Girl of Mine (29 page)

“Yeah, you’re not the only one who found the love of your life, Graham. I was just too dumb to see it.”

“Well, dang,” Luke mumbled.

32

Luke and Jill
April 2003

Present Day

Luke and Jill drove Troy home. He had no business driving in his condition. Jill promised she’d get his car back to him during the following week.

Of course, what Troy had done was not okay. Not by a long shot. But both Luke and Jill were willing to forgive and forget. At this point, Jill was just happy to have Luke back in her life.

As they watched Troy slowly amble up his front walk, Luke muttered, “Don’t have his light anymore.”

“Nope. It’s back where it should be.” Jill massaged his shoulder. “Now you have mine.”

They shared a warm smile as Luke pressed on the gas and headed for the airport.

“In a hurry, Mr. Graham?”

“You have no idea. We can’t get to Vegas fast enough.”

“For me either.” Butterflies bounced in her belly; the excited kind.

“Can I ask you something?” Luke queried.

“Sure.” Jill loved that there were no hesitations between them, that they were at ease with each other once again.

“Would you have married me before I left the first time?”

She hated the question and wished he knew the answer without asking. “In a red hot second.”

Luke grinned widely. “I thought so. Just wanted to make sure.”

“I’d rather have one day with you as my husband than to never have had it at all. It’s worth it; you’re worth it.”

Luke remained silent and the interior of the car felt heavy. The concept that he may never come home, that this might be the only time they have, was not something either of them wanted to think about right now. He reached out and squeezed her hand tightly.

“So, where are we staying, Groom?” Jill asked, opting for lightheartedness.

“At a place where the word
groom
will
not
be emblazoned on anything.”

“Hmmm. Now I have a confession to make.”

“Uh-oh. You didn’t.”

“I did. I couldn’t help myself.”

“What is it? And do I have to wear it?”

“The robes. And yes.”

He shrugged. “No worries. We won’t be wearing them for long.”

Jill blushed. “Scandalous.”

“I know, right? We have to pack our honeymoon into one day. Prepare to be scandalized, Bride.”

“Where is it that I will be scandalized?”

“Oh, I never answered your question, did I?”

“I think you’re a little distracted.”

“A little, I admit. I’m taking you to the JW Marriott. Far off the strip. It’s a resort and we have ourselves an elegant suite that’s gonna knock your socks off.”

Jill sobered. The light banter was fun, but the reality was she’d have to say goodbye to Luke before she knew it.

Luke sensed her mood change. “Don’t think about it, Jill. Live in the moment. It’s all we have. Right now, this minute. Let’s enjoy it.”

He was right. She wouldn’t ruin their time together by feeling sad. “When did you make all of these arrangements for a Vegas trip?” It suddenly occurred to her that since they’d made up, they’d been together almost every second and he hadn’t been on the phone or computer.

“Promise you won’t disclose this at my trial?” Luke asked.

“Trial?”

“Yeah, you know for kidnapping you. You planned on pressing charges against me.”

“Oh, that trial,” Jill giggled. “All right, this is off the record.”

“Remember all that premeditated planning I did?”

“Yeah.”

“That planning just might have included a wedding and honeymoon in Vegas.”

“Are you serious?”

“Hey, a guy can hope, right?”

“You were awfully confident you could win me over by Saturday night.”

“Listen, between the attempted ‘chair escape,’ the stealing of my keys, the silent treatment and the glare of your eyes, I felt anything but confident.”

She had been pretty hard on him. “Thanks for not giving up on me. Even though you had to become a criminal to do it.”

“My crime spree is over. Rest assured. But I do have another confession to make.”

“Please don’t let it be a
loaded
confession.”

“I couldn’t leave behind the personalized throw blanket.”

Jill smiled. “It has our wedding date on it.”

“Sure does.”

“Just between you and me, I love it.”

“Don’t tell my mom, but me too. There’s more.”

“More?”

“You know the ‘bride and groom’ baseball hats?”

Jill moaned, over-exaggerating her horror. “Say it isn’t so.”

“Sorry. Just couldn’t resist.”

If they stayed in their room the entire time as they planned to do, she’d never leave the hotel, and she wouldn’t have to wear the dumb hat. But she loved that Luke had wanted to save them, even if they were cheesy. She hadn’t told Luke, but when she returned to the ranch house to pick up Troy’s car, she had every intention of collecting every single personalized item Troy’s mom had left for them. They would be treasured keepsakes from here on out.

They made it to the airport and between parking, checking their bags, calling their respective parents to break the news, and boarding the plane, there wasn’t much time for idle chitchat. Then Jill fell asleep on Luke’s shoulder for most of the nearly three hour nonstop flight. Even though they’d arrive in Vegas at midnight Texas time, it’d be only ten p.m. Vegas time. Plenty of time to get married on their original wedding day.

