Sweet Surrender (36 page)

She stood at the rail a few minutes longer, wondering when twilight had crept in. She could hear the waves in the distance, but the darkening sky of the oncoming night had engulfed the water, making them hard to see. It seemed more fitting to her mood than the bright sunshine and glittering waters. One last time, she filled her lungs, blowing the air out slowly before she went in to face the music, quite literally.

* * *

“Don’t you dare go out there and upset her further, you lying, good-for-nothing, philandering bastard.”

Marc blinked down at the angry blonde who stood blocking his way to the terrace. He glanced over her head to where Jessie stood at the railing, a band of light filtering out from the banquet room casting her in a soft glow, her hair fluttering gently in the breeze. He sighed, wanting to go to her, although needing to address Stacy’s fuming and fussing before he could.

“There were a lot of offensive adjectives in that sentence, Stacy. None of them warranted, by the way, but I don’t have the time or the patience to address them right now. I give you my word that the last thing I want to do is upset or hurt her, now or ever. I love her.”

“So you say.” Her gaze narrowed, even though the edge in her tone had lessened. She stepped closer, standing only inches away from him as she continued in a hushed tone. “If you’re denying the things I said, what were you doing with Christina Barlow? Jessie saw you and was crushed.”

“She said that?”

“No,” she replied, “but I could see it. She’s not very adept at hiding her feelings, as you know. What she actually said was that Dr. Barlow was more your type, in your social class, and that your mother would like her better.”

Marc cursed softly hearing the same old fixation she had with wealth and status. Stacy misunderstood his anger.

“I’ve met the good doctor, as you know. She’s pure bitch. Personally, I think you deserve each other.”

“Stacy.” They both turned to find Jared no more than a foot away, frowning at his new bride. “They are ready for the first dance, but I think an explanation of what’s going on here is needed first.”

“Don’t go too hard on her, Jared. Her reasoning is a bit misguided and the facts misconstrued, yet she’s defending Jessie, which is admirable.”

“Misguided? Do you mean to say you haven’t picked back up with that skinny, stuck-up, spiteful bi—”

“Stacy Lynn Baker!” Jared interrupted sharply before she could get out another curse.

She blinked at him at least twice, seeming dazed and to have completely forgotten the course of their conversation.

“Something wrong, Stacy?” Marc asked, smiling slightly, amused by how easily she became distracted by her new husband.

“Um, yes…” She blinked again and shook her head, the gleam in her eyes softening her irritated features. “I mean, no. I’m fine, it just hadn’t sunk in yet.”

“What’s that, sweet pea?” Jared asked.

“You called me Stacy Lynn
Baker
.”

Marc looked between Stacy and her groom, whose stern expression was gone, replaced with a gentle smile as he stared down at her, wholly infatuated with his new bride.

His gut twisted, reminded of how it had been with him and Jessie, before things had gotten all fucked up. His eyes flicked to the terrace. As quickly as it had come, his smile faded. He cleared his throat roughly before continuing.

“Let’s put this debate on hold. Jessie’s getting restless and I’d like to talk with her before she disappears again. As far as Christina, I agree. She is a spiteful, cold-hearted bitch and it’s the reason I stopped dating her. My only relationship with her is professional. As well as being a staff physician at the hospital, she works for a pharmaceutical company who is doing clinical trials on a new medication to help manage post-op pain. She’d just finished a presentation on the drug when Jessie saw us come out of the conference room. If the trial wouldn’t benefit our patients at the clinic, I’d tell her to hit the road because she’s a royal pain in the ass. What Jessie saw were my attempts to fend off her wandering hands. If she hadn’t run away from me, as she’s prone to do, I could have explained. She also would have seen Jared and Ben leave the conference room right behind me.”

Stacy considered all of this quietly, while biting her lower lip. She glanced at Jared for confirmation. He nodded, an indulgent brow arched as he did so. “This isn’t good, Marc. Jessie is convinced—”

“I’ll set her straight if you’ll let me by,
piccola
.”

“Oh,” she said as her new husband grabbed her hand, tugging her against him and out of Marc’s way.

“I’ll keep her occupied and out of your way, bud, the dancing is starting.” As he said this, the piano began to play in the background. “Don’t feel like you have to join us, though. Good luck.”

