Fireflies From Heaven (26 page)

My fingers slid
over the picture frame, and I sat down and cried, but this time my tears were
born of hope. I wrapped the present and picked up the phone to call Reed when
someone knocked on the door. My heart skipped a beat, thinking that it was
Reed.

I got up and
pulled open the door, but it was Jase that stood on my doorstep. My face fell,
and Jase noticed it.

“You’re not
happy to see me,” he said grimly.

“I thought you
might be Reed.” I pulled the door open wider. “You want to come in?”

Jase walked in
and took a seat. “You look good.” His gaze slid over my blousy top, skinny
jeans and jeweled flip-flops.

“Thanks.”

“Look, I’m
sorry I was an ass to you. You scared me shitless when you fainted, and I’ve
felt bad thinking that any of those things I said to you might be to blame for
what happened.”

I could see
that he was genuinely worried and obviously contrite. “Jase, it wasn’t your
fault. If I’d known, you were still thinking about this I’d have called you. I
was stressed that day, and I hadn’t eaten. I’m fine now. No worries.”

“I’d thought of
you as a friend. I hope I haven’t messed that up. You and I shouldn’t be
enemies.” He flashed me a smile that would have melted most female’s panties.

“I’ve already
lost enough lately. I’m not turning down your offer of friendship.”

Jase had a
strange expression on his face. “You haven’t lost Reed, if that’s what you’re
thinking.” I wanted to ask him what he meant but he changed the subject. “Cora
said you needed a date for your cousin’s wedding.”

“She told you
that?”

“I’ll be your
date.” He held out his arms as if offering himself to me.

“You want to be
my date?” I laughed softly. “I think you should go with Cora.”

“She’s already
got a date.”

I knew Cora was
going to the wedding after work, but she hadn’t mentioned a date.

“We probably
need to leave soon since you’re in the wedding party.”

“I was about to
get ready, but--”

“Go on, get
ready,” he cajoled.

My gaze slid
down Jase’s dress shirt, tie, slacks and boots.

“My coat is in
the truck,” he said with a wink.

I frowned at
Jase, wondering what was up with him. “I can’t believe you want to go to a
wedding. Don’t guys usually try to get out of those?”

“Guys love
other guys’ weddings. There’s free food, drinks and a party.” He grinned.

“Fine, I’ll get
dressed,” I said, glancing back at Jase and wondering what he was up to.

I called Reed
and left a message for him to call me before I got dressed for the wedding.

An hour later,
I was in the bridal room at the country club watching Brooke fuss over her
hair. “She made the curls too tight,” Brooke complained.

“I think it
looks great.”

Brooke, of
course, ignored me.
 
Aunt Lacy shot
me a silencing look.

Brooke’s maid
of honor, Hadley, sympathized with Brooke but assured her that she looked
stunning, as did the rest of the bridesmaids.
 
She was lovely in her sleek, mermaid
gown, with a gorgeous back that plunged into a v-line to her derriere, but
Brooke wasn’t wearing an expression of a joyful bride. She seemed agitated, and
I wondered if she was having doubts about marrying Davis.

The music began
and I walked down the aisle, my heart nearly stopping when my gaze landed on
Reed sitting with Cora.
 
Thankfully,
I didn’t gape at them like a fish out of water, but I was shocked.
 
When Reed turned his head and looked at
me, I melted under the intensity of his gaze and I wanted to run into his arms.

Brooke decided
to forgo the traditional wedding march music for something more contemporary
that I didn’t recognize.
 
When she
floated down the aisle everyone turned and watched her glorious ascent except
for Reed, who didn’t take his eyes off of me.

The ceremony
began, and the Justice of the Peace recited the wedding vows including the part
where he asked if anyone objected to this union.

“I do! I
object!” cried a voice, and it didn’t come from the audience.

All eyes
fastened on the maid of honor, and best friend to the bride, Hadley Wells. I
blinked in shock, thinking how this seemed like something that only happened on
TV.

Davis was already
apologizing, but it was difficult to tell exactly whom he was apologizing to
Brooke or Hadley.

Brooke was
livid, her beautiful face beet red.

Aunt Lacy
paled, and Uncle Jonathon looked irritated, probably because of all the money
he’d spent on the fairytale wedding that had suddenly turned into a daytime
talk show drama.

“We’ve been
sleeping together for months,” Hadley confessed to Brooke. “I’ve wanted to tell
you, but it was never the right time.”

“What?” Brooke
shrieked.

“I’m in love with
someone else,” Davis declared, and to my horror he stepped in front of me and
took my hand. “Ellie, I love you,” he announced, and he looked like he meant it.

I stared,
speechless, at Davis.

Hadley and
Brooke began shouting at one another.

The crowed erupted
into a cacophony of whispers and pandemonium.

“Please, give
me another chance to prove how much you mean to me,” Davis pleaded.

Opening my
mouth, I tried to speak but nothing happened. Thankfully, another voice came to
my rescue.

“I thought I’d
made this clear before,” Reed’s deep voice interrupted. “She’s mine.” His gaze
met mine, and I saw the question in his eyes that my heart was ready to answer.
“If she’ll have me,” he added.

“I’m sorry,” I
told Davis, stepping around him and walking into Reed’s open arms.

Reed pulled me
into his arms, and I wrapped my arms around his middle and held on to him,
loving how it felt to once again be held against his hard, solid body.

Lifting my
head, I looked into Reed’s eyes. His hand caressed the side of my face, and a
shiver raced down my spine. “I’m sorry for not believing in you.”

“I don’t want
to live without you. There’s never been anyone for me but you, and there never
will be. I love you, Ellie.”

“I love you
too,” I whispered.
 
Reed lowered his
head and his mouth covered mine.
 
