Chapter 4
FOUR
Jackson
I barely slept last night. I was up for half the night coming up with game plans, then too paranoid that she might leave her room before I got up in the morning to get any decent sleep.
Now, I’m standing with my eye to the peephole of my room at seven in the morning, straining to see Fern’s door. I have a feeling she’ll be up bright and early to tackle her to-do list.
My hunch is right. Her door opens a few minutes later, and I reach for my door handle as she takes off at a brisk pace toward the elevator.
“Hey, morning,” I call as my door closes behind me. “You’re up early.”
She spins around, her eyes surprised as she stops for me to catch up to her. “Morning. You’re on security already?” she asks as we walk toward the elevator.
“No, I’m getting a lay of the land today. The other guys will be monitoring the bride and groom. What are you up to?”
She has her notepad and pen in her hand already, and I scan the list of vendors and tasks on her list.
“I have a long list of things to do today. Right now, I need to set up breakfast for everyone. Then I need to check in with all the vendors, go to the airport to pick up the missing bridesmaid dress, and triple-check that all the details here are perfect. I’ll be running around all day.”
She almost sounds happy about it, and I wonder if it’s because she’ll be away from her family for most of the day.
I know I should stick around here today. I’m supposed to be doing a job, helping out Cal, but I just can’t. I can’t ignore Fern, and I can’t pass up an opportunity to spend some one-on-one time with her.
Besides, today I have a mission. I need to find out if Fern is single or if there’s someone I need to deal with before I make her mine.
“Why don’t I join you?” I suggest.
She blinks. “You want to run errands with me?”
“I’m here to assist and make sure the wedding goes off without a hitch. Seems like a good way to do that.”
“You don’t have to—”
I shake my head. “I want to. Where are we setting up breakfast?”
Her smile is so pure and sweet. It does something funny to my chest, and I wonder if it will always be like this as I follow her into one of the banquet rooms.
Tables and chairs are stacked against one wall, and Fern sets down her things and gets to work. I do all of the heavy lifting for her, setting up tables and chairs while Fern rearranges things. A box of decorations is set by the back door, and together we spread out tablecloths and centerpieces.
The hotel staff takes over, bringing in flowers and setting out plates, glasses, and cutlery. I watch my girl as she talks to the manager, then the doors open as her family shuffles in.
Half of them look asleep or hungover. They take their seats, and it doesn’t escape my notice that a chair isn’t set out for Fern. I clench my jaw as she flutters about, checking on everyone and everything.
“What did the vendors say?” Valerie snaps.
My hands clench into fists at her tone.
“I’m going to see them after breakfast,” Fern tells her.
“I told you to go last night!”
“They were closed.”
“You need to go now! This should have already been taken care of,” Valerie snarls. “Go. Now!”
Fern looks like she’s swallowing down a nasty retort. I watch as she pastes on a smile and walks toward the kitchen. I glare at Valerie, but she doesn’t pay me any attention as she heads back to her fiancé.
“Ready to go?” Fern asks, coming up to me a moment later with two breakfast sandwiches wrapped in napkins.
“You’re not staying to eat?”
“No, there’s too much to do.”
I nod, burying my instinct to snap at everyone in the room to notice and appreciate Fern as I follow her out of the hotel to the parking lot.
“Let’s take my car. It’s bigger in case we need the room,” I say, grabbing her elbow and steering her toward my rental car.
I open the door for her and smile as I go around to the driver’s side. I slip behind the wheel and start the car.
“Where to first?” I ask.
“The airport. Everything else is closed for a little bit.”
I nod, and we take off. It’s silent as we both enjoy the quiet morning.
“Beautiful view. Do you ever get sick of it?”
I look from her to the ocean. “Nah, I was a Navy SEAL. I love the water.”
She turns to me with a grin. “A SEAL? Really? What’s that like?”
“I loved it. I joined the Navy when I was seventeen and became a SEAL when I was nineteen. I got out a month ago.”
“Do you miss it? Is it weird to be retired so young? I mean, wow, what are you? Like thirty?”
“Thirty-seven. I did my twenty, but I was the old guy on my team. The younger guys had speed on me… and better knees.”
She giggles at that. I grin, loving that I can make her laugh.
“What are you doing now? Or is pointless wedding security the new gig?”
“No, I’m not sure what I want to do now. I took this job to help out a friend, but I don’t think I want to do it full-time. What about you?”
“I’m a wedding planner full-time. I stay pretty busy.”
“I can see why. You’re the best at it.”
She blooms under my praise, and I wonder how long her family has been treating her like shit. No one thanked her at breakfast, the bride barked orders at her, and it seemed like no one has ever told her how proud they are of her. They all take advantage of her.
That’s going to change now that I’m in her life.
“Where do you live?” I ask as we take the highway toward the airport.
“It’s this little town called Wolf Valley, up in Oregon.”
“You like it there?”
“I love it,” she sighs, smiling happily. “Everyone knows each other. I’ve made friends and contacts for work.”
She’s sold me. I’m already making plans to move out there as soon as possible.
“Plus, it’s on the other side of the country from your family,” I blurt.
She stiffens, shooting me a nervous look. “Yeah, that helps.”
I reach over, squeezing her hand, trying to show her that it’s all right to admit that they’re terrible.
She brushes a lock of blonde hair over her shoulder and squeezes my hand in return. “What about you? What’s your family like?”
“Wouldn’t know. I was a foster kid.”
“Oh, Jackson. I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t so bad. I made my only family in the Navy, you know.”
“Good.”
She squeezes my hand again, and I take a deep breath, relaxing under her touch. She seems to have that effect on me.
I pull up to the airport and park. I hate to let go of her hand, but I know we have a lot to do today.
We climb out, and I fall into step beside her as we head to cross off the first item on our to-do list today.