Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Dax was back in sync with his girl, thank God.
A gator might have interrupted their first kiss, but it was the pelicans who’d brought them back to the truth of how they felt about each other. Still, he’d rather avoid all animal or fowl interference in the future. At this point, he and Ariel were never going on a date to the zoo. Or a circus for that matter. Because lions were no joke.
Now all he needed to figure out was whether he was still best man. Jeffrey had spread the news to the groom’s party that Tiffany had her wedding dress back. But he wasn’t budging from Dax’s side—not only for Ariel’s sake, he’d told him. Jeffrey knew how the Deverells could get under your skin.
Only Jeffrey didn’t realize it wasn’t the Deverells that had his guts in knots. It was Rob. What the hell was he going to say about the dress? Ariel had pleaded with him, but it was hard to break his code.
“If it helps any,” Jeffrey broke in, “you might consider that you’re not lying. Only delaying the truth. Also, I might point out that we don’t know the full truth yet.”
Dax slid him a glance as they walked to the groomsmen’s suite. “No, we don’t. You sure you don’t have any dark thoughts about me taking the dress and then feeling guilty about it?”
Jeffrey snickered. “It crossed my mind for a half sec, but you’re too smart to have put it in your car. That dress would have disappeared for good. Ariel was too tired and stressed to think it through. That happens after prolonged exposure to the Deverell women.”
He appreciated hearing that. After Ariel had come to his defense during their very own Hitchcock’s The Birds moment, he’d let go of his hurt. He’d never seen a point in holding a grudge. But Rob did. Even when it made no sense.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” At the door, he straightened his shoulders—like he was appearing before a commanding officer. “You don’t need to go in here with me.”
“Yes, I do.” Jeffrey nudged him aside with a wink. “If you’ll trust an ally, let me do the talking. After the wedding ceremony, you and I are going to head to the lodge and look at the security feed for the parking lot.”
He gripped Jeffrey’s shoulder, liking the addition of another ally to his party, one Ariel loved with all her might. “I was thinking the very same thing.”
“Consider me your Watson.” Jeffrey touched up his cravat and straightened his emerald green glasses. “We’ll clear your good name, Captain Hotpants, don’t worry. Now, let’s face the crazy groom.”
With another dashing flick of his head, Jeffrey opened the door and sauntered inside. Rob was sitting sprawled in a tall throne-like chair with the lucky bottle of bourbon in his hand. Carson and Perry were sitting on the cream leather couch. At their intrusion, they pocketed their phones and put their hands on their thighs, poised for action. Dax only nodded in their direction.
Jeffrey smiled brightly. “You heard Tiffany’s wedding dress was found, right? We’re just coming to check and make sure you’re ready. Ariel is with Tiffany and the others. I’m waiting for the text telling us when you can go out to the wedding arbor.”
Rob grunted and took another pull of bourbon. “Where in the hell was the dress?”
“In a place you’d never expect,” Jeffrey bandied back. “We’re still looking into how it got there. Now…is everyone ready? Because when we get the text to go, we need to go. You flyboys are used to that, I imagine.”
Carson and Perry slid to the edge of the couch, poised to grab Rob. “We certainly are,” Carson replied. “Rob?—”
“Hang on,” Dax interrupted, taking off his white cap and slapping it against his leg. “Rob, there were some harsh words before. I’m here to see if you still want me to be your best man. I agreed to the job, and you know I finish what I start.”
Rob set the bottle down with a thunk and stood, his wide stance filled with tension. “Don’t I know it.”
“What the fuck, Rob?” Carson shot up and flicked his hand accusingly at him. “Are you really going to blow a friendship over a wedding dress ? A dress Dax absolutely didn’t and wouldn’t take? Man, you need to apologize, shake hands, and move on. Jesus! Maybe I should tell you I took the fucking wedding dress.”
“I agree.” Perry put his hands on his hips, staring at Rob mulishly. “Because this is stupid, and if you don’t have Dax as your best man, maybe you shouldn’t have me or Carson stand up with you either.”
Dax’s heart was beating hard, and while he was deeply moved by Carson and Perry’s loyalty, he didn’t take his eyes off Rob.
