Sierra smiled patiently at her older sister. “That’s right. Alex and I have solved our differences. He proposed and I accepted. We want to get married quickly so we can start the adoption papers for Bowie right after.”
“Oh.” A tiny frown creased the middle of her forehead. “Well, this is great news. Surprising. But great.” She smiled then and leaning forward placed a kiss on Sierra’s cheek. “Congratulations, sis.”
Sierra kissed her in return. “Thank you. But you don’t sound all that happy about it to me.”
Gloria waved a ringed hand through the air. “I am, Sierra, truly. But the part about Bowie. Are you sure you’re not just marrying Alex so that you’ll have a better chance of adopting? Maybe you’re getting your feelings for Alex and Bowie all tangled up together.”
Of course her feelings for the two men in her life were tangled together, Sierra thought. That’s the way it was when a woman loved a man and their child.
“No, Gloria. I’m not marrying Alex just as a way to get Bowie. That would be—how could you think I could be so conniving? I love Alex. Very much.”
She’d thought admitting such a thing to anyone would be hard to do, but now that she’d said it, she was amazed at how good it felt.
“Sierra, I wasn’t suggesting you were doing anything conniving—you’re the last person on earth who could use another person. I just want you to be sure that you’re marrying Alex for the right reasons.”
Her eyes misty, Sierra hugged her sister close. “I am, Gloria. I can’t live without the man.”
Gloria chuckled softly. “You must know what you’re doing because that’s exactly the way I feel about Jack. Have you told Mom and Dad yet? And does Christina know?”
“I called them all earlier this morning. Christina wanted to come with us to shop for the dress, but she had an important meeting at work. Mom is going to meet me later to talk about the church and the flowers and what we’re going to do about a reception. I tried to tell her that we didn’t need a reception, but she won’t hear of it.”
“Of course she won’t hear of it. We Mendozas like to celebrate,” Gloria said, then dropped Sierra’s hand and hurried back behind the counter. “Just let me get my purse. We’re going to shop for this wedding until we drop.”
Sierra laughed. “What about your shop? You can’t just close up.”
“Watch me,” Gloria retorted as she grabbed her handbag and motioned for Sierra to follow her to the door. Once there, she flipped a Closed sign toward the front of the glass. “My sister is only getting married once in her lifetime. I’m not going to miss any of it.”
The week passed for Sierra like a blurred trip on a fairground ride. She was so busy planning the wedding during the day that she fell into bed at night so exhausted that she slept. Fitfully, but she did sleep. Which was somewhat better than the wide-awake nights she’d spent while she and Alex had been separated.
Since the two of them had decided to get married, Sierra had asked Alex if he would refrain from moving into the house until they were married. She wanted their reunion to be special and blessed. She wanted their wedding night to be the start of all their tomorrows.
Thankfully Alex had understood her needs and had used the week to pack up his apartment and deal with ending his lease. Once their brief honeymoon was over Trey and Mario were going to help him move what furniture he wanted to keep and his endless boxes of law books while Gayle had promised to help Sierra move things around so the two-story would have enough room to accommodate Alex’s things.
At first, their longtime college buddies had been stunned to hear that Alex and Sierra were getting married. But once the initial shock wore off, they were all thrilled and confident that the couple would have a long, happy marriage.
But now that the wedding day was upon them, Sierra was quaking with uncertainty as she dressed for the ceremony. With everything inside her, she hoped their friends were right. More than anything, she wanted their marriage to be happy and long-lived, but could that really happen if Alex didn’t love her? she wondered. Would the love she felt for him be enough to keep them together through the sad and trying times?
“Sierra, you look like you’re about to go into the hospital for open heart surgery, instead of about to marry the man of your dreams,” Christina said to her as she fastened a pearl choker around Sierra’s neck. “Are you feeling okay? You’re as white as your dress.”
