Red, White, and Bridesmaid Read online

  “You nicknamed me Concave. All the boys called me that through high school.” She frowned as memories obviously flicked through her mind.

  Geesh, he had called her that. He rolled his eyes. “I’m really sorry for the mean nickname. If the now me could go back to the old me, I’d throat punch him. Would that make you happy?”

  The corners of her mouth twitched upward. “Okay, I’ll call a truce on that, but I’m not sure I can ever forgive you for the time we girls were having a backyard sleepover and you put an open jar of ants in our tent,”

  “They weren’t red ants. Those bite,” Darrin said trying to think of something to defend his past actions. He sighed and gave up. “I’m sorry, I was an ass hat as a kid.”

  “No, not always.” Jess’s gaze dropped. “There were a few times you were nice.”

  “Thanks for that vote of confidence.” He hadn’t realized he was still holding her hand. He let go and stepped away. “Can I get you some ice water? I just arrived myself, so I’m not sure what’s in the fridge.”

  “That would be great. It’s hot out there.” She followed him into the kitchen. “I haven’t seen you in five years.” She leaned on the counter as he popped some ice in two glasses and filled them with water. “You went off to college and then started your business in Chicago, am I right?”

  “I have been busy building my sports therapy clinics. There are three.”

  “Impressive. Will you open more in Chicago?”

  “No. Actually, I just sold off two of the clinics. Kara and I have talked about it the last few months. I miss being home. I’m taking the profit from the sales and moving back to the homestead. I’ve had a market report run and I think Seattle would be a great area to open a new clinic.”

  “You’re moving back?” Pink colored her cheeks.

  “Yeah.” He wished he was better at reading women. Did her blush mean she was happy he was moving home...or unhappy? “Is that okay with you?”

  “Sure, I mean why wouldn’t it be? You’ve just been gone a long time. It was a bit of a surprise to hear that you’re coming back. Kara hadn’t said anything.” She took a drink and walked back into the living room. She threw a chew toy and Truffles lept after it.

  “I love this property and house, and it’s close enough to the city to commute.”

  Jess pulled out her cell phone and looked at the time. “Sorry, I have to run. I’m in charge of Kara’s flowers.” She started to gather up Truffle’s dog paraphernalia.

  “Do you work at a shop?” he asked, hoping to talk to her for a few more minutes.

  “I work at it, but I also own a flower shop in the Village Mall. I have to start on Kara’s bouquet and all the rest.”

  “Do you need a ride?”

  “Thanks, but I followed Jack and Kara here. My car’s out front.” She looked at him through long dark lashes. “Now that we are on better terms, I hope we can catch up.”

  “I hope so too.”

  Darrin watched Jess leave out the side door. It was very nice indeed to be back home and even better to find Jess here.

  Chapter 3

  Jess’s wandering thoughts of seeing Darrin again, were a nice distraction from all the stress of the past few days. Fantasy versus reality. Even though there was no evidence of a girlfriend that came with Darrin, Jess’s secret attraction was nothing more than that.

  When Darrin said he was moving home, it was a shock. She’d thought of him often, and wondered what he was doing in his life, but it was always from afar. Now he was here to stay, and she would have to keep herself from acting like a star-struck schoolgirl every time he was in her space. She was a confident, college educated business owner...who inside was still that geeky kid she figured he thought she was.

  To top the week off, of course, of any wedding, the flowers for Kara’s wedding were all wrong. The delivery was short. The day before, Jess drove a hundred miles and then worked late into the night to get more flowers to make sure the arrangements and bouquets were completed. She tied one of the final lavender-colored bows around the flower stalks and sighed. She’d finished. Despite all the craziness. She’d learned, no one knows what’s going on behind the scenes. What’s wrong stays in the back and no one knows.

  Jess looked out over the farm decorated in its finery for the wedding. The twenty acres held fond memories from her youth. The house, pond, barn, and woods surrounded the lush, open lawn. The grounds were the perfect setting for a casual country wedding. White chairs were lined in straight rows and the large reception tent stood off in the distance. She’d finished the reception flower decorations and was down to the decorations for the arbor where the ceremony would be held.

