by Andre, Bella
Sophie couldn’t believe Ryan had actually made her tear up. He was supposed to be the comic relief. Fortunately, Zach was up next. He’d practically been born with a wrench in his hand, and he’d turned his love of classic cars and racing into an enormously successful chain of Sullivan Auto stores.
Zach grinned as he took center stage, knowing darn well that none of the women in the reception could even remember Smith’s or Ryan’s names anymore. How many times had one of Sophie’s girlfriends told her they’d never seen anyone as gorgeous as Zach? She was certain plenty of flat tires had been faked on his behalf, if only for the chance to get close to him for a few minutes. All of her brothers were good-looking, but Zach pulled together the very best features of their mother and father into one shockingly handsome package.
Her brother could be utterly insufferable and arrogant. Yes, at times, Sophie had to admit Zach was pretty darn close to being the dictionary definition of both those words. Still, despite his endless teasing, she couldn’t help but love him.
“Let this be a lesson to all of you who aren’t keeping up with your auto maintenance,” Zach said to the group. “Flat tires and totaled cars can lead straight to something truly shocking.” He paused for effect, then lowered his voice and said, “Marriage.”
The guests all laughed, but even though Sophie was on the verge of laughing, too, she made herself shoot her brother a hard look. Noting it, he grinned unrepentantly at her before turning to the bride and groom.
“But, seriously, this is a great day, and I couldn’t have picked a better girl for my brother. To Chloe, for being brave enough to take the plunge with a Sullivan.” Zach raised his glass and everyone followed.
Gabe pretended to tackle Zach as he pulled the microphone from his hand, but he instantly sobered as he turned to Chase and Chloe. “All my life I’ve looked up to you, Chase. But never more than today, when you had the courage to make vows of forever with Chloe.”
Trust Gabe to get right to the heart of it. Her firefighter brother had always lived a life of risk and bravery. Just a few months ago he’d finally found his own true love in Megan and her daughter, Summer, two hearts and souls that were just as brave as his.
“Just as you’ve always been there for me, I want you both to know that I’m here for you. Anything you need, any time, don’t hesitate to ask. Because I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure that it’s yours.”
Chloe blew Gabe a kiss as everyone applauded. Sophie felt bad for the men in the audience whose wives were now looking at them with new—higher—expectations after hearing from the firefighter.
Sophie had been trying to prepare herself for the moment when Jake took the microphone to make his toast. She told herself not to stare at him for too long, but not to look away too many times, either. She needed to behave like everyone else in the audience…rather than like someone who was hopelessly, irrevocably in love with the man standing before them.
“I was ten years old when I first met Chase Sullivan. I was in his backyard, and I told myself I didn’t want to be there any more than I thought anyone else wanted me around.”
Sophie forgot all about trying to act normal. What was Jake doing? Sure, everyone else was pulling out the stops, but that was what brothers did for one another. Jake had always held his cards much closer to his chest than the rest of them, even Zach. Sophie fell even more in love with Jake as she watched him unexpectedly open up in front of hundreds of strangers.
“I still remember watching the football come sailing from out of nowhere straight toward my puny little head.”
One look at the large man standing before them, and it was absolutely clear to everyone that nothing about Jake had ever been puny. Sophie shivered as she remembered how big, how strong, his muscular body had felt pressed into hers while he’d been holding her.
“Somehow I managed to catch the football before it nailed me right between the eyes.” Grins shifted to laughter as Jake turned to Chase. “Your aim has always been dead-on, buddy. That day, as I was surrounded by a whole gang of Sullivans, I realized there was nowhere else I wanted to be. Now, years later, things are no different. It’s an honor to stand up for you today.” He turned to Chloe, and said, “After witnessing firsthand the way your new husband and the rest of this motley crew took in a scared kid more than twenty years ago, Chloe, you’ll be pleased to know that you’ve chosen to spend the rest of your life with one of the best men I’ve ever had the honor of knowing. There’s a saying in Ireland that seems appropriate for today.
If you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love.
If you must steal, steal away from bad company.
And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.
Sophie couldn’t pull her gaze from Jake’s chiseled face as he raised the glass of specially brewed McCann beer that, she was surprised to suddenly realize, had just been delivered to all the guests’ place settings during the other toasts. That he’d planned such a beautiful toast for her brother and his new wife simply stunned her with its poignancy, as did his final words as he lifted his glass.
“To one of those moments.”
Sophie wasn’t the only person choked up by Jake’s incredibly heartfelt toast, as she realized each of her siblings was taking a moment to process not only the beautiful Irish saying, but also everything Jake had just revealed about himself.
A few moments later, Lori gave the crowd a saucy grin as she stood up. Sophie could always count on her twin sister to win over a crowd, not only with her beauty, but with her confidence and nearly constant laughter. Laughter that started in her eyes, moved to her mouth and zipped all the way down to her wildly painted toenails.