I
leaned my body into his and kissed him in front of everyone.

In the back of
my mind I heard cheering, and realized with surprise that the crowd was
applauding Reed and I.

The Justice of
the Peace cleared his throat.
 
“Do
you two want to get married?”

“Yes,” Reed and
I said together.

“Someone might
as well enjoy this party. I paid a small fortune for it,” Uncle Jonathan said
dryly.

 
“Don’t we need a marriage license and
rings?” I asked.

Reed’s arm
tightened around my waist, and his gaze locked with mine. “If it’s not legal,
we’ll do it again. I’ll marry you everyday for the rest of our lives if that’s
what I have to do to make you mine.”

My heart was already
bursting with happiness, and then Reed dropped to his knees before me. He
reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, flipping it open and
handing it to me. Inside was a brilliant, round, glittering diamond, encircled
by smaller diamonds and set in platinum. It was gorgeous.

“Marry me?”
Reed looked at me expectantly.

“Yes!” I threw
my arms around him.

The crowd went
wild. Reed and I were kissing, and didn’t notice the chaos around us.
 

Isabelle and Cora
served as my maids of honor.
 
Jase
was Reed’s best man.
 
My dad walked
me down the aisle. Surprisingly, most of Brooke and Davis’ wedding guests
stayed to see Reed and I get married.

When the
Justice of the Peace asked for the second time that day if anyone objected
laughter followed his comment, but no one spoke up and Reed and I were married.

“Are you ready
to go home?” Reed asked, looking into my eyes.

“I’ve been
ready for a long time.”

“Not yet,”
Uncle Jonathon informed me. “There’s a dinner reception the two of you need to
enjoy.”

Reed and I
exchanged a look, and I knew that he’d go along with whatever I wanted to do.
“I don’t feel right about taking over Brooke’s reception, Uncle Jonathon. I
appreciate the offer. Thank you.”

“I’m not taking
no for an answer.
 
If you don’t stay
and enjoy it, it’ll go to waste. I’m sure Brooke would have wanted you to
stay,” Uncle Jonathon finished, though I’m not sure how he said that with a
straight face.

Brooke had
already stormed out of the country club, and she’d be furious when she found
out that I’d had taken over her wedding.
 
Aunt Lacy had left as well. I was just about to decline when another
voice interrupted.

“Listen to
him.
 
It’ll give him the chance to
do something nice for his sister’s daughter.”

I looked up at
the elderly couple that had come to stand beside Uncle Jonathon.

“We’ve never
met,” the woman said, her hawkish eyes watching Reed and I, seeming to miss
nothing. “I’m your great-grandmother.”

“If you and
your husband will stay, it will give us the chance to get to know our great-granddaughter,
something we should have done years ago,” the man, who was apparently my
great-grandfather, replied.

“It’ll also
give us the chance to apologize to your father,” Great-Grandmother said,
glancing over at my dad.

He smiled at my
grandparents and I knew it took a lot for him to forgive them given how they’d
rejected my mother.
 
My dad was one
of the strongest men I knew. In a way he kind of reminded me of Reed.

“Come on
everyone,” Uncle Jonathon called. “We’re having lobster and prime rib for
dinner.

Reed was
holding my hand and smiling down at me. I couldn’t have imagined a happier
ending.

“Mrs. Bentley,
what are you up to?”

I smiled,
loving the sound of Reed saying my new name. In answer to his question, I
straddled him and the bed sank beneath my knees as I placed one hand on his
chest.

“What are you
hiding?” he asked, sitting up and peering behind my back.

I pushed him
back down, and showed him the silken rope I’d been holding behind my back. “Cora
slipped this in with her wedding gift.” I smiled wickedly. “She thought we’d
appreciate it.”

“Remind me to
thank Cora,” Reed said, rolling me over and catching a wrist in his hand. “You
okay?” he asked suddenly, careful to keep his weight off of me.

“The baby is
fine, Reed,” I assured him, and then I reached for the rope but he pulled it
out of my reach.

“I don’t think
so, sweetheart.
 
I’m not the one
that likes to be tied up.”

I lifted a
brow, smiling. “How do you that? You’ve never tied me up.”

His lips curled
upwards in a smile. “You’re pregnant.”

“I’m not even
showing yet.”

“I don’t want
to hurt you.”

“Then don’t
stop touching me. I hurt when you’re not touching me.”

Wrapping the
silky rope around both of my wrist he secured them to the slats on the
headboard. He kissed the side of my neck and breasts before making a sensual
trail down my lower body. I moaned when I felt his mouth between my legs. He
licked and sucked me until I screamed his name as a powerful orgasm rocked my
body.
 
When I’d caught my breath
after his pleasurable assault, Reed untied me and we made love.

Afterwards, I
rested my head against this chest and drew little circles over his heart while
he stroked my back and pressed kisses into my hair.

“I love you.”

“I love you
too, Reed.” I pressed my lips to his chest. “Amber came to see me today.”

He glanced over
at me. “What did she want?”

“She apologized.
 
If I was in her position, I’d have
probably done anything to get you back too.”

“No, you
wouldn’t have,” Reed said, shaking his head. “Your heart is the size of Texas.”

“I’m not
perfect.” I looked at the painting I’d given Reed for Christmas, which hung on
our bedroom wall. “I guess I’m still learning that I don’t have to be. My mom
is helping me out, I think.”

He followed my
gaze and smiled. “That’s the best present anyone has ever given me.”

“I’m glad you
like it.”

“I love it and
I love you.”

He dropped a
kiss on my mouth and I trembled.
 
I
may not have seen fireworks when Reed kissed me, but I think I might have seen
a million fireflies from heaven.

Look for
Isabelle and Cora’s stories coming soon!

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