With that she rose, bent down and gathered up the train of her wedding dress, and then flipped the excess material over her left arm. “You guys coming, or what?” she tossed over her shoulder as she grabbed ahold of the door handle and twisted hard. The loud click rent the air.
She didn’t wait for their answers or to see if they’d follow. Tessa threw open the door. The sight that greeted her should have stopped her cold. But it didn’t. In the center of the aisle near the altar, granny stood toe-to-toe with Chance’s grandmother. Tessa faltered in her steps as she realized in stunning disbelief the two wore the same dove gray suit with matching silk blouse and a creamy-white strand of pearls.
She blinked twice as the eerie resemblance struck her. Very little differed between the two women. Even their hand bags, the handle looped on a forearm, had to have been the same. Mrs. Deveraux’s silvery hair, wrapped in an elegant twist, made her seem the more sophisticated of the two. But granny’s expertly styled gathered curls in a bun gave her a more youthful appearance. Other than that their mutant facial expressions, stances, and height they were too similar. Lord, they could be related.
Shaking her head to dislodge the impression of the strange sight, Tessa marched up the long aisle way. Her ballet slippers whispered across the red carpet as she grew closer.
“I can’t believe you’d say such a thing,” Mrs. Deveraux said, narrowing her gaze.
“I did say it and I’ll say it again.” Granny pointed her finger and glared at the other woman. “You’re a thief! What more are you going to steal from me? My granddaughter next? Is that what you’re after?”
“Now, why would I want the likes of her? It’s Chance that I’m trying to protect here.”
“How? By forcing them to live with you? Hah!”
With one last step, Tessa reached the two ladies. “That’s enough!”
Stunned silence followed as the older women snapped their heads around to stare open-mouthed and wide-eyed at her.
Her granny was the first to speak. “What did you say, young lady?”
Meeting the dark eyes bravely, Tessa raised her chin a notch. “I said, that’s enough. This is my wedding day and I won’t have either of you ruin it, do you understand?”
Her bottom lip quivered and she bit it to stop the trembling. Swinging her gaze to Mrs. Deveraux she faced her, looking her squarely in the eye. Hers were darker than granny’s, almost black, and filled with something akin to hate. Tessa gulped hard.
Repeating herself, she asked, “Do you understand?” A thread of steel edged her tone, surprising herself at how forceful she could be at times.
“Of course they do, sunshine,” Chance said, lazily rising from the steps where he sat. But there was a stiffness to him, as if he held onto his shimmering anger. Jerking her head to see him, she witnessed the message in the depths of his gray eyes. He’d had more than enough of the constant bickering.
In four long strides he reached them. Tessa took in everything about him. It looked as if he’d been born to wear his wedding attire; the suit fit him like a glove, all six feet of him. His rugged features should have been at odds with the crisp white shirt and formal wear. But somehow Chance pulled it off as he did with everything else he did.
The little tilt of his mouth made her middle dip and perform flip-flops. His heavy-lidded survey of her brought heat up her neck and into her cheeks. She felt the warmth of his caress with just that one look. Meeting her gaze once again, he winked. “Beautiful,” he murmured. Tiny thrills danced along her veins.
“Now, ladies,” he said, his whisky-husky voice soft and soothing. “There’s no need to hash this out, since it’s a foregone conclusion already.”
“Huh?” Tessa asked.
“Whatever do you mean, Chance?” his grandmother asked.
“Why, Gran, there’s no way in hell Tessa or I are going to live with either one of you.” The steely-hardness in his tone gave no leeway for discussion.
“We’re not?” Tessa hadn’t given the matter two seconds of her time since she’d accepted his proposal. Why, she’d had more important things to think of, like what it would be like to kiss him, hold him, and to make love to him.
He leaned close, and then tapped her gently on the nose. “Nope, we’ll get our own place and leave the two of them to declare war on each other from across the street.”
“Why, you can’t do that! I need Tessa to care for me. She’s all I have…” Granny clutched at her neckline.
