Slow Burn: A Colorado High Country Novel (20 page)

“You look beautiful,” he whispered to her. “I could barely take my eyes off you.”

“Thanks. You, too.” She gave a furtive smile. “Can we talk?”

“I think we have to sign the marriage certificate and then pose for a bunch of silly photos. There might not be time until after lunch and all the speeches. But, yeah, we definitely need to talk.”

They passed Megs and Ahearn.

“What’s the matter, Megs?” Eric teased. “Got something in your eye?”

“It’s these new contact lenses.” Megs dabbed her cheeks with a tissue.

“Right.”

When Victoria laughed, it felt like the rising of the sun.

* * *

T
hey signed the marriage certificate
, then posed for photos for the better part of an hour. Vic hadn’t managed to get a single private moment with Eric. Guests now took their seats in the party tent, the sides of which had been tied back, while the catering staff hurried to set up a buffet.

It was then Vic finally saw Eric alone, strolling across the grass.

She lifted her skirts and hurried over to him. “Do you have a second? I really want to talk with you.”

He glanced toward the tent. “They’re about to open the buffet, so we don’t have much time.”

“I wanted to apologize for how I reacted last night.”

“You have no reason to be sorry.”

“You’re not angry with me?”

His brows drew together, and he pulled her with him behind the rose arbor. “I’m not angry at all. I’m sorry for what I said last night. I didn’t mean it the way it sounded. But, hey, we’ve got all night to talk this through.”

Somehow she didn’t think they’d spend much of the night talking.

He ducked down and kissed the swells of her breasts.

“Bobbing for apples?” a man’s voice asked.

Lexi’s dad.

Eric drew back, tried to look casual. “Hey, Bob.”

Vic’s face burned.

“Come on.” Eric took her hand in his, and they walked together toward the tent.

Then Vic saw him—Bear.

He stood on the sidewalk in front of the inn, watching, hat and Bible in his hands.

“Hang on.” She ran over to Bear. “Hey, Bear, would you like some lunch and wedding cake? Come join us.”

He stared at her. “Gosh, you look pretty.”

“Thank you. That’s sweet of you. Come have lunch with us.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“I’m sure.”

He followed her like a child to the tent, where Eric was already getting a place set for him at the end of one of the tables.

“See?” She pointed. “There’s your spot.”

Eric gestured toward a chair. “Hey, Bear, come eat.”

She wasn’t sure Bear knew what to do at a buffet, so she fixed a plate for him and sat it down before him, together with a glass of lemonade. “I’ve got to go sit with Lexi and Austin now, but if you need anything, let me know, okay?”

Bear nodded. “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

She gave him a smile. “You’re welcome.”

Eric walked with her to the buffet and handed her a plate, using the opportunity to lean in close. “God, I adore you. Your heart is pure gold.”

His words put a glow behind her breastbone.

The meal was delicious—a choice of herb-roasted chicken breast with rhubarb compote or salmon with lemon and herbs, and roasted new potatoes with parsley, salad, roasted asparagus, and green beans with mint. Wine was available, but she stuck with lemonade—until Eric brought her a glass of champagne.

“For the toasts,” he said.

“Is everything under control with Chaska and the projector?”

He nodded. “Belcourt and Moretti are going to bring in the screen and projector as soon as you finish your toast.”

That was perfect.

She took a sip of champagne. “Are you nervous?”

Dark brows drew together. “Taylor is my best friend. I don’t want to fail him.”

She squeezed his hand. “You won’t.”

And then it was time.

Butterflies did a quick dance in Vic’s belly, more for Eric than for herself. She did lots of public speaking as part of her job. But this was new for him.

Eric tapped the side of his champagne glass with his knife, the
ding-ding-ding
bringing an expectant silence. “When I sat down to write this, I didn’t know whether it was supposed to be short and sweet or longer. But since rangers complain that firefighters talk too much, I figured Taylor knew what he was getting himself into.”

This statement brought guffaws from people scattered throughout the tent—presumably other firefighters and park rangers, who got the in-joke.

“Austin Taylor is my best friend. I don’t remember not knowing him. My mother, Robin, babysat him so she could stay home with me. I’m certain the two of us were a handful.”

“You were,” Robin called out, making everyone laugh.

Eric went on to describe some of their most memorable antics. Skipping school so they could fish and being caught in the lie by Austin’s father. Trying to construct a real, operational lightsaber at age ten, only to catch his mother’s Tuff Shed on fire—the event that led Eric to want to be a firefighter. Thinking they were buying weed their first year of high school, only to be busted in possession of dried oregano by their PE teacher.

“We were both grounded for a month—for buying
oregano
.”

Laughter.

