In Love with John Doe (18 page)

Lexi raised a hand to her head. While most people would kill for a day off, she needed to keep busy. Last night she’d talked to Nick. That in itself wasn’t unusual, since he’d called every night since he’d left Jackson Hole. But he’d been happy, almost euphoric. Before he’d gotten off the phone he’d let it slip that he was going out with Ellen and a bunch of friends from the office.

That’s when Lexi knew he’d made his decision. It wouldn’t be long before he quit calling and embraced his new life fully.

No,
her heart argued,
he loves me.

“Lexi.”

She looked up to find Coraline standing beside her, a concerned look in her eyes. “Are you okay?”

“I— It’s just been hard since Nick left,” Lexi admitted. “It helps if I keep busy. So is it okay if I hang around and help you this morning?”

“Honey, any other time would be fine,” Coraline said. “But today I feel like being alone in the kitchen. You understand.”

Lexi nodded, though she didn’t understand at all. “I guess I’ll check and see if they need help in the dining room.”

“We’re fully staffed today.” Coraline took her arm and turned her toward the door. “Go home, Lexi. Really, just go home.”

Several pity tears slid down Lexi’s cheeks but Coraline didn’t appear to notice, or if she did, she didn’t comment. Lexi trudged back to the cabin with a heavy heart. When she got there she noticed an envelope wedged in the door.

Her name was on the front written with a calligraphy pen. Lexi didn’t have to open the envelope to know what it was and who it was from. When she’d run into Mimi a couple days earlier, the new bride hinted she’d be interested in a post-wedding bridal shower. Lexi hadn’t offered to host but it appeared Mimi had found some other sucke— er, friend, to have one for her.

Lexi reached into her pocket for her house key but when she went to put it in the lock, the door swung open. She hesitated only a second. She’d been running late when she’d left and must have forgotten to close it fully.

She’d barely pushed the door open when her heart slammed against her ribs. Standing in her living room, dressed in a hand-tailored suit, Ferragamo tie and Italian loafers that probably cost more than she made in a month stood the love of her life. “Nick.”

“I wondered when you’d get back.” He smiled, caressing her with his eyes.

She wished she’d taken more time with her appearance this morning. Next to his splendor she felt under-dressed in her khakis, white button-down shirt and short yellow cardigan. “I was supposed to work but—”

“Coraline sent you home.”

“How did you know—” Lexi paused. “She knew you were here, didn’t she?”

He smiled and took a step closer.

Lexi shivered. Her gaze settled hungrily over him. “Addie’s going to be sorry she missed you. She’s on a nature walk with Mary Karen.”

“I know.” He moved closer, so near she could see the familiar flecks of gold in his eyes and smell the intoxicating spicy scent of his cologne. “What do you have in your hand?”

She blinked, feeling unsteady. “An invitation.”

He took another step closer. “Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Sure, yeah, I guess.” Lexi fumbled with the envelope, her trembling fingers making the simple task impossible. In frustration she finally gave up. “I’ll open it later.”

She didn’t want to fool with Mimi’s invitation when she had much more important things occupying her thoughts. Like Nick and why he was here. In her house. Today.

“Let me help you.” He quickly slipped it open and pulled the card from the envelope, his eyes never leaving her face. “What does it say?”

Her gaze settled on a large bouquet of long-stemmed white roses in a crystal vase on her breakfast bar. “Are those for me?”

He didn’t even glance in that direction. “Read the card.”

Lexi glanced briefly at the lettering then back up at Nick. “Mimi got something right. This is my favorite font.”

“What does it say?” he prompted. “Come on, Lex. Read it aloud.”

Why was he so insistent?

She cast another glance at the flowers then focused on the card.

Nick’s smile dropped. “Is that all you have to say?”

“What about Ellen? And Dallas?”

“Ellen and I were never in love. We both recognize that now. She has a great guy in the office who
does
love her. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear wedding bells in the future.” Nick smiled with satisfaction. “Dallas, well, it’s good. But I like it here, too. I thought we could live here and I could work remote, flying back to Dallas whenever necessary. If I end up being gone too much—”

“We can work that out later.” Lexi waved a dismissive hand, her invitation to be Nick’s wife clutched in her tight grip. “It doesn’t matter where we live as long as we’re together.”

