The Manning Grooms (20 page)

“I was about to give up hope for that son of mine. It seemed to me he’d settled a little too comfortably into bachelorhood. This comes as a very pleasant surprise.”

“I’m so glad you came to meet me and my family, especially on such short notice.”

Walter withdrew a thick cigar from the inside of his suit pocket and examined the end of it. “Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

Walter sat down and made himself comfortable. After a moment he returned the cigar to his inside pocket. “I quit smoking five years ago and I still miss it. Every now and then I take one out and look at it, just for the thrill.”

Summer could see she was going to like James’s father.

“To be frank, I didn’t think that boy of mine possessed this much common sense.”

“He’s a judge,” Summer said, eager to defend her husband-to-be.

“When it comes to the law, James is one of the finest men on the bench. He seems to be worried about the November election, but as far as I can see, he won’t have a problem. No, what I’m talking about is something else entirely.”

Summer felt like sitting down, too. Both her mother and Julie had mysteriously disappeared, and since the photographer had yet to show up, she decided to relax.

“Have you seen James?” she asked, missing him dreadfully.

“Oh, yes.”

“How is he?” She folded her hands, wondering what James was thinking and if he was sorry he’d gotten involved in all this. Everything had seemed so uncomplicated when they discussed it the night before.

“He’s pacing in his room.”

“Pacing,” she repeated, certain this was a bad sign.

“It’s just as well this wedding’s going to happen less than an hour from now. I don’t think your father and
brother could keep James away from you much longer than that.”

Summer smiled in relief.

“Never thought I’d see the day my boy would fall head over heels in love like this.”

“But he was engaged before. I know about Christy Manning.”

“Ah, yes, Christy. She’s a dear girl, and James had strong feelings for her, but deep down I believe what he found so attractive about Christy was her family. There’s quite a difference between the love James has for you and what he felt for Christy Manning. As you’ll recall, he was content to stay engaged to Christy for a good long while. But you…He’s marrying you so fast, my head’s spinning. His, too, from the looks of him. You’ve thrown him for quite a loop.”

“I love James, too,” Summer said with feeling, “very much.”

“Good. I hope the two of you will seriously consider making me a grandfather soon. I’m hoping for a grandchild or two to spoil.”

“We’d like to have four.”

“Four.” Walter nodded, looking pleased. “But you’re worried about something.”

“Yes,” she said softly, wondering how he knew. “My biggest fear is that I’m not the right kind of wife for James. I’m afraid I might inadvertently harm his career.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I have this tendency to speak my mind.”

“I find that refreshing.”

“You will until I put my foot in my mouth and embarrass James. To give you an example…” She hesitated, not sure she should continue, then realized she couldn’t very well stop now. “I’m the one who suggested we get married.”

“Really?”

“It just…came out. It seemed like a brilliant idea at the time…you know how good things can sound until you’ve thought them through. Well, anyway, James stared at me like he’d swallowed his tongue.”

Walter burst out laughing. “Forgive me, my dear. Continue, please.”

“Naturally I felt like a fool. Mainly because James didn’t say anything and didn’t say anything and didn’t say anything, and I was convinced I’d ruined everything.”

“He said nothing, did he?”

“Well, he did mumble something about preferring to do the asking himself.”

“And you clammed up.”

“Oh, quite the opposite. I started talking at hurricane speed until he told me it was fine and I needn’t worry. And then, after I’d fallen all over myself telling him how sorry I was, he said he thought it was a good idea. James came up with the idea of a ceremony now and then one in April.”

“He did?” Clearly this was news to his father.

“Yes.” Summer grinned sheepishly. “He said something about impulsive thoughts being contagious.”

“There’s more to the boy than I assumed.”

There was another knock at the door, and the photographer let himself inside.

“I’d better get back to James,” Walter said. “It’s been a delight meeting you, Summer. I don’t have a shred of doubt that you’re the best thing to come into my son’s life for a very long time. Make him happy, Summer, make him very happy.”

“I intend to do my best.”

“And while you’re at it, teach him how to laugh.”

Summer nodded. “I’ll try.” She had a sneaking suspicion they had plenty to teach one another.

James looked at his watch for the third time that minute. No one seemed to understand that he
needed
to see Summer. Needed to talk to her, find out about her day, tell her about his.

If he’d had even an inkling that their wedding was going to cause such a big commotion, he would never have agreed to contact their families.

