Going to the Chapel

by Debra Webb

  Hell...he wanted her to stay.

  ~*~

  Caroline tightened the sash on her silk robe and padded to the kitchen. She was finally finished. A sigh, half weariness, half satisfaction, whispered past her lips. She’d worked like a maniac all afternoon and evening. Finally, as dark settled around her, she’d taken a long, hot bubble bath using some of the goodies she’d packed for her honeymoon.

  She recited a few choice words in regards to weddings and honeymoons, most especially where grooms were concerned, to her reflection as she’d combed her hair. She was sick to death of men and their attitudes. It was okay for them to royally screw up but just let a woman make a mistake or hesitate and she was pond scum.

  Caroline poured herself a glass of wine and headed for the parlor. The house was finished. All she had to do now was sit back and relax until Tristan’s car was ready. Maybe she could sweet talk Zac into working around the clock and having it ready before Saturday. One thing was certain, she intended to avoid Chase Garrett like the plague. No matter how Henri insisted that he hadn’t meant the unkind things he said, Caroline wasn’t forgiving him this time. She was through with Chase.

  After tuning the radio to an easy listening station, she relaxed on the sofa and sipped her wine. She studied the portraits on the wall and decided that she’d busy herself with packing up the items she wanted to keep next week. Sorting through everything would be a big enough task to occupy her time. The week would be over before she knew it.

  Caroline frowned as her thoughts drifted to Julie. No one knew where she was at the moment. Caroline wasn’t exactly worried since she knew Julie to be a responsible person, but she was concerned that her friend might feel alone. Caroline wished she could be there for her. Maybe Julie would call.

  A light knock on the front door jolted Caroline from her disturbing thoughts. She set her glass on the end table and hurried to the door. Maybe it was Julie. Without considering her state of undress, Caroline jerked the door open.

  Chase Garrett loomed on the porch.

  Caroline felt too stunned at seeing him to do anything but gawk.

  “Can I come in?”

  He was still wearing his black dress pants and crisp white shirt. He’d lost the tie already, but it didn’t lessen the effect at all. He looked gorgeous.

  Caroline squared her shoulders and pushed her physical attraction to the man aside. She didn’t care how he looked, she had nothing to say to him.

  “I don’t think so. I think you said all that needs to be said today.”

  He stared at the floor for a moment. “I shouldn’t have said those things.”

  Caroline folded her arms over her chest. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard that.”

  He leveled that intense blue gaze on hers. “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said those things to you. I apologize.”

  “Apology accepted.” She reached to close the door.

  He flatted one wide palm against it and halted her effort. “Don’t be this way, Caroline. I don’t want to leave it like this.”

  “There isn’t any other way,” she said flatly. What did he think he could do, charm his way out of this one?

  “We’ve known each other all our lives. Why can’t we at least be friends?”

  Fury surged through her. “Goodnight, Chase.”

  He pushed his way fully into the house this time. “Talk to me, Caroline. Tell me what I have to do to make this up to you.”

  He looked so damned sincere. Caroline didn’t want to trust him. She didn’t want to feel any of this. “You were angry, you didn’t mean it. Let’s just move on.”

  He closed the door behind him and stared down at her. She jumped at the solid thud.

  “I don’t want to be enemies anymore.”

  “I don’t know what you want from me,” she said in all honesty. He was looking at her now, really looking—from head to toe. Heat flagged Caroline’s cheeks when she realized just how she was dressed, wearing nothing but a thin black silk robe, with even less on beneath. And, judging by his expression, there was no question what he wanted.

  “I just want—”

  “You should go.” She wrapped her arms over her chest once more, this time in a protective manner.

  He nodded, once. “I should.” His gaze drifted back up to hers. “But I sure don’t want to.”

  She shook her head slowly from side to side. “We can’t do this.” She understood with complete certainty that he wanted her just as much as she wanted him. No matter how she denied it...no matter how she pretended she didn’t care, she did. She wanted him. She cared very much for him. Beneath all those layers of anger and bitterness, absolutely nothing had changed.

