CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“ONLYACOUPLE of hours left to go,” Donna Elloran said excitedly, smiling over at the three other women in the room. She, Velvet, Bryce and Vashti were bridesmaids in Vaughn and Sierra’s wedding, and they had been housed in one of the twelve bedrooms at Zara Haven since noon. They had helped put on each other’s makeup, worked on their hair, and in a little while, they would put on their bridesmaid dresses.
Sierra was in the master suite, which was located on a wing of its own, with her mother. While in another bedroom were the matron of honor, Sierra’s sister, Dani, and her goddaughter, Teryn, who was junior maiden of honor and standing in for her deceased mother, Rhonda, who’d been Sierra’s best friend. Vaughn’s sister, Zara, another bridesmaid, was in a separate bedroom assisting Vaughn’s twenty-year-old twin goddaughters, Jade and Kia—who were also bridesmaids—with their makeup and hair. Dani’s daughter, Crane, was the flower girl and Vashti and Sawyer’s son, Cutter, was the ring bearer.
Velvet was just as excited. Last night, Zara Haven had been theirs for the bridal party. Vaughn had held his bachelor party next door at Donna and Isaac’s home. It, too, had been an all-night affair, and from what the women had heard, it had been a wild one. Velvet could believe it and had missed sharing a bed with Jaye.
The time spent with him over the past weeks had been more than she could have wished for. They jogged together every morning and then, after sharing dinner together, they would sit in their rocking chairs and enjoy a glass of wine or on those colder evenings, a cup of hot chocolate. At night, they made love until exhaustion drove them to sleep. It was as if they had carved out a world at the house on Blueberry Lane that was just theirs. And like she’d told Ruthie just that week, she was deliriously happy with the way things were going between them. After removing elements of love and forever, Velvet had settled into what was happening now. A short-term sexual affair.
Although he never said how much longer he planned to remain in Catalina Cove, she knew it couldn’t be much longer with that new branch being built in Birmingham. That’s why spending a week with him in the Keys meant so much to her. She was beginning to look forward to being in a place where no one knew them. That meant they would lift some of the restrictions she had placed on their affair while in Catalina Cove.
Not to call attention to both of them leaving town at the same time, she was all packed and ready to fly out tomorrow morning. Jaye wouldn’t fly out until Monday. He hadn’t liked the idea of her arriving in the Keys before him until she’d promised to make it worth his while when he got there.
She jumped when Vashti snapped a finger in her face. When she saw the other women grinning, she’d realized that she had been asked a question while her thoughts had been a million miles away.
Smiling sheepishly, she said, “Did I miss something that was said?”
“Umm, we were all wondering when you were going to fess up that something is going on between you and our sexy banker?” Vashti said.
Velvet’s head fell back and she couldn’t help but laugh. Yes, something was definitely going on between her and Catalina Cove’s sexy banker. Jaye was rocking her world. She would even go so far as to say things were better than they’d been before. She figured it was because she’d removed the element of expectation. She wasn’t expecting anything from him and knew the score. They were enjoying the moment and nothing more.
Not to make it too easy on her friends, she asked, “What makes you think something’s going on between me and Jaye?”
“Excuse us, Velvet Spencer,” Ashley said with a huge grin on her face. “We were at Sierra’s bridal party when the atmosphere between you and Jaye Colfax was sizzling. Trust me, we all felt the intensity of your attraction to him and his to you.”
“Heck, there were times when the two of you seemed to be out-staring each other, like you were the only ones at the party,” Vashti added.
“The sexual chemistry was so thick you could slice it with a knife,” Bryce tacked on.
“And then some,” Donna brought up the rear by saying.
Velvet smiled as she glanced from one woman to the other. Women, who like Sierra, she had gotten to know, women she trusted. It was time to level with them about a few things.
“There is more going on between me and Jaye than any of you know. We didn’t first meet when he came to town.”
“You didn’t?” Ashley asked in surprise.
“No. Although I am from Seattle, I lived in Phoenix for four years. That’s where I moved from when I came here. While I lived there, Jaye and I were involved in an exclusive relationship for three years.”
“Wow!” Bryce said, totally surprised like the others.
“Yes, however, I broke things off when I saw it was a relationship that was not headed in the direction that I was hoping it would.” There was no reason to come out and say she’d fallen in love with him, but he hadn’t with her. She was sure they got the picture. “And as you can see, there has never been a lack of sexual chemistry between us. There still isn’t.”
“So, the two of you are working things out and getting back together?” Donna asked, and Velvet could hear a hopeful tone in her voice.
“No, that’s not it. I fell in love with Jaye once and don’t plan to do so again. He’s not the marrying kind. A girl learns her lesson after a heartbreak. What we’re sharing now is strictly physical and mutual. When he leaves Catalina Cove in a couple of months, for me, he’ll be out of sight and out of mind.”
The room was quiet and then Donna said softly, “There are times when things don’t work out that way. Isaac and I were divorced for three years but there was never a day that went by that I didn’t think of him, and my body didn’t yearn for him. So, I wish you the best in that endeavor, Velvet.”
Velvet knew exactly what Donna meant. She had gone through the same thing when she’d first arrived in Catalina Cove two years ago. It wouldn’t be easy to erase Jaye from her mind but at least her body would be satisfied for a while. “There’s something else I need to tell you. Something about me that only a few people in town know.”
“What?” Ashley asked.
“My parents founded the Spencer’s Corporation.”
Nobody said anything for a minute as they just stared at her. Then when it clicked with them, Donna exclaimed, “Oh, my God! You’re the Spencer heiress?”
Velvet smiled. “Yes.”
