Bad Boy's Lust (Firemen in Love Book 1) (32 page)

Even though I was livid at what mom was doing, the priest's words made me cry. Weddings always had that effect on me, but this one was different, for obvious reasons.

“And now they will cease to be alone. They will join together and become one flesh under the eyes of the Lord.” He smiled and closed his notes. “Now, I understand you have written your own vows, along with a photographic accompaniment.”

David went first. “Angela, you and I have always been close friends. You were there for me and Debbie when we needed support. You have a big heart, and your kindness knows no limits.”

Jayce put a finger in his mouth and pretended to gag. I would have laughed if this whole thing wasn't just one-hundred percent ridiculous.

A photo displayed on the projector. It was a picture of the two of them kissing in the park. Okay, now
I
felt like being sick too.

“I promise I will honor and love you, the way a man ought to love his wife...”

Jayce couldn't hold back anymore. He tapped a button on his phone.

The photo on the screen was replaced by a different shot. I squinted to make out the blurry image. Oh, boy. It was the video of mom making out with dad!

The video began to play, complete with very loud audio so that the entire audience could hear, even in the furthest back rows.

David stopped saying his vows and stared in confusion. Everyone else murmured and whispered to one another. Mom, on the other hand, knew she'd been sunk.

“What is this? This is
ruining
my big day! I demand whoever is in charge of this hunk of junk, turn it off right now!”

But they didn't. David and the guests saw it all – her kissing dad, her confessing her entire plot to steal David's money for him. She hid her bright-red face behind the lace of her veil.

Dad sat in the front row several chairs down. He clearly had no idea anybody had figured out their scheme. His mouth hung agape, and his eyes darted from left to right.

David stared at mom, then him.

“Angela,” he said, his voice shaking with barely-contained fury. “What exactly am I looking at? When was this taken? And why are you kissing your ex-husband?”

The crowd began to rumble with gossip and accusations. Jayce sat back and smiled at his handiwork.

“Now the circus really begins,” he whispered.

Heather reached over me and smacked him in the chest. “I can't believe you'd ruin their wedding. You're still a jerk.”

“What else was I supposed to do? Let my dad get cheated on while Angie bankrupts him for another man?”

She said nothing. Both of us knew this had to happen. It could have been handled a lot more discreetly, yeah, but still.

Mom clutched David's arm. “It's not what it looks like, honey. I can explain.”

The priest stepped forward and forced a smile. “Ah, um, how about we call an... intermission? The ceremony will resume... shortly.”

He gestured to the band. They struck up a loud tune to cover mom and David's arguing, but not loud enough.

“You were
cheating
on me? And worse, you only wanted to marry me for money?”

“No, dear, of course not! This is all someone's idea of a sick joke. I was framed.”

Dad tried to creep away to safety with everyone else, but too late. David charged at him and grabbed him by the collar.

“You! You knew I was going to marry Angie, and you stole her from me.”

“That's not entirely true. When I came for a visit, she didn't tell me she was dating you at first. She tricked me. Made me fall in love with her all over again...”

Mom scoffed. “Stop lying, Peter. You knew the whole time. Why, it's all your fault that I strayed! You, with your honeyed words. The sweet promises you made me.”

“How dare you blame me for your own actions. You're the one who lied to David all this time.” Dad folded his arms. “Go on, Angie. Tell him the truth. Tell him who you
really
love.”

David growled and swung a punch at dad – who was never much of a fighter, so one strike to the cheek sent him down fast.

Mom shrieked and scurried away from the brawl, tripping over her dress train and falling flat on her face into the four-tier wedding cake.

“This would be comedy gold if it weren't so damn sad,” Jayce said.

Heather nodded. “I'm totally ashamed to be part of this family.”

The crowd roared with excitement as dad struggled to defend himself against David's blows. Mom peeled the cake off her face and screamed.

“Stop it, both of you! Please, there's no need to fight. Let's try to settle this peacefully.” She slipped in cake and nearly fell. “I'm sure there's just been... a huge misunderstanding here.”

Finally, a security guard managed to pull David off dad, who had a nasty black eye already.

“I want nothing to do with you ever again, Angela. I never thought you were this way. I thought you were a good woman. I
loved
you.”

She began to bawl. “And I love you, sugar plum! I just made a little mistake, that's all. Nothing we can't handle. That's what marriage is all about, isn't it?”

“We're not married yet, thank God.” He wiped the blood off his knuckles. “And we never will be.”

Mom hurried after him as he stormed away, but her lengthy dress prevented much running. She stumbled in her pointy high heels, took them off, and waddled across the boat deck to catch up with him. They vanished around the corner, and we heard no more from them.

“Mission accomplished.” Jayce pressed “Stop” on his phone. “But then why do I feel so bad?”

“Maybe you do care about your dad. You want him to be happy.”

“He's an asshole. I don't care how he feels. On top of that, he's trying to steal our home.”

But he was conflicted.

“He's still your father. Won't you want him in the baby's life?”

“I guess he has a right to see his grandchild – if he has any interest in it, which I very much doubt that he will.”

Apparently, just because the wedding had been ruined didn't mean the festivities had to end. The local band they'd hired started to play. Guests went back to dancing, while others swarmed the snack table and buffet.

“At least we get a good party out of it.” Jayce raised his champagne. “And the open bar is sweet, too.”

“Don't rub it in. I could use a drink or three after that.”

When the band played a slow love song, Jayce took my hand and led me to the floor. We danced there, with his arms around me and my head resting against his chest.