  And they both knew it.

  “All you have to do,” Chase murmured as he moved closer to her, “is tell me to stop and I will.” He cupped her face in the palms of his hands. “If you don’t want this as much as I do,” he lowered his lips close to hers “just say so.”

  Fire roared inside her at the first touch of his lips. His kiss remained gentle despite the fierce heat simmering between them. Her body relaxed as her fingers found their way to his chest and fisted in his shirt. He groaned at that simple touch.

  She shouldn’t do this. She knew she should tell him to stop. But she couldn’t. She wanted him. She wanted him so very much. With every fiber of her being she wanted to know Chase Garrett once more. To touch him and have him touch her as they had all those years ago.

  He drew back, his uneven breath fanning her just-kissed lips. “I want to make love to you.”

  Just this once. They could have this one night, couldn’t they? Her own breath as raged as his, she took him by the hand and led him up the stairs and to her room. Just enough moonlight sifted in through the windows to light their way as they slowly undressed each other.

  One by one, Caroline released the buttons of his shirt. He pulled the fabric from his slacks as she pushed it off his shoulders and down his arms. The shirt billowed around his feet like a white cloud. The belt was next. The hiss of leather sliding from his trousers echoed in the room. He kicked off his shoes, his hands working their own kind of magic along the curve of her spine. Every touch, every taste of his mouth made her yearn for more. She quickly unfastened the closure of his slacks and pushed them downward. She knelt long enough to remove his slacks and briefs. She breathed deeply of the musky, masculine scent of him. God, how she wanted him.

  “My turn,” he murmured, pulling her to her feet.

  His fingers efficiently untied the sash to her robe. With one sweep of his palms beneath the ebony silk and over her bare shoulders and the slinky material puddled around her ankles. The look of awe on his face as he stared at her, naked save for lacy black panties, made her shiver with delight.

  “You are so beautiful.” His voice was thick and raspy with lust. He stood before her, gloriously naked, and one hundred percent ready. He was the one who was so very beautiful. He opened his mouth to say something else, but hesitated.

  “I don’t want to talk, Chase.” She looped her arms around his neck and pressed her bare breasts to his chest. “And I don’t want to think.”

  His mouth captured hers and he devoured her just the way she wanted him to, completely.

  Chase lifted her into his arms and laid her gently on the bed. The very bed she’d slept in as a young girl who’d been totally in love with Chase Garrett. She’d planned and dreamed of the life they would share together, the children they would conceive during night after night of lovemaking. His fingers skimmed her inner thigh as he dragged her wispy panties down and off.

  They might not have a future together, the past was certainly gone forever, but they could have this one night. They could forget just for a little while that one or both of them had made a mistake that had cost them more than either had been prepared to pay.

  He kissed his way up her throat, heat sizzling with each brush of his lips. He settled between her thighs as his mouth descended upon hers once more.
Slowly, thoroughly he kissed her, his fingers tangling with hers. The nudge of his heavy arousal was almost more than she could bear. She needed to feel him inside her. Yearned to mate so fully with him that nothing else mattered.

  Drawing back, he peered deeply into her eyes as he flexed his hips and inch by inch filled her completely. Desire sang through her veins. She inhaled deeply of his unique scent and savored the feeling of him deep inside her. His gaze held her still when her body yearned to undulate beneath his.

  “I’ve missed you, Caroline.” The strange mixture of emotions whirling in those blue eyes almost undid her.

  She wrapped her legs around his and arched her hips more firmly into his, drawing her deeper. “Kiss me, Chase,” she murmured, lifting her mouth to his. “Don’t make me wait any longer.”

  He kissed her, his body beginning the rhythm that would usher them toward fulfillment, bringing reality all too soon. But at that moment there was nothing else...only the two of them. Feeling. Remembering.

