Chapter 16
If this wasn’t Piper’s dream wedding, they’d come very close. Seated at the head table, Jayna felt pride as she looked around the reception hall. The venue was truly enchanting. She fully understood why Piper had chosen it the first time for the wedding that never happened. The historic mill was built in the 1800s and possessed an innate charm with wide plank flooring, exposed beams, and weathered stone walls. The linens she’d selected, along with the antique dinnerware, complemented the setting perfectly. The gold cutlery, added last minute, was the perfect finishing touch. She’d missed her calling as a wedding planner.
Jayna had to admit that it had been kind of fun. It was probably her only chance to plan a wedding because there was no way she’d be planning one for herself.
Her gaze moved, fixating on Piper as she gracefully twirled in Nick’s embrace on the dancefloor. Where did Piper find the courage to risk her heart not once, but twice? Nick had hurt her so badly, yet she’d given him a second chance.
A strange sensation tugged at Jayna as she continued to watch Nick and Piper who were so obviously deeply in love. Was it yearning?
No, impossible.
She didn’t want anything like this, did she?
Yet there was a nagging doubt that set in. Was she mistaken about the possibility of finding her soulmate? Could there be that one person who would stay by her side, someone who would be there for not only the good times but the bad times as well? Possibly there could be a man out there who would make her feel less alone.
She mentally shook her head. NO! That was not something she wanted. This romantic atmosphere was clouding her judgment. Normally, she remained detached at weddings and baby showers. But this time she’d been actively involved in not only the planning, but the execution of the entire event. Execution? Was that the right word? Maybe. Marriage did seem like a life sentence.
Forcing her eyes away from the happy couple, she gazed around the beautifully decorated room before stopping at Derek. Now that man was the perfect antidote to extinguish these unwanted romantic feelings.
Leaning against the bar, Derek tugged at the bowtie, appearing thoroughly miserable. She couldn’t help but feel pleasure at his obvious discomfort.
Begrudgingly, she had to admit that he looked very handsome in the black tux. He’d even gotten a haircut for the occasion.
He met her gaze, and his eyes narrowed. Jayna hadn’t failed to notice that Derek purposefully became more annoying and arrogant when she was around. And she reciprocated in kind. But for this wedding, they’d declared a ceasefire. Now her tongue hurt from biting it. By the pained expression on Derek’s stupid face, it was taking all his willpower to behave as well.
The DJ called for the wedding party to join the bride and groom on the dancefloor. Jayna’s head snapped back to Derek. He looked equally horrified. It had been bad enough that she’d been paired with him, having to walk down the aisle on his arm. But now she’d have to dance with him? A slow dance? Why her?
She stood, reluctantly walking to the edge of the dancefloor, side-eyeing him as he came to stand beside her. He held out his hand, and she took it, none too gently.
“Let’s get this over with,” he said, sounding annoyed. She didn’t want to dance with him any more than he wanted to dance with her.
“Wow, always the gentleman!” She moved into his arms.
He glared down at her, yanking her closer which caused her to stumble against him. “Hey, don’t get the wrong idea,” he muttered.
“What does that mean?” She forced herself away from his chest.
“It means don’t fall for me.” He blew her a kiss.
She snorted. “No chance of that!”
“What does that mean?” He used a high-pitched voice, regurgitating her question in an attempt to imitate her. It was a pretty good imitation.
“Derek, you are safe with me. I’m the last woman who would ever fall for your charms, or rather, your lack of them.”
“I’m plenty charming,” he answered, turning her in a slow circle.
Surprisingly, the baboon was a great dancer. The guy could be smooth when he wanted to be. Tonight, on his best behavior, he was almost tolerable.
“Yeah, okay,” she snorted again. “If you were charming, you would have complimented my dress.”
He pushed her back and slowly looked her up and down. “Your boobs look great in that dress.”
“That’s not a compliment!”
“There isn’t a true compliment that a guy can give a woman.”
“That is not true.” She scrunched up her nose and narrowed her eyes.
“It is true. Every compliment can be taken the wrong way,” Derek defended. “Your hair looks beautiful in that updo,” he changed his voice to the high-pitched imitation of a woman. “Oh, so it doesn’t look good when it’s down?”
She huffed.
“Does my ass look big in these jeans?” he imitated again before lowering his voice. “No, it’s your ass that makes your ass look big. Not the jeans.”
“Speaking of asses! You are the biggest one I have ever met.”
“I’m just honest.”
“No, you’re just blunt. You have no filter,” she snapped. “Just shut your stupid mouth before I shut it for you. ”
The guy was a caveman. Insufferable.
“Like to see you try,” he taunted.
“Don’t tempt me,” she clenched her teeth. “Just behave.”
