Dancing in Circles (Circles Trilogy) (33 page)

He held out his hand. Hers trembled as she took his and walked down the last few stairs into his waiting arms. Their lips met and for that moment, no one else existed.

The passion grew like fire as they kissed. He wanted her. He wanted to make love to her. She wanted him. She wanted to make love to him. They separated with a gasp.

"I've never seen anything or anyone more beautiful than you." His voice was low. "I want to make love to you."

His words sent shivers along Julie's spine. A discreet cough interrupted the moment.

Julie reached down and interlaced her fingers with his. If this wasn't real, she wasn't going to let him vanish. "How did you get him here?"

"We'll explain in the car. Let's go." Julie's parents headed for the doorway. Neither Julie nor Robert moved.

He leaned in close. "Let's stay. There'll be no one in the house." His breath teased like a flame as it brushed her skin.

Julie closed her eyes and gripped his hand tighter. Her head spun with emotions while her knees threatened to buckle.
Oh, that you could just sweep me off my feet and carry me up to bed.

Reality nudged her. "I'm Kelly's maid of honour. I have to be there. But we can have tonight." She brushed a kiss across his lips then led him to the car.

They sat as far apart as possible on the van's middle seat. Neither dared to touch or look at the other. Julie tried to break the tension. "So how did you get here? I didn't hear your bike."

Julie's father chuckled as he started the van and drove to the church. "It's a long story." He glanced in the rear-view at Robert. "Want to fill us in on your side of it?"

Robert shifted his gaze from the side window and sighed. He didn't want to be pulled into the conversation. He wanted nothing to do with reality. He just wanted Julie. "I went to the clubhouse and we partied."

"Partied?" Julie's forehead wrinkled.

"Let's just leave it at partied." He rubbed his nose. "If I tell ya what really happened you'll lose what little respect ya have of me."

"Why?" Julie stroked his cheek.

Her touch sent waves of yearning through his body, intensifying in his groins. "Because… because I missed ya and that hurt more than any injury I've ever had. I wanted to make the pain go away. I needed to forget the world existed. Don't wanna see the ugliness of Shore no more. Gettin' use to life out here. I don't wanna go back."

He inhaled and slowly released his breath. "I think it was about two a.m., when I decided to go home. Don't know why. It just seemed like a good idea at the time. I checked on Jangles then looked for something to eat. Got my head in the fridge when a voice said,
Freeze
. I looked up into the barrel of a cop's gun. Tried to explain, but he didn't believe me. Called Paul to arrange bail but who shows up? Your Dad." He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

"I went back to Westland to straightened things before his probation officer found out. Then I talked him into coming along," said her father.

"You get an extra Christmas present from me this year." Julie reached forward and patted her father on the shoulder.

"More socks. Yeah." Julie's father turned into the church parking lot and parked the car.

Once inside, an usher escorted Julie to the flower gardens and another led Julie's parents and Robert to the pew where the younger Anderson siblings and aunt and uncle were seated.
 

Julie glanced around at the six bridesmaids and flower girl. "Kelly not here yet? The photographer must be going picture crazy."

"Is she as beautiful as you?" Christine, the young flower girl, looked at Julie with big brown eyes.

"Me? Oh my, no." Julie placed her hand on her chest. "Kelly's...unbelievable. Stan'll be blown away."

A black limo parked and a bride in radiant white stepped out. "I'm here!" The silk glistened as she walked and the pearls glowed in the sunlight. After the hugging, the
oohing
and
aahing
, the bride and her attendants, posed and smiled by the flowers until the photographer announced he was done. They followed Julie to the attendant's waiting room, stood near the door, bouquets in hand and butterflies in stomach.

After a few minutes, the flower girl complained she had to go to the bathroom. A bridesmaid showed her where to go. Kelly raised her hand to her mouth, but Julie pushed it away. "No, you can't chew those expensively manicured nails."

