Sydney laughed softly, realizing she should have known that Alexis wouldn’t be fooled. “I was waiting for everyone to get here so I could tell them.”
“When?”
“Two weeks from today. You ready to wear your dress for my wedding?”
“Yes!” Since all four were planning weddings around the same time, they’d all chosen a color and bought four identical gowns as their bridesmaid dresses. Then they’d shown up for the others’ weddings matching. It had been a smart decision economically. “How excited are you?”
“I’m excited and nervous all at once. My mom is sure he’s a serial killer. But you know my mom. She’s still expecting me to get eaten by a bear weekly.”
“Sounds like your mom.” Alexis smiled, covering her friend’s hand with hers. She knew all to well how hard it was for Sydney with her mother’s mental state. They’d been best friends for eight years. “She’ll get over it.”
“I know she will.” Sydney glanced up as the others walked across the restaurant toward them. “Joanna and Tess are here. Looks like Joanna came alone.”
Alexis turned to smile at their friends. “How’s married life?” she asked Joanna.
Joanna just smiled. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
“As long as you’re kissing, it must be good.”
Tess came back to the table. “I miss kissing.”
Sydney shook her head. She was happy to be with her friends again. It was her last lunch with them as a single woman.
Chapter 2
The morning of Sydney’s wedding, she dressed with her friends in the back of the church she had attended since moving to Moab. Alexis carefully did her hair and makeup while Tess and Joanna talked, wearing their bridesmaid dresses. This was Tess’s third wedding to wear the same dress for.
“Are you nervous?” Alexis asked softly.
“A little. I mean, who wants to be married to a woman who spends most of her time outside. What kind of man is willing to move here? What if he’s a wastrel and expects me to support us both on my park ranger salary?” Sydney asked. She loved what she did, but it certainly wasn’t for the money.
“Dr. Lachele isn’t going to match you up with a wastrel. What if he’s a brilliant botanist who wants to study the flora and fauna of the national park?” Alexis wasn’t going to let Sydney get too scared about this wedding. She was marrying a man Dr. Lachele had chosen for her, so he must be the right man for her. Even Dirk—who had seemed like he was a man who had nothing in common with her at all—had ended up being just what she needed.
Joanna chimed in from across the room. “Dr. Lachele is two for two in our little group. The woman is amazing. Give her a chance.”
The door opened and the pleasantly rounded Dr. Lachele hurried into the room. “Sydney! It’s your turn, ladybug!”
Sydney grinned. “Ladybug? I thought I was sugar butt!”
“You’re whatever happens to come out of my mouth, sugar butt.” Dr. Lachele grinned at her. “Let me see that dress!”
Sydney stood, wondering what Dr. Lachele would say next. She always had a colorful phrase that made all of them giggle. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re showing just enough boobage to interest the man. He’s going to be watching to see if a nipple pops out!”
Covering her cleavage with a hand, Sydney froze. “Is it that low?”
Dr. Lachele laughed. “Not at all. Now give me that boobie bump!”
Sydney giggled as she moved into Dr. Lachele’s embrace. “Thank you for setting me up with him, whoever he is. He’s not a wastrel, is he?”
Dr. Lachele cackled madly. “A wastrel? Did you just ask me if the man you’re about to marry is a wastrel?”
“I couldn’t help but wonder…”
“No, he’s not a wastrel. I promise, he’s a good man.”
“All right. I’ll give him a try.” Sydney glanced into the mirror, frowning. She didn’t normally wear her hair the way Alexis had styled it. It looked to her as if it was cut short.
“Don’t worry about how you look, ladybug. You’re gorgeous. He’s going to take one look at you and wish he already had you alone.” Dr. Lachele looked at Joanna. “I wish I had time to see that new house of yours. The pictures are just beautiful!”
Joanna smiled. “I love it. I’m glad I talked him down from the million-dollar homes he was so interested in.”
“You’re the only woman I know who is so concerned about money, she won’t let her husband spend a lot on her!”
Tess walked over and frowned at Dr. Lachele. “I’m not sure I can go through with a wedding. After watching my three closest friends go through this, I just can’t.”
Dr. Lachele smiled sweetly. “You stop worrying, okay?”
Alexis grinned. “That’s what I keep telling her. Who would have thought Dirk and I would ever make it through a month without killing each other? And now we’re happy as clams.”
“How do you really know clams are happy?” Dr. Lachele asked. “I mean, I know everyone says they are, but I’ve seen no proof!” She hugged Sydney once more. “I’m going to go and check on your groom. I hope he hasn’t worn a rut into the floor of the room he was sent to.”
Sydney shook her head. “You sent him to his room? Will that work for me if he gets out of hand?”
Dr. Lachele just shook her head, her purple hair flipping up at the sides. She wandered straight to the room where Jackson was waiting and she opened the door. “How’s it going in here?”
Jackson sighed, stopping his pacing. “How do you expect? I’m about to marry a stranger, and I’m not sure I’m over my fiancée yet!”
“Get over her fast. I promise, this girl is the right one for you. I just saw her in her wedding dress and she’s going to knock your bobby-socks right off.”
