Born Ready (22 page)

“Jackie!” Scott’s mother spied her, broke away from the group of people she was speaking with and came across the lawn toward her. “You made it. Megan is going to be so happy to see you.”

“Thank you all for inviting me.”

“But of course.” Shannon Everly beamed. “Any friend of Scott’s is a friend of the entire family.”

Even the redhead?

“I brought a gift.” Jackie held out the wedding present. It was a silver picture frame.

“What a lovely gesture. Let me show you where you can put it.” Shannon led her to a table overflowing with gifts.

Jackie settled her gift on the table with the others.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the mangrove mermaid.”

At the sound of Scott’s voice, Jackie’s stomach dipped to her shoes. What was this power he held over her? All she had to do was hear his voice and her knees went to rubber.

She turned to find Shannon drifting off with a dreamy smile on her face and Scott standing in front of her looking like a complete daydream in a tuxedo, a gardenia boutonniere at his lapel.

His eyes held a soft warmth. “I’m glad you came.”

Jackie shrugged. “Megan invited me.”

“She’ll be happy you showed. I’m happy you showed.”

“Are you really?”

“I am.” He sounded completely sincere.

They stood looking at each other. Finally, unable to stand the tension, Jackie dropped her gaze.

“I have to go do my brotherly duty and walk my sister down the aisle in place of my father, but let me escort you to your seat.”

“Thank you.”

Scott took her arm and tucked it through his. It felt so good being this close to him.

That was the problem. It felt too good.

He guided her to a folding chair adorned with a white slipcover. He leaned over and whispered, “You look gorgeous.” Then he winked and disappeared.

“Aren’t you a lucky one,” said the elderly woman sitting beside her.

“Excuse me?”

“That Scottie, he’s a hottie. Half the women in Key West are in love with him. Me included. They’re going to be so disappointed to hear he’s finally gotten serious about someone.”

“Oh, no.” Jackie shook her head. “We’re not serious.”

“That’s what you think.”

“What does that mean?” Jackie asked, a fresh round of thrill-fear shooting through her.

The music started and the elderly lady placed an index finger over her mouth. “Shh.”

Okay, shut up. Let the wedding begin.

The ceremony lasted forty minutes and was one of the most beautiful weddings she’d ever been to. Granted, she’d only been to two other weddings, but still. The garden setting was soothing. Puffy white clouds floated overhead. The air smelled of fresh-mown grass, gardenia and citronella. Megan’s bridal gown was simple and elegant. A delirious smile graced the groom’s face.

Scott gave Megan away, then sat down in the front row beside his mother. Jackie studied the back of his head, admiring his thick dark hair cut close, but not too short. He had a strong neck. Tanned and muscular but not bullish. His ears did not stick out the way some men’s did.

He was so perfect.

Her breath slipped quickly between her parted teeth.
He can’t be perfect. The perfect guy for you is another scientist who will be as lost in his work as you are in yours. He’s got flaws. Everyone had flaws. He could be nosy and he liked helping people far too much.
What was that about? He was too heroic for her. She had a cranky side. A self-absorbed side. She couldn’t be right for a man who loved the world in an open-arms embrace.

Regret flitted through her and she hovered on the verge of tears.

What was this? Jackie Birchard was not emotional. She very rarely cried. She was tough and dedicated and going gooey as ice cream in the sun as Megan and Dave exchanged vows.

Hormones. PMS. The wedding ceremony. All of it? Who knew?

Stop it. Just sit here until it’s over and then you can slip out.

Except that wasn’t the way things turned out. The minute Dave and Megan raced grinning up the aisle, Scott got to his feet and came over to her, moving before the rest of the crowd had a chance to get on their feet.

“We’ve got to go take pictures,” he said, “but don’t you dare go away.”

“Okay,” she agreed and stayed put.

Later, at the start of the reception, Scott reappeared. “You’re sitting beside me.”

“No, no.” She shied. “I can’t sit up front with the wedding party.”

“Says who?”

“Emily Post.”

Scott laughed. “Don’t try to convince me that you know the first thing about wedding protocol, Jackie Birchard. You couldn’t give two hoots in the wind about it.”

“You got me.”

“So come on.”

“I don’t know much but I’m sure it’s a faux pas.”

“I have Megan’s blessing. Dave’s, too.”

“I can’t.”

“You have to work.”

“Well, yes, but that’s not all. If I sit with you, what will people think?”

“That you’re with me.”

“Exactly.”

His smile disappeared. “Is being with me such a bad thing?”

“I can’t promise anything, Scott.”

“I’m not asking for any promises, Jackie. All you have to do is sit there and eat. No obligations.”

“You’re sure?”

“Cross my heart.”

“Fine,” she agreed warily.

It turned out to be fine. The food was delicious, the toasts hilarious. Scott substituted for his father and danced with Megan for the father-daughter dance. Then afterward he handed his sister off to Dave, and went back for Jackie.

She hung back. “I don’t dance.”