James liked Summer’s parents, but he’d prefer to spend his time with her. Alone.

“We can go into the chapel now,” Hank Lawton said.

James was so grateful he felt like cheering. According to his calculations, the ceremony would take approximately twenty minutes, thirty at most. They’d sign the marriage certificate, and the rest of the night would be theirs. He couldn’t tolerate any more of these separations, however brief. The next time Summer left his sight would be at the airport.

He saw her family in the small chapel, her brother’s children wide-eyed and excited as the organ music rose triumphantly. He noticed that the wedding chapel was almost full and wondered for just a moment who the other guests were.

James went to stand in front with the minister, Reverend Floyd Wilson. James had rented the tuxedo because it seemed odd for the father of the bride to be wearing one and not the groom. Now, however, the shirt seemed too tight around the collar. He resisted the urge to insert his finger and give himself a little extra breathing space.

It was then that Summer appeared.

James felt as if someone had smashed him in the knees with a bat. Never in all his life had he seen anyone more beautiful. His heart beat so hard he thought it might pound straight through his chest.

Her dress was silk and lace with pearls, as traditional a wedding gown as any he’d seen. One would think Summer was a debutante and this a society wedding.

When she joined him at the altar and placed her arm in his, James felt this was the proudest moment of his life. He knew they’d repeat the ceremony in a few months, but nothing would match the blend of humility and pride he experienced right then.

Her brother, Adam, was kind enough to serve as his best man, while Julie, of course, was the maid of honor.

The ceremony itself was a blur. James’s full concen
tration was on the woman at his side. He knew she was feeling the same emotions he was when she began to repeat her vows.

Summer’s voice shook slightly, and she sounded close to tears. His arm tightened around hers as the minister said, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”

James didn’t need to hear that twice. Carefully he gathered Summer close, sighing when their lips met in the tenderest, sweetest kiss of his life.

She clung to him. “Oh, James, how soon can we get rid of everyone?”

He’d entertained that very question from the moment Summer’s mother had taken her away that morning.

“Soon,” he promised. Heaven only knew how they were going to cope with being separated for the next four months. “After dinner.”

They were hit with a barrage of birdseed on their way out the door. They laughed and tried to catch it in their outstretched hands.

“Pictures,” Helen insisted, and when Summer groaned, she added, “Just a few more. That’s all.”

“Mother, you’ll get plenty of pictures later.”

“I want some now,” her mother insisted. But “some” turned out to be at least a hundred by James’s estimation.

They signed the marriage license, and James took the opportunity to kiss his bride. “I don’t ever want to spend another day like this one,” he whispered.

“Me, neither,” she said, then giggled. “But you’re
going to get something out of it. Mother bought me this cute little black nightie.”

James could feel the hot blood circle his ears and…other places. “Your mother bought you a nightie?”

“She said it’s her wedding gift to you.”

“I’ll thank her later.”

“Wait until you see what Julie got us,” she whispered.

“I have the feeling it isn’t a toaster,” he said wryly.

Summer laughed. “No. She picked it out when Mom wasn’t looking. You do like tassels, don’t you?”

“Tassels?”

“Shh.” Summer looked around to be sure no one was listening. “I’ll save them for after the honeymoon.”

“Why?”

“Because, my darling husband, they cover—” She stopped abruptly.

“Yes?” he coaxed.

“Husband,” she said the word as if saying a prayer. “James, you’re my
husband.
”

“I know. And you’re my wife.” It hit him then, too. The beauty of it, of belonging to each other, of the word itself.

Their families all seemed to return at once.

“I don’t know about anyone else,” Helen Lawton was saying, “but I’m starved.”

There was a chorus of agreement. They trooped into the hotel’s elegant restaurant and ordered dinner and champagne, although Summer could barely eat and had trouble following the conversation.

“We’ll say good-night, then,” James announced the
minute they could leave without being rude. “Thank you all for making this the most incredible day of my life.”

“It’s still early,” Helen protested.

“Helen,” Hank snapped. “Think about it.”

“Oh, yes, sorry.” Helen’s face brightened, and she smiled apologetically at James.

“Will we see you in the morning?”

“Helen!” her husband growled.

“I’m just asking, Hank. What harm is there in asking?”

“I don’t know, Mom. What time is your flight?”

