She Belongs to Me (16 page)

“I was making arrangements,” he said evenly. “I have a flatbed truck delivering my pickup to North Carolina, and they’re moving your car to your grandmother’s so you will have something to drive when you visit. I scheduled a moving company to pack your house. Everything will be in Stanfield when we arrive on Thursday. I booked us for five nights in Vegas. I have to return to work on Monday, so I figured we’d want a few days at home together alone.” He let out a chuckle, but continued before she could comment. “We’re having a cookout with just immediate family on
Friday night at
our
house. My mother and sisters will prepare dinner so you won’t have to worry about entertaining in a house you aren’t familiar. And then, Saturday, we are having a wedding reception. I don’t know where yet, but my secretary Lorraine will take care of all the arrangements.”
He smiled widely, visibly proud of his achievements.

Jaynee’s mouth dropped open, but words escaped her. He put his finger under her chin, pulled her mouth back up and kissed her.

His brow furrowed. “You okay, love?” he asked when she didn’t respond.

“Uh, Jordan…you
are
quite controlling
,
aren’t you?” Her lips pursed together in an attempt to hold back the sudden swell of anger. What seemed great earlier suddenly concerned her. How much of her life would he attempt to control?

His shoulders sagged, and his eyes took on a look of an adolescent scolded for a wrongdoing.

She quickly continued, “I’m sorry. That was rude…thank you for everything. However, will you promise me something?” He nodded and waited for her request. “I know you want to take care of me, but I’ve been on my own since I was seventeen. I’ve made mistakes, but I’m hardly incapable of making decisions. If we’re going to be married, we need to discuss what
we
are going to do in the future. Not that I don’t enjoy surprises, but would it have hurt to consult with me about wedding receptions and dinners with family members I’ve never met, not to mention moving my house—” She broke off, struggling to keep her voice
level. She had a bit of a temper, and with the stress of everything, she was feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Jordan immediately pulled upright and stared into her eyes. “I’m sorry. I just wanted to make everything effortless. I won’t do it again. I am controlling, I suppose, but not in a bad way.” His voice was compliant and apologetic.

She couldn’t stay mad at him, looking at the way his eyes melted into hers.

Jaynee took a deep, calming breath. “I’m not upset, Jordan, merely taken by surprise. I’m not accustomed to people taking care of me or making decisions. Can we just agree to discuss everything from here on out?” She rested her head back on his shoulder again. “With the exception of surprises, I don’t mind you don’t want me to see the pictures of where we are going. I understand that the fiancé…” She paused and smiled at the word. Jordan liked it too, his face lit up at her reference. “…is supposed to arrange the honeymoon and keep it a secret.”

He rested his head on hers. “Yes I am, but I will try to be more considerate of your feelings in the future.”

“My Prince Charming,” she said, sighing softly, latching her arm around his again.

“Hardly,” he offered, chuckling, obviously amused by her comparison. “But, thank you.”

***

Lorraine
Condrey
set the phone gently back in the cradle. She wanted to launch it across her desk at the
empty office next to her.
But as always, she kept her feelings locked away for nobody to witness.

How dare he? How could Jordan leave on business, meet someone and abruptly decide to marry her? Was he utterly insane? No, he wasn’t. He was the most thoughtful, caring, loving, smartest, gorgeous and gentle man she had ever known. He belonged to her. From the time they were teenagers, she’d always known he was the One. Why hadn’t she told him?

She knew why. Because he would never regard her any other way than the girl down the street, with whom he and his sisters spent their summers. She saw all the girls who fawned over him when he moved here permanently. Some, she knew, would even purposely speed through his section of town, hoping he’d pull them over.

Now, she was responsible for organizing his wedding reception. She heard correct. He was getting married tonight, and nothing would stop Jordan. When he set his mind to something, he never surrendered. All she could do was do the best for her boss. “Make it beautiful.” He had said. “Spare nothing. Anything you can think of to make it special. I trust you.” So, she would. Then, when his impromptu marriage failed, she’d be there to shoulder his burden. She wouldn’t hesitate again. She’d comfort him the way she
’d
always wanted.

The door flew open, jolting Lorraine from her thoughts. All three partners, his brothers-in-law, Robert Brooks and Ronald Duncan and Detective John Ramos stormed into the office.

“Is it true, Lorraine? Did Jordan call you with the news?” Bobby’s booming voice rang out before he barely entered the office. “Sissy just called and said Jordan is getting married?”

Ronny narrowed his eyes and interjected, “Rachael said the same thing. Said he met a girl and they flew to Vegas this morning. Is it true?”

Detective Ramos said nothing, just had a questioning look that said without words, ‘Certainly his best friend and partner would call him before making such a drastic decision’, but Lorraine had thought the same thing.

Of course,
they were all working on Saturday. It was the only day the entire team could get together and discu
ss their current projects. And
naturally, they’d come to her for answers. Jordan hardly made a move without checking with her—she was his walking-daily-planner. But he had this time. It was too late to tell him he couldn’t fit a marriage into his schedule, that he was booked for that role for the rest of his life.
Too late.

Lorraine shook her head in disbelief as the three men stared at her as if she held the answer to some mysterious equation. They knew Jordan made quick decisions. A quality they had come to admire about him, what gave every one of them an opportunity to work for him. He had been the one not fearful to venture on his own into the construction business and had brought them in with him in his enterprises, making them all wealthy in the process.

Lorraine pasted on a smile. “It’s true, called me a few minutes ago. I have to find a suitable location for a wedding reception before Saturday.”