“But about that time, we began to notice her. Lexi Jewell. We’d known her all our lives, but in middle school, she went through some changes. By the time we got to high school…” Eric paused. “Well, she’d become the prettiest girl in the school, maybe all of Scarlet Springs. We talked about her at lunch. We talked about her after school. If one of us actually talked
with
her, we felt like we’d won the damned lottery. ‘Lexi Jewell said hi to me in the hallway.’”

More laughter.

Then he shared how Austin, who’d gone through some changes too, had gotten up the courage to ask her out—and she’d said yes.

“Man, I hated him. I was so jealous. Not only had he hit puberty first, but he’d gotten the girl the rest of us wanted.”

He told them about Lexi and Austin’s breakup and how Austin claimed to despise her for years after that. “Then one day twelve years later, she shows up in town. Austin acts like he couldn’t care less. But in less than a week …”

Eric’s gaze shot to Vic’s, and he seemed to forget what he was going to say.

He swallowed. “In less than a week, they’d fallen in love. Again.”

He turned to Austin and raised his glass. “Taylor, you are like a brother to me. You brought your father into my life, shared your little sister, gave me an extra mom. You helped me set that shed on fire and discover my true calling. You’re my climbing soul mate, my wingman and co-conspirator, and the best buddy a guy could have. I’ve watched you and Lexi from the beginning and know better than anyone else that the two of you were always meant to be. To Lexi and Austin!”

Vic stood and raised her glass along with everyone else. “To Lexi and Austin!”

She remained standing, taking a moment to organize her notes, ignoring the stirring of butterflies in her stomach. Okay, so she was a little nervous.

“I didn’t meet Lexi until our first year of college at the University of Illinois. She was studying to be a certified public accountant, while I was focused on marketing and public relations. Somehow the computer system decided we would get along, and so we were put together as roommates.

“That computer must have been a genius machine because who could have predicted that a girl who’d grown up near Central Park in Manhattan and a girl who’d grown up in Scarlet Springs would have so much in common.

“I think it was probably our first day as roommates when Lexi told me about this jerk back home who’d just broken her heart, some guy named Austin Taylor. Oh, I hated him for her.”

She glanced over at Austin, saw that he was laughing with everyone else.

She shared a few stories of their college years together, ending with Lexi’s return to Scarlet. “When Lexi told me she was going back to Scarlet Springs for a while, I was against it. Not only was I going to miss my best friend, but I was afraid that Austin, that big jerk, would somehow dig his talons into her again. I warned her.

“I would like to state for the record that I was right.”

Cheers and applause.

Vic raised her glass. “Lexi, you’re the sister I never had, and, Austin, you turned out to be Lexi’s knight in shining armor after all. You make Lexi so very happy, and that’s all that matters to me. To Lexi and Austin—and happy endings.”

As she spoke the words, Vic felt a trickle of sadness. Her own story was turning out to be quite different from Lexi’s. By this time tomorrow, she’d be on her way back to Chicago and far from the man she …
loved.

The word came so naturally to her mind that it took a moment for the whole thing to sink in. When it did…

Oh, my God.

Adrenaline zinged through her.

She didn’t just care about him. She was in love with him.

She was in love with Eric.

E
ric watched
as Belcourt finished hooking up the laser projector and inserted the flash drive with the video. When he got the thumbs-up, he tapped on his champagne glass again, waiting till the tent fell quiet. “As soon as Taylor and Lexi got engaged, I started a special project. I had no clue how to finish it. Luckily, Victoria, our lovely maid of honor, had the skills needed to step in and turn my idea into a reality. Can we get the side flaps lowered to make it dark?”

Event staff hurried to comply with his request, a handful of guests stepping up to help, too, until the party tent was dim.

“Belcourt?”

Belcourt started the video.

Music played, Eric’s mother’s face appearing on the screen.

“Emily Jewell was my best friend.”

At those words, Eric heard Lexi and Britta give a quick little gasp.

On the screen, his mother was still talking. “I remember the day Lexi was born and how proud Emily and Bob were of their little bundle. She was cute as a newborn, too, that girl. Lots of red hair, those big green eyes.”

A photo of Emily showing off her rounded belly appeared then faded into one of her holding newborn Lexi, all bundled in blankets, in front of the inn. That image faded, cutting to video of Frank, who owned the Pump ’N’ Go gas station.

He repeated Eric’s question. “What would Emily Jewell say if she knew Lexi was marrying Austin? She’d say, ‘Did that boy ever get out of diapers?’”

Laughter.

Eric looked over at Lexi and Taylor and saw they were laughing, too, tears running down Lexi’s cheeks, Britta wiping tears away with her fingers. He nudged Victoria, who followed the direction of his gaze, then looked up at him, tears in her eyes too. She moved closer, slid her arm around his waist.