“Umm…bobby-socks? I don’t wear bobby-socks?”
“Well, that’s too bad. There needs to be a Bob in every story, don’t you think?” Dr. Lachele winked at him as if they were sharing a private joke, but he didn’t get it at all. “See you out front in ten minutes. You got this.”
Jackson sighed as she disappeared out the door. He wished he had just a little more time to get used to the idea of marrying a stranger. Everything that was important to him was in his car or the small U-Haul trailer he was pulling behind it. His whole world was in the church parking lot. Who could say that?
A short while later, he was standing at the front of the church, watching as his bride walked down the aisle toward him. The woman was not his Paisley, that was for certain. She had blond hair while Paisley’s had been a bright red. She was slender where Paisley had been a little rounder. She was pretty, but…she wasn’t the woman he loved.
For a moment, he glanced around, wondering if anyone would care if he ran for it. He had everything he owned. What difference would it make if he relocated to a new place? Who would care?
That question was what made him stay. Someone had to care. Someone other than his mother, who just wanted him to come home to Texas. He needed to build a new life, one without his parents and without the girl he had loved so dearly.
Perhaps the blonde with the bright blue eyes walking toward him would truly be his future.
As Sydney slowly walked down the aisle, she watched the play of emotions over her groom’s face. It was so odd to her that she was going to be married to him in just a few minutes, and she didn’t even know his name. Or her future last name.
The man looked for a moment, as if he was going to run for the hills, but then he straightened up and watched her walk toward him. If he was that unsure—and she was that unsure—was this really a good idea?
But then her eyes locked onto his. His big brown eyes seemed to be calling to her. They steadied her and took her nervousness away.
She stepped up to him and slipped her hand into his. As soon as she touched him, she felt tingles envelop her body. Wow. Dr. Lachele had done good yet again.
She caught that his name was Jackson as
the pastor had him repeat his vows. Jackson. She wondered if he preferred Jack?
When it was her turn, Sydney was shocked at how steady her voice sounded. That had to be someone else speaking for her because she didn’t feel calm at all.
When the pastor said, “You may kiss the bride,” he leaned down and pressed his lips to her cheek, leaving her feeling very let down. Why hadn’t he kissed her for real? Wasn’t she good enough for him?
With all the mail-order bride romances she’d read—and it was a lot—she had never seen a man kiss the girl’s cheek. Always, the groom was chomping at the bit for sex, and the wife was trying to hold him off. Not here, though. What was wrong with this scenario?
She took a deep breath. This wasn’t a romance novel. This was real life. She was married, and she needed to make the most of it, not compare her new husband to heroes in books.
They were introduced to the congregation as Mr. and Mrs. Jackson Pine. Immediately, Sydney pulled him back to the bride’s room, where she’d gotten dressed. She knew Alexis had done that right after marrying, and she thought it was a good idea. They could take a few minutes to get to know one another before they had to face all those people again.
Sydney closed the door behind them and turned to Jackson, blurting out the first question that came to her mind. “Why didn’t you kiss me for real?” She’d been so disappointed when he just kissed her cheek.
Jackson stared at her, surprised she would even ask that. Who wanted to kiss someone for the first time in front of a hundred or more people? “I wasn’t sure you’d want me to.”
“Well, I did want you to. I felt terribly let down when you just kissed my cheek.”
He frowned. “I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I just felt weird kissing you for the first time with everyone watching. Wouldn’t that have been stranger?”
She shrugged. “I would have liked it more.”
“Maybe we should start over. I’m Jackson Pine.”
“I’m Sydney Harris. What do you do, Jackson Pine?”
It didn’t escape his notice that she’d automatically used her maiden name when introducing herself. He wondered if she’d bother to take his name at all. “I’m a graphic designer. I make book covers mostly.” He shrugged. “It’s a living, and one that lets me go wherever I want. I’m not tied to any city.”
“Huh. I don’t think I ever really thought about book covers.”
He grinned. “Well, I have to think about them, whether I want to or not. What do you do?”
“I’m a park ranger at Arches National Park, about ten miles north of Moab. I’ve worked there for four years now. That’s why I wanted a man who could easily move to me. I’m so glad you’re not a wastrel.” Sydney sat down, being careful not to tear her dress. She couldn’t imagine dressing up like this often. Why did women like dresses anyway?
“No, I’m not a wastrel.” He sat down beside her, taking her hand in his. “Why did you think I was?” He had never even thought she might want to marry him for the money he didn’t have a lot of.
“I didn’t think you were, and Dr. Lachele assured me you weren’t, but I couldn’t think of a job that would let a man just flit wherever he wanted to go.”
He smiled. “I started doing this right after college. I was a graphics art major, and I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of working with a writer, trying to put whatever he or she has in their head onto a cover. It’s not always easy, but it does pay the bills.”
“Interesting.” For a moment, Sydney thought about asking him if he did the covers for her favorite mail-order bride romances, but she didn’t want to give away her guilty pleasure quite so soon. “So how much time do you plan to take off for the wedding?”
“Just a week or so. I have covers that will need to be made as soon as I get back to work. My email is already starting to back up.”
