“Hey, Jamie.” Rick smiled when she stepped into the circle. He introduced the other two women, and then smiled at the pretty blonde woman next to him. “And this is my fiancée, Jessica.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Jamie shook her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, so it’s nice to finally meet you in person. Rick said you were coming back from San Diego for the wedding.”
Jessica nodded. “For two weeks, actually. I’ve decided I want an office space separate from the house so I don’t follow in my dad’s workaholic footsteps, so I’m going to scout some locations.”
“When do you think you’ll make the move permanent? If you don’t mind my asking.”
“At least two more months,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “My dad and I have been working on building a client base here, but it’s a tight market. Soon, though. And it’s worth it.”
“Yes, it is,” Rick said, and Jamie watched L-37’s lieutenant give his future wife such a sappy look she almost laughed.
“Did you see the cake?” Ellen Porter asked. “It’s gorgeous!”
“I haven’t seen it yet,” Jamie said, and before she knew it, Jeff’s wife was leading her through the crowd to the pool table room.
She stopped several times to introduce Jamie to different people, though she luckily knew quite a few of them. Jamie didn’t mind putting herself in the other woman’s hands. Being in a social setting with the guys’ wives and having them not regard her with subtle suspicion or, even worse, overt jealously, was a pleasant surprise and she was a lot more relaxed than she’d thought she would be.
“You’re right. It’s gorgeous,” she said when they finally reached the alcove. The pool table had been covered with a protective cloth and had so much food on it, Jamie was surprised the wooden frame wasn’t groaning under the weight.
But on a table off to the side, which had been decked out in a white cloth with ribbons, was a three-tiered wedding cake. She wasn’t surprised it was a traditional style, with fondant roses around the edges and a porcelain couple on top.
What did surprise her was the second table in the corner. There were at least two dozen chocolate cupcakes on a platter, with two in the middle that had tiny cardboard cutouts of hockey players in Boston Bruins jerseys on top. One had Aidan’s name in small script and the other had Scott’s.
“Even Kincaids can be reasonable once in a while,” Scott said from just behind her, and she turned. He kept about a foot between them, maybe because Ellen and a few others were milling around, looking at the buffet. “It was Ashley’s idea, actually. She’s always been the family peacemaker—the one who handles negotiations when one of us digs in our heels.”
“Technically he’s not betraying the actual wedding cake?” When he nodded, Jamie laughed. “Of course not. They’re just cupcakes.”
“He has to eat the carrot cake, though. That was the deal. He shares the wedding cake with her and does the ceremonial first bite and all that. Then he’s free to stuff his face with chocolate cupcakes.”
“So it is possible to budge a Kincaid who’s being stubborn,” she mused. “Good to know.”
She heard his phone chime and grinned when he rolled his eyes. “It’s a good thing I have unlimited text messages or I’d have to charge a fee for being best man. I thought we’d just take some friends to a bar and have a good time, but there are so many details.”
“You had Aidan’s bachelor party at a bar?”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t this bar.” When she snorted, he looked up from his phone to smile at her. “Okay, when I say bar, I really mean it was a strip club.”
“Ah. That explains why I didn’t hear anything about it.”
“That and the fact it appears men reach an age where shoving money at women just to watch them dance in thongs doesn’t seem like all that good a deal anymore, you know?” He shrugged. “Gavin had a good time. The rest of us watched a game on the TV over the bar and occasionally remembered to roast Aidan.”
“Sounds like a good time.” She’d gone to Lydia’s bachelorette party, which had been hosted by Ashley at a bowling alley that had glow bowling, a private room and a bar. They’d had a few drinks, snacked on fried foods and bowled under black lights, and Jamie had a good time, despite not really knowing any of the women besides Lydia and her sister.
“What?” Scott prompted. “No lecture on how barbaric male wedding traditions are?”