“We're not going to be like them, Pink. Not ever.”

“You think?”

“I'm gonna be the best husband you could ever ask for. The best dad, too. Although the puking and the diapers kind of freak me out, still.”

Not far away, the priest complained to the ship captain.

“A complete debacle, that's what it was. Never in all my years have I seen such scandal – may God have mercy on their sinful souls.”

The captain laughed. “I'm afraid I missed it.” He sipped his margarita. “Ah, well. It'll be up on YouTube within the hour.”

“I came all the way out here to marry these people, and for what? Now I'm stuck on the boat until we reach shore.”

Jayce and I exchanged looks. My heart skipped a beat.

“You thinking what I'm thinking?”

“What?”

He kissed the ring on my finger. “It's time. I want you for my wife – right now, and not a moment later. We've put this off long enough.”

Was this really happening? He wanted to marry me
now?
I wore a blue cocktail dress, not a wedding gown. He lacked a tux. And we didn't even have the –

He pulled a piece of thick paper from his pocket and unfolded it.

“The marriage license! You brought it with you?”

“Truthfully, I've just been waiting for the perfect moment.” He held my hand tightly. “These people came here for a wedding. Let's give them one.”

It seemed a little bit wrong to do this, to have such a happy moment when our parents just had an all-out battle in front of their family and friends.

But I couldn't deny the way I felt about him. I was tired of waiting. Finally, we had the chance to make this official.

Heather gaped at us as Jayce led me up the aisle. “Where are you going, Elle?”

“I'm going to get married, I guess.” I couldn't keep the big grin off my face.

Conrad stopped his rant when we approached him. He put on a gentle smile and shook Jayce's hand.

“I'm truly sorry for what happened with your father. That was quite an unwelcome surprise.”

“Oh, we saw it coming from a mile away.” He nudged me forward. “But we have a funny request for you.”

“Name it, child.”

“Marry us instead.”

The puzzled old man said nothing for a moment, then laughed. “You're serious, aren't you.”

“Dead serious. We've been engaged for a while now, and we just decided it was time.” He looked at me. “I can't wait another minute to have Elle as my wife.”

“Well, then.” He beamed. “I suppose it can't hurt. Your parents hired me to do a job, and I haven't yet completed it. So let's just say this one is on the house.”

He spread the word to the captain, who excitedly ran off to his office. Minutes later, an announcement was made over the loudspeaker.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have wonderful – and very surprising – news. Jayce Reinhard and Elizabeth Gardener will be marrying on the top deck in five minutes.”

“Five minutes.” Jayce whispered in my ear. “That's all we have left. I'm gonna make you my bride – and then do you know what I'm gonna do?”

“Something perverted?”

“Make sweet love to you for hours and hours, that's what.”

Father Conrad returned to us. “Pardon me, but this is all rather new to me. I've never officiated an impromptu wedding before. Do you happen to have a best man and maid of honor? Perhaps there's someone here you'd like to invite.”

Jayce waved to Heather and Zach. She ran to me with a delighted squeal.

“You're getting married
right now!
I can't believe it.”

“And I want you to be my maid of honor.”

She gasped. “Me?”

“How about it, Zach?” Jayce nudged him. “Feel like being a best man for me? Maybe I'll return the favor at your wedding.”

“Of course, brother. We're all gonna be family soon. I'd be honored.”

The seats began to fill quickly as news of another wedding spread around the boat. People snapped pictures of us and offered their congratulations as we passed by.

Conrad showed everyone in the party where to stand. Jayce waited for me at the altar, along with Zach at his side. Heather stood across from them, holding a makeshift bouquet of flowers from the one mom had dropped.

“Miss! Who will be walking you down the aisle?” Conrad asked.

“If my daughter agrees, I'd like to have the honor.”

Dad approached slowly, as if he thought I'd beat him up too. He'd cleaned up his bloody nose, but there was no hiding the black-and-blue rings under his eyes.

He couldn't hide the remorse in them, either.

“I know I did something awful, Elle. I was being selfish. Greedy.” He stared at his shoes. “I got into some serious trouble with gambling debts and loan sharks back in California. When I started talking to your mom again, she said she might be able to help me. I just... I realized it was wrong, but I was desperate for a way out – no matter who it hurt.”

The priest cleared his throat. Everyone was waiting.

“I can't respect the things you did or the choices you made.” I wiped my teary eyes. “But still, you're my father. I guess my wedding wouldn't be complete without you in it.”

He smiled and smoothed down my messed-up hair. “Thanks, sweetie. I promise, I'll make things better somehow.” He glanced at Jayce. “I've got to say, I'm somewhat... surprised at your choice of husband.”

“Jayce isn't the same guy you used to know. He's good to me. I love him.”

“That's all I needed to hear.”

Dad took his place next to me. Just as the music began to play – for the second time – heavy footsteps thundered on the deck behind us.

“Wait for meeee!”

Here came mom, waddling up the aisle barefoot, the bottom of her dress dirty and torn. At least she had managed to get most of the cake off her face, although the glob of frosting in her hair wasn't coming out so easily.

She skidded to a stop, huffing and puffing. “I couldn't miss your wedding, honey. Even if mine got screwed up, well... I hope you and Jayce can do better than I have. I believe he'll treat you right.”

“Thanks, mom. Go on and take a seat. I think everyone's anxious to start.”

She nodded and stuffed herself into one of the folding chairs. There was only one final person missing now – Jayce's father.