  Chapter Eight

  By the following Wednesday Caroline was ready to hide under a rock somewhere. She stared into her refrigerator which overflowed with casseroles and a wide variety of salads. It seemed the whole town had stopped by at one time or another between Sunday morning and lunch today. Most just wanted to say hello and to tell her how glad they were she was back. Not one had shown up empty-handed, thus the filled-to-capacity fridge. And when she tried to explain that she was only visiting, no one seemed to listen. They all wanted to believe that she was back for good.

  A number of her visitors had wanted medical advice on one ailment or another. She had to admit that she was beginning to feel badly about the absence of medical care in Lucy’s Branch. Doc Bishop had been there for as long as she could remember. He had always taken care of everyone, including her. Hopefully someone would be willing to take over the clinic soon. According to the mayor, who’d presented a rash that was most likely a reaction to his wife’s change in laundry detergent, they hadn’t had the first bite in response to the numerous ads and invitations he’d sent out.

  But it wasn’t her problem, Caroline told herself yet again. She was only here for a visit. In just three days she would be on her way. There was no reason to stay.

  Memories of making love with Chase immediately exploded in her mind. She hesitated, broccoli casserole in hand, and allowed the remembered sensations to wash over her. The feel of his skin, the taste of his lips, and the sound of his voice. They’d made love twice that night. There had been no talking, just feeling. She’d fallen asleep in his arms, only to awaken alone the next morning. But he had left a note telling her his pager had gone off at dawn. Accustomed to listening for her own pager, Caroline couldn’t believe that she hadn’t heard his. But, apparently, she hadn’t. Either that or he’d wanted an excuse for his hasty departure.

  Caroline sighed and walked to the counter across the room. She scooped herself out a healthy portion of the casserole and popped it into the microwave. Two minutes later she dropped into a chair at the dining table with her ready to eat lunch. She shouldn’t care why Chase left without waking her. Yet she did. He’d called every day since, but had kept his distance physically. Neither of them had mentioned the night they’d shared. She supposed he was as afraid as she was of what might happen if they came face to face with each other now. She shoved a forkful of casserole into her mouth and forced herself to chew. For three days now she had thought of nothing but Chase, past and present.

  It amazed her that she could still feel so strongly for him. It was as if nothing had changed, but everything had. She wanted him desperately. He wanted her just as desperately. It was clear. She felt it in his every touch, heard it in his voice. If he read her as easily, he knew exactly how she felt, too. She could hope he wasn’t quite so perceptive.

  This afternoon Felix Reems would bring the prospective buyers to the house. Though emotion welled each time she thought of selling the house, she knew it was for the best. She had to move on. Too much water had gone under the bridge for her to ever consider staying here. How could she ever look at Shane and not see Chase’s infidelity?

  Caroline pushed away from the table and carried her plate to the sink. She had no appetite. She didn’t know why she even bothered to attempt eating. As good as Mrs. Henson’s casserole was, Caroline simply had no desire to eat. She supposed she should call Zac and check on his progress. Tristan had called twice already, but she had gotten rid of him quickly. She certainly didn’t want to talk to him. She wondered briefly if she should just shuck the whole man-woman relationship thing and become a nun or something. At least that way she wouldn’t have to worry about someone cheating on her.

  The telephone rang and Caroline cringed. Please don’t let it be Tristan, she prayed as she crossed the room and picked up the receiver.

  “Hello.”

  “Caroline, girlfriend, have I got some good news!”

  It was Sherry. Maybe she had heard from Julie. “Did you hear from Julie?” Caroline asked hopefully. That was another thing she’d worried about for the past few days. Julie hadn’t called anyone, not even her parents.

  “No, sorry.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “Sonny comes home tomorrow. I just got the word.”

  “Oh, Sherry, that’s wonderful! I know you’re thrilled.”

  “I’m not sure I could have held out much longer. Anyway, the reason I’m calling is to let you know that we’re getting married at four p.m. tomorrow evening.”