Putting her hand on her hip as if she were mad about something, Lori said, “I’ll have all of you know that I always figured I’d be the first Sullivan to get married.” She pouted into the laughter, somehow managing to look beautiful even as she playfully pushed out her lower lip. “And if anyone had told me that my big brother was going to up and steal my thunder, I would have reminded him that little sisters know how to exact our revenge.” She winked in Chase’s direction.
Sophie had to admit that her twin knew how to work a crowd. It was why she was such a great choreographer. Lori understood what people wanted, and she was talented enough to give it to them. After the deep emotions from her brothers and Jake, Lori’s seductive playfulness was just what the doctor ordered.
“Good thing my love for you, Chase, is only surpassed by my thrill at calling Chloe my sister.” Lori raised her glass to the bride. “Welcome to the family, sis. We’re thrilled you’re officially one of us now.”
Knowing it was her turn to speak, Sophie’s heart started pounding an out-of-control beat as Lori sashayed across the reception area to give her the microphone. She wasn’t comfortable speaking in front of people, had always been able to rely on a crowd of charismatic Sullivans to take the focus at a public gathering. Sure, she read stories to children at the library every day, but children never judged, never critiqued. They simply listened and enjoyed.
When she didn’t immediately take the mic, her twin pulled her to her feet and shoved it at her, leaving Sophie no choice but to grab it before it fell to the floor. Sophie knew she must look like a deer caught in headlights, with all of those people staring at her, waiting for her to say something beautiful and moving like every one of those who had spoken before her.
Oh, no.
She didn’t know where to look, wanted to disappear into the floor. But then, just as she thought she was going to suffocate from being unable to take a full breath, she looked up and found Jake’s eyes on her.
You can do this, he seemed to be saying to her. And there was such belief in his unwavering gaze that Sophie had no choice but to believe, too, if only for long enough to make her speech and sit down.
“Hi.” She wasn’t used to hearing her voice echoing out of speakers like that, and it took her aback, until she locked on to Jake’s dar
k gaze again.
You’re not really afraid of this bunch, are you?
She suddenly remembered the way he’d looked down at her from the tree fort in her mother’s backyard so many years ago. Her legs had been trembling the same way they were now, but she’d seen that challenge in Jake’s eyes, and she’d risen to it.
She would rise to it again, darn it. She’d put this whole wedding on, hadn’t she? She could certainly make it through one small speech.
“I love weddings,” she finally said, not letting her voice waver. “Big ones. Small ones. If it’s about love, and forever, you’ve got me. Right here.” Sophie put her hand over her chest, then looked at her siblings. “Growing up in this family where everyone has an opinion about absolutely everything, it wasn’t always easy being an incurable romantic.” Her brothers and twin grinned along with the rest of the guests. “But if I’d ever been even close to being cured—” she paused and faced Chase and Chloe “—the two of you made me believe in love all over again.”
The word love immediately made her think of Jake, and she had to steel herself not to look at him…even though she could feel his dark eyes burning a hole into her.
She raised her glass to the couple. “I’d like to make a toast to my beloved big brother Chase and my brand-new sister, Chloe, for writing one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever known.”
Everyone got to their feet again, and she didn’t bother to stop her tears from coming as she beamed at her brother and his bride.
And then, finally, it was time to give the microphone to her mother. Mary Sullivan kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “You were absolutely perfect, honey,” before she took the mic and faced the happy couple.
“I can’t count the number of times people have remarked on how hard it must have been to raise eight children, but I’ve always thought I was the luckiest person in the world.” She reached up to her hair. “Even if I had to start coloring my hair in my thirties to cover up the grays that seemed to come in by the second.”
The laughter was mixed with sniffles already, and Sophie was utterly enraptured by the love flowing around the room, wrapping them all up together in a soft cocoon.
“Although today I’m officially welcoming Chloe into my family, she’s been in my heart since the very first time Chase spoke of her and I heard the love he felt for her. And when I was finally fortunate enough to meet her, I fell just as much in love with her as my son did. I love you both.”
Just as Sophie had planned, the music started at the tail end of her mother’s toast. Smith immediately pulled Sophie up out of her seat and into his arms. Her big brother was a fantastic dancer, and she’d always loved dancing with him since she’d been a little girl, standing barefoot on top of his shoes as he twirled her around the living room.
She’d cried more today than she had in years, but they had all been good tears. Tears of joy, of pure love. Now she was laughing, feeling so light, so full of that love, as her brother dipped her and then drew her out for an extended twirl that left her breathless.
Especially when she landed straight in Jake’s strong arms.
Six
Jake had never seen anyone more beautiful than Sophie Sullivan. If he’d been charmed by the purity of her emotions during the wedding ceremony, her reaction to her siblings’ speeches had to be the sweetest thing he’d ever witnessed.
But it was her laughter as she danced with Smith that took him over the edge, straight to a place he knew damn well not to go.
Sophie was simply irresistible. Not just because of her curves and her gorgeous face, but because of the very thing that should have had him heading as fast as he could in the opposite direction: She couldn’t even begin to know how to hide her emotions.
No other woman had ever felt this right in his arms, and when the song slowed and she put her head on his shoulder, he had to pull her closer, had to breathe in her soft scent, a hint of champagne and flowers.
