Anne's Courage [Le Club 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (2 page)

The late Sunday afternoon in April was mild with brilliant-blue skies, scattered white clouds, and a soft breeze. The last of the guests had been seated and were waiting with anticipation for the ceremony to begin. The open antique baroque carriage drawn by Jester, Justin’s shiny black Friesian stallion, moved at a stately pace down the long winding driveway of Devereau Plantation South, a horse farm located amid the rolling hills and extreme green pastures and woodlands of Central Florida.

For anyone who knew Justin, a wedding without Jester as a member of the wedding party was unthinkable. The driveway was bordered by acres of green pastures crisscrossed by white three-board horse fencing and was lined by oak trees trimmed in white twinkle lights, which were already lit in anticipation of evening.

The carriage, with a driver in top hat and tails, carried Kelly Anderson dressed in a stunningly simple white silk Vera Wang wedding dress and short veil. She was accompanied by her father, Dr. Matthew Anderson, who was dressed in black tie and tails. Kelly was marrying Justin Devereau, of the Louisiana Devereaus. He anxiously awaited her appearance at the gazebo next to the tranquil pond behind the long, low, contemporary Japanese style house with the bright-blue tile roof. The house was still under construction but mostly finished. Justin was flanked by his brother, Jamie, and his father in all but name, Maxwell Warwick. Anne thought that the groom, whose slightly brooding good looks complemented the stark black and white of his classically cut tuxedo and ruffled shirt, was stunningly handsome with his long, wavy, dark hair tied back with a silver Celtic knot. His best man, Jamie, groomsmen, Jason Steele and Trent Redding, and ushers, the members of his polo team, all looked elegant in black tuxedos as well.

Justin was clearly nervous as most grooms were, but Anne could see that Jamie and Max apparently had him well in hand.

Justin seemed to hold his breath as Kelly alighted from the carriage with the help of her father and turned to face him as he waited for her in the gazebo. Her lovely face was barely visible through the gossamer veil.

Anamaria Sanchez, the wedding consultant, who bustled about checking last minute details and timing gave Kelly a comforting pat on the arm and adjusted her bouquet. Anne smiled. Anamaria was always unflappable. Finally, as the strains of classical music from the chamber group playing at the back of the tent began, Anamaria gave the signal.

Kelly’s matron of honor, her sister Colleen, and her bridesmaids, Calleigh Steele, very pregnant at eight months and counting, and Paula Greenley, preceded her down the aisle. The attendants were dressed in spring-green dresses and carried bouquets of white lilies and tiny pink wild roses.

Finally, at Anamaria’s prompt, Kelly took a deep breath and started up the white silk-covered path strewn with pink rose petals. Anne had never seen her look so radiant. She smiled at the wedding guests seated in flower-decked chairs. Her bouquet of white calla lilies and orchids trembled in her hands, and her lovely green eyes brimmed with tears of joy as she approached Justin.

Anne found the ceremony touchingly simple. The bride and groom shared a soul-shattering kiss after the ceremony to the thunderous applause of all the guests. Afterward, the wedding party and guests adjourned to the enormous white tent for a fabulous dinner and champagne toasts. Anne thought Jamie’s toast to start the festivities was charmingly irreverent, but it was clear how much he thought of his older brother.
He looks breathtaking in that tux!

* * * *

After dinner, when Jamie was freed from his duties as best man, he went in search of Anne Sutton. He circulated among the jostling throng. He knew she was hidden among this crowd somewhere. Apparently, she had attended the wedding with friends and did not have an escort. A few discreet inquires made to Jason and Trent yielded the information that the manager of the club was definitely in attendance.

Ah, there she is.
He spotted her at a table with several club employees. She looked stunning and coolly elegant in a sheath dress of the same blue as her eyes. It hugged her curves lovingly. He walked through the crowd to her table, bent down, and whispered in her ear, “Let’s dance. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity all day.” Not giving her the chance to decline, he placed his hand possessively on her shoulder and helped her rather decisively from her chair. Jamie led Anne to the dance floor and pulled her into his arms. He held the stunning club manager who had captured his imagination the day before more closely than was strictly polite as he smoothly began to circle the floor to the romantic music.