Dax lifted his chin. “Up to you, Rob. I’ll turn around and walk out of here on your say-so, and we don’t need to speak again.”
The wedding had changed things, and they both knew it. But it didn’t have to end like this.
“Do you know why you’ve been my best buddy since college, Dax?” Rob asked, shifting his weight heavily to his right. “Because you’re such a square. That’s what makes you a good officer too. You never break a rule. I never needed to worry you were going to fuck with me.”
He left the reason unsaid. Growing up in a small town where he’d been treated as an outcast from the wrong side of the tracks, no one had ever had his back. Not until the Academy and the Navy. Where you had to put your life in someone else’s hands and work together for a common goal.
“I’m sorry I forgot that.” Rob walked over, his bloodshot eyes direct, and extended his hand. “Some things can’t be unsaid, so I don’t blame you if you won’t shake my hand.”
Dax gripped it hard, staring into his friend’s face. “I’d be a dick not to.”
“God knows we’ve had plenty of dick behavior around here to fill a cargo ship,” Carson interjected, coming over and slapping both of them on the backs.
Perry joined them on the other side, and for a moment, it was like they were back in better days, standing together in their dress whites, filled with the possibility of the job and the brotherhood.
Only Dax knew all that was coming to an end. Soon he would be decommissioned. He’d hang up his dress whites and put on a new uniform. Start a new life. It hit him that he and Rob had that in common. In addition, should things go with Ariel like he hoped, they would be brothers-in-law. Crazy to think about, but then again, maybe that was also why Rob had backed down from his earlier stance. Well, they’d cross that bridge when they got there. Brick by brick, as Ariel said.
“Let’s get you married.” Dax gave his friend a not-so-subtle shove, which he responded to by shoving him back.
Carson and Perry joined in and soon they were all shoving each other and putting each other in headlocks, white caps flying off and thudding to the floor.
“Ah, male camaraderie.” Jeffrey sighed, holding up his phone. “I just got buzzed. You’re up.”
“Let’s go.” Rob shook with all the guys again and then headed to the mirror, straightening his uniform. “Jesus, I look like shit. Anyone got Visine?”
Jeffrey strode forward. “I do. Let me help. I’ll have you looking dashing in no time.”
And dammit if he didn’t pull it off. Three minutes later, Rob didn’t look like a man who’d been drinking bourbon all day and had clocked his best friend over a missing wedding dress.
“There.” Jeffrey adjusted Rob’s wings and smoothed his epaulets. “Good as new. Come on, boys. The Deverell women do not like to be kept waiting.”
“You’re telling me,” Rob said with a laugh, the first to head out.
Carson and Perry slapped Dax on the back as they followed Rob.
Dax took a moment to run his hand over his jaw, where the swelling was palpable. “Is there bruising?”
Jeffrey nodded. “Yes, but it makes you look even more manly. I wouldn’t put any makeup on it.”
Dax took him by the shoulders and marched him to the door. “Jeffrey, I love you, man, but in no universe were you ever putting makeup on me.”
His amused chortling had Dax finally smiling as they walked to the wedding arbor where all the guests were seated. The older minister’s narrow face was tense with nerves. He’d probably wondered if he was actually going to marry anyone today. Dax checked his watch. They were only thirty-five minutes late.
A new piece of music started, some wedding frippery that sounded like it included a harp and happy little birds tweeting. Not Rob’s choice, he imagined. He checked his wallet discreetly to make sure he still had Rob’s ring. Check. Then he straightened his shoulders and stood behind his friend as the flower girl appeared—a girl Dax hadn’t seen before who looked to be about five. She looked like an angel in a frothy pale pink dress with a flower ring on her head while she threw white rose petals from a sweetgrass basket.
Her companion was Ripp, who just couldn’t ditch the Lord of the Flies persona. His clipped red bow tie was listing to the right. He had dirt on his right cheek, which only enhanced his sulky expression. The lacy cream pillow in his hands, which bore seashells rather than rings, was crumpled and slightly dirty. Because the kid hadn’t washed his hands. Dax fought a laugh right there. He imagined the boy would be hearing about that from the Three Tornadoes.
“Good thing we didn’t have that kid usher up the rings, huh?” Rob said under his breath so only Dax could hear.