  Next to the arbor, she struggled with the large silver stands that held the plumes of fresh cut stems. White roses, peonies, and wildflowers in mixed colors. She sniffed in the sweet smell that always reminded her of her mother’s garden. Truffles jumped around at her feet and barked at a butterfly.

  “Can I help you with that?” a deep voice asked.

  Darrin wore his white tuxedo dress shirt with jeans. His sandy brown hair tipped his collar and he’d shaved the five o’clock shadow he’d had the last time she saw him. His blue-green eyes captured hers.

  “I can’t get the arrangements to fit in the stands. Do you, by any chance, have a pair of pliers in the barn?”

  “Let me check.” He turned on his heels. I’ll be right back.”

  He returned a few minutes later with a hammer. “Will this work?” He got to work taking the claw end and pried the tight metal plumes wider. “Now try it.”

  She pushed, and the flower basket popped in. She let out an audible sigh of relief. “You’re a lifesaver.” Jess looked up at the sky. “Now if the weather will just cooperate.”

  “The weather reports said there might be some wind coming.”

  “As long as there’s no rain, we should be okay. Everything has to be perfect.”

  He put a hand on her arm. “You sound stressed out. What’s going on?”

  “It’s Kara’s wedding!”

  “Yes...I think I’m aware of that.” He chuckled. “But you seem more nervous than she is.”

  “Kara deserves this day to be perfect to make up for all the bad stuff that happened when we were younger.” Jess’s heart tightened. Darrin and Kara suffered hard times growing up. First, their dad left, and then their mom passed away.

  “None of us have control over the past.” Darrin stepped closer, a look of true concern on his face.

  “It doesn’t seem fair that I have both my parents and the two of you were left alone.”

  “We’re not alone. Grandma’s coming tonight. They’re bailing her out of her retirement home for the evening. Kara means the world to her and she would never miss her wedding for anything. Life is seldom fair, but it’s drawn Kara and me closer.”

  “You know you can always be added to my family.” She smiled. “My dad always thought the sun rose and set on you. After you moved away, he still talked about you. When we were teenagers, I secretly think he wanted you to ask me out, but you were too old.”

  “I’m five years older than you. I don’t think that puts me in the cradle robber category.”

  “I guess you’re right and things change.”

  He watched her for a long moment. “What if I asked you out now, do you think he would still be happy about me dating his daughter?”

  Jess’s face heated. She must have misheard him. Did Darrin just ask her out? “He’ll be at the wedding. You can ask him.”

  A large gust of wind caught the basket on the other side of the aisle and sent it crashing backward.

  “Oh, no!” Jess cried. Broken flower stems and petals lay strewn up the aisle.

  “You grab the flowers. I’ll go get some bricks and wire. We’ll weight the baskets down, so the wind won’t catch them again.” Before he left, he bent and said, “Don’t get worked up over this. Wait for the big things in life to come along, and don’t sweat the littl
e stuff. Put the flowers back in the basket. No one will know. They’ll be perfect.”

  His words were oddly calming. He was right. Jess watched Darrin stride off across the field. Where had this calm, assured man come from out of the arrogant cute boy she once knew? He wasn’t the same as she remembered, but maybe that was a good thing. She wasn’t the same girl. Jess liked this new Darrin even more...if that was possible.

  Slowly, she began to pick up the flowers one at a time to rearrange them in the basket.

  THE WEATHER GODS WERE shining on them today. The sun came out from behind the clouds just as the guests began to arrive. Guests were seated, and a string quartet played in one corner. White flower garlands wound up the sides of the aisle as the flower girl dropped petals of bright pink and red. Jack followed the pastor out from the side of the field and then turned to face the guests.

  Kara peeked around the corner of the house and exclaimed, “Look at Jack, isn’t he handsome! I have to be the luckiest girl in the world.”

  Jess kissed Kara on the cheek and then bent to straighten the short train of her dress. The bridal procession music began. She straightened and found Darrin next to her.