She laughed. “Yeah, because I do that so often. And women usually have their traditions, too. Like spending ridiculous amounts of money on raunchy lingerie the bride-to-be is forced to hold up in front of her mother and future mother-in-law, and that she’ll never wear because it’s all scratching and uncomfortable and she’d rather wear her husband’s T-shirts.”
“At least bachelor parties usually take place at a venue with some kind of sports on a screen.” He leaned a little closer. “And as much as I like you in that dress, I like you in my T-shirts even more.”
Her face flamed and she turned back to the tray of cupcakes so nobody would wonder what he’d said that made her blush so badly. “I knew you couldn’t behave yourself for an entire night.”
“I have to go wrangle wedding things,” he said, and then in a lower voice, “but make sure you save me a dance.”
She used her cell phone to take a picture of the cupcakes to have an excuse to regain her composure, and then turned back to the pool table. Ellen was taking a photo of it, and something about her demeanor made Jamie think she was going out of her way to look like she hadn’t been paying attention, rather than she simply hadn’t noticed the exchange between Jamie and Scott.
Great, she thought. At this rate, there wouldn’t be anybody left in Boston who didn’t know they were a thing before the reception was over.
* * *
SCOTT WAS IN the kitchen with Aidan when he got the text from Ashley that they were about five minutes away and would be coming through the back door. There was a follow-up text threatening bodily harm to Scott if he didn’t keep Aidan out front where he couldn’t see the bride before Tommy walked her up the makeshift aisle.
He reminded himself this was still twice as relaxed as the show the Kincaid family had put on when Ashley married Danny, and kept his return text short. I’ve got this.
“Is that Ashley?” Aidan asked, craning his neck to see the screen.
“Five-minute warning.”
“We should go out front, I guess. Lydia will kick my ass if I screw up and see her before I’m supposed to. I guess it’s the kind of bad luck even Bobby Orr’s picture can’t fix.”
“There’s a line for taking a beating if we screw this up. I think Ashley has me in front, since I’m the best man.”
Aidan laughed, but for the first time, he looked a little shaky. “I can’t believe it’s finally time. And, God, I’m so glad she said we didn’t have to write our own vows. I don’t even remember my own name right now.”
“You’re not going to pass out on me, like all those guys in the funny videos online, are you?”
Aidan grimaced. “I hope not, but thanks for making sure I worry about that, too.”
“Don’t lock your knees when you’re standing there and you’ll be fine.” Scott laughed, and reached out to adjust Aidan’s tie. “You clean up nice, at least.”
“Before we go back out front, I just want to tell you this wouldn’t be the happiest day of my life if you weren’t standing next to me as my best man.”
“You’ve been like a brother to me since we were kids. Now you’ll actually be my brother. I’m glad I got my head out of my ass so you didn’t have to ask somebody else.”
“I don’t know if I could have asked anybody else,” Aidan said, and then he sighed. “I don’t know if I could stand out there and marry Lydia if I didn’t have your blessing.”
“Thi
s is the happiest day of my life, too, so far. I mean that.” He hugged Aidan, slapping him on the back. “You haven’t been keeping track of how long this little love fest has taken, have you?”
“You’re the best man. Throwing yourself in front of the bus is implied if we run out of time.”
Scott laughed, but stopped when Tommy turned the corner. His dad looked dapper as hell in his suit, and he grinned when he saw Scott and Aidan. “You boys better hustle. She’s coming through that door in about two minutes.”
They hustled because the last thing either of them wanted to do was cause Lydia even a second of stress on her wedding day.
The guests quieted for a few seconds when they walked into the bar, and then the excitement level in the room ratcheted up a notch when they realized it was almost time. Scott walked with Aidan to the far end of the bar, where the justice of the peace was waiting.
His phone chimed and he read the text message. “They’re inside. Danny’s getting the flowers out of the walk-in and then they’ll be ready.”