It was the first normal interaction they’d had, and Dax was glad for it.
Terry appeared first, doing her best to match the steps of the music, but missing it by a half beat. Carson walked down to meet her halfway and escort her to the front. Perry followed with Tricia. And then Ariel appeared, and Dax couldn’t do anything but stare.
Her beauty grabbed him by the throat, from the way her hair curled in the sunlight to the softness of the pale pink frothy dress she wore. He’d never seen her so dressed up, so outwardly feminine, and he could feel his temperature rising at the sight. Back in the cottage, he hadn’t taken note, but the sun was out and their worries seemed far away when she met his eyes. She held a bunch of pale pink flowers against her chest, and she was smiling, her blue eyes dancing.
Rob had to nudge him in the side to spin him into action. He heard his friend’s muted laughter as he rushed to meet her before he realized he shouldn’t be rushing. He slowed down, hearing more chuckles from the audience. When he reached her, a radiant grin crested across her face. He offered her his arm, which she took and squeezed.
“We made it, Stephan,” she whispered, the breeze ruffling her short, curly hair.
He tucked her arm snugly against his side. “We sure did, Elizabeth.”
With that, they walked to the front before parting again to take their respective places. The wedding march sounded, and the guests stood. Dax knew Tiffany was walking up the aisle, but he didn’t have eyes for anyone but Ariel. She was watching him too until the last minute as the bride appeared at the front with her father. Then Ariel winked and gave her sister her full attention.
After that, the ceremony began. He held his breath when the minister asked, “If anyone objects, speak now or forever hold your peace,” because surely, they were in the clear, and there was no one who’d snuck into the audience to cause trouble.
With the Deverell women, one could never be sure. He watched Ariel’s chest fall as she released a huge breath when the moment passed without issue.
Tiffany cried through most of the ceremony with Ariel feeding her copious amounts of tissues. Rob even got choked up while saying his vows, which kinda shocked Dax. His friend was not known for getting sentimental. Shortly thereafter, the minister pronounced them man and wife. Dax watched them kiss before starting down the aisle together holding hands. When it was his cue, he met Ariel at the front and tucked her arm against him.
He smiled down at her beaming face. “You did it!”
“We did it!” She laid her cheek against his side for a moment, and then they were out front with the others.
After that, there were pictures and the screams and cries of children and the hum of conversation. By the time they reached the wedding tent and found their seats at the head table, Dax was feeling fidgety. He almost laughed at himself. One mission down. Now he was raring to launch into the next one. Figuring out who’d hidden the wedding dress.
Ariel was off checking on something for the reception. He couldn’t see her in the big white tent, but he spotted Jeffrey at a table in the corner talking to other guests.
He rose, wondering how long he had before he really needed to take his seat. Enough for him to jog over to the lodge and ask them to pull the security feed? He wanted to get this done.
Jeffrey caught him as he was leaving the tent. “The bar is that way,” he joked, jauntily pointing in the opposite direction. “Eager to unmask our criminal, Sherlock? Wait! How did I not realize how funny that was until this very second.”
Dax hadn’t registered the irony either. “Because today has been a complete shitshow. Humor took a vacation for a while.”
“Let’s hope she’s back.” Jeffrey waved at someone and gave a tight smile. “Walk faster. That’s Stormy’s sister, Gail, and she’s always been a bitch to me.”
They nearly ran to the lodge, but the sound of Ariel calling their names had them spinning around. She put her hand on her hip when she reached them, looking flushed from the chase.
“Really? You’re investigating now? Without me?”
He winced. “I didn’t realize— Sorry. Can you take a moment?”
She glanced at the thin watch on her wrist. “What’s another few minutes. We’re already so off-schedule. You don’t want to hear what the caterer said about her dinner. She claims it’s ruined. Besides, I already called the front and asked them to pull the footage.”
He grabbed her by the shoulders, picked her up off the ground, and kissed her on the mouth. Hard. “Elizabeth, this is why I love you.”
“That’s not the only reason, Stephan,” Jeffrey drawled, clearly in the know about their nicknames from Ariel. “Come on, lovebirds, let’s go. This mystery needs an ending.”
The front clerk did indeed have the security tape ready, and because he’d had the time, he’d already discovered what they were looking for.