She hoped the despair didn’t se
ep through her voice. But Bobby
high-fived Ronny and John, then let out a hoot and a holler, so she figured he hadn’t noticed her reaction. Ronny, she wasn’t so sure; he didn’t seem as excited. She wondered why. John said nothing, just stood there with his mouth hung open, probably jealous. Jordan and John had competed with each other since they were teenagers. Though it wasn’t Jordan’s fault, John just always wanted whatever Jordan had.

Bobby slammed his hand on the table, causing Lorraine to jump. “Gone off and found him a Florida beach-bunny. That dog! And he said he had no intention in settling down anytime soon, hardly even dated from what I saw.” Bobby’s loud voice rang through Lorraine’s system. She couldn’t take it any longer; she had to get out of this office, Jordan’s office.

“Bobby?” Lorraine interrupted his pace around the office. “I know we leave early on Saturday, but I have a few things to organize. Can y’all deal without me today?” The calm tone of her voice amazed her. She felt nothing but sorrow and heartbreak and wanted to scream and hit something—someone.

Bobby waved her off.
“Sure thing, Lorraine.
We’ll see you Monday.” He turned his attention back to Ronny and John as she gathered up her purse and car keys. “She’s probably tall with long platinum hair,” Bobby rambled.

“From Florida, yeah that and she’s most likely tanned with baby blue eyes,” Ronny added, wiggling his eyebrows.

John smacked Ronny on the back. “Every time I went to Florida for Spring
Break, the babes all had
rockin
’ bodies. I’m sure she’s hot,” John completed the appraisal.

Ugh, men
, Lorraine seethed silently. Jordan wouldn’t have done that. He wouldn’t talk about another man’s wife-to-be. The tears streamed down her face relentlessly. She probably wasn’t a witch at all. Jordan wouldn’t have fallen for fraudulence. She was, however, undoubtedly prettier than words. Lorraine charged out of the construction trailer, jumped into her car and raced out of the parking lot entirely too fast. She heard the North Carolina red clay as it splattered against the undercarriage of her car, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to escape.

***

Jaynee held onto Jordan’s hand as he trailed her through the luggage pickup and to the rental counter. He had a rental car waiting and drove them to the front entrance of the lavish resort. After handing the keys to the valet, Jordan escorted Jaynee to the front desk. Every square inch of the lobby had decorative, ornate moldings and marble, along with aged stone sculptures and re-creations of Italian artwork as far as she could see. A potent scent, reminiscent of jasmine and lavender, filled the air. It was very relaxing. Jaynee felt it working on her senses, even as butterflies swarmed her stomach.

It was rather busy, but the female clerk accepted papers from Jordan with a smile. “Welcome to the
Venetian,” the woman
said in a singsong voice
. “You’ll be staying in a Venetian Luxury View. The suite has a king-size bed, is non-smoking, and you have a lovely view of the Venetian’s Private Pool and Gardens.” Embarrassed by the gleam in the woman’s eyes, Jaynee looked down shyly as she handed them cardkeys and various pamphlets of information.

“Isn’t this incredible?” Jordan paused in the lobby, with its overflowing archways and painted ceilings. They lingered around the shops and leaned against the railing, watching lovers in Venice-style gondolas serenaded by the gondoliers.

When they finally made it to their suite, he held the door open, allowing her to enter first.

“Do you like it?” were his first words.

Jaynee was in awe. “It’s beautiful, Jordan.” She opened the first door after walking through the short hall. The bathroom—four times larger than hers, larger than most homes she had been in—held a gigantic garden tub surrounded by marble, and then there were double vanities, a separate shower and water closet.

She walked further into the room and saw an enormous bed with a canopy flush against the ceiling, draping down the back of the bed—it filled half the room. Across from the bed, was a sunken sitting room with an L-shaped sofa, dinette and a large window overlooking the pool and
gardens.

“So…” Jordan came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “How ’bout we go find you a dress?”

She exhaled in relief at the feel of his arms and his words. He wasn’t upset about what she’d said on the
plane.
H
e’d been so
quiet on the ride to the hotel;
she’d worried. Maybe he was just as nervous as she was. “Can I pick out my dress?” she teased, turning around in his arms.

“As long as you promise not to worry about the price but agree to select the loveliest dress since you have to choose one off-the-rack.”

She rolled her eyes. “What do you know about off-the-rack?”

“I have two sisters, remember. Believe me; I’ve seen all the drama when it comes to women. My one sister—never mind…I don’t want to scare you. Let’s just say she’s a prima donna.” He gave her a kiss on the top of the head. “Let’s clean up and go shopping.”

After they freshened up, they drove to a promising looking boutique the front desk recommended. Jordan handed her a credit card as she stepped out of the car. “I ordered one with your name on it. They shipped it overnight, so it’ll be here Monday.”

Again, Jaynee was speechless. Did the man think of everything? She leaned back into the car at his expectant look and kissed him. “You’ll be back in an hour, right?”

“You sure that’s long enough?”

Jaynee backed up and stood upright. “Yes, I’m a fast shopper.”

He smiled at her comment then waited until she entered the shop before he drove away.

She had no lack of assistance finding the perfect dress. The sales ladies selected several gowns another woman assured her would look magnificent. When she finally chose a favorite, they measured Jaynee and
guaranteed her they’d have the dress altered perfectly and shipped back to her suite immediately.

Jaynee had never heard of such a thing. She thought for sure she would have to just deal with the fit. Several more women followed up with an assortment of different shoes, lingerie, garter belts and veils while the other woman watched over them.

She stared incredulously at the woman whom she could only assume was the owner or manager. The woman made sure Jaynee received more attention than she ever received in any store. Her standard attire of jeans and a t-shirt rarely got her waited on, often overlooked several times before she would march up to a counter and demand service. But here, the ladies were falling over her. She made eye contact with the woman, summoning her with a crook of her finger.