Reaching into his pocket, Nick pulled out a tiny black box and flicked it open. The large emerald-cut diamond caught and scattered the overhead light.

He took her hand and gazed into her eyes. “Lexi, I love you with all my heart. I love Addie as if she was my own daughter. I promise if you give me the opportunity, I’ll be a great husband and father…because that’s what you both deserve.”

Lexi blinked.

He took that as a sign that he should continue. “When I left here, you told me after I found myself I could come back to you. I now know who I am. And what I want hasn’t changed since the day I met you.”

“Oh, Nick, are you sure?”

“I thank God for all the events in my life that brought me to this point. I wouldn’t be the man I am now if I hadn’t met you. I would be both happy and honored if you would accept my proposal.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to say.”

For the first time he felt a stab of fear. He couldn’t lose Lexi now that he’d found her. “‘Yes’ would be good.”

An impish gleam filled her eyes. “I’m a traditional kind of gal but I like nontraditional, too. After all, I fell in love with a man before I knew his name.”

Nick’s eyes remained focused on her face. “What are you saying?”

“That I’d like to accept your offer of marriage while we’re in bed…with you wearing nothing but this tie and me wearing nothing but this beautiful diamond.”

She held out her hand.

He dutifully slid the ring onto her left finger. Then suddenly Nick was laughing with relief and kissing her over and over again. “Say yes.”

“You have to get naked first,” she said with an impudent smile and sprinted down the hall, clothes dropping with each step.

By the time they hit the bed there was only a tie, a ring and a whole lot of love between them.

“First you have to cut it with that pretty knife.”

“Okay.” Connor grinned. “I can do that.”

“Let me guess,” David said with a chuckle. “Connor strikes again.”

Travis followed behind with a defiant but obviously scared Connor. “You, my man,” he said to the boy, “are in deep do-do.”

Lexi smiled, not at all concerned. “What happened?”

“Connor cut your wedding cake.” Two bright spots of pink dotted Mary Karen’s cheeks. “He and Addie were feeding it to each other.”

“I hope the photographer got some good pictures,” Nick said, taking a sip of champagne.

“I didn’t mean to do anything wrong.” Addie’s brow was furrowed in worry and her chin quivered. “We cut it just like you and Nick did at the wedding last week.”

Lexi understood her daughter’s confusion. In a traditional vein, last week she and Nick had been married at his family church in Dallas—the large stone one with the bell tower. She’d worn a beautiful ivory-colored wedding dress. Addie had been a flower girl. The wedding of her dreams had been pulled together in record time with the help of Ellen, Penny and Mrs. Rediger who, as mother to six girls, had an amazing abundance of contacts in the wedding industry.

The fact that Nick wanted to introduce her to his family and friends and give her the wedding she thought she’d never have had meant the world to her. But she’d come to realize it wasn’t the ceremony but the man at her side, as well as sharing their special day with family and friends, that made the ceremony special. That was why they’d decided to do it all over again, only this time in Jackson Hole.

“I’m so sorry,” Addie wailed.

“It’s okay, sweetie.” Nick leaned down and picked up Addie. “Cake is made to be eaten. How is it?”

“Yummy,” Addie said, the gold heart-shaped locket gleaming in the summer sun.

Connor nodded his agreement.

Lexi smiled. “Rachel is going to cut the cake for us. Why don’t you both go see if you can help hand it out?”

“You might regret that,” Mary Karen said.

“It’s only cake,” Lexi said. “This day is about love and being happy.” She paused for a moment, catching sight of Drew and his wife talking with Nick’s dad.

She was glad they’d invited Drew. Today wasn’t about the past but about the future, a future that had never looked brighter.

“You’re looking awfully serious, Mrs. Delacorte.” Nick touched the side of her face, his eyes as gentle as his fingers.

“I was thinking.” She slipped her hand into his and it felt like coming home. This was what marriage was all about—one man, one woman and a love strong enough to last a lifetime.

“Let me guess. You were thinking how good I’ll look later wearing nothing but this.” He glanced down at his shirtfront.

Lexi laughed and grabbed his tie, pulling him to her for a kiss. “That, too.”

IN LOVE WITH JOHN DOE

Copyright © 2010 by Cynthia Rutledge

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