“Wow,” Vashti said in an astonished voice. “I met your parents years ago while working for the Nunes Hotel in New York. That was the first hotel to have a Spencer’s. Your parents were wonderful and a joy to work with. I regretted hearing of their deaths.”
“Thanks.”
“Of all the times we’ve eaten together at Spencer’s, why didn’t you say anything?” Bryce asked.
“Because it’s something I’d rather not share with a lot of people. I’ve discovered people often treat you differently when they know your financial worth. Besides, although I own the corporation, teaching is my first love, and a lot of people don’t understand that. My parents understood and gave me their blessing. I have a capable executive team in Seattle that’s managing things for me, and I’m satisfied with that.”
Ashley grinned. “I just thought of something.”
“What?” Velvet asked.
“I wonder how Webb Crawford is going to handle it when he finds out that you’re not dependent on a teacher’s salary, and that you’re a lot wealthier than he is.”
“BYTHEPOWERSvested in me in this great state of Louisiana, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Vaughn, you may kiss your bride.”
Velvet watched the newlyweds seal their marriage vows with a huge kiss and was extremely happy for them. It had been a beautiful wedding. Sierra was a gorgeous bride and Vaughn, a handsome groom. The wedding planner had transformed the grounds of Zara Haven into a majestic wonderland. The wedding was held in late afternoon and numerous hanging lights had been strung all around.
The couple had said their vows beneath the gazebo that overlooked the gulf. The gazebo had been beautifully decorated with Sierra’s favorite flower, white roses, mixed with peach-colored daisies. Her wedding dress of white lace and satin designed by her sister-in-law, Zara, had looked exquisite. The men wore white tuxes with peach-colored ties.
As the wedding party followed the bride and groom to the area on the estate where some photos were to be taken, Velvet forced her eyes not to find Jaye in the audience. She had seen him when she’d marched with the wedding party, and the way he’d been looking at her nearly took her breath away.
An elaborate sit-down dinner was followed by toasts, the cutting of the huge wedding cake, Vaughn and Sierra’s first dance as husband and wife, and the father–daughter dance. Now, the bride and groom were mingling with their numerous guests. It seemed almost everyone in Catalina Cove had been invited and the large grounds of Zara Haven could accommodate all who’d attended.
The couple looked so good together, and at that moment, a part of Velvet couldn’t help but wish such happiness for herself. But then hadn’t she pretty much given up on love and forever after as part of her future? She glanced over at Jaye, knowing wherever he was her gaze would automatically find him. When she spotted him, he was staring at her with a pensive look. She couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking. He’d told her he would be leaving before the tossing of the garter by Vaughn because as a single man he didn’t want to get caught up in that. She understood. It wouldn’t make sense for him when marriage was not in his future.
She didn’t want to participate in the tossing of the bridal bouquet by Sierra, but knew her friend would expect her to. Unlike Jaye, she couldn’t skip out without being noticed. Besides, as a bridesmaid, she would be expected to stay until the end, at least until after the bride and groom left for their honeymoon.
As luck would have it, an hour later she was the one who caught the bridal bouquet. She was glad Jaye had left already and hadn’t been there to see it.
“You look beautiful, Velvet.”
She was in such a happy mood today that even the irritating sound of Webb’s voice didn’t annoy her. She glanced up at him and smiled. “Hello, Webb.”
He tilted his head and looked at her. “You look happy. Is it because you caught the bridal bouquet, which traditionally means you’re next?”
“Not at all. I’m happy because one of my dearest friends got married to the man she loves.”
He chuckled. “Yes, Sierra Crane did well for herself by snagging a wealthy husband, who’ll get even wealthier now that he’s in line for Reid Lacroix’s job. I can remember when her father worked for that gas station Vaughn’s parents owned.” He sipped his wine and then added, “I bet old man Miller is rolling over in his grave, knowing his son married beneath him.”
Velvet studied him over the rim of her wineglass. Then lowering it, she said, “Is it always about wealth for you, Webb? Specifically, who has it and who doesn’t?”
“Not always but usually,” he said, grinning, like he was amused by her question. “Like Sierra, I have no problem with anyone wanting to better themselves by attaining a higher social class. If you recall, I’ve offered you the same opportunity, but you continue to play hard to get.”
“All you want is me in your bed.”
“Yes, for starters,” he admitted. “And if I’m satisfied with you there, I have no qualms about proposing marriage. You are a beautiful woman who would make any man a trophy wife worth having.”
The smile dropped from Velvet’s lips. “Well, as far as I’m concerned—”
“Hi, Webb. Excuse me. Velvet could I borrow you for a second?” Bryce asked, looping her arm with Velvet’s and not waiting for her response.
When they were out of hearing range of Webb, she looked at Bryce. “How did you know I needed rescuing?”
Bryce laughed. “Your expression. One minute you were smiling and then suddenly one of those I’m about-to-read-his-ass looks appeared on your face, so I figured I needed to act quickly.”
“And I thank you for doing so.”
“No problem,” she said. “And congratulations on nabbing the bridal bouquet. I thought Laura Crawford was going to plow everybody down to grab it. My gosh, she’s been married before. I’m glad you were the one who caught it.”
“Well, even with her back turned, I think Sierra deliberately tossed it to me.” When Velvet saw the twinkle in Bryce’s eyes. “My catching it doesn’t mean a thing.”
“Okay, if you say so.”
When everyone began clapping and cheering, they looked to where Vaughn and Sierra appeared from inside the house, arm in arm and with so much love shining in their eyes that anyone looking at them could both see it and feel it. They were dressed for traveling and it was obvious to all that they were ready for their honeymoon to begin.