Sierra, her two sisters who were also her bridesmaids, and her friend Gayle, who’d be standing as her maid of honor, were gathered in a small dressing room located in one of the lesson rooms at the back of St. Mary’s church. For the past thirty minutes, a crowd of women wanting to wish her well had passed in and out of the room. But now things had quieted down and the only thing left to complete Sierra’s readiness was attaching her veil.
“Christina, I can’t look as white as my dress.” From her seat on the dressing stool, Sierra tried to laugh at her image in the mirror in front of her. “I’m Hispanic, remember.”
Gayle, who was standing to one side in a svelte, dark blue shift, surveyed the bride with an eagle eye. “Your sister is right,” she said, shaking a finger at Sierra. “You look like you’re about to be sentenced to the death chamber. Are you scared or worried about something?”
Shaking her head, she gave the two women a wobbly smile. “I’m just nervous. Doesn’t a bride have a right to be nervous?”
“Yes, but—” Christina started to reply but Sierra quickly interrupted her.
“Why are you looking for trouble?” she questioned crossly. “There’s nothing wrong!”
Gloria rose from a folding chair where she’d been resting and walked over to where the two women were hovering over Sierra. “Christina, quit badgering her! For heaven’s sake, it’s her wedding day!”
“I’m not badgering her,” Christina retorted. “I just want to understand why she’s so panicky.” She looked anxiously down at Sierra’s tight features. “All right, honey, if you expect to walk down the aisle when they start playing the ‘Wedding March,’ then you’d better speak up. Otherwise, I’m not letting you out of this room.”
“Christina!” Gayle scolded again. “There is something on Sierra’s mind. I can see it,” she said, agreeing with Christina’s observations.
Sierra let out a weary sigh. “I don’t know why you’re doing this to me now—just a few minutes before the ceremony is supposed to start!”
“Because,” Christina said gently as she laid a steadying hand on Sierra’s shoulder. “When Daddy takes you by the arm and leads you down the aisle to Alex, we want you to be happy.”
“I am happy. I’m just a little scared, that’s all.”
Gayle moved to Sierra’s side and took her by the hand. “It’s Alex, isn’t it?” she asked with somber concern.
After a moment or two of looking into her dear friend’s face, Sierra realized she couldn’t hold up her front any longer. Nodding, she said, “Yes, it’s Alex.”
“Well, honey, to be honest, I’d be more than a little nervous if I was marrying him,” Gayle reasoned. “He’s gorgeous, but he’s a handful. He’s so damn alpha male that you never know what’s going to come out of his mouth. And there’s also the problem of women eyeing him like a piece of candy.”
“No. No. It’s nothing like that,” Sierra said in a low, strained voice. “I—I’m just not sure that Alex cares for me enough. I mean, not enough to be marrying me.”
Gloria groaned in loud disbelief. Christina made a scolding noise with the tip of her tongue. Beyond the closed door, in the other part of the church, Sierra could hear the pianist playing “Tonight We Love.” But tonight wasn’t what she was worried about. It was tomorrow and all the tomorrows after that.
“Alex cares for you deeply, Sierra,” Gayle said. “Next to you, I probably know him better than anyone else in this room. And I can see how happy you’ve made him.”
“Caring for and loving someone are two entirely different things,” Si
erra countered.
“What makes you think Alex doesn’t love you?” Gloria spoke up.
Sierra grimaced. “Because he’s never told me so. I’m not even sure he believes in love like that between a man and a woman.”
“Good Lord,” Christina exclaimed. “Don’t you think it’s a little late to be worrying about that?”
Bending her head, she said, “It doesn’t matter, really. Because I love Alex enough for the both of us.”
“And you’ve told him that?” Gayle prodded.
Sierra lifted her head to look at all three women. “No. I couldn’t. Not knowing how he feels, well, I don’t want him to think I’m pressuring him. If he does fall in love with me, I want him to do it on his own. I want it to be real.”
“But if he doesn’t know how you feel,” Gloria pointed out. “And—”
“You don’t know how he feels,” Christina finished. “Then the two of you are going to be going through this marriage as blind as bats. Your relationship can’t thrive and grow if you’re holding back your feelings.”
