Chapter 4
“Come in,” Jace said when a knock sounded on his cabin door.
Ian entered and looked at his father. “Wow, really going all out today, aren’t you?”
Standing in front of the mirror, Jace readjusted the jacket of his full dress uniform.
It’d been quite a while since he’d worn one since his usual job didn’t require such formality.
“I kind of have to if I’m officiating this shindig.
Funny thing is, it just doesn’t look as good on me as it used to. ”
His son snorted. “You’re just nervous because you have to wear it in front of a girl,” Ian teased.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with it. I’m just not used to it anymore.”
“Riiight,” Ian replied. “Whatever you say, man.”
Jace sighed at his reflection as he combed his hair first one way and then another. He knew Ian was right, even if he didn’t want to admit it. There was no shame in his feelings for Erin, but it wasn’t time to talk about the subject yet. He’d barely scratched the surface on what was between them.
But if Ian was noticing, he wasn’t doing a very good job of keeping it quiet. He turned away from the mirror to grab his hat. “Is it that obvious?”
“Hey, I’ve never worked with you on a boat like this. I don’t know how you normally operate. I guess I wouldn’t know how any captain on a fancy yacht operates, but I doubt any of them would slip off to talk to a particular guest outside or make eyes at her over dinner.”
“What can I say? She’s not a snob like the rest of them,” Jace groused.
Ian wagged a finger at him. “Now, now. We have to be professional. This is our job, and we agreed to do it.”
Jace laughed. “I always knew you’d use my words against me someday. Anyway, I assume there was a specific reason you came in here. Or was it just to tease me?”
“The teasing is just a bonus,” Ian replied with a grin.
“I actually came to let you know Marissa and I got the last of the flowers put out, and the ribbons are tied along the railings like you wanted. The music is ready to go. The only thing we have to do to start the ceremony is to literally press play.”
“Perfect.” Jace was no wedding planner, and he was glad that Rodney had everything in place with detailed instructions. “Since we have so few people to work with, this ought to go fairly smoothly.”
At least, he hoped so as he made his way back up to the deck.
Though the yacht wasn’t huge, he and the crew had made quite a bit of room by moving some furniture around.
White folding chairs were placed in a row, and an arch had been set up.
The ribbons fluttered in the gentle breeze, and the late afternoon sunlight was golden and gentle.
Ian had started up some light classical music.
It was beautiful, an intimate setting inside an almost infinite expanse of water.
Jace checked over his notes and then took his place in front of the arch. Now, all he had to do was wait.
The wedding guests were the first to appear.
Jace knew them all by name now. Hadley and Blaire sat together, giggling and talking with their heads close.
Florence sauntered up next, carefully arranging herself in her seat.
Last came Phillip, jogging up from below deck, still adjusting his tie.
He nodded at the women before plopping into a seat, earning a disdainful look from Florence.
Hugo came next, dressed in a designer tux that’d been custom-tailored or perhaps even custom-made.
He strode coolly down the aisle and took his place.
Jace noticed that he didn’t look the least bit flustered.
Every groom Jace had ever seen was always a bit nervous, rubbing his hands together or making too many jokes.
Hugo was simply there, casually waiting for his bride.
The groomsman, Archie, looked a bit more flustered as he came down the aisle next, picking at the buttons on the front of his tux.
Then there she was. Jace had been looking forward to seeing Erin, only having caught a glimpse of her around breakfast time before he’d had to help set up.
Then, she’d sat on a deck chair with a steaming mug of coffee and a book.
She’d looked casual and relaxed, making Jace want to sit next to her and ask what she was reading.
Now? He wouldn’t be able to come up with any words to ask at all.
He was stunned by her beauty. The dress of champagne silk didn’t seem to be her style, considering what else he’d seen her wear, but the thin material traced her curves out for him.
The tiny straps showed off her pale shoulders, and the draped neckline enhanced the slight movement of her breasts.
Her hips pressed against the fabric, and as she walked down the aisle, she seemed to be walking straight toward him.
The sunlight and the color of her dress enhanced the emerald of her eyes, which were focused on him.
