jarod, I will never leave you. You are the love of my life. You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted, and I promise that I will never leave you.”

The tears were a torrent now, flowing down her cheeks while she wrapped her free arm around Jarod, hugging him to her as closely as their position would let her, and without crushing the precious gift sleeping soundly between them.

Or so they thought.

“I love you too, Daddy,” Jessica whispered.

“IT’S OKAY, MOMMY.
I like the yellow part flat.”

Lauren laughed. “Well, it’s a good thing, because I can’t flip an egg to save my life, sweet pea.”

Jessica kicked her little feet back and forth on the bar stool as she stuffed as much of the flat egg into her mouth as possible.

Josh had purchased Lauren’s townhouse but was renting it back to them while he renovated the upper east wing of the King estate. He was turning the whole floor into a penthouse. They’d been living in the townhouse since she was released from the hospital two months ago.

Lauren smelled Jarod’s cologne before she saw him. He was fresh from his morning shower and looking like sex on a stick in his plain white t-shirt that left nothing to the imagination and low-slung Levi’s that had seen better days. When he kissed Jessica’s head, Lauren almost swooned.

There was just something about a man kissing a child that turned her on.

“‘Mornin’, Darlin’. Are you ready for the big day?”

“Yup,” she said around a bite of toast. “Mommy said we’re gettin’ our hair and faces done with Joojee ’fore the wedding.”

Lauren smiled at the twinkle in Jarod’s eye.

“Are you boys getting your faces and hair done, too?”

“Uh, no, Sassy, we’re not. Thank God,” he smirked. “Can I get a flat egg, too?” He’d come around the counter into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Lauren’s waist from behind.

“How many do you want?”

“A couple. I’m starving.” Then he whispered in her ear, “Someone kept me up all night, so I’ve got quite an appetite this morning.”

She smiled before gently shoving her elbow into his ribs. “Sit down at the bar and I’ll get you a plate.”

When she turned from the stove to deliver his breakfast, Jarod and Jessica were sitting on bar stools with their heads together, having a private father-daughter conversation. The Norman Rockwell-esque picture they painted reminded Lauren of dreams she’d once had as a child; and she vowed to keep this family together no matter what.

“D-D-DO I L-LOOK
all right?” Julie’s voice quavered as they all watched her reflection in the stand-alone mirror in an anteroom of the church.

“All right?” Lauren queried. “Honey, you look beautiful.”

Camille carefully wrapped her arms around Julie. “You are a vision, dear. Beautiful inside and out, and my son is lucky to have you.”

They continued to study her from head to toe. Her dress shimmered like frost, almost as if there were tiny bits of glittery ice embedded in the material. She wore her auburn hair up, with a few strategically placed curls flowing down around her shoulders and face. There had been some discussion about whether or not the dress needed a veil, but, in the end, she’d decided to wear a crystal tiara with green emeralds interspersed in a delicate winter-themed pattern.

Jessica had been delighted when her own mini tiara had been placed on her head, but instead of emeralds, Julie had added tiny blue sapphires. Their bridal party’s dresses were in a frosty blue-green, so the two different gems worked well together.

“You look lovely, Julie. I’m honored to be a part of your big day,” said Melissa Theroux, who was Marguerite’s younger sister.

Jason’s groomsmen had outnumbered the bridesmaids, so Julie had been desperate to even out the numbers. Melissa had been a couple of grades younger than Lauren and Julie in school, and while her older sister had never been one of their favorites, Melissa had always been sweet…that is, when she spoke. Melissa was painfully shy. Lauren had been surprised that she’d agreed to be a part of the wedding at all.

Josh poked his head into their dressing room. “Almost time, ladies. Oh my God,” he said, as he stepped in the room. “Julie, you look ravishing.”

“Ravishing, Josh? Really?” Lauren said, one eyebrow raised.

“Yes, Sassy. Ravishing. Anyone can say ‘beautiful,’ but I know Jason. Believe me, once he sees her in that dress, all he’s going to want to do is…”

Camille cut him off. “Behave, Josh. Jessica is in the room,” she admonished, pointing her finger into his chest.

Jessica looked at Julie with a crinkle in her forehead before she put her little hands on her hips and said, “Hunkle Josh, she don’t look like a radish. She looks like Hunkle Jason’s Princess.”

Before Josh could retort, he was shoved from behind by Charlie. “Dude, Jason is going to pummel you if you don’t get back out there. Father O’Keefe is about to start the procession to the altar.”

“I had to get another look at the beautiful woman who is about be my sister, and was sidetracked by a whole roomful of beautiful ladies.” Josh picked up Jessica and smacked a kiss on her cheek, making her giggle before he leaned over and whispered in Julie’s ear. He hugged her gently and made her cry.

Damn it.
Lauren hurried over to fix Julie’s mascara.

Then, to Lauren’s dismay, he hugged Camille, making her cry as well. On his way out, he complimented Melissa, who proceeded to turn three shades of red before turning away from Josh.

They’d never get out of this room in perfect condition.

WHEN LAUREN HEARD
“Secret Smile” being played on the piano, it was time for the bridal party to proceed to the altar.

“You know I love you, right?” she heard Julie say to Charlie, who was giving her away.

Charlie sniffled but manned up right away. Then he whispered, “I love you, too, Sis.”

On cue, Melissa went down the aisle first, with not a red blotch in sight, thank God.

Lauren gave last-minute instructions to Jessica before she turned to follow Melissa into the sanctuary.

As Lauren approached the altar, she admired all of the King brothers, who were standing there waiting: Jason as the delighted groom, then Jarod and Josh. They were all so handsome, with Jason looking proud and imposing as usual, but in all of his wedding finery, he seemed a lot more menacing…until he winked at Lauren.

As she took her spot at the altar to await Jessica, who was now proudly tossing silk petals hither and thither, Lauren caught Jarod’s eye. His blue eyes shown bright as he mouthed the words
I love you.

Ignoring the quiver in her lip, she mouthed the words back to him, right before Jessica made it to her side with a bright smile on her tiny face. Out of nowhere, she yelled, “Hi Daddy!” to the congregation’s delight.

There was a break in the music before a sweet, modern version of the Bridal Chorus began to play. Everyone stood as Julie and Charlie made their way down the aisle.

Father O’Keefe began the introductory words and spoke of enduring love. Then he asked, “Who gives this woman to this man in marriage?”