  “All of you look beautiful,” he commented, but his eyes were on her. Her stomach did a little somersault.

  “Where are your pants!” Jess exclaimed as her gaze dropped. She eyes the black jeans.

  “Uhhh... I think I’m wearing them.”

  “Not those pants. Your tuxedo pants.”

  “It’s a long story. But now I have a more pressing matter. I need to give away my sister.” He winked at Kara and took her arm. “Love you, sis. Wish mom was here to see you, she would be so proud, but Grandma’s in the front row.”

  “Mom’s here too. We just can’t see her.” Kara sniffed and took her brother’s arm.

  THE CEREMONY WAS SWEET and filled with heartfelt love. For being a hard-edged cop, Jack was a big softy. She guessed love did that to you. The words were said from their hearts and made her wipe tears from her eyes before they got around to the ‘kiss the bride’ part.

  Everyone cheered as Kara and Jack high-fived the guests on the way down the aisle.

  After the receiving line was complete, the reception began under the big white tent. Tiny white lights lit the surroundings with a magical glow and gardenias scented the air. Instead of enjoying herself, Jess found herself fussing again with the flowers on and around the cake.

  “Will you stop?” Darrin asked.

  “I can’t.”

  He grabbed two champagne flutes from a passing caterer’s tray. “Have a glass of champagne with me, take off your shoes, and I don’t know...breathe.”

  “How did you know my feet were killing me?”

  “I have no idea how women walk in those things.”

  Jess leaned over and whispered in his ear. “It’s the number-one girl secret, but neither do we. We think they make our legs look sexy.” She kicked the shoes off to the side of the grass and sighed as she buried her toes in the deep, thick turf.

  “I think your legs look sexy without the torture devices on your feet.”

  “I guess that’s why we choose to wear them.” She took a drink of champagne. The bubbles tickled her tongue. “So, I bet you know that I am a bit of a perfectionist. I have been dying for the past hour to ask, what is the deal with wearing jeans? More comfortable than the tux pants?”

  Darrin motioned for her to join him at an empty table. “Honest, I wasn’t trying to ruin the aesthetics of the wedding. The tux rental place put the wrong pants on the hanger for Jack. They were white instead of black. Jack’s a big burly cop, but I thought he was going to cry. Lucky for him, his sister is marrying a man who is almost her brother’s same size.”

  That they were...all six-foot-plus of both of them.

  “You gave him your pants.”

  “As I said, pick your battles. All the groomsmen have on these heart print boxers that were given as gag gifts at the bachelor party. I could have worn only those.”

  “TMI.” Jess laughed and covered her eyes. “Too much information.”

  “I made an executive decision and went with the jeans instead of the boxers. Although, I have pretty sexy legs too.”

  Jess tried to keep her mind from flashes of Darrin’s obviously muscled body in his heart-covered briefs. Her mind did not need to go there. “But it’s not politically correct to attend a wedding in just your underwear.”

  “I didn’t get the rulebook beforehand.” Darrin glanced over at the stage. “I have to admit, I’m really nervous about giving the wedding toast.”

  “You know everyone here. Why are you nervous?”

  He pulled a crumpled piece of printer paper from his jeans pocket. “I found this toast online.” He handed it to her.

  She read over it and shook her head. “Do what you want, but...”

  “You think it stinks?”

  “Not stinks. I just think it doesn’t sound like your words.” Jess patted him on his chest over his heart. “It’s your baby sister. It’s her wedding day. I think you should speak from here.”

  Chapter 4

  Darrin cleared his throat. “First off, let me thank you for being here tonight.” He flattened the piece of printer paper on the table and then looked out over the crowd. Jess was smiling at him. It was hard to pull his gaze from hers; she was so beautiful it threatened to rob his thoughts. He composed himself, wadded up the printed speech, and tossed it over his shoulder.

  “I found this toast online, but someone told me it wasn’t going to work. She was right. I’m not a formal kind of guy, and it wasn’t even close to what I wanted to say. I’d rather not read off a paper and instead, roll with the punches.