Sierra’s brown eyes darkened with shadows of doubt. “But what if he’s only marrying me so that he can be Bowie’s father? He loves the baby very much.”
“And so do you,” Gayle reasoned. “But let’s face it, Alex is a stud. He doesn’t have to marry you to get a son.”
“That’s right,” Gloria said gently. “Alex is marrying you because he loves you. I’d bet some of Jack’s money on that,” she teased.
They all laughed and Sierra suddenly realized her sisters and friend were right. She had to be honest with Alex. And tonight she would be.
Her eyes misty, Sierra smiled at the three of them. “Okay, now that I know what I have to do, would someone help me with my veil?”
A few short minutes later, Sierra came out of the dressing room with her maid of honor and bridesmaids in tow. Her father was waiting for her in the vestibule and his proud, fatherly smile beamed from ear to ear when he spotted his daughter moving toward him.
Her wedding gown, a gift from her two sisters, was white, floor-length silk. The princess style was fashioned with a sweetheart neckline that dipped to a low V between her breasts and a gored skirt that flared out from her slender waist. The long sleeves of Chantilly lace narrowed down to a point atop her hand, which was shaking, in spite of the pep talk Gayle and her sisters had given her.
Adjusting her bouquet of white lilies and Texas bluebonnets, she slipped her arm through her father’s and he leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“I have never seen you look more beautiful, my daughter. I wish you every happiness in the world. No one knows, more than me, how much you deserve it.”
Afraid her eyes were going to fill with tears, she blinked rapidly and smiled up at him. “Thank you, Daddy,” she whispered. “Thank you for always loving me.”
Beyond the vestibule the “Wedding March” began to play and Sierra watched her father’s brown eyes fill with tears.
“It’s time to go, honey. Your man is waiting.”
They moved forward to the entrance of the church, then stepped onto the aisle leading to the altar where candlelight flickered and white lilies draped an archway.
On either side of Sierra and her father, the pews of the small church were filled with family and friends, but she was only partially aware of the attending crowd.
Behind the filmy white layers of netting, her gaze was focused on Alex standing tall and handsome at the altar in a dark suit. His eyes were locked on her, as if there was no one else in the room, or even the world, and in that moment all she could think was how very much she loved him.
During the past week the Calloways had flown down from Dallas and met with Sierra’s family. The Mendozas had kindly invited them to stay in their home until the wedding took place. Maria and Jose had also prepared a magnificent reception for the newlyweds at Red. A live band played a variety of dance music and long tables were laden with some of the most delicious dishes the restaurant had to offer. An enormous tiered wedding cake, complete with bride and groom on top, finished off the celebration.
By the time the two of them were finally able to sneak away from the party, the sun was dipping low and they had less than an hour to make it to the airport in San Antonio.
During the flight south, Sierra drifted off to sleep with her hand wrapped in Alex’s and her head resting on his shoulder. It was the first peaceful minute they’d had all day and though Alex tried to sleep, too, he couldn’t close his eyes, much less think about sleeping.
Sierra was finally his wife. It was amazing how much that meant to him and how desperately he’d wanted their marriage to happen. He’d never thought he could feel this protective about any woman. He’d never believed he could want one so much, or love one so deeply.
It had taken Alex a long time to realize just how strong his feelings for Sierra were. Years, he supposed, because ever since their college days, something had always drawn him to her. Something had made him so frustrated with the boyfriends she’d dated. And he’d hated the way she was always caring for some downtrodden soul instead of herself.
That last thought put a wan smile on Alex’s lips. Funny how that caring heart of hers was the very thing he adored about her now. Which only proved that love had the power to change a person.
Sierra groaned faintly in her sleep and Alex glanced down to study her face in the muted light. Her thick lashes rested like black crescent moons against her cheeks, her rosy-pink lips were slightly parted and so inviting even in slumber. The beauty of her features only made the unrest inside him whip up to all-out worry.