Jake could feel Smith’s gaze on him, hard and threatening, but in that moment Jake simply didn’t care if he was going to pay for his transgressions with Sophie. She was too warm. Too soft.
And too damn sweet for him to figure out how to let go of her, yet.
“Oh, Jake,” she whispered in his ear as they moved to the music, “this is so perfect.”
He was so attuned to the soft press of her breasts against his chest, to the feel of her breath over his earlobe, he didn’t hear the warning bell in his head until several beats had passed.
He knew what he needed to do. He needed to pull away, needed to make it clear that perfect was never going to be in the cards for the two of them.
But, Lord, all he wanted was to steal a few more short moments with the first—and only—girl who’d ever looked at him with love in her eyes. He was amazed to realize that her feelings hadn’t gone away with the years. Instead, they’d grown so big that he’d felt it in her kiss, in the way she held on to him like he really was a hero, instead of typecast as the villain.
He knew better, though, and even though his gut twisted at what he was about to do, even though he couldn’t bring himself to release her just yet, he made himself say, “You threw a great party. Got everyone wrapped up in the fantasy of happy-ever-after.” He put his hands on her waist and tried not to think about how good, how right, how perfect, she felt against him. “But that’s all it is.” He wasn’t just reminding her, he was reminding himself, too. “Just a fantasy.”
She stiffened in his arms. Only she didn’t bite as quickly as he wished she would.
Instead, she said, “Jake, please, you don’t have to do this. I know you’re concerned about how my family would take our relationship, but—”
“We don’t have a relationship, princess. And we’re not going to.”
She blinked at his low words, her body going even stiffer against his. Still, she didn’t walk out of his arms. And something that looked like resolve settled deep in her gaze as she stared at him.
“I know why you’re trying to push me away,” she said softly. “But you’re wrong. I could have never fallen for you if you weren’t worth it.”
Too late, Jake realized what he’d done. He’d let Sophie tell herself one lie after another about him over the years. He should have made sure she knew the truth a long time ago.
“I’ve done things that would make you physically ill,” he told her. Not just all the back-alley fights he’d been in as a teenager, but the fact that he’d had to hold a knife up against his drunken father during a beating that could have ended in a totally different way. And then there was the secret he’d kept from everyone but her brother Zach, who would take it with him to his grave. He could never make the mistake of allowing Sophie in close enough to uncover it.
But if he’d thought his admission would convince her to stop caring for him, he was wrong. “Jake—” her arms tightened around him, pulling him closer as she spoke “—you don’t have to be afraid to share your past with me. I lo—”
“Never.” He had to cut her off before she said the fatal word. “That’s never going to happen.”
He wrapped his hand around her wrist and dragged her back to Smith, who hadn’t taken his eyes off the two of them since they’d started dancing together.
“What about how you were going to help me make my ex jealous?”
He didn’t look at her, couldn’t look at her, or he’d lose hold of his resolve. “We both know there is no ex.”
He waited for her to insist there was, almost wishing she would keep up the charade. But that wasn’t the girl he’d known nearly all his life.
“You’re right,” she said softly. “I did date someone here, but he isn’t at all important to me. I’m sorry I lied to you.” She sighed. “I didn’t know any other way to try to get your attention.”
Why couldn’t she be cold and calculating like other women? What was he supposed to do with that honesty? Other than crush it flat…along with the spark he hated to see extinguished in
her eyes when he couldn’t resist stealing a glance at her beautiful face.
Smith’s face was carved in granite by the time Jake and Sophie made it off the dance floor. “Sorry to interrupt your dance, Smith,” Jake told his friend. A friend who he guessed might never speak to him again, simply because he’d had the gall to dance with Sophie. “I’ve got to man the bar the rest of the night. She’s all yours.”
Jake turned on his heel and forced himself to walk away from Sophie, straight through the throng of dancers, not caring who he knocked into as he made his way over to the bar. But her scent was still on him, and he couldn’t shake the phantom feel of her curves pressing into him as they’d danced.
He didn’t need to look back to know that Sophie was staring after him with those big, beautiful eyes. Eventually, she’d realize he’d done the right thing—for once—by walking away from her. One day soon, she’d find some perfect guy and they’d all be standing around toasting true love while she beamed back at them in a white wedding dress.
Smith had looked like he wanted to kill Jake.
Jake wished he would give it his best shot…and put him out of his misery.
***
Hours later, Sophie was exhausted and exhilarated all at the same time. The wedding had been absolute perfection, and Chase and Chloe were spending the night at the guesthouse before heading to the coast of Thailand in the morning. The catering crew had nearly everything cleaned up, and she, Jake and Smith were the only ones left on-site.
Smith hadn’t needed to stay to help out, but she knew what her brother was doing. He was babysitting her, making sure she didn’t do something stupid with Jake. If her brothers had their way, she would still be an untouched virgin.
Jake shoved the final keg into the back of his black van, then walked over to her and Smith. “That’s it for me. Unless you guys need anything else?”