As they’d planned in advance, Grant was watching and as soon as Danny emerged from the hall and gave him a thumbs-up, he hit a button on the phone he’d docked in a portable speaker system. Wedding-sounding music filled the bar and everybody quieted.
He couldn’t help looking for Jamie in the small crowd, and he found her in the back. She was sitting with Cobb and his wife, and she smiled at him when their gazes met. Since Cobb wasn’t looking, he winked at her. Then he cursed silently when a few heads turned toward the back. Since he and Aidan were at the front, people had been watching them and naturally wanted to know who he’d winked at. Luckily, there were a lot of people between him and Jamie.
Scott heard Aidan take a really deep breath before slowly exhaling, and he reached over to squeeze his friend’s shoulder as Ashley turned the corner into the bar. She’d definitely gotten her wish as far as wearing a killer dress, he thought, and he struggled not to chuckle at the way Danny looked as he watched his wife walk up the aisle.
When Ashley reached them, she stood on her toes to kiss Aidan’s cheek before stepping into her place on the other side of the JP. She gave a quick nod to Grant and a few seconds later the music faded out and then the traditional “Wedding March” began to play.
Seconds later, his sister walked into the bar with her arm tucked under their father’s arm. Tommy was standing tall and proud, but Scott could see the emotion in his eyes. The man loved all of his kids, but Scott and Ashley had always known Lydia was his favorite. And they hadn’t minded because it diverted his attention away from them.
Lydia looked beautiful. Her dress was amazing and he wasn’t surprised to see that she’d worn her hair down. It was thick and wavy and didn’t behave very well, so it was usually in a ponytail. But down like it was, the dark curls framed her face perfectly and contrasted the cream-colored dress.
It all paled in comparison to her expression, though. She only had eyes for Aidan and she looked so happy walking toward him, Scott had to clear his throat and blink a couple of times to avoid embarrassing himself. Then she smiled at her almost-husband and Scott almost felt like he was intruding on a private moment by staring, so he let his gaze wander over the crowd.
Jamie’s eyes were on the bride, of course. Everybody’s were, so he let himself look at her for a few seconds. Her expression was soft, almost dreamy, as she watched his sister walk down the aisle, and she looked beautiful. Then there was the dress, of course. The dress made him think all sorts of indecent thoughts that could get him in trouble when he was standing up in front of his friends and family.
When Lydia reached them, Scott turned and watched his dad kiss her hand before handing it over to Aidan. Then he watched his best friend and his sister exchange an excited, love-filled look that sent envy burning through his veins. He wanted a woman to look at him like that.
The justice of the peace started to talk and Scott had to stifle a snort when he saw Aidan shift his weight so he wasn’t locking his knees. He and Ashley handed the rings over when they were called for, and Aidan got through his vows without so much as a hesitation.
“I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
The cheers and applause could have shaken Bobby Orr’s picture right off the wall if the frame wasn’t bolted to the brick. He grinned, clapping his hands as Aidan dipped Lydia so deeply for a kiss that she lifted her leg for balance. Behind them, Scott saw Jeff’s wife look at her camera’s LCD screen and do a small fist pump. She was the best amateur photographer in the community and she’d volunteered to take the photos.
Once he’d set his wife on her feet, Aidan turned to Scott and pulled him in for a hug. Tears burned in Scott’s eyes, but he laughed when Lydia wiggled her way into the embrace. He kissed her cheek. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hunt.”
FOURTEEN
ONCE THE CEREMONY was over, Jamie practically made a beeline for the bar. She knew she couldn’t drink enough to blot out the memory of Scott’s face when he embraced his best friend as his brother-in-law for the first time, but maybe she could take the edge off the extreme case of warm and fuzzy it had given her.
And maybe a little indigestion, because she knew someday Scott would have that look on his face for his own bride, and Jamie hated that unknown woman with a burning passion.