His gaze turned to steel as he pinned granny with a look. “Get over it, Mrs. W. She can visit any time she wants, but, as far as sleeping, she’s doing that with me in my bed at my place. Got it?”
A collective gasp rose among Tessa and the two older women. Taken aback at his possessive declaration, she could only stare at him. When he met her gaze, her knees shook. Steel changed to liquid heat, blazing along her bloodstream. This time it was her heart that did flip-flops. With that one look she knew she’d never be safe ever again.
Quickly and efficiently, Chance took control of the situation. “Let’s get this show on the road. Gran, you sit over here.” He directed her to the left, seating her in the front row. Coming back, he said, “Mrs. W. you’re over here.” He guided her to her place in the right hand front row.
Tessa nearly giggled at the dumbfounded expressions on both women’s faces. When he returned to her, he winked and grinned. “Take charge. It works every time.”
“I’ll remember that one.”
He held out his crooked arm to her, saying, “Shall we?”
A few minutes later, with her friends surrounding her and their families in attendance, Reverend Duffy cleared his throat and began the ceremony. The usual jovial man snuck quick anxious looks at both pews where the elderly women sat.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Granny muttered none too softly.
Tessa glanced over her shoulder and caught the fire in granny’s eyes. “Uh oh,” she whispered to Chance, “looks like trouble is brewing.”
“Did you hear mine?” he asked, jerking his chin in his grandmother’s direction.
Shaking her head, she glanced up at him. Being this close, inhaling that outdoorsy scent of his, made her forget what she was going to say. Mesmerized by the width and breadth of his shoulders in the formal suit jacket, she sucked in her breath. Reluctantly, she yanked herself away from the sight of him and instead focused on the minister.
Reverend Duffy droned on while his balding head began to shine with perspiration. Digging in his front pocket, he extracted a red, checkered handkerchief and mopped up his brow.
“Who do you think you are calling me a thief, anyway?” Mrs. Deveraux asked rather loudly, her voice echoing in the high-ceilinged chambers.
Granny shot back, saying, “Because you are and he’s nothing but a no-good drunk.”
Beside her Tessa felt Chance stiffen. Sneaking a quick peek up at him, she watched the muscle along his clenched jaw jump. She reached for his balled up hand. At the touch of her, he relaxed his grip, and then laced his long, warm fingers through hers. Squeezing tight, she whispered out of the side of her mouth, “She’s just crabby today.”
“Better make that always,” he said with a hint of a smile in his voice. She looked up again. This time he caught and held her stare for a moment, and then winked. A fluttering sensation rippled through her middle.
“He’s the best mechanic on the whole East Coast, and don’t you forget it,” Mrs. Deveraux snapped out.
“Hah!” Granny snorted. “He’s a grease monkey!”
His grandmother’s loud gasp bounced off the church’s walls. “How dare you! Why, his first wife could run circles around your lap dog granddaughter.”
“Why you—”
But Tessa tuned her granny out as shock raced through her veins, turning her cold. Chance had been married! She’d never known, never suspected. He was a stranger to her. Twisting to look at him fully, she encountered his grim expression.
“You
’ve been married before?” The high squeak that passed as her voice ripped through the church.
He stiffened. His features seemed as if they’d been chiseled out of granite. Only the muscle jumping along his jaw moved. His eyes turned a dangerous steel gray, making her swallow hard. “Don’t worry, the divorce is perfectly legal. The papers were signed, sealed, and delivered years ago. She made damn sure of it.” Ice dripped from his words. But she knew it masked deep, bone-scarring pain.
Feeling cold all of a sudden, she turned away from him, pulling her hand free. She looked blindly over the minister’s shoulder. From what Chance hadn’t said she gathered he hadn’t wanted the marriage to end. Was he still in love with his first wife? Her heart clutched in her chest. Blinking back the gathering moisture, Tessa blew out a long, slow breath. Six short months, that’s all he’d signed up for. And that’s all she could ever expect from him. She knew that now, had always known it deep down inside. But she had hoped…
This time he was the one to grab her hand, wrapping his larger one around her icy fingers and squeezing hard. That small measure of comfort plucked her heartstrings. If only they weren’t who they were.
