Foolish Games (26 page)

“What?” Her eyes got all squinty as she crossed her arms beneath her breasts. Will stifled a groan.

“Okay, the flaw in his plan was that he didn’t ask you how you felt about the marriage. Don’t you see? Neither of us asked you how
you
felt. We just took your choices away from you.” Will blew out a breath. “Today, when I saw you with your friends, I realized that if I hadn’t gotten you pregnant, then forced you to marry me, you might have been happy with someone else. And I didn’t want to force you again.”

She muttered something in Italian that sounded if not illegal, at least obscene. “That has to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” She was furious. Gorgeously angry. On the one hand, Will was grateful they were having this conversation upstairs, away from the kitchen and its ready supply of knives. On the other hand, her heaving breasts and flushed cheeks were really starting to turn him on.

“First of all”—she stalked across the room, ticking points off on her fingers—“there isn’t anyone else. Yes, I blurted out Nicky’s name that night, but not because we were in a relationship. It was because of some stupid crush I had on him for years. He’d been my fantasy lover for years. Until you.”

Will’s body went rigid as she drew to within six inches of him. “Second, no one forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do. It took both of us to have a baby. And I didn’t have to marry you. I could have contested you. But I didn’t.” Her voice softened to a near-whisper. “I felt a connection to you that first night on Sea Island. One that goes deeper than just our son. Something spiritual. Owen was created out of that connection.” A tear leaked out of her eye. “But I can’t risk my heart if you won’t fight for me. For us. You can’t just hide and ignore the hard stuff. You have to tell me what you want.”

Tentatively, he reached across with the tip of his finger and wiped her tear away. “All I want is for you to be happy, Julianne.”

“Prove it.”

It was all the invitation Will needed. Cupping her face in his hands, he pulled her closer for a kiss, his mouth feasting on hers as she arched her body to meet his. It wasn’t enough. He needed to be skin to skin with her. Without breaking the kiss, he reached between their bodies and tugged at the tie holding her dress on. Julianne pushed his jacket off his shoulders.

Will swore as he broke off the kiss and tore at the clothes on his body. Julianne seductively shed her dress, making him pant as she paraded toward the bed in her high-heeled sandals, bra, and panties. “If you want to be able to put those on again afterward, you’d better take them off before I rip them off,” he threatened as he stalked toward the bed. Her eyes went wide as she did as she was told with a renewed sense of urgency.

Once she was naked, Will tossed her on the mattress, a seductive smile alighting on her face as she landed. He collapsed on top of her, supporting himself on his forearms, bringing his nose down to rest gently on hers.

She traced a finger along his biceps. “You haven’t been sleeping here?”

“I couldn’t. It seems I can’t sleep without you in my bed.”

“Hmm. That’s going to make those away games awfully difficult.”

“Yeah, but I can’t think about that now. I need to tell you something before I totally lose my mind here.” His body was on fire pressed against hers. He needed to get the words out. “I love you, Julianne. I was going to tell you that day when I screwed everything up. But you have to know how deeply I love you.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Like I said before, prove it.”

Will kissed her then, reveling in her hot, silky mouth as his hands found all his favorite places on her body. He took his time pressing his lips to her temple, her ears, her cheeks, her jaw, her neck before exploring the rest of her body. Julianne murmured words of love in a multitude of languages, her hands stroking his skin. A sheen of exertion covered both their bodies by the time he finally entered her. She tilted her hips to better accommodate him and they both abandoned themselves to the fevered lovemaking that was and had always been the foundation of trust for them. Only now, Will understood it.

They spent long, tender moments afterward lying intertwined, whispering to one another about their desires and dreams. Will texted his mother, making sure Owen was being taken care of. He got a smiley face texted back to him.

Julianne chuckled as she nestled in the crook of his arm, her naked body arousing him again. “You see, second chances aren’t so hokey, after all.”

“Speaking of second chances, Julianne, you don’t have to give me your design company.”

She crawled onto his chest, bringing her face to face with him. They needed to have this conversation, but the position was doing crazy things to his body.

“For someone so smart, you can really be obtuse sometimes. I’m not giving it to you. I’m giving it to the town. For you.”

He tried to speak, but she pressed her fingers to his lips.