“I’m sorry about that crack, Marc,” Stacy rushed to explain. “I’ve told Jared so many times that you two are meant for each other. Please, by all means, go talk some sense into that girl.”

Jared slapped him on his shoulder, then without allowing Stacy another word, pulled her inside where the impatient bandleader was announcing for a second time the bride and groom’s first dance. The band started to play as Marc stepped out on the terrace.

Still at the rail, Jessie was facing him now, staring sadly at him. How much had she heard? She walked toward him hesitantly. When she was a few steps away, she stopped. Her gaze lifted, but went no higher than his shoulders. He could still see the vulnerability there.

“Um, the music has started, we should probably go in.” She stepped by him and he caught her arm.

“We need to talk, Jess. We can’t go on with this awkwardness between us.”

She looked down at his hand on her arm. He could see the rapid rise and fall of her chest and the pulse that fluttered visibly in her neck. That she was so affected by his nearness encouraged him. After a moment, she spoke softly. “All right, Marc. After the reception, we’ll talk and clear the air.”

* * *

Standing at the edge of the dance floor with the rest of the misty-eyed, smiling guests, she watched the happy couple move gracefully around the floor, he so tall and dark, she a petite blonde, both strikingly beautiful. Their dance ended with a long, passionate kiss as the guests applauded, then the couple separated. As the band played on, Jared found his mother, and the bride, whose parents had unfortunately passed, joined Russ Baker for the traditional father-daughter dance. Jessie knew, if he were living, Stacy’s dad would have moved heaven and earth to be at her side on this special day. That stung, for Stacy, who she knew was feeling bittersweet at this moment, and for herself, as she couldn’t help thinking of her own father, who in over a decade couldn’t be bothered to check on her very existence, let alone show up for a wedding dance. Life really did suck in its injustice.

She felt movement behind her, a warm hand on her bare shoulder, and she could smell the barest hint of his cologne.

“I think we’re expected to join in, Jessie. Can you suffer my company long enough for a dance?”

Her head tilted up until she could gaze into his beloved face for a heartbeat. She looked away sadly, as she informed him, “Your company wasn’t ever something to suffer, handsome.”

Taking his proffered arm, she let him lead her out, joining the other couples as the last bars of ‘I Hope You Dance’ melded into the opening of the next song.

The all too familiar chords surrounded her and as the singer sang the first line of Ronan Keating’s, ‘This I Promise You,’ the words ripped into her heart. It was their song; they’d heard it on the radio not long after he’d proposed, had danced to it at Jared and Stacy’s engagement party, and made love to it often. She’d also played it on repeat near constantly for days after she left him.

Her head came up, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes, unwilling to risk finding out if he remembered, or if this too had been lost. Searching the couples on the dance floor, her eyes locked with Stacy’s. The bride’s gaze was watery, her best friend offering her an apologetic yet encouraging smile from across the room. Stacy knew the significance of this song.

As the band hit the chorus, the lyrics ‘don’t let go’ stabbed into her and ‘this is forever’ made her want to weep. Marc’s hands flexed on her, his voice laced with yearning as he whispered, “
Mio tesoro
.”

It was too much. Jessie twisted away from him, but not before a sob escaped. The longing and heartache, and her own constant yearning were simply too much. She pushed her way through the now crowded dance floor as she rushed toward the terrace doors, her only thought to escape before she became a weeping mess in front of everyone. Although since she cried at the drop of a hat these days, no one would notice anything out of the norm.

She didn’t stop when he called her name or as her heart shattered as the hopeful words, ‘we’ll share forever’ followed her out the doors. She bolted to her left, down the stairs, and although it was dark, easily found the sandy path that led to the dunes and the dark ocean beyond. She paused briefly, only a second or two, no more, to kick off her shoes and was off again. Running as fast as she could in the loose sand, her lungs burned as she struggled to reach her goal—the beach. What she’d do when she got there, she had no clue, but she’d worry about that later, much later.