Oh, yeah. He liked that.

Then Mrs. Beech, who’d been everyone’s English teacher in Scarlet Springs for the past century or so, appeared on the screen. “Why Emily would be pleased as punch to hear her daughter was marrying that Taylor boy. He was always such a nice boy. He was a good skier, too. He grew up to be a park ranger. Did you know that?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Eric’s own voice answered. “We work together sometimes.”

More laughter.

The video cut to Rose. “Oh, Emily knows. Of course, she knows. Whatever journey her spirit has made, she knows more about us now than we know about ourselves. She’s thrilled that Lexi and Austin are together. She used to come to me for readings. She had a lot of second chakra energy just like Lexi—very fertile, very sexual.”

And so it went, the stories of so many intertwined lives being told on the screen in personal anecdotes and faded photos, Lexi and Austin growing up before everyone’s eyes. Then music began to swell, and Eric’s mother appeared on the screen again as the video came to its end.

“Emily was my dearest friend. This town lost something precious the day she was killed. I believe in my heart that she’ll be with us on Lexi and Austin’s wedding day, watching. She’d be so proud of the woman Lexi has become, and she’d be happy that her baby girl found love with a good man.

“Congratulations, Austin and Lexi. We’re all so happy for you.”

The image faded, and credits scrawled across the screen. “With love to Lexi and Austin on your wedding day, from Hawke and Victoria.”

The tent erupted in cheers and applause, event staff hurrying to tie back the tent’s flaps again to let in light.

Lexi stood, dabbing her eyes with a tissue, a bittersweet smile on her face. “Leave it to you two to make me ugly cry at my own wedding reception.”

More cheers.

She hurried over to them, planted a kiss on Eric’s cheek, giving them each a hug. “Thank you both so much. That meant the world to me. Can I have a copy?”

“Of course,” Eric said. “That’s why I made it.”

Taylor stepped up, drew Eric into a crushing hug. “Thanks, man.”

As they walked off to cut the cake, Victoria wrapped her arms around Eric’s neck. “That was a beautiful thing you did.”

“I didn’t do it alone, you know.”

Then he kissed her, not giving a damn who saw.

* * *

V
ic ran
her fingertips over the bride’s bouquet—tiny lavender buds, soft rose petals, fragrant eucalyptus. She hadn’t tried to catch it. She’d stood in the back, figuring one of Lexi’s other unmarried friends deserved some excitement. She’d been maid of honor, after all. But the darned bouquet had hit her right in the boobs.

Lexi ran over to her. “I can’t believe you caught it.”

Vic narrowed her eyes. “Did you do that on purpose?”

Lexi shook her head. “No! I swear I didn’t.”

“Okay, then.” Vic didn’t believe it signified anything. She wasn’t superstitious. “Are you and Austin leaving soon? You’ve got a plane to catch.”

The dancing had died down, and guests were now leaving at a trickle.

“We’ll probably leave in the next half hour. I want to stop at the mine shaft and toss in a piece of cake for the knockers. You can come with us if you’d like.”

“Sure.” Vic didn’t have to ask which mine shaft, and she didn’t have to ask why. Lexi truly believed that a tommyknocker who’d called himself Cousin Jack had helped save her life a year ago, and it was an old Cornish tradition to share food with them. “It was a beautiful wedding. Truly, it was.”

“Thank you. And thanks for all you did to—”

“You’d better watch the cake, Ms. Taylor.” Austin walked up to them. “It’s disappearing fast. Bear asked us to wrap an extra piece for him so he can get to his afternoon preaching session at the roundabout. You want a piece to throw in for Cousin Jack. Kendra wants to know if we’re saving the top layer for our anniversary.”

“Of course we are.” Lexi hurried away with her husband.

For the first time since early this morning, Vic was alone. She strolled across the wide lawn past the rose garden, looking west toward the mountains, their breathtaking beauty helping her to hold a growing sense of melancholy at bay. She closed her eyes, inhaled, savoring the scent of the air—so unique to the Colorado mountains.

You’re in love with him.

The thought sent ripples through her.

Yes, she loved him, but it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t leave Scarlet. He
couldn’t
leave Scarlet. Just like the mountains and rivers, he belonged here.

Although she would love to relocate here, she needed some means to support herself. Her trust fund was for emergencies and retirement, not to enable her to sit on her butt. She’d considered what Eric had said about working for a big Denver PR firm. But the thought of moving across the country just to be near a man who might never feel for her the way she felt for him seemed like a spectacularly foolish thing to do. Given her track record when it came to men, it probably spelled disaster. She couldn’t afford to make another big mistake.