“You don’t feel a part of the town because you don’t have a stake there. Despite the fact you grew up in Chances Inlet. I understand that. So I’m giving you a stake. Use it or don’t, but it’s there if you want it. You can have as little or as large a role as you choose. Whatever is going to make you comfortable living there.”

Will still didn’t understand her logic. Maybe he never would. The idea of a center for kids was intriguing, though. And if it made Julianne happy to make Chances Inlet their home, he wasn’t going to argue.

He pushed a lock of hair off her face. Unease dimmed her bright eyes.

“I’m going to have to trust you on this, Julianne,” he said gruffly.

Her face glowed as she leaned down to kiss the corners of his mouth. “You won’t regret it. You’ll see.” And she proceeded to show him just how magnificent trust can be.

“You look amazing, Julianne. Like an actual princess,” Sophie said reverently from where she sat at Julianne’s feet, the skirt of her own dove-gray bridesmaid gown flared out around her on the floor.

They were in the large Glasgow suite of the Tide Me Over Inn, dressing for Julianne’s wedding to Will. He had been adamant there be a real wedding, one with all the trimmings, including a wedding dress of her creation. This time, when they said their vows to one another, it would be for keeps.

Julianne stared at her own reflection in the floor-length mirror. The woman gazing back at her did resemble a princess, a look of faint wonder on her face. The gown had come to her one night, her fingers numbly sketching what would be her wedding dress, her mother’s voice in her ear adding the subtle, artistic details of ruching and delicate beading. The result was so stunning, Julianne was very nearly transfixed by her own reflection.

Smoothing her hands down the skirt, she inhaled a deep, cleansing breath to calm her nerves. She couldn’t figure out why she would be anxious. They were already married, after all. Nicky had even performed a private marriage mass the night before. Today was for show. A day to celebrate with their family and friends.

“And the necklace looks magnificent with it, if I do say so myself,” Sophie added.

Sophie was at that awkward stage in life where she couldn’t decide whether to be an artsy girl or a sophisticated socialite. Today, the teenager was all glamour. The pink highlights long gone, her cinnamon hair was curled loosely around her face, her apple-green eyes shimmering with delight. Her flair with jewelry was uncanny, and Julianne was looking forward to watching Sophie flourish as an artist. If only because the teenager reminded her a little of herself a decade ago.

“It is a lovely piece. Thank you for making it for me.” Julianne smiled at Sophie’s reflection in the mirror.

“Hey, I’m just glad you’re having a real wedding this time. Unlike
some
people who get married on the beach, forcing me to make their jewelry out of pukka shells.” Sophie scoffed with indignity.

“Really, Sophie, your father and I could have just hauled off to Las Vegas and gotten married. But we wanted to include you. So sorry you had to suffer through a week in Aruba. But you have to admit, your tan does complement the dress beautifully,” Annabeth teased as she reached a hand down to her new stepdaughter, helping her to her feet. She wrapped an arm around both Sophie and Julianne. “What an incredibly lucky woman I am today. Two new daughters in one week.” The last was said in a whisper as Annabeth’s eyes misted over.

“No crying!” Julianne and Sophie chorused.

The three women stood arm in arm facing the mirror, with smiles ranging from bemusement to rapture adorning their faces.

“The flowers are here,” Carly, dressed in a gown similar to Sophie’s, called as she entered the room. “And the flower girl, too.”

Julianne’s four-year-old niece, Ariel, danced into the suite, a wreath of roses wrapped precariously around her blond curls, dipping below one eye. Her miniature dress was adorned with the same beadwork as Julianne’s, making her look like a fairy princess, too. She gave her aunt an impish smile.

“Daddy says to hurry up because his tummy is rumbly.”

Smiling fondly, Julianne reached down to adjust the wreath on her niece’s dainty head. The young girl’s cheeks were already flushed with excitement.

“Well, we can’t have the senator’s stomach rumbling throughout the ceremony, can we?” Gathering up her skirt and bouquet with one hand and Ariel’s tiny hand in the other, she led the way down the grand staircase toward the garden where the wedding would take place.

Reconciling with her brother was also something Will had been adamant about. He’d insisted Julianne give Stephen a second chance. Considering the man had almost ruined Will’s career, Julianne figured if he could cut Stephen some slack, she could, too. In the end, she realized Will and her brother were determined to protect her like the domineering alpha males they both were, and it was better to just accept it rather than fight it.

