No Groom Like Him

by Jeanie London

  Riley rolled her eyes but looked quite willing to be swept away by all the tradition and excitement.

  Lily sent Gabrielle to photograph the men getting dressed. She intended to document the preparations in a series of candid photos to fashion into a hardbound book as one of her wedding gifts, so Riley and Scott could share these special moments leading to the ceremony. Camille would like that.

  Excitement mounted as they prepared and photographed the wedding party, which was small with only bride, groom, Camille as maid of honor and Jake as best man. Riley’s mom and stepdad would walk her down the aisle—or over the paddock, as it was. And there was a casualness to the proceedings that wasn’t typically a part of Lily’s work. She didn’t hesitate to step into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. She shared the laughter even as she was ordering everyone around.

  She felt a part of the fun as Camille talked Riley into abandoning pearl earrings for a pair of her own flashy danglers to spice up the wedding dress.

  She actually got misty-eyed when Jake showed up to let Riley see that he’d put on his suit, from tie right on down to the shoes that squeezed his toes.

  “Pop Scott didn’t even have to pull his gun,” he said proudly, Mike’s grin on his face. “It’s your wedding present.”

  Riley knelt to hug her beautiful children, this beloved family that had been through so much in the years since Mike’s death.

  And Gabrielle, skilled professional that she was, captured each and every second without interfering.

  Lily took the opportunity to slip away and clear her own misty gaze. The bride was allowed a few tears. The parents of the bride, and guests, even. But not the wedding coordinator, not even though she was family. Hurrying down to the barn, she conducted a final inspection.

  The band and sound system—check.

  The caterers and food—check.

  The bakery and cupcakes—check.

  The ushers, consisting of her nephew Brian and several young men from a youth volunteer program Scott ran through the police department, arrived for instructions about seating guests—check.

  Guests were already being seated by the time she made it inside and found her niece frantic. “What’s wrong?”

  “My shoes are slippery and I slid down the steps.” All that on one halting breath.

  “Are you okay?” Lily sank to her knees to survey the damage. “No blood. That’s good.”

  “I’ve got a big hole. And I need to look perfect for Mommy’s pictures.”

  Definitely a trauma on such an exciting day. There was scuffed skin exposed through a tear in the otherwise pristine white tights. But the damage to Camille seemed minimal, so Lily reached onto the counter and grabbed a napkin to dry Camille’s cheeks. “No getting upset, little squirrel. We can fix this.”

  “We can’t fix this big hole.”

  Lily stood up and took her niece’s hand. “I know a secret.”

  Camille glanced up curiously as they headed into the family room, where Lily had stored all her gear.

  “There’s no such thing as an accident if you’re prepared. That’s a good life lesson I want you to remember. Okay?”

  “Okay,” Camille promised, even though Lily was fairly sure her niece had no clue what Lily was talking about.

  She withdrew a shrink-wrapped pair of tights in Camille’s size. She winked. “This is why they pay your aunt the big bucks.”

  Camille wrapped her arms around Lily, catching her around the hips in a tight hug. “Oh, I love you, Aunt Lily Susan.”

  Smoothing a hand over the silky blond head with her elaborate updo, Lily said, “I love you, little squirrel.”

  And there were tears, right below the surface, ready to make an appearance without permission.

  Lily helped Camille quickly change her tights and they rejoined Riley in time to greet Chief Levering, Scott’s boss and Poughkeepsie’s chief of police, who would officiate.

  “Good to see you, Lily Susan.” He gave her a hug. “It’s been a long time.”

  Lily skipped right over mention of the last time they’d met. Chief Levering had been Mike’s boss, too. “Thanks for taking part in the festivities. Is Deb already seated?”

  He nodded. “Keeping a spot warm for me.”

  “We’re all set with the paperwork. Riley’s parents will witness after the ceremony, since our maid of honor and best man haven’t reached the age of majority yet. Sound good?”

  Chief Levering nodded, then Lily steered him toward Scott for last-minute instructions before she sent the men outside.