  “That’s terrific. I’ll be there,” Julie assured her.

  “It won’t be anything elaborate, there’s no time. His plane arrives at two. His father is picking him up and bringing him straight from Memphis to the chapel.”

  The dreaded chapel. Was she going to have to watch every single woman in town get married before she left? Caroline scolded herself for thinking such a selfish thought. It wasn’t Sherry’s fault that Caroline’s experience with men had been so screwed up.

  “You get as much bed rest as possible,” Caroline suggested. “We don’t want you getting too excited or over tired and going into labor.”

  “Don’t worry,” Sherry told her. “I’m making calls from the couch and my mother is taking care of all the arrangements. All I have to do is show up at the chapel with the dress on. Nina Jenkins made me a beautiful maternity gown. And it’s white, too, baby.”

  “I know you’re going to be beautiful.” With Sherry’s dark skin and petite, though rounded, figure, she would be gorgeous in a white lacy gown.

  “See you at four!”

  Caroline disconnected, feeling oddly sad. She wasn’t dumb or immature. How did she always choose the wrong man? The image of Chase and the feeling of rightness immediately zoomed into focus. She shook her head. He’d already proven that he wasn’t the right man for her. And even if he had changed...even if he begged her to stay, things would never be the way they were. She held out no hope that either of them could overcome that monumental obstacle.

  ~*~

  “Surely someone somewhere has seen her,” Rob insisted. He stood before Chase’s desk, his hands braced on the edge. “How can she have simply disappeared into thin air?”

  Chase shook his head and threw up his hands. “I can’t answer that question. Julie is an adult. If she doesn’t want to be found, chances are she won’t.”

  Rob blew out a disgusted breath and dropped into a chair. “This is insane. The whole town is looking at me as if I’m the most pathetic creature on earth. How could she do this to me?”

  Chase wanted to shake him. They’d had this same conversation every day this week. Each time, Chase had told Rob the same thing. He’d done all he could. Legally, there was nothing else to be done. Julie would show up when she chose to. There was absolutely no reason to suspect foul play, and no one had seen her.

  “Well.” Rob stood, as he always did, after only a few moments in the chair. “I’ll get back to the bank. Let me know if you hear anything at all.”

 
“You know I will.”

  Chase watched Rob trudge away. The man was devastated. Chase had to wonder, though, how much of it was heartache and how much was pride. He hated to think badly of Rob, but somehow his concern seemed entirely too superficial. Chase considered the conversation they’d shared the night before the wedding fiasco. Rob hadn’t been as sure of himself as usual. That, combined with Julie’s abrupt departure, made Chase uncertain of what the future held for the two.

  Not that Chase had any answers. God knew his own circumstances were certainly crazy enough. He still couldn’t believe that he and Caroline had made love. Not that he regretted it, mind you, because he definitely didn’t. He had wanted Caroline more than he’d wanted to take his next breath. But it would only make it that much harder for him when she left.

  And she would leave. Staying was the farthest thing from her mind. And even if for some reason she did stay, the whole town sure wanted her to, there was no future for the two of them. Caroline had walked out on him. And he had married another woman. Even if he forgave her for leaving, she would never forgive him for what he’d done. And then there was Shane. Chase had to consider what was best for his son in all this as well. No matter what he felt for Caroline...he had to think of Shane.

  “Brought you some lunch.”

  Chase looked up to find Henri barging into his office, covered basket in hand. He dredged up a smile. “Thanks, Henri. How did you know I was sitting here contemplating dropping by the pool hall for a burger?”

  Henri perched her load on the edge of his desk. “Forget that place. Full of cholesterol. You need good food that’ll stick to your ribs without clogging your arteries.”

  Chase grinned. “Where’s Shane?”

  She angled her head back toward the door. “He’s in there showing your secretary how to properly hold a frog.”

  The image of Mary Lou screaming and running out the door flitted through Chase’s mind. “That should prove interesting.”