They huddled around the desk while he turned his computer toward them and hit play. They watched the culprits run across the parking lot to his car.
Ariel’s hum was drawn out and not amused. “How did I not guess?”
Jeffrey blew out a breath. “Because it’s beyond deviant.”
Dax shook his head. “Those little punks.”
The Lord of the Flies boys were laughing as Marshall dragged the dress in the dry cleaner bag to the car. Then Ripp opened the back of Dax’s Bronco, and Marshall shoved the dress inside and slammed it shut. The boys were laughing as they ran off.
Of course they were. Marshall had just found a way to stop the wedding.
“No wedding dress,” Ariel said dryly. “No wedding. How many times did they hear Tiffany say that? But I never would have believed them to be this bad.”
“Ariel, honey, those boys have been lost causes since they were toddlers, which is why everyone leaves them alone to their own devices. Also, Captain Hotpants, you should definitely lock your car after this.”
Dax rubbed his swollen jaw, considering. “So those little bastards set me up. Smart though. Rob is going to have to really step up if Marshall is going to keep out of reformatory school.”
Ariel blew the curls on her forehead up with a giant exhale. “Yeah. Crap. I was hoping it was a ghost.”
The guy at the desk cleared his voice. “If you don’t mind, I have another part of our security feed to show you. I tracked the boys all the way back to where they picked up the wedding dress.”
He took command of the computer again and pulled up another video, turning it toward them and hitting play.
They watched the boys leave their cottage with the dress and run off toward the parking lot.
“There’s a good bit of time between them taking the dress from the bridal cottage and then putting it in your car, sir,” the man informed him, earning himself a big tip to Dax’s mind.
“They were around when Rob accused me of stealing the dress.” Dax swore softly after it hit him. “God, they’re even more devious than I thought.”
“They had the perfect fall guy.” Jeffrey clapped him on the back.
Dax touched the part of his face that was achy and winced. “Like I said, smart. Rob’s not going to have an easy time with him.”
Ariel sighed heavily. “No, he’s not. But we have to show Rob and Tiffany what happened. And my other sisters. And my mother even. I want them to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Dax wasn’t responsible for this.”
He could get behind that.
“Maybe after the honeymoon?” She threaded her hand through his arm. “I know you’d rather not delay it. What do you think?”
“I can live with that.”
“Deverell blood in boys is fairly terrifying.” Jeffrey grimaced. “They did the crime, they pay the fine, and let’s hope it sticks. Tiffany is going to lose her mind. So will the other Tornadoes. Maybe they’ll punish those little shits for once so they learn their lesson.”
Dax tapped the top of the welcome desk. “I’ll talk to Rob when they get back. Marshall is going to need a strong male figure. Because you don’t just hide your mom’s wedding dress and blame it on an adult. That’s a gateway to bigger problems, if you ask me. Rob was from that kind of family. It’s why he went into the Navy.”
“Does anyone feel even more depressed?” Ariel asked, putting her elbow on the desk and looking at him and Jeffrey.
“What we need to do is dance like there’s no tomorrow.” Jeffrey took his sister’s hands and led her into a turn, humming a Britney Spears tune Dax recognized. “And we need a drink.”
Ariel pulled her flask from her garter, giving Dax a welcome view of her gorgeous legs. She passed the flask around and then pocketed it. “Good, we’re fortified. We need to get back. Dax and I have to give our speeches at some point. Let’s hope the rest of the night goes well and the food isn’t as spoiled as the caterer fears.”
In the end, everything came off pretty well, all things considered. Dax got through his speech without too many glares from the bride. Apparently, she didn’t completely believe he’d been the culprit behind the dress theft. Ariel delivered her humorous speech with a sweet smile, making Tiffany cry again.
A few people commented on the lone fish in the nearly empty koi pond, which made Dax shudder. Jeffrey was a good sport, telling everyone it was a new concept. The water symbolized the purity of the bride and groom’s love for each other while the single fish showed how they were now one in mind and body. One woman pressed her hand to her chest and got tears in her eyes, saying, “Isn’t that the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Dax wanted to gag.
Although honestly, he felt really bad for the koi, losing all his buddies like that.