  “We’re almost ready to go,” she said. “How’s everyone doing here?”

  “How do I look, Aunt Lily Susan?” Camille twirled. She met Lily’s gaze and winked. Gabrielle snapped off a few more shots.

  “Perfect. You couldn’t possibly be more beautiful.” And with any luck, a smile would be another part of Jake’s wedding gift to Riley. “Let me see you with your bouquet.”

  Camille scooped up the bouquet of white flowers interspersed with bright orange and yellow and greenery the same shade as her skirt.

  “Perfect.”

  She herded everyone inside the hall outside of Riley’s bedroom so she could get the men outside without being seen. And then Lily directed them out the front door for their trip around the house and down the slope of the yard to where the groom waited, looking dashing and handsome in his police blues and brass, Jake beside him, the smile not yet in place though he looked adorable in his suit, the wedding rings clutched inside a fist.

  Lily stopped everyone before they came into view, giving Gabrielle a chance to move ahead of the procession. Then she cued the band and almost instantly, the music faded and transformed into the familiar strains of Pachabel’s Canon in D, the beautiful music swelling into the crisp autumn day. The guests stood and turned toward the house.

  Lily smiled at Camille. “You’re on, little squirrel. Smile pretty.”

  Riley kissed her daughter before she stepped forward with a bright smile.

  “I’m grateful, too,” Lily whispered to Riley.

  “Thank you. For everything.” Riley’s tears seemed to be waiting to make an appearance, too. Exhaling sharply, she blinked them back and said, “Okay, I can do this.”

  Her parents looped their arms through Riley’s, giving subtle support, and they stepped around the corner as Camille reached the rows of chairs.

  Lily hung back, spotting Max, who was holding Madeleine in his arms so she could watch the procession. But Max was probably the only one in the crowd who wasn’t watching the bride. His gaze caught Lily’s across the distance then swept appreciatively over her, a look that made her stomach swoop in eager reply. Lily willed her body to behave, but the chemistry was there, too real to deny, too strong to fight.

  The past and the present seemed to blur in that moment, her memories of fantasy weddings colliding with the man who gazed at her with awareness, not the imagined attention of her youth.

  The guests all turned to follow Riley’s journey. Not Max. His gaze still held hers unreservedly, searching for something, seeking, and Lily had to tear her gaze away, force herself to focus, to see whether the videographer had circled the guests to get the prime angle of the archway.

  Riley took Scott’s hand and smiled down at both twins, while her parents retreated to their seats and Chief Levering told everyone to be seated.

  Lily didn’t join the guests, wasn’t sure why she hung back. She could barely hear the chief, could only follow the service because she knew the ceremony by heart. The twins performed their roles brilliantly. Camille took Riley’s bouquet when Jake presented the rings to Scott. This would be the wedding they would always remember, their yardstick for perfect weddings that they took with them through their lives.

  They hadn’t been around for their parents’ wedding, with the Cinderella carriage on the blooming grounds in the spring. They had pictures to show them, like they had of the father who’d loved them so very much. They’d been so young
when he died. How could they even remember him?

  Thankfully autopilot kicked in when the guests cheered the new couple on their hayride and she occupied herself with directing the guests toward the barn, where the doors were thrown wide and the music spilled out and the refreshments began flowing. Where guests gasped aloud in surprise at the transformation of the barn into a fantasy reception hall, where people lined up, clamoring to take a turn on the hayride, and their laughter made the most beautiful music of the day.

  Lily supervised, one moment rushing into the next until the hours passed in a blur. There were formal photos and introductions and video guest interviews and toasts and dinner and dancing and two-sided tape, when Jake, who was dancing with Riley, pulled out half of her hem with his heel.

  “I told Mommy you’d fix it,” Camille said after tracking down Lily, who was outside directing her nephew Brian to let the horses graze while he went inside to eat. “That’s why they pay you the big bucks.”