Sierra loved Bowie. He’d heard her say it time and again. No one had to tell him that she would do anything and everything to hold on to her baby. Did that also include marrying him? Alex wondered. Was that the only reason she’d accepted his proposal?
Maybe his fears were unwarranted, but he couldn’t forget the fact that she’d never once mentioned love to him. Oh, she wanted him, just like he wanted her. But was that as far as it went with her? Sex and insurance that Bowie would finally be legally hers? Dear God, he didn’t want to think that way. Especially on their wedding night.
But tonight was not his real worry, he realized. It was their future and if his love for Sierra was enough to keep her by his side.
Eventually the two of them landed in Brownsville and took a rental car to Padre Island. The hotel where they had reservations was located directly on the beach and the French doors in their room opened onto a balcony that looked out over the rolling gulf.
Sierra was entranced by the beautiful sight and kept repeating to Alex how wonderful he was to bring her to such a romantic place.
“Why wouldn’t I bring you to a romantic place?” he teased as he stood beside her on the balcony, his arm draped loosely against the back of her waist. “Honeymoons aren’t science field trips.”
Laughing softly, she turned and slipped both arms around his waist. “Hmm. Just goes to prove a woman can learn something every day. So if we’re not here on a field trip to catch butterflies, what are we going to do?”
“What a brazen hussy you are, Mrs. Calloway,” he teased affectionately.
She smiled up at him and his heart caught as he watched the sea breeze tease her wet black curls and lift the ruffle of her low neckline. Only moments ago, she’d stepped out of the shower and Alex couldn’t forget that underneath her thin robe was her beautiful naked body.
“It’s you who made me this way,” she said playfully.
Her robe was made of some sort of sheer fabric and the heat of her body warmed Alex’s hands as he splayed them against her back and drew her forward.
“Hmm. Then I’ve done something right for once in my life.” Bending his head, he gently settled his lips over hers. At the same time he felt her arms try to gather him closer, her lips part with hunger. The simple invitation was more than enough to fire his blood and he deepened the kiss until they were both heaving for air.
&nb
sp; “Sierra,” he said raggedly. “It’s been hell not making love with you these past weeks. I didn’t know I could hurt for someone the way I’ve hurt for you.”
Her hands came up to cradle his face and she pushed at the hank of hair the sea wind had blown into his eyes. “I’ve taken a few cold showers myself,” she admitted.
Surprise arched his brows. “Really?”
She laughed softly and the sound buoyed his heart. If he could only hear that sound for the rest of his life, he’d die a happy man.
“Alex, surely, when we were together weeks back, you could see, feel how much I wanted you.”
Wanted? What about loved? What’s in that sweet, giving heart of yours, Sierra?
The questions were on the tip of Alex’s tongue, but he bit them back with a groan that betrayed some of the anguish he was feeling.
“I hope you didn’t waste money on one of those flimsy negligees. I don’t want to wait while you lock yourself inside the bathroom and dress yourself up for me. You’ll look beautiful enough with just this on,” he said, lifting her left hand to his lips and kissing the gold band on her finger.
Her chuckle was more like a sexy growl. “I didn’t bother buying any sort of sleepwear for our honeymoon. Not when I knew I’d only be wearing it for a few seconds.”
“Come here, my wife.” With a husky laugh, he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
Chapter Fourteen
A dim pool of light coming from the bedside lamp illuminated the king-size bed. After Alex had deposited her on the edge of the mattress, he reached down and clicked off the artificial light. Instantly the room was bathed in soft moonlight and the silver glow reflecting off the ocean.
Sierra watched him toss away his shirt and shorts and then she stood, only inches in front of him, and loosened the tie at her waist. As soon as he touched her shoulders, the flimsy material slid to the floor.
She could hear his breathing quicken as he reached out and touched one breast and her pulse began to race with sweet anticipation.
Fortune's Heirs: Reunion Page 51
