Part 10 (2/2)
”d.a.m.n straight I'm caught up.”
She shook her head vehemently. ”You don't get to be. You don't get to do this. We can't go back. We can't make mistakes because of old emotions and memories.” Although she spoke to Jack, she was reminding herself. She'd melted under his touch. This couldn't happen again. She yanked the door open and stepped out, almost cras.h.i.+ng into the bride. ”Oh, oh, I'm so sorry.” She clutched Emma closer.
The bride smiled, fully, beautifully. She was stunning in her simple A-line organza gown. The empire bodice matched her bridesmaids' dresses. Los Angeles was definitely home to 'the beautiful people.' Alexa hadn't seen anything different yet.
”No, problem.” The bride's honey-colored eyes twinkled with excitement.
”You look wonderful.” She adjusted Emma in her arms as the baby nuzzled closer.
”Thanks. I'm Hailey.” The bride held out a well-manicured hand.
”Alexa.” She took it and shook.
”There's the bride.”
Hailey's smile grew impossibly wider when Jack enveloped her in a hug.
”You're stunning.” He kissed Hailey's cheek. ”I think you might just knock Austin on his a.s.s.”
”I already did.” Hailey chuckled and poked him in the stomach.
”You got me there.” Jack winked and hugged her again. ”Congratulations, beautiful.”
”Thank you.” She held him a moment. ”Thank you so much for everything,” she whispered as her tone grew serious and she looked at him.
He nodded and skimmed a finger over her cheek.
There was an unmistakable bond between Hailey and Jack.
Hailey drew away, and her eyes brightened once more. ”Alexa, I want to spend some time with you later, but first, there's something I have to do.”
Hailey's sweet excitement was infectious, and Alexa grinned. ”Don't let me stand in your way.”
”Nothing could. I'm getting married.” She did a little boogie. ”I still can't believe it. I'm actually marrying Austin Casey.”
”Not a nerve out of place in this one,” Morgan joked as she came up behind Hailey. ”Come on, Bride. Let's do this before baby Phillips arrives. For someone who's so excited, you're sure taking forever.” She pulled Hailey toward the stairs. ”Ethan's waiting to walk you down the aisle.”
The hall was silent again as the wedding party headed downstairs. Alexa followed in her attempt to avoid Jack.
”Alex, wait.”
She stopped, blew out a breath, bit her lip, and turned. ”We need to get Livy and find our seats.”
He stared at her, nodded, and they went downstairs.
Dusk darkened the cliffs beyond as the DJ rolled into his next song. Jackson smiled as he watched Olivia and Kylee laugh and dance about in their pretty dresses. Their cheeks were flushed and their cute hairdos long since tangled by the blowing Pacific winds. They were having a h.e.l.l of a time. Olivia would always have a friend when she came to visit.
His smile dimmed as the thought depressed him. Now that he had his daughter with him, how could he let her go? He didn't want to share her on vacations and every other holiday; he wanted her living in LA every day. He loved having Olivia in his home, loved being surrounded by her energy, clutter, and noise. She had only been in his life for a couple of weeks, but she was by far one of the two best things that had ever happened to him.
Scanning the bustling crowd, he searched for the other. He spotted Alex across the tent, standing in the glow of several candles. She too seemed to be hitting it off as she talked and laughed with Hailey, Sarah, and Morgan. This was the first time she'd appeared remotely happy since he woke her on Sarah and Ethan's living room couch. It was good to see a bit of sparkle in her eyes again. The last two weeks had been h.e.l.l for her. He'd heard her quiet crying and endless pacing late into the nights but kept his distance, because that's what he knew she wanted.