Stephen bent and chucked his daughter under her chin as they arrived at the vine-covered arbor leading to the garden. His eyes sparkled as they met Julianne’s.

“That gown is stunning, Julianne.”

“Daddy,” Ariel singsonged, hopping on her toes. “Aunt Jules said I get to wear it when I get married.”

A look of severe angst gripped Stephen’s face. “That’s great, sweetheart, but let Daddy get used to you going to preschool before you start talking about getting married, okay?”

Julianne laughed at her brother’s discomfort. He wrapped her hand around his arm, elegantly clad in a gray morning coat.

“I guess it’s never too early for me to start practicing walking the bride down the aisle,” Stephen said with a grin.

Brody came through the arbor looking devastatingly handsome in his own morning coat. Catching sight of Julianne, he immediately clutched a hand to his chest. He looked back up the aisle toward the gazebo where Will presumably stood waiting for her. When he turned his head back, bright mischief burned in his eyes.

“I’ve come for the mother of the groom, but Julianne, it’s not too late. Run away with me. Now. You’re too good for that big ugly caveman.”

Sophie giggled as Carly let out a long-suffering groan.

“She’s marrying Will!” Ariel stomped her foot. “He’s Owen’s daddy and they love each other.”

Annabeth grinned as she laced her arm through Brody’s. “You heard the child, Brody. You’re stuck with me.”

Brody winked at Julianne before leaning over to gently kiss her cheek. “He’s one lucky guy,” he whispered.

Before he could step back, Julianne pulled him in for a tight hug. “There’s some lucky girl out there who gets you, Brody,” she murmured next to his ear. “The real you. Just be patient.”

She squeezed his hand just as the harp began to play. Ariel gave a little squeal of excitement.

“That’s our cue.” Annabeth blew a kiss to Julianne as she took Brody’s arm and headed through the arbor and down the aisle.

Sophie was next, her face radiant as she turned the corner and glided toward the gazebo.

“Okay, Ariel,” Carly instructed as she handed Ariel her basket of flower petals. “Your turn. Carefully drop the petals just like we practiced.”

A chorus of
ahhs
greeted Ariel’s appearance through the arbor.

“Air kiss,” Carly whispered as she hugged Julianne before taking her turn down the aisle.

The harpist began the wedding march and Stephen stiffened beside her.

“Last chance,” he said. “You’re sure about this? This is truly what you want?”

Julianne yanked on her brother’s arm. “Yes, Stephen. I’m positive.”

He grinned. “Brody’s right. Will’s a lucky guy.”

She kissed her brother on the cheek, leaving a lipstick mark that she didn’t bother to wipe off.

As they turned the corner, Julianne caught a glimpse of Will, superbly outfitted in his gray morning coat, standing stoically at the gazebo, Gavin and Brody beside him. He swayed slightly as she came into view and their gazes connected. A hint of a smile formed on his lips as his heated emerald eyes followed her path down the aisle.

Julianne barely noticed Will’s teammates and the townspeople seated in the white folding chairs. She passed by Sebastian, Nigel, and Nicky without so much as a glance, her eyes fixed on those of her husband, the hum of desire burning deep within her. Her face nearly ached from the widespread grin she couldn’t hold back.

The music stopped once she and Stephen reached the gazebo.

“Definitely a princess,” Will said softly.

Julianne’s knees nearly buckled at the heat of his stare. It was ironic, she thought; around the league it was believed that Will had ice running through his veins. One look into his eyes and Julianne saw only hot passion there.

“Your very own crazy princess,” she whispered back.

The minister cleared his throat.

“Who gives this woman to be wed?” he asked in a booming voice.

There was a speculative pause as Stephen looked from the minister to Julianne. She held her breath, wondering what her brother was up to now.

“No one,” Stephen stated, deviating from what they’d rehearsed the night before. “This woman comes of her own free will out of love for this man. And with the support and love of her family.”

A tear rolled down Julianne’s cheek. Stephen wiped it away before kissing her forehead and taking his seat beside his wife in the front row.

Owen chortled in delight as Julianne and Will said their vows for real this time, signifying their love for one another with matching wedding bands and sealing their promise with a kiss.