Dinner came and went. He barely tasted the food but was assured it wasn’t half-bad. When the dancing started—after Tiffany and Rob’s first dance as a couple—Jeffrey pulled him and Ariel onto the dance floor. He watched brother and sister let loose, imitating John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever before strutting like two chickens in a farmyard. He was laughing so hard he was wiping tears before joining in.
Carson, Perry, Gunner, and Frank finally took to the floor with them, saying it was time to show this crowd some real moves. The DJ was good, but the guests were stuffy, mostly sitting and watching with drinks in their hands. Clearly, some didn’t approve of their antics. At one point, Dax was sure Stormy would have turned them into a pillar of salt if they’d looked at her.
The cake cutting went off without incident, but the same couldn’t be said for the sparklers display. Lighting hundreds of the darn things with a blowtorch couldn’t have been considered safe, and Carson yelped when one of the special sparklers flashed extra high and his dress whites almost caught fire. Perry was laughing, as he lit up the Just Married display. The Go Navy display had them spontaneously singing “Anchors Aweigh,” with Rob coming over to join in.
People clapped. They handed out the sparklers to the wedding guests, posh watering cans at the ready. No one got burned in the guest sparkler portion of the evening, thank God. Ariel’s distant cousin even commented on how charming the cute watering pots were, making Dax want to roll his eyes.
When the time came for Tiffany and Rob to leave, the guests came out to bid them a raucous farewell. Dax had his arm around Ariel as she watched Tiffany hug Tricia and Terry, all three women crying. When they finished, Tiffany turned and found Ariel at the front of the crowd and opened her arms.
Ariel walked over to her sister, and Dax watched as they embraced each other. Then Tiffany removed something from her clutch and pressed it into Ariel’s hands. More weeping from the bride before she gave Ariel one last hug and took Rob’s hand. They got into the classic white convertible Ford they’d rented and drove off into the sunset. Literally.
Ariel was clutching something to her chest as she walked back to Dax. Jeffrey rushed over and put his arm around her, clearly concerned.
But Dax thought he knew what she held. When she glanced up, her eyes were misty. Her face broke into a radiant smile.
His heart turned over. “You’ve got it,” he called.
“I’ve got it.” She thrust the paper into the air and wiggled her hips. “It’s mine!”
“Damn well better be,” Jeffrey muttered, hugging her hard before nudging her toward Dax. “You two go to the dance floor. I’ll request a slow dance. Something special.”
After blowing his sister a kiss, he rushed back to the tent. When Ariel reached him, he tipped her chin up. “Well, Elizabeth. Is this where we say, ‘All’s well that ends well’?”
She gave an indelicate snort. “Nah…this is where we say, this party just got started. Come on. I have a strong urge to dance with Captain Hotpants.”
“Not poor Stephan?”
“Yes, him too. How lucky am I to have three wonderful men to dance with?”
He was laughing as she took his hand. They ran back to the tent, avoiding drunken wedding stragglers on the way and the Lord of the Flies boys, whom Dax was only too happy to bypass. When they arrived, they stopped in the center of the dance floor, the white twinkly lights soft on her beautiful face.
She looked up at him, love shining in her beautiful baby blues. He knew this was another memory he’d hold on to always. Her hair wild and extra curly from the dancing and pelican attack. Her smile filled with joy as she tucked the piece of paper in her bodice, winking at him. Then she sidled up to him and wrapped her arms around his back, setting her cheek to his chest, already swaying.
When the music changed, Dax lifted his head, recognizing the song immediately. “Endless Love” by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie started to play over the loudspeakers. Ariel was already laughing. Dax found Jeffrey standing beside the DJ’s table, a hand pressed to his heart.
“Seriously, Jeffrey?” Dax called out, shaking his head as Ariel squeezed him tightly. “My mom used to listen to this song.”
“It’s a classic,” he shouted back, drawing a heart in the air. “Besides, it suits you two.”
Dax glanced down as Ariel looked up, her face filled with the kind of love he imagined must have inspired the song. “Yeah, I suppose it does.”
Lowering his head to kiss her, he felt her lips soften under his and heard the music swell all around them. He tightened his hold on her, never wanting to let go. They’d gotten through a few disasters together already.
After this? It really would be endless love if he had anything to say about it.