James didn’t listen to the answer, although he supposed he should have. As it was, he had a hard time hiding his impatience. He and his wife—his wife—would only have two more days together. Luckily that was two days and
three
nights. Their flights were leaving within a half hour of each other, and then it would be a whole month before he saw her again.

“All right, then, darling,” Helen said, hugging Summer, “we’ll see you both in the morning.”

The entourage left, and James was alone with Summer at last.

“Are we going to my room or yours?” she asked, smiling up at him.

“Neither. I rented the honeymoon suite here for the rest of our stay. Your mother packed your suitcase and had it sent over.”

“You think of everything.” She reached up and removed the wedding veil and shook her head, freeing
her curls. “I can’t tell you how anxious I am to get out of this dress.”

James chuckled as he led the way to the elevator. “Not nearly as anxious as I am to get you out of it.”

“Who were all those guests?” she asked him when they stepped inside the elevator car.

“I thought they were friends of your family.”

“I’ve never seen them before in my life.”

James shrugged. “Me, neither.”

“You know what? I’ll bet my mother invited them. She couldn’t bear to have us married in an empty chapel.”

James fingered his room key. “Are you hungry?”

“No.”

“Good. Let’s go work up an appetite.”

Summer smiled and moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. “I have a feeling you aren’t talking about racquetball.”

James cleared his throat. He wanted her so much his body trembled with the strength of his need. “You’re right about that.”

J
ames astonished Summer. She didn’t know what to expect from him as a lover, but it wasn’t this. They’d made love no less than three times during their wedding night, and Summer woke the following morning to find him standing at the foot of their bed, fresh from the shower.

His nude body glistened in the early-morning light. Droplets of water dripped from his hair and onto the dark curls that covered his chest.

“Good morning, Mrs. Wilkens.”

Summer smiled and stretched her arms high above her head, arching her back. The sheet slipped away, exposing her breasts.

“Good morning, James.” She saw that he was fully aroused and slowly lifted her gaze to his. Already her body was responding to him, throbbing with readiness and need. James’s eyes narrowed as they focused on her.

Wordlessly she knelt on the bed and held out her arms to him. She smiled, thinking someone should’ve warned her about this man before they were married. At this rate, they’d both be dead within a week.

He walked over to the side of the bed, kissed her once, twice, and then knelt beside it.

All her life Summer had never experienced such power. Or such love. Her breathing grew slow and shallow. She half closed her eyes in pleasure at the simple touch of his hand.

James groaned, and Summer recognized his meaning. He couldn’t wait any longer. Neither could she. She threw her arms around his neck and slowly lay back against the bed, bringing him with her.

She smiled contentedly as they began to make love. All of a sudden her eyes flew open. “James, you forgot—”

“It’ll be all right,” he assured her breathlessly. “Just this one time.”

She didn’t want him to stop. Not now. “Okay.”

James reached his climax soon after she experienced hers. A harsh groan tore from his throat, and his powerful body shuddered.

His shoulders still heaving, he gathered her in his arms and spread soft, delicate kisses over her face. He started to move away from her, but she wouldn’t let him.

“Not yet,” she pleaded. “I want to be a part of you.”

“You are. You always will be. You could travel to Mars, and my heart would be with you.” He brushed the damp hair from her forehead. “I can’t believe you love me.”

“I do, so much my heart feels like it’s about to burst wide open. Will it always be like this?” she asked. “Two weeks ago, you were someone whose letters I looked forward to. This week you’re the most important person in my life.”

James kissed the tip of her nose. “It’s only going to get better from here on out.”

“Better?” She laughed delightedly. “I can’t imagine it.”

In one uninterrupted movement James rolled onto his back, taking her with him so she was sprawled across his chest. Across his heart. “I can’t, either. Summer, I love you.”

“Good.” She pressed her head against his shoulder. “But what about—”

“I’ll remember next time,” he promised. “The last thing we need now is an unplanned pregnancy.”

“I’m pretty sure this is my safe time, so don’t worry.”

James kissed her neck. “I suppose we should get dressed and meet everyone for breakfast.”

“I suppose,” she agreed, but neither of them showed any signs of moving.

“It won’t be so bad,” James whispered.

They’d been married less than twenty-four hours and already Summer could read her husband’s thoughts. “Being separated? It’s going to be terrible. I don’t know how I’ll last four months without you.”

“Four months.” He made it sound like an eternity.

“James, where do you live?”

He gave her a puzzled look. “Seattle. You know my address.”

“But is it an apartment? A condo? A town house or what?”