Jace’s mouth went dry, and his bear went wild.
It pressed at the boundaries of his human body, and he fought to keep it under control.
It was insistent and demanding. Through his beast, Jace felt the gravitational pull of this woman.
If he’d had any doubts, they were erased. He knew she was his mate.
She reached him and then turned, taking her place just to Jace’s right. Erin turned her gaze away from him, and Jace felt the absence down to his bones.
But the music shifted at Ian’s command, and now everyone was looking away from him and toward the bride.
Gretchen emerged in a tall column of white silk, but Jace barely registered her.
His entire being was still lasered in on Erin.
He’d been disappointed when she’d turned away—even though logically, he knew it was nothing personal—but now he was rewarded with a dazzling view of her backside.
The champagne silk was just as flattering from this angle, as was the way she’d pulled up her hair to show off the length of her neck.
Only a day ago, he’d been certain that this week would drag by. Now, he didn’t want it to end.
The music changed once again as Gretchen came to take her place next to her groom. The couple looked at him expectantly, and Jace forced himself back on track. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today…”
He’d read the speech to himself several times before they’d left the harbor.
It’d been a while, and Jace wanted to be sure he got it right.
The words had come back to him quickly and easily, and now he spoke them with little thought at all.
He looked at Gretchen and Hugo but maintained a steady awareness of Erin.
She’d looked calm and confident when she’d first arrived, but as the ceremony went on, she began to fidget.
She smoothed her dress down her thighs. She checked the fastener on her earring and adjusted her necklace.
Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, looking back and forth between Hugo and Gretchen.
Concern wrinkled her brow, and her breaths became quicker.
He readied himself to catch her in case she passed out.
They just had to get through the last of the vows, do the ring exchange, and then they’d be done.
Perhaps, Jace hoped, he’d find time to talk with her again.
Now, he was just as eager to get this over with. “If anyone present objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.” Jace paused, as was tradition, and then pulled in a breath to continue.
But Erin’s hand darted out and touched Gretchen’s arm, making the bride turn toward her. “Don’t do this.”
“What?” Gretchen’s eyes darted from Erin to Jace and then to her groom and back.
Erin’s brows knitted together, and she licked her lips. “I’m sorry, but I saw Hugo and Blaire together in the storage closet last night. Like, together together. You can’t marry someone who’s going to treat you like that. You deserve much better.”
Hugo’s face turned several shades of red, though it was from anger rather than embarrassment. “How dare you say such things!”
Blaire was on her feet now, too. “What did you just say?”
Jace could see he’d quickly lost control of this whole thing. He cleared his throat. “If we could all just take a breath and calm down…”
But it was too late. Gretchen’s eyes intensified as she stared at her friend, a look so fierce it could kill, and then burst into tears. She tossed her flowers on the ground. Her back heaved with her sobs as she turned away, walking stiffly back down the aisle.
Hugo heaved a sigh and trudged after her.
Jace looked at Ian, who stood at the back of the deck. The look of shock on his face reflected Jace’s.
“I’m sorry,” Erin whispered just before she hurried off.
“The chairs are all put away, and we put the furniture back where it normally goes,” Marissa reported.
“What do we do about everything else?” Ian asked.
Jace’s shoulders were tense. This would’ve been a bad situation anyway, but it felt even worse since this wasn’t his job or company.
He hadn’t personally done anything to make the wedding go awry, but he still felt like he’d let Rodney down somehow.
He looked around at the flowers and the fluttering ribbons, an odd contrast to the somber pall that’d taken over the ship ever since the wedding had come to such an abrupt halt.
“The groom—er, Hugo—made it pretty obvious that there would be no party tonight. Still, it’s getting late and it’s been a long day.
Leave the last bits of it for tomorrow and get some rest.”
“You sure?” Ian asked.
“Yeah. We’re anchored for the night, so after I check on a few things, I’ll be hitting the hay myself.” Not that he thought he’d sleep very well. If he weren’t thinking about the disastrous day, he’d be thinking about Erin—preferably the latter.
“All right. Good night.” Ian headed below the deck.