"I think I want to throw up. What if he's not coming?"

"He's just caught in traffic. Stan loves you. He'll be here." Julie put her bouquet on the table and poured a glass of water. She handed it to Kelly. "Let's sit. Breathe. Everything's fine."

The pounding noise of a fist banging against the door made one of the bridesmaid yelp in surprise. The door eased open a small distance "Julie." A voice hissed and a finger poked its way into the room motioning her to the hallway.

Julie patted Kelly's shoulder. "I'll be right back." She stepped into the hallway. "Stan. You're here. Thank God. Kelly's— "

The groom, Stan, waved his hands. "Stop talking. We've got a little problem. Ron and I were in a car accident. He's in the hospital. Broken leg. I have no best man. There's no cousin, brother, uncle or friend to fit the bill. I know Kelly paired everybody off exactly. If I go pick Bruce or one of my other buddies, she'll kill me."

Julie agreed. She'd heard Kelly's description of Bruce as a beer-guzzling reject from the sewer system. They stood, staring into space hoping for inspiration. Julie's eyes widen and her eyebrows raised. "This is a long shot. You're going to think I'm crazy.
He's
going to think I'm crazy. My boyfriend's here. He's been a best man before. He's pretty level headed and he's wearing a tux."

"He's got the job." Stan placed both hands on his head as if to keep it from blowing off.

Julie opened the doors leading to the inner sanctum of the church. A crowd sat while the organist provided background music. She leaned inside and waved a hand at an usher. "Pssst."

No one responded.

"Pssst!" An usher turned. Julie motioned him to the back. "Kip, next to my parents is a good-looking guy, black hair, tux. Tell him Julie's has to talk to him. It's urgent."

Kip walked to the row where the Anderson entourage sat. Glancing at the row then back at Julie, he pointed over the entire family at Robert. Julie nodded.

He tapped Mrs. Anderson on the shoulder relayed the message through her to Mr. Anderson, the younger Andersons and finally to Robert who pointed at himself. "Me?" Robert turned and looked where the usher pointed. Julie signalled to him.

With apologies, Robert scooted past the Andersons then followed Kip to the back of the church. Julie opened the door, grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the hall. "Robert, Stan has a problem. A big problem. Oh, Stan is the groom. He and his best man were on their way here. Got in an accident. Best man's in the hospital. Broken leg."

Stan ran a hand over his hair and twisted his neck side to side. "What she's trying to say is, will you be my best man?"

Robert blinked. "Don't ya got some friends here?"

"Lots, but Kelly defines them as beer drinking sewer sludge."

"Gotta party with your friends." Robert chuckled.

"It took me three weeks to get Kelly to agree to Ron. She's going to blame him for this." Stan gulped some air then continued. "She matched this wedding to perfection, and if I try adjusting things, there'll be hell to pay. Please."

"You've got a tux and you said you were best man at Paul's wedding." Julie put on her best please-do-this-for-me smile.

"Yea, but best man is supposed to be best friend."

Stan pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat off his neck. "Look, I asked Ron. He accepted. He got hurt. Not his fault. I want to get married. I'm stuck. Help."

"Well, the most important best man jobs are done. He took ya out last night and got ya puke-brain drunk, right?"

"Threw up for two hours this morning." Stan shuddered at the memory.

"He almost got ya to the church. The only things left are the ring and the register. Ya remembered to get the ring from him?"

Stan threw his hands into the air. "I forgot Kelly's ring. It'll be a miracle if I live through this day."

Robert placed a hand on Stan's shoulder. "Ok, we go to the hospital and get it. Does he have both rings?"

"No, I've got the other one." Julie placed her hand on her chest to calm her breathing and rapid heart rate. Everything would be all right. The same efficient, calm control Robert used over his gang he was now using to facilitate this problem.

"With luck, no cops and if you're not squeamish, we should be back from the hospital in twenty minutes." Stan snorted. "I've survived one car crash today. What are the odds of a second one?"