“A house.”

Summer liked the idea of that.

A slow grin spread across his face. “I must’ve known I was going to meet you. This is a big house on Queen Anne Hill with seven bedrooms.”

“James!”

“It’s a lovely older home. I’m quite proud of the garden. I hope you’ll like it.”

“I love it already.”

“You haven’t seen it.”

“No, but I saw the look on your face when you talked about it. The house is going to be perfect for us, just perfect.”

His eyes grew dark. “
You’re
perfect.”

“I hope we’ll always love each other as much as we do at this moment.” Summer laid her head on his chest and sighed.

Time had never passed more quickly for James. He’d dreaded leaving Summer almost from the moment they’d met again on New Year’s Eve. It was as though Seattle was another world, one he wasn’t that eager to return to. Not when it meant having to say goodbye to Summer.

His wife of two days was unusually quiet as they packed their suitcases on Saturday morning, the day of their departure. When she found him watching her, she offered him a reassuring smile.

The bellboy carried their luggage to the lobby. While James was checking out of the hotel, he noticed Summer twisting the plain gold band around her finger. His own felt awkward and heavy, and he wondered if she was experiencing any regrets. For his own part, he didn’t have a single one.

Having returned the rental car earlier, James ordered a car. He and Summer held hands as they rode silently to the airport.

He wanted to assure her it wouldn’t be so bad, but that would’ve been a blatant lie. Every minute he was away from her was a minute too long. He wanted to be sure she understood how much he loved her, how crucial she was to him. But the backseat of a limo with a driver listening in didn’t seem the most appropriate place to tell her those things.

Nothing would ever be the same for either of them, and they both knew it.

The car dropped them off, and since they were flying on different airlines, they separated to check in their luggage and receive their seat assignments.

James finished first and caught sight of Summer hurrying through the crowd toward him. Even from that distance he sensed her sadness. He met her halfway and they went through security together.

“My flight leaves from Concourse B,” she said, looking down at her ticket. Her voice was small and tight.

“Mine’s Concourse A.”

“What time’s your flight?”

She already knew, but apparently needed to hear it again. “Ten-thirty,” James told her.

“My departure’s at ten.”

He was perfectly aware of what time her plane left. “I’ll walk down to Concourse B with you.”

“You can’t, James, you might miss your own flight.”

Frankly he didn’t give a damn. “Then I’ll catch the next one.”

“I’ll worry. James, really, I’m a big girl. I can find my way around the airport.”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t,” he snapped, surprising himself.

Summer looked up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. She turned and walked away from him and headed for Concourse B.

James followed and wanted to kick himself. He wouldn’t see his wife for weeks and here he was, apparently doing his utmost to start an argument. No doubt there was some psychological reason for his attitude. He’d examine what was happening later, but at the moment he was more concerned about saying goodbye to her properly.

Summer arrived at her gate and walked over to the window. James could see her plane and knew it wouldn’t be more than a few moments before the boarding call was announced.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He rested his hands on her shoulders and closed his eyes.

“Me, too.”

He frowned. She’d done nothing wrong. “For what?”

“Oh, James,” she whispered brokenly, slipping her arms around his waist. “I’m going to be so lost without you.”

“It’s going to be hard.” He wasn’t willing to pretend otherwise. “I’ll phone as often as I can.”

“Do you have my work schedule?” she asked.

“Yes. Do you have everything you need?” They’d gone over the details a dozen times.

“No. I need you, James.”

His hold on her tightened. He wondered if they were afraid they’d lose the magic. Afraid that once they returned to their respective lives, everything would change.

Her flight number was announced, and James tensed. It wouldn’t be long before he saw her, he promised himself. He’d try for a week, two at the most. A few minutes later her row was called.

“That’s you,” he said reluctantly.

“I know.”

But neither of them made a move to break apart.

Summer was the last one to board the plane, and James had to tear through the airport in order to catch his own flight. If anyone had suggested even ten days ago that the dignified James Wilkens would race through an airport so he could spend a few extra minutes with a woman, he would have scoffed. He wasn’t scoffing now.

He arrived in the nick of time and collapsed into his seat, his heart racing.

Between dashing through airports and hours spent
making love, Summer would be the death of him yet. He smiled as he snapped his seat belt into place. If he was to die that very moment, he’d leave this earth a happy man.