“Today you do. This is once and for all your last chance for a first dance. It’s happening tonight.”

Part of her wanted to dance. In fact, she was tapping her toes in time to the music, but part of her was afraid of looking like a clumsy fool.

“I’ll take care of everything,” Scott said. “Just trust me.”

Ah, that was the heart of it. Jackie had trouble trusting anyone to have her back. She’d been disappointed numerous times by the people in her life who were supposed to have her back. Her mother. Her father. Jed. Trusting Scott was a huge leap of faith.

But he was smiling and holding out his hand and in that moment Jackie felt another brick fall from the castle wall she’d built around her heart.

“Trust me, Jackie.”

Resisting Scott was like trying to stand upright in a level-five hurricane on the deck of a lurching merchant ship. She took his hand and the smile that reached his eyes almost broke her heart. He looked so honest, so genuine, so happy to be here with her. She didn’t deserve someone as real as him. “Scott—”

“Jackie.” He pulled her to him and propelled her onto the dance floor.

They swayed underneath the white canopy. Cream-colored candles flickered from the luminaries on the tables. Dancing couples surrounded them but it seemed as if they were all alone on their own little island. She clung to Scott like a life raft.

Jackie took a deep breath and leaned her head against his shoulder, allowing herself to be swept away. She hugged the moment. Hugged this memory close to her heart. She would treasure this first dance forever.

He rested his cheek against her head and they moved in tempo to the song. It was as if the band had tailored the tune to fit Jackie and Scott.

Jackie took a deep breath and resolved to be happy for now. Whatever happened after this did not matter. All that mattered was this moment. With the Japanese lanterns strung overhead lighting up the sky as day drifted into night.

They danced four more songs without sitting down. She knew Scott was in good shape, but she was stunned by his stamina. “How is your leg?” she asked.

“What leg?”

“Shark bite all healed?”

“Good enough. It’s not slowing me down.”

“Nothing slows you down.”

“Except speed bump Jackie.”

“Well, you did have me spinning my wheels for a while.” She tilted her head.

“My place isn’t far from here.”

“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?” She smiled impishly.

“I hope so.”

“Are we making up?” she asked.

“I want to.”

“We are,” she confirmed, even as a small part of her whispered,
You’re going to get your first broken heart, Jackie Birchard. Just you wait and see.

12

Now stand by for heavy rolls as the ship comes about.

—Coast Guard quote on a wall plaque in Scott’s vacation bungalow

SCOTT TOOK HER BACK to his bungalow. His heart thumped with happiness to have Jackie with him again.

When Megan told him that she’d invited Jackie to the wedding, he’d been jacked up on hope. He’d cleaned the bungalow and stocked up on condoms. He was Coast Guard, after all.
Semper Paratus.
Always prepared.

She stood in the middle of the living room, hands clasped behind her back, studying the paneled wall. Her gaze traveled over a hand-carved plaque. “Now stand by for heavy rolls as the ship comes about.” She flicked a gaze at him. “What does that mean?”

“Roll with the punches, because they are going to come.”

“Interesting.” Her gaze shifted to the seascape paintings. “These are beautiful. Who painted them?”

“My father,” Scott said. “It was his hobby.”

“How did he die?”

“Line of duty,” Scott said, tight-lipped.

“You must really be missing him today,” she said, and he was surprised to see a fine mist of tears gleaming in her eyes.

“Yeah,” he admitted.

“You need a distraction.” Her hand went to the button of her dress. He loved the way the hem floated around her slender, tanned legs.

“It wouldn’t hurt.”

“I can be that for you.”

He went to her then, stripping off the bow tie of his tuxedo as he walked. “Jackie,” he whispered.

She twined her arms around his neck, tugged his hand down to her sweet, honeyed lips.

And all the pain and sorrow and loneliness he would have been feeling over his father’s absence vanished in the power of her kiss.

They kissed for a long time, slowly undressing each other, garment by garment. Off came his jacket. Her necklace vanished. She removed his cummerbund. He dismantled her dress. Her fingers worked the buttons of his white shirt, one by one. His hand unsnapped her bra.

Finally, they were both naked in front of each other, the moonlight spilling through the open blinds, bathing them in moon glow. The smell of gardenias was everywhere.

He kissed her again. Her eyelids, her nose, her chin, her cheeks. He wanted this to be the opposite of their fevered joining in the aquarium and at her apartment. He wanted to
make love
all night long.

He bent at the waist, swept her off her feet and carried her into his bedroom. He draped her across his bed and then stepped back to look at her. To savor this moment. In his eyes, she’d never looked more beautiful. Vulnerable, but at last willing to take a chance on something more than casual sex.

“You are amazing,” he murmured.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Coast Guard. Now bring that jackhammer over here and nail me.”

He laughed. He had to admire her forthrightness. Jackie was not a woman who beat around the bush. He sank down on the bed beside her, peered into her eyes. “Remember the night I chased you?”