Robert pointed in the direction of the wedding guests. "I'll go tell what's happening then meet ya in the parking lot. What's the priest's… reverend's…rabbi's name?"

"Reverend Blackwell." Stan walked toward the front door.

Robert turned to enter the church sanctum. Julie grabbed his hand. "Thank you for doing this."

He slid his hands around her hips. "I know how ya can thank me later." He brushed a kiss along her neck. Julie's body quivered. The tingle of his lips on her neck lingered after he'd entered the church.

Julie inhaled three big breaths to calm herself. As she reached for the doorknob of the attendant's room, Robert and an older gentleman exited the church.

Robert jerked his thumb toward the man. "Stan's uncle is the Chief of Police. He's getting us a fast ride to the hospital." The uncle pulled his cell phone from his pocket and stepped outside.

Placing his hands around Julie's waist, Robert gazed into her eyes. "Have I had a chance to tell you how incredibly gorgeous you look?"

Julie chewed her lip and glanced at the floor.

"When everyone's looking at the bride and groom, know that I'll be staring at you." He lifted each hand to her cheeks and leaned close to kiss her.

Julie trembled, waiting for the moment when his lips would touch hers. Time slowed as he drew nearer. The scream of police sirens floated on the air.

"I hate efficient police." Robert gave her a quick peck on the end of the nose. "See ya soon." He exited the church and stood next to the groom and his uncle.

A police cruiser pulled up and parked next to the three men. The Chief of Police walked around to the driver's side to explain the situation. Robert opened the passenger doors. "Front seat or back?"

Stan hunched his shoulders. "Don't know?"

"Front seat's more comfortable. From what I hear." Robert sat in the back and shut the door. As the car pulled away from the curb, Robert tapped on the divide. "There's something you should know about me."

Stan turned.

"This is the first time I've been in a police car and not been handcuffed."

"Pardon?"

"Julie's dad rescued me from a jail cell this morning in Westland."

Robert watched Stan's expression change from puzzlement to realization. "You're the biker guy."

Robert nodded.

"Oh, you're perfect. Don't take this personally, but Kelly wouldn't let me have my beer guzzling sewer sludge friends so I got a gang member."

"Gang leader."

"Even better." A grin spread across Stan's face.

The police car screeched to a stop in front of the hospital's main doors. Stan and Robert raced to the reception desk then hurried to Ron's room.

Stan entered first and explained what was happening. Robert pointed to the closet. "Tux?"

Ron nodded.

"Ring in pocket?"

He nodded again.

"Toast to bride and groom speech?"

Ron waved his hand towards the closet door. "Just raid my pockets. Everything's there. I was hoping someone would remember. Good luck, pal, it looks like you're in good hands." After Stan and Ron man-hugged, he and Robert returned to the police car then to the church.

Julie stood waiting in the front lobby. "I heard the sirens."

"Give us five minutes to get settled." Robert hurried to the groom's waiting room.

"Kelly, he's here." Julie raced into the room. "Make up check. Hair." She inspected her lipstick, tucked in a loose strand of hair then dabbed some perspiration off her upper lip. "Anybody have to use the bathroom?" The attendants all looked at the flower girl. She shook her head.

Kelly's adoptive father, Uncle Ben, knocked on the door then entered. The other attendants walked to the inner sanctum door. Julie fussed with Kelly's dress and bouquet, while Uncle Benjamin kissed his niece's cheek and placed the veil over her face. He held out his arm. Kelly placed her hand on his and smiled.

With a whispered wish for luck, Julie started her march up the long church aisle. Robert stood at the halfway area. He held out his arm and together they walked to the front, separated and took their places. Today was not their turn, but Julie hoped someday he'd be at the altar waiting for her. Robert stood on the opposite side of the altar and stared at nothing but Julie. The wedding march began as Kelly and her uncle entered.