James’s house had never seemed so empty. By the time he got home, it was dark and shadowy. His first mistake had been stopping at the office on his way back from the airport. After he arrived in Seattle, he’d spent what remained of the day working through the memos, briefs and case histories. No one else was in, so he was able to accomplish quite a bit, catching up on some of his backlog. He’d do anything he had to so he could arrange time away as soon as possible.

Summer was never far from his thoughts.

Once he reached his house, suitcase in hand, he was exhausted. He switched on the light in the kitchen, put down his bags and set his briefcase on the walnut table in the breakfast nook.

He hadn’t eaten since that morning, and a look inside the refrigerator reminded him he’d been away all week. He’d need to order out or microwave something from the freezer.

Deciding against both, he heated a can of soup, ate, then showered. He’d showered that morning, but Summer had been in the stall with him and neither one had seemed particularly concerned about washing.

James stood in front of the mirror in the steamy bathroom and wiped off some of the condensation, then stared at his reflection. He didn’t look all that dif
ferent from the man he’d been a week ago. But he
was
different.

Unable to delay talking to Summer, he dressed quickly and headed for his book-lined den.

Having memorized her apartment and cell phone numbers, James called her at home.

Summer answered on the first ring. “Hello.”

“Hello, darling.”

“James!”

“I would’ve called sooner, but I went to the office. I needed to clear off my desk.”

“Did you check your calendar?”

“First thing. I can fly down on a Saturday morning in two weeks, but I’ll need to be back Sunday afternoon. That doesn’t give us much time.”

“No,” she agreed, “but we’ll make the most of it.” Her relief was evident. “I was afraid once you looked at your schedule you’d find it impossible to get away.”

“I don’t care what it takes, I’ll be in California in two weeks.”

“Wonderful. I traded weekends with a friend so I can come to you in February. My mother’s already started to plan the wedding. She’s left a message with the secretary at the Moose Hall. It’s a very nice building.”

“Your mother’s enjoying every minute of this, isn’t she?”

Summer laughed. “Yes. But the one who surprises me most is my dad. I don’t know what you said or did, but my dad thinks you walk on water.”

It was his turn to laugh.

Then they were both silent. They’d spent nearly every minute of the previous week together. They’d discussed everything there was to discuss. Yet neither was willing to break the connection.

An hour later they were still on the phone. They hadn’t spoken more than a few words between whispered promises and deep sighs. They’d shared a few secrets and memories, some of them very private. Very intimate…

In their next conversation, he’d let Summer know he couldn’t handle much more of that.

“I’ve gotten together with a group of businessmen and spread the word,” Ralph Southworth was saying.

James sat in his office, gazing into the distance. As always, his thoughts were fifteen hundred miles to the south with Summer. He barely heard his campaign manager. In eight days he’d be with his wife. The last six had been the purest form of torture.

He lived for the times he could phone her. Because she performed in the last show of the night, he couldn’t reach her until after ten, and more often than not they spoke until past midnight.

“There’s a dinner party this Friday night at the Morrisons’,” Ralph announced.

James didn’t comment.

“You’re going, aren’t you?”

“You mean to the Morrisons’?”

Ralph Southworth looked at him oddly. “Who else do you think I mean?”

James shrugged. Ralph was a good man, a bit abrasive at times, but sincere and hardworking. According to people James trusted, Ralph Southworth was the best man for the job of getting James elected to the superior court.

“What’s with you lately, James?” Ralph asked abruptly. He pulled out a chair and sat down across from James’s desk.

Ralph was nothing if not direct. “What makes you ask?”

“Something’s not right. Ever since you got back from vacation, you haven’t been the same.”

James considered telling Ralph the truth. Part of him was eager to share the news of his marriage. Marrying Summer was nothing to be ashamed of—the opposite, in fact—but arrangements for the second ceremony were already being made. If he was willing to face the truth, James would have to admit he wasn’t keen on explaining his sudden marriage, especially to the man who’d frowned on his vacation in Vegas. He preferred to leave things as they were and invite Ralph to the wedding in April. So far, he’d told no one about Summer and for the time being even left his wedding band at home.

“Have you ever been in love?” he asked, unable to resist.

Ralph shook his head adamantly. “Never, and proud of it.”

James’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “I see.”

“Women have ruined more than one good man.
Don’t be a fool, James. Don’t do anything stupid at this point. Unless it’s with someone who can help you politically, of course. Now, if you told me you were seeing Mary Horton…”