He hated that he wasn't able to make her laugh the way Hailey was now, the way he used to. When they'd first started dating, he'd had to coax her into relaxing and letting herself have a little fun. The burden of too many responsibilities had taken their toll. Helping her ill grandmother raise a teenager while trying to work and maintain her scholars.h.i.+ps had been more than any twenty-year-old should have to deal with. Every smile he'd teased from her in the beginning had been a small victory. It wasn't all that different now. He'd seen a few of her stellar grins, but not nearly enough. She was too weary around him, too stiff and guarded. It was going to take more than two weeks to move past the damage he'd caused in their relations.h.i.+p.
Jackson continued to study her-the way her glossy black hair s.h.i.+ned in the dim light, the way her eyes widened with surprise before she threw her head back and let loose her full-throated laugh. ”My G.o.d,” he muttered as the familiar sound sent him reeling. She was so d.a.m.n beautiful. Would he ever get used to it?
Hailey said something and Alex responded. Jackson's focus sharpened as she reached up and touched her necklace-a habit he'd noted throughout the evening. She'd kept it and had never taken it off, she'd admitted, albeit reluctantly. While dinner had been served, he hadn't been able to take his eyes off the charm-intertwining loops that created an ornate triangle. He hadn't noticed it several nights before when he helped her undress, only the glint of a chain against the smooth skin of her neck. Would he have helped Evelyn pack if he'd known the gold twists of the charm were facing her back? There had to be something left between them if she wore the gift he gave her all those years before.
”Open your present.” He held out a rectangular box, wis.h.i.+ng they were anywhere but in his trashed room at the frat house. The blaring music from down the hall, even with the door closed and locked, didn't exactly set the scene he'd been going for, but he hadn't been able to wait for the special dinner he'd planned.
She hesitantly took the box he'd painstakingly wrapped in frilly, flowered paper. ”You didn't have to get me anything.”
”Of course I did. You only turn twenty-one once, and besides, I just missed your birthday when we met last year.” He loved surprising her with little things. She never expected them, which made giving them more fun.
”Thank you.”
He grinned. ”You haven't opened it yet.”
”I know, but...” Smiling, she shook her head and bit her lip as she peeled the paper away.
Uncustomarily nervous, he shoved his hands in his pockets and took them back out as she lifted the lid.
”Oh, Jack,” she gasped. ”It's beautiful.” She freed the s.h.i.+ny gold necklace and let the chain dangle between her fingers, then she caught the charm in her hand and studied the intertwining knots. ”I've never seen anything like it.”
”I was kinda going for one-of-a-kind. You know, symbolic.”
”I love it.” She took her eyes from the jewelry and met his. ”I really do.”
”Good.” He relaxed his shoulders and touched her jaw. He'd wanted the gift to be perfect. ”Good,” he repeated. ”Let me help you put it on.”
They turned to the mirror on his closet door. Alex lifted yards of silky black hair away from her long, slender neck and he was instantly surrounded by the intoxicating scent of flowers and vanilla. ”So, what does it mean?”
He struggled with the small clasp. ”The jeweler said the charm has many meanings-religious and so forth, but the loops are what caught my eye.” He secured the chain in place and met her gaze in the mirror as he slid his hands down her arms and laced their fingers. ”I like how they go on forever.” He kissed the back of her neck. ”That's what I want. I want forever with you, Alex.” He watched her eyes fill. ”I love you.”
She turned and pressed her hand to his cheek. ”I've never been given anything so special. Thank you.”
”You're welcome.” He locked his arms at her waist. ”Happy birthday.”
”I love you so much, Handsome Jack,” she whispered.
Caught up, he pressed his lips to hers, and the tender kiss soon turned hungry. Need sent them instantly to the floor where clothes were tossed aside. Sighs and gasps filled the air as minutes pa.s.sed. Eventually, Alex straddled him, moving with him while the charm of her new necklace caught hints of the light as it swung back and forth against her naked chest.
”h.e.l.l of a party,” Tucker Campbell said as he sidled up next to Jackson.
Jackson took a long swallow of his beer, fighting to bury the past that snuck up to catch him off guard. ”Austin and Hailey know how to have a good time.”
”They look happy.”
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