Ivory Tower (12 page)

“But...all the plans back home.”

“You mean your mother’s plans?” He crossed to stand in
front of her, rubbing her arms. “Seriously, what about that fiasco is the way
you want it to be?”

He had a point.

“Nothing, really,” she said. Still, she wasn’t sure she
could disappoint her mother like that.

Josh pulled her into his arms. “I know you. I know how
generous your heart is. It’s one of the things I love about you. But, honey,
you’ve got to stop thinking about your mother. She’s never once thought about
you.”

“That’s pretty harsh.”

“Harsh, but true. Right?”

She shrugged, not quite able to agree. How could she do
this to her mother? Her father’s begged promise surrounded her heart, trying to
guard against her making a decision that would cause her mother pain.

Josh tipped her head up to look at him. “Your father
wouldn’t want you to be unhappy. You know he wouldn’t. He would consider this
promise more than fulfilled.”

She nodded, tears filling her eyes.

“And besides, where has it gotten you? Or your mother? Is
she any happier?”

“No, she’s not.”

“Then it’s time to let her live her life. For herself.
She’ll never find what she truly wants while she’s using you as a shield.”

Jenna’s mind exploded as the thought took hold. Josh was
right. Her mother
was
hiding. Could
her mother actually be afraid of putting herself out there? It was a new
concept and one Jenna would need to think through, but not right now. She
snuggled deeper into Josh’s embrace, knowing she could spend forever here.

He pulled away and dropped to one knee. “Jenna Wilton,” he
said. “I’ve loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you. I love your spirit,
your sense of right, your love of life. I want to spend the rest of my life reminding
you of how special you are. Will you marry me?”

Jenna didn’t hesitate. She didn’t want to. She’d waited for
this her whole life. A sense of peace settled over her as she stared into Josh’s
dark eyes. Eyes filled with love she tried to reflect in her own. She wanted to
be Mrs. Josh Latham more than anything.

“Yes,” she said.

“
Woohoo
!” Josh leaped up and
grabbed Jenna, swinging her around. Her grin was wider than his, but Jenna
didn’t have time to reflect on that as he swallowed her smile with a kiss that
left no doubt what they would be doing that very night.

Chapter Fourteen

When Josh set her away from him, Jenna wanted only to be
back in his arms. But he bounced around the hotel room in excitement.

“I’ll call the front desk and find out how and where to do
this. You,” he waved to her, “do whatever you want to do to get ready.
Although,” he ran back to her, cupped her cheeks, and kissed her, “you look
perfect just as you are.”

Contagious excitement filled Jenna with wonder. She waltzed
over to the closet and the emotion faded as she stared at the empty hangers.
She had meager offerings when it came to wedding attire. Or any clothing, for
that matter. She certainly had nothing to get married in. Nothing, except the
dress she currently wore, and that wouldn’t do at all. She glanced back at Josh,
who waved his arm back and forth, as he spoke to the concierge. Jenna chewed
her lower lip. He was so excited. Would he be willing to delay long enough so
she could shop for a dress? Yes, it was nine at night, but this was Vegas,
right? The city that never sleeps?

He hung up the phone and turned to her with a wide grin on
his face. “Found a place. It’s close and they have an opening tonight. In two
hours.”

“Only two hours?”
That
kills any chance of shopping.
She slumped onto the bed and Josh joined her,
putting an arm around her.

“Not having second thoughts, are you?” She could hear the
instant tension in his voice.

“No. Not at all.”

“Then why the glum moment?”

“I—this is going to sound silly, but I was hoping I could
go shopping.” She wrung her hands in her lap. “I don’t have anything good
enough to get married in.”

The look on Josh’s face, akin to a light bulb turning on,
confused Jenna. He rubbed Jenna’s arms, his smile as wide as ever. “That’s it?
That’s all you’re bummed about?”

She nodded, staring at her hands.

Josh lifted her chin and she was surprised to see how
serious his face looked. He understood. “I think can help with that.”

He jumped off the bed and went to his luggage, leaving
Jenna completely baffled. “Close your eyes.”

“What?”

“Just close your eyes.”

Jenna did and heard a long zipper being undone and some
rustling, along with a well satisfied “ah hah!” After a few more moments, Josh
told her to open her eyes.

When she did, Jenna felt like the world stopped spinning. She
couldn’t believe it. Josh stood there, his face ablaze with pride. He held up a
wedding dress. And not just any wedding dress.
Her
dress. The one she’d fallen in love with weeks ago in that
dress shop. The one her mother overruled her on, but she’d bought anyhow, hoping...

The dress she was going to have the perfect wedding in.

She fingered the simple satin. “How—?”

“Maggie,” he said, knowing her question. “I received a
cryptic message saying you were in Vegas and I should join you, so I called her.
She told me I
had
to stop by before
going to the airport, thrust this bag at me and told me not to look. That I’d
know if and when it was time to open it. Josh shrugged. “Looks like she put you
and me and the marriage-capitol of the world together and came up white. And I
didn’t question her. Just grabbed the garment bag and ran.”

“You have no idea how much this means to me.” Jenna
clutched the dress to her body, speech completely eluding her, feeling all the
love for Josh she’d felt these past few years well up until it wanted to spill
over.

His other hand, hidden behind his back, came forward,
holding the tiara she’d seen while shopping with Maggie. “Found this in there,
too, along with some other stuff. And my tux.”

Jenna smiled, realizing she owed her friend a deep debt of
gratitude.

“So what do you say,” he said with that lop-sided grin she
adored. “Want to get hitched?”