“I have the whole week off too. We could camp in the national park, or we could hang out in my apartment and get you moved in…or we could take off and go somewhere as a honeymoon. Any preference?” She kind of wanted to just stay at her place and get to know him, but she’d be up for anything.
“I’m not sure. Maybe we could get all my stuff moved in, and then you could show me the area. Kind of a staycation?”
Sydney smiled. “I like that idea. I hope you’re outdoorsy, because I’d love to show you the national park. It’s my happy place.”
“I’ve never heard of a female wanting to be a park ranger. What led you to that?” He didn’t comment on the outdoorsy thing. He was a video-game nerd, after all.
She shrugged. “When I was a little girl, we went to Yellowstone and I fell in love. I remember hating the smell, but everything else was just amazing to me. From the geysers to the wildlife. I announced that day I was going to be a park ranger.” Of course, that was before her mother went slowly insane. She wasn’t ready to tell him that, though. It was too soon, and he’d run for the hills.
“Sounds like a good way to decide what you want to do.”
“What about you? How did you decide to be a graphic artist?”
“I’ve always loved both computers and art. I started out planning to be an art teacher, but when I started student teaching, I found the kids to be obnoxious and annoying.”
Sydney laughed. “Other people’s kids can be. Do you want children?”
Jackson nodded emphatically. “I’ve always wanted children. Not more than two or three probably.”
She nodded. “I don’t know that I’d want more than that either.” She moved closer to him. “I want to know if there’s a spark between us.” It was a lie. She already knew there was. She wanted him to kiss her.
He looked down into her blue eyes, feeling as if he was betraying Paisley. “You do?”
“Yes, I do. I think it’s a good thing to know since we’re married and are discussing having children.”
He sighed. “All right. Let’s see.” He slipped his hand to the nape of her neck, pulling her toward him. Leaning down, he brushed his lips across hers, feeling passion rush through him.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with everything inside her. All of the kisses she’d shared in high school and college faded away. This was the real deal. This was the man she was meant to spend the rest of her life with. She just knew it.
When he lifted his head, he could see that her lips were a bit swollen from their kiss. “We should probably go join our guests.” Spending more time alone with her at that moment was not a good idea.
She sighed. “I want to stay in here with you and make out all day.”
He stroked her cheek with his index finger. “I’m not sure that’s the wisest course of action. Making out in a church is a bit odd.”
“I guess you have a point. Let’s go out and talk to everyone.” She wondered if he had anyone he knew there, but she didn’t ask.
He stood up and held a hand down for her, helping her to her feet. “I love your dress.”
She smiled. “Me too. I like the look of this so much better than what’s in fashion today.”
“You chose well.” Together, they headed back out to the reception, where they could already hear music playing.
When they got to the fellowship hall, she saw her friends smiling at her. They were standing in a small group, and Tess looked so alone to her. Sydney hoped with everything inside her that Tess would let Dr. Lachele match her. Dr. Lachele was with them, her husband Sam at her side.
“Come meet my closest friends.”
He nodded, allowing himself to be pulled across the room to a group of people. “This is Jackson. Jackson, my best friend, Alexis. She was my roommate in college. And my dearest friends, Tess and Joanna. They were our suitemates. We all shared a bathroom.”
“Would you really call what Tess did sharing?” Alexis asked softly.
Tess made a face. “We’re at a wedding, and you don’t discuss your friend’s small bladder at a wedding.” She held her hand out for Jackson.
“It’s so nice to meet you. Please don’t kill her in her sleep. Her mother is very worried that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
Jackson looked at Sydney. “My mother would think the same thing about you if I’d told her I was marrying a stranger today.”
“You made a good call then, didn’t you?” Sydney pressed her cheek against his shoulder. “And guess what?”
Alexis frowned at her. “What?”
“He’s not a wastrel! He’s a graphic artist, and he can do his work from anywhere.” Sydney was so excited when she announced Jackson wasn’t a wastrel, and she knew it came out in her voice.
“I told you Dr. Lachele wouldn’t set you up with a wastrel. Why couldn’t you just believe me?”
“I don’t know. It just seems too good to be true to be married to a man who’s not a wastrel…don’t you think?”
Dirk shook his head at her. “I know you’re Alexis’s best friend, but sometimes you really worry me!”
Sydney laughed, the sound filling the room with happiness. “You’re stuck with me. Forever.”
“I know. I would never ask Alexis to get rid of her closest friends for me.” Dirk wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist. “I need her to be happy.”
As she watched them, Sydney realized that what Alexis had was exactly what she wanted. Love. And fast, too. It had only taken Alexis and Dirk a month to realize that they were in love. That sounded just about right to Sydney.
She looked over at Jackson and realized he was watching her, a glint in his eye. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that my life hasn’t yet begun to change.” At least he wouldn’t be lonely anymore. No more meals alone in a restaurant his late fiancée had preferred. Now he’d spend all his time with Sydney. He could already tell it was going to be a wild ride.
Chapter 3
After a short reception, Sydney led the way back to her apartment while Jackson followed. She was on the third floor, which she usually liked, but as they carried all of his belongings up the stairs, she had a silent wish for a first floor.
Maybe in Moab Page 2