“Mr. Devereau, you don’t often take ‘no’ for an answer, do you?” she inquired with a raised eyebrow.

“Not often, Ms. Sutton. So why not just go with the flow?” he responded with a devilish grin.

* * * *

Determined to make polite conversation although her knees were shaking, she said, “I understand from Calleigh Steele that Justin and Kelly’s house is almost finished and should be ready to move into by the time they get back.”

“It is, but renovations on my house at the farm are just getting underway. I’m beginning to feel as though the Devereau brothers are monopolizing Calleigh’s time.”

“I’m sure she’s delighted,” she said.
I wouldn’t mind you monopolizing my time.
A little shiver of awareness trickled down her spine as the rich honey tones of his deep voice seeped into her bloodstream.
Now where did that come from?
She had not been interested in pursuing a relationship with a man in quite some time, not since her bout with breast cancer several years ago had left her body less than perfect, and her fiancé apparently traumatized by the changes in her body, had broken their engagement.

He nestled her closer to his broad chest, and she settled into his embrace as she followed his strong lead.
I bet he leads like this in bed, too. Good Lord! What am I thinking? I’ve got to get out of here!
When the dance was over, she smiled up at him and said, “I have to leave early, I’m afraid. I have a very busy day tomorrow, and my assistant will be on her honeymoon in France—the lucky girl! Thank you for the dance, Mr. Devereau.”

“Yes, I can see that you are afraid, cher, but I don’t know why. Please call me Jamie. I think we’ve progressed past the usual formalities.” He smiled as he let her go, watching as she left the tent and headed toward the parking valet.

Jamie rejoined the wedding party for the cake cutting.

* * * *

After Kelly threw the tossing bouquet in Paula’s direction, the newly married couple departed for a month-long honeymoon at Justin’s farm in Provence, France. Kelly was hopeful that their newly renovated home would be ready for occupancy upon their return. She was ready to move in whether the house was finished or not. She was anxious to start her new life with Justin.

On Monday morning, Jamie tooled North on US 27 through the rolling green hills and forests of Ocala’s famous horse country. It was a gorgeous drive with the wind whipping around him. When he reached the gates of Devereau Plantation South, he turned off the highway onto the farm’s driveway. He parked his bike in front of the main barn and walked in to see Jester. He had made the trip from New Orleans for Justin’s wedding, as well as to keep an eye on the farm and Jester while the honeymooners were away. Justin had considered shipping Jester to France for the month but had decided it was too much unnecessary stress for the horse since their trip would be so short.

“Well hello, you spoiled monster,” he said affectionately as he handed over several of Jester’s favorite treats—sugar cubes—and rubbed the center of Jester’s forehead and scratched behind his ears with gusto. The attention and adoration was very much appreciated as Jester rubbed his muzzle on Jamie’s chest. “Want to go out for a ride?” Jamie pulled Jester’s grooming box from its niche on his stall door and began running a brush over the gleaming black coat of the massive horse. The Friesian, considered a light draft horse, was enormous. Standing seventeen hands at his withers, he weighed 1,800 pounds or more. Justin had originally purchased him as a dressage horse for his fiancée who had been killed in an automobile accident over a year ago, and he had since been training him as a war horse in the art of
Yoseikan Bajutsu
, Japanese martial arts on horseback. Jamie, although an accomplished rider and polo player himself, was not into martial arts as Justin was. Although he admired Justin’s dedication, the serious application of martial arts required too much self-discipline as far as he was concerned. Jamie was more into toys. Classic motorcycles, fast cars, and cutting-edge technology all fascinated him. Not to mention edgy sex.

“Justin will have my head if you get depressed and lose weight, you big moose!”

“He most certainly will,” Max said from the door of the stall. “How many horses almost get taken on the honeymoon? It’s a good thing Kelly is a horsewoman and understands Justin’s close bond with Jester.”