Jenna breathed, trying to get the words past her bursting
heart. When she answered Josh, she poured all that overflowing love into her
words. “Oh, yes,” she said, pulling him down for a long, lingering kiss, giving
him her promise of a wonderful future. “Yes, I do.”

“Good,” he said. “I’ll confirm with the chapel. You,” he
said, giving her a nudge toward the bathroom, “go get ready.”

Chapter Fifteen

An hour later, Jenna stared at herself in the mirror. This
was how she’d imagined looking on her wedding day. This was the vision her
mother would never have allowed.

She smoothed the material of the ivory dress and felt her
nerves settle with each motion. Her almost-natural hair hung down with just a
few simple curls to soften it. The tiara and a pair of pearl post earrings, a
birthday present from Josh, were her only jewelry. Maggie had packed a wedding,
or at least a bride and groom. Everything Jenna needed was there, including her
makeup. Jenna had laughed when she pulled out the virgin-white thong and
matching strapless bra.

Jenna was hit with a wave of remorse. Her best friend and
the person who’d done so much to help her stay sane and get to this point,
wouldn’t be here for her wedding. Were they doing the right thing?

Plus, her mother was going to kill her.

When Jenna found the note, she started to cry.

It’s okay. I’ll be
with you in spirit. Go get married. And plan on giving me details on absolutely
everything when you get home. Love you.
Mags
.

Swaying her hips, Jenna let the swish of the satin soothe
her. This wasn’t about her mother. Or
Mags
.
Mags
, especially, would understand. This was about her and Josh
and starting their life together. Jenna ran a hand over lips that knew what it
was like to be well kissed. Lips that wanted to feel that way for the rest of
her life.

With Josh.

Nodding her head, she turned and opened the bedroom door
without another qualm.

Josh stood waiting in a tuxedo, with a small spray of white
roses in one hand, a matching boutonniere in the other. He looked so handsome
in the classic black suit and crisp white shirt. Dark curls just brushed the
collar of his jacket and the look of expectant wonder in his eyes made Jenna’s
heart quiver.

“You look—” His voice broke. He cleared it and tried again.
“You look amazing.”

“And you, dear sir, look very dashing.”

“No. Seriously.” Josh put the flowers down and stood in
front of her. “You are the picture of everything I’ll ever need or ever want in
life. You are beautiful, but it’s more than that. You radiate goodness and love.”

“Love for you. Only you,” she answered.

He kissed her then, gently, a reminder of their life
together. Jenna leaned into his warmth and deepened the kiss, opening her mouth,
inviting him in.

Before they could go too far, Josh broke away. Resting his
forehead against hers, Jenna heard him catch his breath. “I think we’d better
hold off on that for now, or all your work to get fancied up will be for
naught.”

He picked up the boutonniere. “Will you do the honors?”

Jenna tried to affix the flower to his lapel, but glanced
up and got lost in Josh’s eyes. They stood there, staring at each other, enjoying
the private moment of silent communication and love. Trembling, she tried again
to pin the rose to his suit. After a couple attempts, she got the flower attached.
He handed her the spray of roses.

“Where did you get these so quickly?”

“Vegas thinks of everything. The hotel has a twenty-four
hour florist shop.”

Jenna grinned. Everything had worked out perfectly.

“Ready?” Josh held out his arm to her.

“Definitely,” she answered, more certain than she’d ever
been of anything. She put her hand in his arm and together, they headed for
their new life.

****

In what seemed like only moments later, Josh and Jenna stood
in the alcove of the wedding chapel, a bit of paperwork and the exchange of
money the only prelude to the occasion of their wedding.

She glanced around at the draped white material meant to
turn plain walls into an exquisitely decadent chapel. The not-quite-real
flowers in plastic wicker stands. The folding chairs with white bows tied
around them. It screamed cheesy. The only thing missing was the
Elvis-impersonator/minister. Standing at the back of the room, waiting their
turn, Jenna pulled her lower lip into her mouth.

Josh turned Jenna’s face up. “If you keep doing that, we’ll
never make it to the altar. I’m so hot for you I’m about to bust.” He ran his
finger along the line of her jaw.

Jenna released her lip and stared up at him. “Not that I’m
being snobbish or anything, but this place seems pretty low-budget.”

He paused. “It’s not too late to back out, you know. Tear
up the paperwork, go back home and give your mother the wedding of her dreams.
Just say the word.” His eyes belied the tension riding just underneath.

She knew he wanted this. Wanted her.

And she wanted him. Wanted this.

The how didn’t matter and never had. She nodded up at him
through eyes filling with tears of joy. The room around them morphed, their surroundings
now enveloped in a hazy, rose-colored halo, softening it, smoothing out the
imperfections. She turned back to Josh, letting all the love she felt for him
pour into her expression. “It’s exactly what I want.”

He snuggled her hand in the crook of his arm. “It’s what we
want.”

“Latham?” The minister, dressed in somber gray with a
flashing neon tie, called them.

Jenna grinned and took the first step forward.

****

A scant ten minutes later, they raced out of the chapel,
back to their hotel room. Jenna put the card in to unlock the door, but Josh
stopped her from moving forward. He swept her into his arms, a huge grin on his
face.

“This is one threshold you don’t cross by yourself, Mrs.
Latham.”

“Why, Mr. Latham, I do declare, I never knew such a
gentleman existed underneath that smooth exterior of yours.” She giggled her
way into his kiss as he lowered his mouth to hers.

Thank God hotel doors generally shut on their own, because
by the time they fell onto the bed, Josh’s kisses had turned molten and neither
of them were thinking about the door. The heat coursing through Jenna’s body
matched his.

He tugged on the strapless top, but wedding dresses weren’t
made for easy access. Groaning in frustration, he stood and pulled her with
him.