The woman behind the bar, who was a friend of Rick’s, gestured to the lineup of glasses when she approached. “We have beer, champagne and soda. There’s a coffee urn over there, with all the fixings, and I can get you water with ice. If you want hard liquor or a cocktail, I can make you one, but Tommy’s a cheap bastard so those you have to pay for.”
Jamie laughed and took a flute of champagne. “I think I’m in the mood for bubbles tonight.”
“Everybody!” Grant stood on a chair and clapped his hands. “Lydia wants Ellen to take some pictures before we eat because some of you eat like toddlers.”
The crowd, including Jamie, laughed. There was a lot of milling around as Ellen directed people in front of the bar. With the brick backdrop, and Bobby Orr, along with the old-style lighting, Jamie had to admit it was a good spot. Perfect, really, considering the emotional attachment both the bride and groom felt for the building.
“Hey.”
Jamie was surprised to find Lydia at her elbow. She gave her a quick hug. “Congratulations and that was so beautiful and aren’t you supposed to be having your picture taken right now?”
“No, we are. Come on.”
Jamie balked. “What are you talking about?”
“We’re starting with the big group pictures because everybody’s here. If we start with just me and Aidan, people will get bored and wander off and Ellen will never round them up again. So probably us and the two companies first, like a big old family picture.”
“I’ll just watch. I can make funny faces if Ellen has trouble getting somebody to smile.”
“Shut up. Of course you’re going to be in the picture.”
“It’s not a good idea.” She resisted when Lydia tugged at her hand. “I don’t belong in a family wedding photo.”
“You guys are family.”
“They are, but I’m moving on. Every time somebody looks at the pictures, I’d just be that woman who filled in for him while he was on medical leave.”
Because Lydia and her brother were so much alike, and Jamie knew Scott so well, she didn’t have any trouble recognizing the temper rising in the bride. “That’s bullshit, Jamie. You think when you peel the name tape off your locker door, we’re going to forget who you are? That you’ve been a part of this family?”
“Do you want me in the picture because I’m part of Engine Company 59 or because of Scott?” When Lydia hesitated, uncertainty flickering in her eyes, Jamie knew she’d hit on the truth. “I am moving on and maybe I’ll always feel a conne
ction with this fire company, but you don’t want to have a family photograph with your brother’s ex-girlfriend in it. Or ex-whatever.”
Lydia sighed, shaking her head. “Okay, fine. But I want a picture with you and me and Ashley because moving on or not, you won’t be my ex-friend.”
“Absolutely.”
Ellen was starting to get annoyed, judging by the pitch of her voice and the way she was waving her hand, so Lydia gave her a final I mean it look and walked away. They started lining up, but when Scott sent a questioning look in Jamie’s direction, she shook her head.
Then she sighed when Scott pulled his sister off to one side. She watched him and Lydia talking, their conversation obviously intense, while she sipped her drink. He looked mad, and his sister was obviously trying to calm him down. If Jamie had to guess, she’d say Scott thought Lydia had made a decision to exclude Jamie from the photograph.
She’d just decided to go over and tell him what was going on—or just be in the damn picture if that’s what it took—when the fight went out of Scott. She didn’t know what Lydia said but, after a quick look in Jamie’s direction, he shrugged and got in line where he was told.
Once the bride and the photographer were content with the shots they had, Grant put on some dance music and the party started. They ate, drank and made merry as hell, and Jamie moved from group to group. There were stories and laughter, and the more drinks that were served, the more people danced.
And maybe because Aidan and Lydia had limited the guest list to friends and family who mostly all knew each other, there was no drama and everybody was having a good time.
She might have had a better time if she wasn’t trying to stay one step ahead of Scott, Jamie thought. Or, more accurately, many steps away from him. He wasn’t drinking tonight because he’d volunteered to make sure everybody who left the reception had a designated driver or a cab waiting, but he was enjoying himself and she wouldn’t put it past him to forget himself if he got within arm’s reach of her.
Fully Ignited (Boston Fire #3) Page 18
