Defenseless (20 page)

“Whatever!” she says with her hand up as she saunters away.

I’ll need to drink to keep up with this group. It’s funny how Mark is so integral to so many people. He fulfills a different role for each of them. For Natalie, he’s her support in some ways, only more brotherly. With Catherine, he’s more playful and again brotherly, but more annoying. With Jackson, he’s his rock. He stands beside him, will fight for him, and he has this seriousness around him. Then, when he’s with me, there’s a side no one else gets to witness—something just between us. Then again, he sees something within me that I’ve never shared.

Catherine giggles. “Come on, we’re having wine and hors d’oeuvres over in the picnic area.”

Mark takes my hand and we follow her over. When we arrive, Jackson immediately stands, kisses my cheek, and hugs Mark. When he sits down, Catherine perches herself on his lap. God, they’re so in love.

Ashton makes a choking sound when they start to kiss. “You two need to just get this over with so we can all stomach food.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Mark laughs. “She’s not kidding. You’d figure by now it would’ve worn off.”

Jackson regards Catherine and then brushes her hair back. “It’ll never wear off. When it’s right, it’s forever.”

I’m not sure whether to laugh or swoon.

Mark grabs his drink and guzzles it. We spend the evening this way, drinking wine and eating until the sun sets. The lights from the fountain set off a glow. The night is so beautiful, it makes me wonder how I would feel if I were the bride.

“Okay, people.” Catherine slaps her legs and stands. “We’ve got a big day tomorrow.” She gazes at Jackson as he pulls her in his arms. “A day I feel like we’ve waited forever to get here.”

Jackson holds her close. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Tomorrow you’ll be Mrs. Cole.”

My heart swells. This is what true love looks like. It reminds me of my parents. My father used to say the sweetest things to my mother. If they were fighting, my dad would just tell her some beautiful line and she was putty in his hands. They loved each other with every part of their being, and I see that in Jackson and Catherine.

“Awww,” Mark says sarcastically. “You’re going to be Mrs. Muffin.”

She glares at him. “You’re such a tool.”

Mark shrugs. “I’ve been told that a time or two. But it’s better than being the nickname for a pussy.”

“Ignore him, baby.” Jackson cups Catherine’s face. The adoring way they look at each other sends shivers down my spine. “Tomorrow we’ll be married. You’re already mine, and I’m already yours, but tomorrow . . . I’ll show the world.”

“Hallmark has nothing on you two. Maybe you should debate a career change to gynecology since you apparently like being a vagina.” Mark busts out laughing, and Ashton slaps the back of his head.

Does he do this with everyone? “Mark,” I say, to diffuse another bickering match and the fact he ruined such a beautiful moment. “Let’s head back to the room. You have to be nice tomorrow, and I’m sure that requires sleep.”

“Again with needing me in bed.”

“Let’s go, Romeo.”

We’re both a little drunk from the wine. I slip into Mark’s T-shirt and climb under the covers. His arms open, and I nestle in. I’ve never been a spooning type girl, but something about letting him hold me is appealing. We fit together, in so many ways.

“Tell me about the last mission,” he says against my neck.

“What about it?”

“Why did they take it away from you?” I tense, and being that his arms are around me, he has to notice. “Sometimes, after we came home from a mission . . . our group would talk it out. Things we did wrong, things we did right, the things we wanted to do differently. It was a time to kind of see things from everyone’s eyes. Jackson would view something in a way I didn’t and vice versa. It can help.”

I understand his logic, but that’s what a debrief is—in a way. “I’ve already gone over this.”

“No, you had to give details. You had to talk about the way it went down, not paint a picture. There’s a difference. Paint me the entire scene. How you felt, what you saw, where you went.”

Mark throws his leg over mine, traps me, and then shifts so he’s on top.

“Hi?”

“We’re not having sex.”

“Well, that’s a disappointment.”

He laughs. “Tell me. Let me see it through your eyes.”

I don’t want to do this, but maybe he’s right. There’s a chance Mark can pick up on something I missed or help me to see it through his eyes. At this point, it’s worth a shot. We’re not any closer to finding either of our targets.

If I thought the grounds were beautiful yesterday, today was like seeing it through new eyes. I spent the morning with Catherine and Ashton. We had a small breakfast and talked a little about how they grew up together.

Around midafternoon, Ashton and Catherine’s other friend, Gretchen, from New Jersey arrived.

Ashton and Gretchen kept both me and Natalie a part of everything. All these women are so different from the ones I’ve known. They’re sweet, considerate, and truly—nice.

Natalie and I decide to sneak off for some wine while the girls are getting their hair done. “I never had a chance to really talk to you,” she says with nerves clear in her voice. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”

“I do. I mean . . . I did. Aaron has answered a lot of them. Liam has helped fill in the gaps of what he thinks happened. It’s a really weird place for me when it comes to all of this.” Natalie pushes her blonde hair behind her ear. “I mean, on one hand I should hate you. You kept my husband at the time as a hostage. On the other hand, if that hadn’t happened I’d be living a very different life.”

I know what she means. It’s the guilt of almost being happy that it ended the way it did. Had Aaron come home, she wouldn’t be married to Liam. She may have never known all the secrets that Aaron kept. It’s a really hard place to be.

“I think things turned out the way they should’ve. Don’t you?”

She nods and fills our wine glasses. “To fate.”

I lift my glass and clink it with hers. “To fate.”

“You should really be happy that Mark is the best man.”

“Oh?” I wonder what else he would be.

“Oh, yeah. I’m sure he tried to convince Jackson to let him officiate their wedding. Catherine is a much stronger force than I am. I was an idiot and let him.”