She awoke when Luke gently nudged her. “Hey, time to go to
The Little White Wedding Chapel
.”

“Are you serious?”

“It was either that or the
Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel
and this one sounded a little more . . . real?” he said, searching for the right word.

“Appropriate?” she added.

“Serious?”

“Respectful?”

“Suitable?”

“All of the above,” she said as they both laughed.

It wasn’t her dream wedding and she didn’t care. She was marrying Luke, her dream man, and that was all that mattered.

They arrived at the
Little White Wedding Chapel
and were asked several questions that they promptly answered. No, they didn’t want to be chauffeured in a pink Cadillac and have Elvis perform their wedding. No, the Gothic wedding package to include flying vampires did not appeal to them either. They just wanted something simple and traditional.

Luke surprised her when he pulled out his garment bag and produced an elegant white lace dress.

“Did you think we were getting married in our jeans?” he asked.

“I don’t really care. As long as I get to marry you.” Jill leaned forward and kissed him, long and slow.

Then, unable to help herself, she turned her attention back to the dress.

“And I’m toast,” Luke mumbled.

“What?” Jill asked, distracted.

“Nothing. Your mom helped me get the right size.”

“This is so beautiful.” It was exquisite. When she tried it on, it fit her like a glove. When she saw Luke in a black tux, she couldn’t hold back the tears.

It was—and always had been—their wedding day.

The venue may have changed. The trappings may not all be present. The guests may be zero.

But the important thing was Jill was about to marry Lucas Graham, forever entwining their lives.

And nothing else mattered.

Nothing.

An hour later, Jill stood before Luke in a simple nightgown made of the softest satin that had ever touched her skin. It hugged her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. The material was diaphanous, a wisp of a covering, dainty and light.

She felt beautiful because the light in Luke’s eyes told her so.

“My mother has so much to answer for.”

Luke took a few steps toward her. “I chose this one. It was all me.”

“In that case, I love it.”

His tux jacket had been discarded. His tie had been loosened. His shirt was untucked, and unbuttoned at the neck. His state of undress sent her heart racing faster than if he’d been fully undressed.

His hands cupped her cheeks, framing her face.

“Jill, I love you. Thank you for forgiving me, for marrying me, for loving me, for being the one person in this world I can’t live without. I will think of this night every night for the next year. I will be dreaming of you and I
will
be a happy man. Make no mistake. It is
you
that will send me off with all my dreams intact. It is
you
that allows me to leave with peace in my heart. It is because of
you
that I regret nothing.”

He tangled his hands in her hair, gently running his fingers through her locks. Jill closed her eyes, his touch making her tingle with anticipation. She unbuttoned his dress shirt and ran her hands over his bare chest, making his breath hitch in his throat. His reaction alone left her feeling dizzy. He placed his lips on hers, kissing her ever so lightly. His sweet kisses always transported her to another world—a selfish place where she just wanted
more and more and more
. He made her feel as though she’d just melted into a puddle of water.

When he deepened the kiss, her knees buckled and he held her in his arms, fully supporting her.

Without breaking the kiss, he lowered her to the bed. When he paused for a moment, his face hovering over hers, Jill whispered, “Thank you for coming back to me, Luke. For insisting on it in the only way you knew how . . .”

He smiled and kissed her again with rising passion. Several minutes passed before she finished her thought.

“. . . and for not giving up on me. I was so lost without you and now I am whole. You are a part of me, you fill every cell, every fiber of my being. If this night is all we ever have, I will live my life knowing that I knew happiness at least once. I’ll hold it in my heart forever and it will be enough.”

Of course, it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. But, they took what they’d been given and basked in it.

33

Jill and Troy
November 2003

Seven Months Later

“Hey, Jill.”

Troy’s voice was low and raspy, his skin as white as the sheets he lay on. He’d probably never arise from his bed again, but he seemed surprisingly peaceful about it. His bald head, the weight loss, and the bags under his eyes made him look like someone other than himself. Jill found herself feeling grateful Luke didn’t have to witness Troy succumbing to cancer. It wasn’t easy to observe.

Luke, of course, would disagree wholeheartedly. He’d give anything to be at Troy’s side, no matter how painful the experience might be.

Joni held Troy’s frail hand in hers. They’d married only a week after her and Luke. Somehow Troy had convinced her to forgive and marry him—and he’d done it without the use of handcuffs. Go figure.

Joni was expecting a honeymoon baby. Thankfully, they’d been able to conceive in spite of Troy beginning his chemo treatments. Evidently, the chemo had not yet affected his fertility. At any rate, it was a miracle in their lives and they were both over the moon. The happiness Troy had experienced since marrying Joni had turned him into a new man. His handsome face had lost the sour pout and bitterness seemed to have been washed away from his countenance. Knowing he left behind a legacy, a son, made him ecstatic, in spite of the circumstances.