  And there was more laughter. Everywhere she turned someone was laughing loud enough to be heard over the music and chatter.

  And there were compliments. Lots and lots of compliments all directed to her. About everything from the apple-cider bar to the flowers to the weather, as if Lily had control of that.

  “Excusez moi, madame,” said a familiar male voice in a horrific French accent as Lily turned away from the front man of the band, who was also master of ceremonies. “I understand that you’ve forgotten an important promise you made to the bride.”

  “Oh, no.” Lily turned to Max. “What’s that?”

  Max surprised her by catching her full against him and waltzing her onto the dance floor as the trendy pop tune slowed to a ballad.

  Lily had no choice but to follow his lead, breathless from the strength of his arms around her, from the feel of his body so close every hard muscle seemed to mold against her.

  Lowering his head, he pressed his cheek to hers and whispered against her ear, “To have fun.”

  Why was he tempting her this way? He should know better than to play with fire, and what was erupting between them was nothing short of combustible.

  “Riley…” It wasn’t a question. But she managed to find some tiny shred of reason inside that wasn’t focused on the warmth of his body or the clean male scent she inhaled with every shallow breath. “She told you to dance with me?”

  He tipped his head enough so she could see his face, and from this close, and unfamiliar vantage, he was breathtaking. “I don’t need anyone to tell me to dance with a beautiful woman.”

  The young girl who had once dreamed of this man paying attention to her was apparently still alive and living inside the adult she’d become. She melted from the inside out. What did she even say to that? Not that he gave her a chance to reply. No. He had her off guard and he knew it.

  And he took advantage.

  Leaning into her, he bent her low over his arm. All she could do was go full-bodied with the motion, feel every inch of his hard thighs against hers, his arm an anchor that held her with such unyielding grace.

  There was a split second when she literally stopped breathing, the past and present colliding again in that crazy way. Hadn’t she imagined dancing with him before? At her fantasy weddings? Or had she simply wanted to dance with him at Caroline’s wedding or Joey’s or Mike’s? How could they possibly have attended so many family functions and never once danced together?

  “You know what’s happening between us, Lily Susan?”

  A gasp slipped out before she could think to hold it back. A loud gasp, by the amusement transforming his expression.

  What was he doing? He couldn’t talk about their chemistry, mention what kept flaring between them every time they saw each other. How could they keep their reactions under control if they gave it substance, brought it out into the sunlight?

  Or Halloween twinkle lights, as it was.

  “We’re ignoring the heat, Max. We were ignoring it, so we wouldn’t get burned.”

  Leading her into a slow spin, he bought himself time to make sense of what she’d said, to come up with some way to overcome her objection. She knew Max so well, knew what he was doing. Then she was twirling toward him, suddenly up close and personal again, her pulse rushing a slow, heavy beat that had nothing to do with the music.

  “Why shouldn’t we go up in flames?” he asked.

  “Because fire is dangerous.”

  “Some chances are worth taking, Lily Susan.”

  God, why wasn’t she surprised? She should be, but she wasn’t. When had this man ever played by the rules?

  He was a Downey, for goodness’ sake. He lived at Overlook, yet he’d spent practically half his life at her house.

  “Think about it, Max. It only makes sense.” She sounded breathless and pleading, not remotely rational. “You’re a dad with a beautiful little girl and a life here. I don’t even live close. What can we possibly do with that?”

  He seized the moment, urging her into another dip. He helped her straighten, encouraged her closer until she could feel his warm breath against her temple when he said, “I don’t have an answer for the logistics. I only have how I feel.”

  His gaze poured over her face, a bold look that proved his words. Obviously he didn’t care who might see.

  “Isn’t that the perfect place to start?” he whispered as the music faded, robbing Lily of a chance to reply because suddenly her dad was there, grinning that wide grin, clapping Max on the back.

  “You win an award for getting her to slow down long enough to have some fun,” he said. “Swing by the store and I’ll set you up with some sprinkler heads. On the house.”