“Wait!” I’m stunned. “Mark is a minister?
My
Mark?”

Well, I guess he’s my Mark now. That slipped out a little too naturally.

She laughs. “Yup. The one and only Father Dixon. Let’s not get too carried away, though. He got that damn thing online, and he’s taken it to a whole new level.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

Lee looks at her phone “We should head back,” She says. “It’s almost time.”

Catherine insisted that Natalie and I get ready in their room. My dress was absconded so I had no out. It’s funny that I can take down heads of mafia rings, terrorists, and monsters far scarier than most will ever see, but I can’t fight off a bunch of girls.

I knock on the door and Ashton opens it when she sees it’s me. She’s beautiful. Her pale purple one-shouldered dress fits her like a glove. “Hey, come in. Catherine is finishing her hair.”

“Thanks.” I smile. The room overlooks the vineyard. There’s nothing but green as far as the eye can see. As I turn the corner, Catherine comes into view. “Wow,” I say as I get my first look at her. Her long brown hair is pulled low but has intricate braids crossing the back of her head. Her makeup is soft but still dramatic. She looks like a movie star. “You look gorgeous.”

“Wait till you see the dress.” Ashton grins. “She’s going to give Jackson a heart attack.”

“Stop!” Catherine’s eyes roll. “I’m so glad you could be here. I might need someone to restrain Ashton if she tries any of her shenanigans.”

I laugh. “I’ll protect you.”

They finish up and she heads into the dressing area to put her dress on. I gasp when she emerges. She’s absolutely breathtaking. Her dress has a long, tulip-shaped bodice. Lace adorns the entire thing down to her hands, revealing her skin beneath. The tiny beading along the edges literally makes her sparkle.

“Do you think he’ll like it?” she asks.

Natalie steps forward. “Catherine, you are positively radiant. There’s not a man in the world who wouldn’t be proud to have you on his arm. And Jackson, well, I’ve got a hundred bucks that says he’s sobbing before you reach the end of the aisle. You’re perfect.”

Catherine’s tears fall and mine start to form.

“It’s just . . . this isn’t his first time . . .” she trails off.

Again, Natalie comforts her. “Madelyn is his past. You are everything he ever wanted. Loving someone before doesn’t make you love the next person any less. That’s the beauty of love. It’s ever growing. You and Jackson have something so few ever have known. He loves you, he would die for you, move to the ends of the Earth. His previous marriage isn’t even in this place, trust me.” she smiles as she wipes her own eyes.

Natalie, of anyone, would know.

“I’m being silly.” She shakes her head. “I love him so much, and I’m always afraid the other shoe is going to drop. He’s everything that matters in this world to me.”

My heart cracks at her words. My mother used to say the same thing. This is what I’ve always wished for. A love where the idea of it disappearing would ruin you, but fear has kept a piece of me from ever letting it happen.

I wipe a tear from my cheek. “Charlie?”

“Sorry, you just look so beautiful. Jackson loves you when you’re not looking. That’s true love. It’s when your back is turned—and I’ve only ever seen that a handful of times.”

“Jackson and I almost lost each other because of pride and stubbornness, and secrets almost tore us apart. I wasn’t sure today would ever come. But you’re right, he and I have something unique and perfect. It’s time to move forward.” Catherine expels a deep breath. “I’m ready.”

The girls squeal a little and hug. “You’re getting married!”

“I’m getting married!”

“We’re going to head down and get our seats,” Natalie says. She takes Catherine’s hands in hers and pulls her close. “I’m so happy for you.”

They smile and Catherine steps toward me. “Thank you. You’ll never know how much Mark means to all of us. Having you around him renews our faith that he’ll finally have someone who makes him happy.”

He gives me hope. Instead of saying anything, I just nod with a smile.

W
e’re ushered to our seats by the groomsmen. Aaron seats me, which makes me laugh. I spot the guys from Cole Security Forces. They all wave with a smile. I look around for Mark, but Lee sits next to me before I catch him.

“You look beautiful, by the way. I didn’t get to tell you that when we were upstairs.”

Thankfully, I happen to be a fantastic shopper and found a dress to die for. It’s burgundy red with a low, scoop back. I already had gold heels from the gala, which worked perfectly. “So do you.” I smile. Natalie has her blonde hair twisted in the back so she is showing off the lacey back of her pink tea-length dress. It’s pretty, with a little fuller skirt and a high neckline.

Liam slides in next to her and takes her hand. “Hey.”

“Hey, you’re not in the bridal party?” I ask.

“Nah, these guys have been friends since the beginning. They kept it small, which works for me.” He pulls at his tie. “Just means I can loosen this sooner and drink more.”

I smile and Natalie shakes her head. “He’ll be asleep before the last song plays. Don’t let him fool you. This is the first time we’ve been without kids in a while. He’s excited about napping.”

Before he can respond, the music pipes up. I take a moment to soak it all in. The sun is starting to set behind the orchard. There are white chairs that line both sides of a makeshift aisle, their backs wrapped with lavender bows. The trees behind the pergola are filled with tiny white twinkling lights. Every detail was thought out, but before I can get too deep, Jackson and Mark emerge at the front.

I can’t see anything but him. It’s as if the entire wedding fades and all I can focus on is Mark. His blonde hair is pushed back, and his green eyes penetrate through me. No one exists but us. Mark’s broad shoulders stretch every inch of his tuxedo, showing all his strength. The jacket tapers at his waist to show off his trim frame. He’s positively sinful. The grin that paints his face tells me he can read my thoughts. He winks as the music switches to Pachelbel’s Canon in D.