“They should lock him up and throw away the key,” Granny muttered too loudly. “The things he did to this town, to me!”
Chance sighed, and then leaned near Tessa and whispered in her ear, “It’s going to get ugly, fast, sunshine. What do you say we speed this guy up?”
His warm breath fanned along her skin, sending goose bumps tripping right after. She shivered, and then nodded. Facing the minister, she said, “Ah…perhaps we can skip this part and move on to the more important parts—”
“Before it’s too late,” Chance added.
Relief washed over Reverend Duffy’s full features. “Oh, bless you,” he gushed, hurriedly flipping through pages of the booklet he held in his chubby, trembling hands. “Ah…the rings.” He slapped his pockets, feeling for them, and then fished both out of his inside pocket.
Tessa turned to Bree, handing her overflowing bouquet of creamy-white roses to her. Before facing forward again, she exchanged meaningful looks with both her friends, and then rolled her eyes heavenward. Smiles replaced the worried looks for a second.
Twisting back, she caught the glittery sparkle from the band Chance held. “With this ring I thee wed,” he repeated the minister’s words, and then slipped the ring on her finger.
She sucked in a breath. Tears smarted the backs of her eyes as she stared down at the slim gold ring consisting of two delicately entwined bands. Wonder rushed through her; it wasn’t a plain, simple piece of jewelry as she expected a six-month union warranted. Jerking her gaze to his, she frowned. Gone was the dark, foreboding look. She welcomed the change. “But…”
There in the smoky-gray penetrating stare she thought she read something so sweet, so dear that she hesitated to believe it could be true.
“Connected. Forever.” His voice was even huskier than usual. And she knew that what she thought she’d seen was indeed true. No matter what, or where they ended up, there would always be this deep, everlasting connection between them. And no matter where they’d been or whom they’d been with, there always had been. Her heart swelled. She hadn’t ever been alone.
“I’d never had agreed to this if the town wouldn’t be well rid of the likes of the pair of you in a few months.” Granny’s words stopped the minister in mid-sentence.
Breaking away from Chance’s searing look, Tessa reached over and patted the minister on the arm. “Don’t mind her. Just go on, please.”
In the next moment, she placed a thick gold band on Chance’s finger. A part of her cherished this, knowing she’d longed for this moment for years and never really thinking it could ever happen. Another part of her quaked at what would come after this: more fighting between the families, tug of war for loyalties, heartache in the end.
A shrill chortle from behind and to the left of Tessa made her cringe. Mrs. Deveraux calmed down enough to say, “I heard he hoodwinked you into accepting the conditions. You bet him! How funny is that?”
This time Chance winced and was the one to say, “Uh oh.”
Reverend Duffy tugged at his navy blue tie, trying to loosen the knot. He stumbled over several passages, and then said, “If there’s anyone here who feels these two shall not be united—”
“No, not that part,” Tessa interrupted, jumping in quickly.
Too late. Her granny shouted out, “Of course we object, you idiot! Who in their right mind would think that a marriage between a Warfield and Deveraux would ever work? For land’s sake that fool was out of his mind when he made that will of his and we all know it!”
Shocked at the vicious outburst, Tessa twirled around just in time to see Mrs. Deveraux jump up and charge at granny. “How dear you say such a thing about my husband.”
Chance moved, heading toward the two ladies. But Tessa held him back once she saw her friends rush in quickly and restrain the pair. It helped that Bree’s husband, Nick, was wearing his state trooper uniform today, ready to leave for duty after the ceremony.
With her hand clutching his arm, she said, “Wait, Chance, let’s get on with this, then we’ll deal with them later.”
His muscles bunched under her palm, and then finally relaxed. Turning to the minister, he said, “Skip to the end and we’ll wrap this up.”
“But, they’re still yelling.” He jerked his chin to the ruckus and loud name-calling.