“That’s for sure. But I have to admit this guy is special,” Jamie continued. “Sometimes I almost think he’s going to answer me when I talk to him. So what’s with the wedding planner lady? You seemed to be smitten, you old dog.”

“Mind your own business, you insolent pup!” Max said with the gleam of love in his eye as he looked at Jamie.

“I’m planning on doing just that. When are you and Calleigh getting started on the plans for your house? We can certainly have another crew out here working on the three houses simultaneously,” Jamie said.

“Trying to get rid of me?” Max asked with a grin.

“Yeah. I am. I have my eye on the lovely Anne Sutton.”

“Oh, Jamie, I don’t know about that. I don’t think she would be...”

“Not to worry, old man. Have you ever known me to fail?” Jamie said with his customary wicked grin.

“That’s just the problem, my boy. That’s just the problem,” Max said, shaking his head. “I’m sure Anne Sutton is a few years older than you are, and I don’t think she would to be interested in a liaison with a notorious ‘bad boy.’ She seems very self-contained and reserved. In any event, I am moving into one of the smaller staff houses on the farm until Justin gets back. I want to be on the premises while he’s away, so you will have the Ming Suite at the club all to yourself.”

Having finished grooming the big horse, Jamie sprang on bareback while Jester danced about, eager to be off for a run. Holding him steady with his legs and light hands, Jamie said, “I’ll see you for dinner tonight at the club,” and then he was off, trotting out on to the bridle path that ran for miles around the farm. After a short warm up, Jamie and Jester cantered off for the good run they both needed. Jester moved with a fluid grace that was breathtaking—mane, tail, and feathers flowing in the breeze. Jamie felt like a centaur, actually a part of the horse. Jester was one of the finest horses he had ever ridden.

* * * *

That evening, Jamie and Max met for dinner in the five-star dining room of Le Club. The chef had been a brilliant acquisition from a local country club, and the food was outstanding.

“What did you do today?” Max inquired amicably as they shared coffee and brandy. Jamie settled into the usually comfortable quasi father-son relationship he had with Max.

“After I rode Jester, I came back here and worked in the office Justin set up for me in the third bedroom of the suite. I have to keep my eye on the ball, watch the news and economic indicators, and all that bullshit. After all, your comfortable retirement depends on it,” he joked.
Not to mention the comfortable retirement of all our family members and employees.
It was a huge responsibility, and contrary to his “bad boy” image, he took it exceedingly seriously. As the president of Devereau Investments, Jamie headed a private hedge fund not open to investment by outsiders, as it was for the sole benefit of the family and employees of the various Devereau entities worldwide.

“And a fine job you do, my boy. A fine job. I really couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked over my monthly statement from Devereau Investments. Considering the current economic situation, you have a tough job right now. Those investments don’t manage themselves.”

“I keep a good portion in Devereau controlled investments where I am sure of the actual value of the assets, as well as commodities, metals, some AAA bonds, some blue chip stocks, et cetera. Eggs. Baskets. You know,” Jamie said shrugging. “I’m not big on emerging markets regardless of what the pundits say. A lot of our people need dependable income. I don’t like to take chances. I’ve sold out and gone to all cash a couple of times recently when I thought the economic markets looked ready to take a steep dive. Sometimes you ride it out. Sometimes you bail.”

“Needless to say, I greatly appreciate…” Max looked up and saw Anne Sutton walking across the dining room. “Oh, good evening, Ms. Sutton. Would you care to join us for a cup of coffee?” Max asked courteously. Anne was standing at their table looking good enough to eat as far as Jamie was concerned.

“That would be lovely, Mr. Warwick. Thank you.”

Jamie rose to seat her, casually running his hand down her spine. He rested it for a moment over the small of her back, before it slipped down over her nicely rounded bottom. The close fit of the gray pin-striped business suit with the short, slim skirt she wore was eye catching. But the black pumps with the red soles were as captivating as they had been on Saturday morning. He gave an internal sigh.
Those are some shoes!