Yes, she’d be closer to Lexi, too, but how would it feel to be a part of that group of friends if Eric found someone else and moved on?

Back in the party tent, she heard Bear’s preaching voice as he offered Lexi and Austin his blessing. “What God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”

The sweetness of it brought a smile to her lips.

She watched as he made his way across the yard toward the street, one precious piece of wrapped wedding cake cradled in one big hand, his Bible in the other. “Goodbye, Bear.”

She didn’t say it loud enough to be heard.

When would she see him again? When would she see this place?

If only she could inhale and hold it all inside her, right there close to her heart. There was something peaceful here, something she’d never felt anywhere else. She would visit, of course. She would come back for Christmas. She’d never seen the mountains in the wintertime. Maybe she would even ask Eric to teach her to ski.

He stood with Austin and the other groomsmen as Austin gave them each a gift bag. Lexi had given her bridesmaids engraved Kate Spade gold bangles. Vic’s said, “Best friends forever,” and had today’s date. She watched to see what Austin had given them, but when Eric took his gift out, she had no idea what it was.

He laughed, held it up. “Excellent!”

Obviously, he was pleased with it—whatever it was. Probably climbing gear.

From the front of the inn came the sound of shouting.

She hurried toward the front yard to see what was happening—and stared.

Two young men followed Bear down the sidewalk shoving him, teasing him, trying to grab the cake from his hand, a beat-up SUV with California plates moving slowly along the street beside them.

She ran as fast as she could in heels, rage making her face hot. “Stop it!”

“Come on, man! Give it to me!”

“Just take it from him.”

Bear turned his body away from them, cradling the cake against his chest. “He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker.”

“What are you—some kind of retard?”

“Leave him alone!” she shouted.

The men heard her this time and turned to look at her, their gazes raking over her, smiles taking over their faces.

“Well, hello, there,” said one with bleached white hair and tattoos on his neck and arms. “What’s your name, sugar?”

She tried to reach Bear, but they wouldn’t let her pass. “Let him be. He hasn’t done anything to you. Go on your way. Bear, find Eric or Austin, okay?”

The SUV had stopped in the street, two more young men watching, big smiles on their faces as if this were merely entertainment. She knew now that she ought to have gone for help rather than trying to deal with this alone. She didn’t even have her phone.

Bear stared at her, fear in his eyes, cake still held protectively against his chest.

“What if we don’t want to go?” said the one with the white hair. “What if I’d rather have you suck my cock?”

She ignored the taunt. “There are a hundred people at this wedding who care about the man you’re bullying, including law enforcement.”

“Ooooh! I’m scared.”

The other one—the man who hadn’t spoken to her—grabbed Bear’s cake away from him and smashed it on the front of his jacket. “Eat that, retard.”

“Don’t touch him!” She started toward Bear, but the one with the white hair shoved her.

“Back off, bitch.”

Victoria stumbled backward, one heel catching on the hem of her dress. She fell back into the street.

Squealing breaks. An approaching bumper.

Pain exploded against her skull.

And then ...
nothing
.

* * *

E
ric saw
the bastard shove Victoria, saw her fall backward into the path of an approaching car. His heart gave a sickening thud, fear like ice in his blood. “Vicki!”

He shouted back to Taylor. “Call EMS! Call Scarlet PD!
Now
!”

Please let her be okay!

His brain couldn’t form any other coherent thought as he ran toward her, his mind taking in only fragments of what was happening on the street.

A woman jumping out of the car to stare down at the street in front of her vehicle. The bastard who’d pushed her jumping into the SUV. The SUV’s tires squealing as it sped away. Bear standing as if frozen.

Eric reached the front of the car—and he saw her.

Victoria lay unconscious on her back, her head mere inches from the car’s tire, the bouquet smashed beneath it, its petals crushed.

“Jesus, Vicki.” He dropped to a knee beside her, bent over her, pressed his fingers against her carotid, searching for a pulse. “Can you hear me, baby?”

Years of training kicked in, forcing his panic aside.

Her airway was clear. She was breathing. Her pulse was rapid and weak.

She was going into shock.

“I didn’t hit her,” babbled the woman from the car, clearly terrified. “I’m sure I didn’t hit her. I was already slowing down because those boys were in the way. It’s their fault! One of them pushed her into the street.”

“I saw, ma’am,” he said. “It wasn’t your fault. Why don’t you come over here and sit on the curb?”

He didn’t want her having a coronary or going into shock, too.

In the distance, he heard the wail of sirens.

He stripped off his tux jacket, laid it over Victoria, then shifted position and opened her eyes, relief surging through him to find her pupils equal, round, and reactive.