As the dry, loose sand gave way to the cool packed sand, she heard the thud of footsteps pounding behind her, as she knew they would—if she was honest, as she prayed they would. She stumbled in the wet sand as he called her name; he was close, only a few steps behind. Out of breath, she stopped, falling to her knees, heedless of her dress as the waves swept in and soaked her. Her shoulders shook as his hands—large, strong, and powerful—cupped her shoulders.

She didn’t struggle as he pulled her to her feet. Seeing the concern, the sheer agony in his features, she lifted her arms, unable to fight any longer.

“Jessie.” His arms wrapped around her, squeezing tight in an unbreakable hold. Into her hair, he whispered harshly, “
Cara mia, bella ragazza, il mio amore.
” Recognizing the words ‘my darling’ and ‘my love’ was enough to have her weeping against him.

“You misunderstood about Christina,” he insisted. “She came on to me, Jessie, I swear. I feel nothing for her. I never have. I love only you.”

She gave him a watery, pain-filled glance.

“You don’t believe me?”

“I can’t do it,” she blurted out.

“Dammit, Jessie, the woman is a cold-hearted—”

“No, it’s not that,” she sobbed. “I can’t live without you. I’ve tried, but I love you and it hurts every second of the day to be apart from you.”

“Then this foolishness ends tonight.”

He lifted her in his arms, clutching her to him as he retraced their path. His strong arms carried her easily, passing the dunes and through the yard, skirting the steps that led back to the reception, following the walkway around the end of the building.

He didn’t set her down until they reached his car; when her bare feet hit the pavement, he didn’t release her, one arm wrapped firmly around her, anchoring her to him as he dug in his pocket for the keys. With the remote, he unlocked the door. Before he settled her inside, he caught her face in his palms, lifting it. His head came down and he claimed her mouth; it wasn’t a soft or gentle kiss, it was harsh and demanding, communicating wordlessly his frustration and not a small bit of anger over what she’d put him through. She didn’t care. She surrendered to him, letting him take because despite the harshness of the kiss, she felt his body’s need as he pressed her against the car, the yearning as his hands plunged into her upswept hair and as the mass came down in a tumble, the love as he spoke ardently into her mouth. “Never again,
cara mia
. This past month has been a nightmare without you. You vowed to love me forever, to become my wife and I’m holding you to it. Never again will I allow you to cut and run because things get uncomfortable, or you get scared. You’re mine and I’m keeping you. Is that understood?”

She hummed her response, lips seeking, her hands at his chest, crushing his lapels as she gripped them and pressed her mouth to his fervently.

“I need to hear the words, baby.”

“Yes,” her words rasped into his mouth. “I understand. I love you, Marc.”

As he lifted his head, his gaze became intent, his words impassioned. “I’ve heard that before. I need you to understand that you’re mine, Jessie. Swear you’ll never run from us again, baby. I couldn’t bear it.”

“I won’t run away. I promise with all my heart.”

He kissed her again with a passion that stole her breath. When he lifted his head, his eyes seared into her as he asked, “Who do you belong to?”

“You, handsome, I belong to you.”

“Damned straight, now, let’s get you in the car. I’m taking you back to the house where I’m going to prove it. First, I’m going eat that sweet pussy until you scream my name, then I’ll fuck you until you can’t move. Afterwards, I’m going to spank your ass for putting us through this before I fuck you again. Any questions?”

With the threat of a spanking looming, the thought of his loving was worth whatever he had in mind. “Yes, what are you doing standing outside the car, when you should be driving me home and doing as you promised?”

“I’m serious, Jessie.”

“I am too. Please take me home and love me, Marc. I’ve missed you so.”

With a groan, he kissed her once more, short and far from sweet. When he broke away, he leaned in and buckled her up, then brushed her lips once more before standing and shutting her door. The locks clicked. Her eyes flew to the door before switching to him as he looked at her through the glass. He met her eyes, one obsidian brow arched high, then he walked to the driver’s side and got in.

As he fired up the engine on the rental car, Jessie’s hand moved to his arm and squeezed. “I won’t run off again, Marc. I promise.”

“Just taking precautions until we talk and get things clear. What is that old saying? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I’m not willing to risk a third time,
bella mia,
I’d go insane.” He reached over and found her hand, bringing it to his mouth. His lips tickled her skin as he spoke. “Humor me on this, baby. I’ve been a little nuts without you.”