“Ignore them,” Chance said wearily. “They haven’t spoken for years now, so they have a lot to catch up on.”
Tessa chuckled. “And then some.” When he gazed at her, the frown lines smoothed and the tension fizzled out of him. Heat sprang from deep within her middle, searing her. Suddenly, it was only the two of them. The bickering seemed more like an annoying buzz now. Tessa’s breaths quickened as the chill left his eyes and only a bright shining light remained.
“Ah…” the minister stammered. He finished the rest in a rush. “Now you may kiss the bride.” He paused, and then said, “Phew!”
Chance’s stare captured hers. The air seemed to thicken noticeably. “I’ve waited so long to do this,” he said softly. His whisky-husky voice sent tiny thrills down her spine.
She dropped her gaze to his lips, wondering if they’d taste as good as she’d dreamed they did. He cupped her face in his palms. The heat of his skin scorched her flesh and the tenderness of his touch branded her soul. Slowly he moved closer, his mouth only a fraction of an inch from hers.
Finally, he touched hers. A gasp escaped her at the unexpected softness. With a reverence she’d never known he possessed, he feathered his lips over hers, tasting, nibbling, and then settled on hers.
Reaching out blindly, she grabbed the front of his jacket, gripping tightly for balance. Her head swam with the sweetness of him. Years before while playing spin the bottle he’d taken delicate, experimental kisses. But this time, this time was so different. It was as if he treasured the experience, savored it.
She moaned. Or was it him? She couldn’t be certain. The feel of his thumbs trailing over her cheeks and his firm lips gliding back and forth over hers made her want more of his touch and taste. The fresh scent of him filled her senses, intoxicating her. With each moment that passed, she longed for more of the same. If anyone could become addicted to a man, then she could to Chance Deveraux.
Little by little, she became aware of him drawing away and the verbal attacks changing. A sudden scream, and then a collective gasp rose, dragging her completely out of her dazed wonder.
She leaned on Chance as she twisted to the spectacle behind them. When she spotted her granny lying on a pew she shoved Chance’s arms away. Picking up her long dress, she rushed to her granny’s side. Coming face to face with Mrs. Deveraux, she asked, “What the hell did you do to her?”
Chapter 9
Chance tossed in the slim twin bed. His weary, sleep-deprived body ached all over and his feet hung over the bottom of t
he mattress. Turning on his side, he blew out a hot breath, and then punched the pillow. A waft of lavender floated up out of the folds of the bed linens. An ache shot through him.
“Christ, some wedding night,” he muttered between clenched teeth. “Sleeping in my wife’s girlhood bed and, for the most part, without her.”
A sliver of light came from the slightly cracked door. Down the hall Tessa tended to her granny. The old woman had rung that shrill bell dozens of times since they’d all retired for the night. Poor, sweet Tessa had been jumping up and down for hours now.
The muffled voices trailed off and the light suddenly disappeared. Darkness shrouded the house. Chance heard the whispery steps of his wife coming his way. Something low and deep tightened inside him. Just the thought of lying next to her again brought all his senses clamoring awake.
Gulping hard, he tried to will his heartbeat to stop thundering in his chest. “No such luck.” Anticipation hummed along his veins.
As she nudged the door open more, it creaked loudly. Next her shadowy figure stole into the room as well as his heart. Just the sight of her slumped shoulders tore a hole through him. Exhaustion dogged her heels.
“Come here, sunshine,” he said, flipping back the covers for her.
In a few strides, she came to him, and then sank down on the side of the bed. The mattress dipped beneath her and pulled him closer to her. He shifted, allowing her more room. Slowly, she seemed to just drop down, her head hitting the pillow beside him.
A soft groan escaped her and tugged at his conscience. How in the world could he think of himself when she had been run ragged by her own grandmother? He swore silently, and then helped her swing her legs up to the bed. Tucking the blanket around her, he gently gathered her close. In the back of her throat she made a weak protest.
Lies of the Heart (Heart Romance #3) Page 6