“I am.”
He continued to spin her around. Her back tingled where his hand rested. He pulled her closer, his breath warm against her ear. “If you shut up, then I’ll shut up.”
“Like that’s possible.” A smile formed on her lips against her will. It felt good to be in his arms. The guy smelled amazing, and his chest was as hard as it looked. The smile died on her lips as an attraction for him blossomed. No, she’d be feeling this way with anyone. It was just this romantic venue. And any ape she danced with would probably cause the same effect.
She forced her eyes away from his impossible violet-blue ones. There was a mark on his neck. “What’s that red mark?” She leaned closer. “Looks like syphilis.”
“Ha, ha.” He rubbed the spot she pointed out, staring at the red smear on his finger. “Some nurse you are. It’s lipstick.”
“I feel sorry for the poor woman. She’d be feeling bad about being single at yet another wedding. But I’m quite sure five minutes in the closet with you cured her,” Jayna snorted and shook her head. “Is there a wedding where you didn’t hook up?”
“Again, you're way off. That’s my grandmother’s lipstick. She tried to kiss my cheek and missed.”
“I should advise her to get her lips swabbed for syphilis.”
“I thought it was chlamydia that you gave me.” He imitated her snort and winked.
“In your dreams, cowboy.”
“Come on, you’d be so lucky. I bet I’ll be in your dreams tonight.” Derek gave her that lopsided grin, and it did something strange to her stomach. Or maybe the chicken she’d had for dinner was undercooked.
“More like in my nightmares.”
Derek pulled her closer again. His head lowered. What the hell? “Did you just smell my hair?” she asked him.
“No,” he shoved her away. “I was just muffling a sneeze. ”
“You are a charmer, Derek Brennan.”
Thankfully the song ended, and she moved out of his embrace, stepping off the dancefloor. The guy was a Neanderthal. Seriously, why were there so many women vying for his attention? The dark good looks were completely wasted on him.
Jayna reclaimed her seat at the head table, relieved to find her glass of wine waiting. She picked it up and took a big gulp. Her eyes followed Leighton as she walked out the door to the waterfall patio before landing on Derek. He was back leaning against the bar, tugging on his tie. His eyes were trained on the patio door, staring after Leighton.
The guy was too much. He sneezed into her hair! Who did that? The same guy who was lusting after his brother’s fiancée. Did it bother him to see that Tommy had followed Leighton to the patio? Did it even cause him a moment of guilt to realize that he’d caused such a rift between the couple?
She wasn’t certain what had occurred between Leighton and Derek, but she was certain something had. Tommy was angry with them both. And Leighton always appeared so uncomfortable when Derek was around her. Oh, something had happened!
She’d bet her life on it.
Did the man have no morals? Were any women off-limits? And Leighton, what had she been thinking? Jayna had been observing them for a long time. There was something there, something undeniable. Had it happened while Tommy was deployed? She narrowed her eyes, taking in the tightness in Derek’s jaw as he continued to stare at the closed door.
“Have you seen Leighton?”
She jumped and turned. “Oh, Piper. Uh, yeah, she went outside to the patio.”
“I’m about to toss the bouquet. Would you mind finding her?”
“No problem.”
She stood and hurried past Derek, avoiding making eye contact. The man was not worth the aggravation. And poor Tommy. He had loved Leighton so much. No wonder he appeared so torn apart.
Pushing open the door, she stepped out onto the waterfall patio and paused. Tommy and Leighton stood at the railing. Tears were coursing down Leighton’s cheeks, and Tommy looked so sad as he reached to wipe them away.
She should have turned and gone back inside. It was an intimate moment between them. But her curiosity overrode manners, and she continued to eavesdrop on their conversation.
“Seems like I also need forgiveness. How did everything get so messed up?” Tommy spoke quietly, but not so quietly that she couldn’t overhear. “But we are different people now. We’re not those teenagers anymore. I need time and so do you.”
Jayna sucked in a breath. She was witnessing a breakup. Oh, no! They belonged together. Stupid Derek! The man not only broke hearts but destroyed relationships as well.
“I understand,” Leighton replied.
No, Leighton shouldn’t give up so easily. Fight for him, Leighton , Jayna wanted to shout out loud.
Tommy turned and noticed her. Busted.
“There you are.” She cleared her throat and pretended that she hadn’t just overheard their heartbreaking words. “Piper is looking for you. She’s about to throw the bouquet.”
Leighton glanced over her shoulder. Her expression was shattered. “I’ll be right there.”
Jayna stepped back inside. Derek was still propped against the bar. She reached out and swatted the back of his head as she walked past.
“Ouch, what was that for?” the Neanderthal complained, rubbing the back of his head.