  Her dad and Max both howled at that, leaving Lily a moment to steady her pounding heart. Or try to. Her thoughts were racing. Max had changed everything with a few words, and she had no chance to sort through her reaction, no chance to do anything but step into the circle of her dad’s arms and remember what it had always felt like to feel safe here.

  To feel loved.

  “You must be pleased, honey-bunch,” he said. “Your wedding is a success. I knew you could do it.”

  “Thanks, Daddy.” She kissed his cheek. In her heels she was as tall as he was. “But I had a lot of help.”

  “You’re good at what you do, and I’m very proud of you.”

  “That’s so sweet.”

  “I mean it.” He rested his cheek against her temple. “I’ve missed having my little girl at home.”

  And that was the crux of it, Lily knew. He didn’t say another word, just enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with her, making the most of the moments she allowed him because she’d been so stingy with her time.

  She could change that, and would. There were so many things to consider, if she’d only slow down long enough to consider them. Her family. Pleasant Valley.

  Max.

  She thought she understood where he was coming from. He was a man. The love of his life had died long before their life together should have been over. And she was a woman. One he’d known forever. A woman he thought was beautiful.

  Somewhere deep inside her unfolded, a place she’d ignored for a long, long time, but her reason screamed a warning. She wasn’t his kind of woman, for so many reasons. Not the least of which was that she wasn’t what he admired above all—a woman with her priorities straight.

  That would be her dad and mom and everyone else he liked in her family. Not his mother. Not her. Here she was, completely and totally attracted to the man of her wildest dreams, the man she’d always been completely and totally attracted to, and she couldn’t trust what she felt, couldn’t trust her reaction to him. Didn’t know whether or not the way she felt was real. She was so good at deceiving herself.

  Are you happy? her mother had asked.

  Finally, she could answer the question.

  No. She wasn’t happy.

  Her dad guided her around the dance floor. Not with the smooth, athletic strides that Max had before h
im, but with a familiar motion that was all strength and security wrapped up in his burly hug. Her dad was getting older. Her mom was getting older. The twins were growing up and she was missing everything. Caroline and Riley were more sisters than Lily and Caroline, despite the blood tie, because proximity counted. Joey was angry and had to wait so long to address his issues with her that he’d simmered to the point of combustion.

  No, she wasn’t happy. If Mike had taught her anything at all, it was that life was precious and shouldn’t be wasted.

  She’d had a near miss with Lucas, but had gotten lucky. She’d wasted too much time on that man, getting sucked into a semblance of a life and telling herself it was good enough.

  It wasn’t. Nowhere near enough.

  So what did she really want? Lily had everything she’d always wanted in her life—Worldwide Weddings Unlimited, travel, fantasy, success.

  So why wasn’t she happy?

  “Mind if I take this pretty lady off your hands, Dad?”

  Joey.

  Lily held her breath as her dad bowed out gracefully, giving Joey a warning glance before disappearing between the couples on the crowded dance floor.

  Surely Joey wouldn’t be a jerk in the middle of this special occasion. Of course, he’d confronted her in this very barn in the middle of everyone only a few days ago. Lily opened her mouth to start evasive maneuvers, but Joey headed her off by saying, “I’m sorry for going nuts the other day. I should have dealt with the way I felt a long time ago.”

  She met his gaze. Her big brother. He was getting older, too. There were sprinkles of gray in his sideburns, a few wiry hairs in his eyebrows that made him look so much like their dad.

  “You shouldn’t have had to chase me.” She remembered her mom’s words. “I’ve stayed away way too long. It was selfish.”

  He liked that. Lowering his head to hers, he softly head-butted her forehead in a gesture from when she’d been a little girl begging for attention from her older brother. “It started out as being worried about you after Mike. And then there was the guy. All right, I admit it. It was a power thing.” He chuckled, clearly not worried at all about whether or not they’d put this behind them. “It’s my right as the oldest to give anyone who’s even thinking about joining this family a walk around the block.”