  “I toast my sister to honor her wedding day, but more important to honor/celebrate the memory of the years we have spent together. Tonight, my heart fills with pride for the woman Kara’s grown into. The memories we shared will always be with me. Both of us wish Mom were here today. And Grandma?” He lifted his glass toward the older woman in front. “Thanks for stepping in for your grandkids. You didn’t expect to raise another family, but you never said a word and did it because you loved us. You also need to know how important you are to us.

  “I also want to lift my glass to Jack, the man who today became my sister’s husband. I’ve only known him a few days, but I anticipate this is only the beginning of our friendship. Jack, I welcome you into our small family. Earlier today it was only the three of us, but now, I’ve gained a brother. We’ll be bound forever by our common love of one person, that’s Kara.

  “I know you’re a cop, and carry a gun, Jack, but with all that said, I will kick your butt if you ever hurt her.” Darrin raised his glass. “I love you, sis. Here’s to Kara and Jack and a long, happy, and healthy life together.”

  The guests laughed and clapped. Jack and Kara embraced him. He felt a tear of his own escape and brushed it away with the back of his hand.

  THE REMAINING GUESTS and wedding party danced and laughed late into the night. As the party wound down, Kara exclaimed to Jack, “I have a surprise for all of you! Follow me out into the field.”

  The day had been long. Darrin yawned, but he wandered after the guests and his sister.

  Kara waved her hand like the start of a car race. “Now, Bob!” she shouted.

  There was a whoosh as the first of the aerial fireworks shot off. A colored sparkling plume appeared. Kara grabbed Jack and gave him a big kiss. “I know how much you love the 4th of July, and I thought the wedding wouldn’t be complete without fireworks.”

  “This is fantastic!” Jack said loudly over the din of the explosions. He bent Kara back and kissed her deep. “I love you!”

  A strong gust of wind hit them, causing one of the fireworks tubes to blow sideways. There was another whump. Someone screamed as they dodged to avoid the projectile and the explosion shot past the crowd. The screeching fireball screamed it’s whistled cry and then came to a stop, stuck in the top of the re
ception tent. Around where it hit, suddenly there was a burst of flame.

  “Oh my God! The tent’s on fire,” Kara cried.

  “Get a hose and call for help!” Jack called out to his friends attending the wedding who were firefighters. Guests ran in different directions across the field. The orange flames licked at the top of the canopy and quickly spread, engulfing the dome.

  Darrin ran into the tent where his grandma was still seated at a table.

  A lady who he didn’t recognize said, “I came to help her, but couldn’t find her wheelchair.”

  “Thanks. I got it under control.” He sprinted to where he’d parked the chair and popped it open. He wrapped her shawl around the old woman’s shoulders. “Come on, Grams. We have a bit of a problem and we need to get you out of here.” Before she could reply, Darrin scooped her up and deposited her into the wheelchair. He hurried out the opening and parked it on the edge of the field.

  “What happened?” she asked as she swiveled to look back at the mayhem.

  “Kara was trying to do something special for Jack and now there’s a bit of a fire. It’s fine. You just stay here so I can help them.”

  She nodded, and Darin hurried off. He tried to think of what he could do and hurried to grab the hose they watered the field with by the house. He rapidly screwed a few lengths together allowing the spray to reach the tent and turned on the water. The fire hissed as the cold water struck it.

  It was less than ten minutes before the wail of fire engine sirens filled the night air. Everyone was running and yelling commands. Flames shot in orange hues into the night sky and flicks of embers floated. The wind shifted and smoke enveloped him. Darrin choked and moved farther out onto the lawn.

  “My tent!” Someone ran closer. Darrin recognized him as the neighbor Kara and Jack had borrowed the tent from. “You burned it up. You...you need to pay for this! It’s my wife’s and she uses it for parties.”

  Darrin motioned to one of the groomsmen to take the hose from him and then confronted the man. “Hey, calm down. It will all be taken care of. It was an accident.”