Front & Center (Book 2 of the Back-Up Series)

by A. m Madden

  A small lump lodges in my throat at the amount of thought that she put into this gift. I skim my fingertips over the words.

  “Thank you,” I say, as my emotions swirl in my head, forcing any coherent thoughts to fail to rise to the surface. She takes my face in her hands, tilting my head down so we are eye level.

  “You’re welcome,” she whispers, understanding what I’m struggling with.

  “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten, besides you.”

  Her response is to kiss me gently. “I love you, Jack Lair.”

  “Me too. So much.” I pull her into my arms, holding her tightly. My body pathetically responds to her being in my arms. “Come, let’s eat so I can show you how much I love you.”

  We eat our meal with light conversation. She tells stories of when her and the guys started Cliffhangers. I tell her of similar tales with my own crew.

  “I’m really glad they all get along so well.”

  “Me too. I look forward to how our futures will progress. You’re friends are on their way. They are very talented.”

  She smiles proudly. “They are. I’m really happy for them. I feel sometimes I abandoned them.”

  “You didn’t babe.”

  She shrugs. “Yeah, I sort of did. But I know they don’t feel that way.”

  “Are you ready for your present?”

  She nods enthusiastically. I head to our room to grab her gift. When I hand it to her, she looks up wide-eyed like a kid on Christmas.

  She unwraps her box to find several more wrapped inside. The first is a sexy lace teddy that gave me a hard-on just imagining her in it. I’ll have to share that store visit that I took with Hunter and Scott with her later. I felt like I was shopping with two ten year olds.

  “Is this for me or for you?”

  “Me, of course.”

  She nods knowingly and touts, “I thought so.”

  Her next gift is a framed picture of us at the Mississippi. “I love this.”

  “Me too. It’s my favorite picture.”

  “It reminds me of what followed.”

  The memory of our lovemaking once we got back to the hotel floods my mind at her admission. “Yeah, me too. Hurry, open the rest.” I request impatiently, wanting to get her on our bed to re-enact that memory.

  There are a few more wrapped trinkets in the box. A CD of our playlist, a gift certificate to a fancy spa in the city, a few sex toys…those are for me also.

  The last present is an envelope. She looks up curiously while gently opening it. Inside is a confirmation of the two-week honeymoon I booked for us on a private villa in Antiqua.

  “Two weeks?” she asks earnestly.

  “Two weeks.”

  She throws herself in my arms. “Jack this is the best present ever. Can we go now, can we leave today?”

  I chuckle at her request. “I wish we could, but we have a little thing called a wedding to hang around for.”

  “Oh, yeah,” she concedes and smiles warmly. “Thank you babe, I love it. I can’t wait to go on our honeymoon.”

  I take the paperwork out of her hands before lifting her and carrying her into our room. “Time for the best present.”

  “Do you want me to model my teddy?”

  “Yes, please.”

  “Are we using the toys?”

  “Definitely later.”

  As she leaves me to change into the scraps of black lace I gave her, I light candles in her room and patiently wait for her.

  The sight of her in the doorway simply takes my breath away. “Oh, fuck.”

  “Good choice, Mr. Lair,” she croons as she comes closer. “Do you want to remove it for me?”

  I meet her halfway, before nodding wordlessly.

  My eyes rake over her, taking in every inch of her beauty. I skim the outline of her breasts with my fingertips, causing her eyes to close and her chest to heave from my touch. I run my hands over her shoulders, and down her arms. Turning her, I gasp at the sight of the black lace skimming her curves, barely covering her ass.

  Gently, I lower the thin straps until they hang loose. “Sweet Jesus, this looks incredible on you.” I wrap her in my arms, pulling her back and shamelessly pushing into her ass to show her how much her body affects me. Dragging my lips from her shoulder up to her ear, she tilts her head to give me better access. The goose bumps that appear over her arms tell me how my lips are affecting her. When I turn her around to face me, her eyes are hooded with desire. While pinning her with my gaze, I slowly peel the lace off of her until it pools at her feet.

  Taking her hand, I help her step out of it and lead her to our bed. I worship her, every part of her, from her head to her toes. At times, she grips the comforter under her fingers. At times she grips my head as it’s in between her thighs. At times, she grips my thighs as she devours me. When I sink into her, she grips my face, staring straight through to my soul.

  She clenches around me, prompting me to join her. Her orgasm is silent but profound. Her response makes my own climax earth shattering.

  She smiles when I return to earth. “I love you.”

  I nod silently, causing her smile to widen. She knows what she does to me. She knows how much she completely wrecks me…and I know I’ll love this woman more and more each day, for the rest of our lives.

  Epilogue ~ Leila

  June 7, 2014

  I’m not even nervous. Normally, I would be freaking out knowing one hundred people were about to watch me walk down a sandy beach. But nerves are not what I’m feeling at the moment. Pure exaltation, joy, happiness and bliss are what I’m consumed with. I am about to become Mrs. Jackson Henry Lair.

  As I stare out the window of my bridal suite, over the beach that is prepped for our wedding ceremony, I close my eyes and imagine Jack as clear as day.

  I can envision him standing under the floral trellis, in his simple black tuxedo, smiling wide, dimples showing. My heart flips in my chest at the visual. I can only imagine what it will do when I truly lay my eyes on him in less than a half hour.

  The girls all left to let me dress in solitude. Actually, I asked them for that favor. I needed to remember every minute as I prepared myself for my future husband. I knew that wouldn’t be possible with the commotion of five giddy girls fussing over me.

  I examine myself in the mirror. My dress is a simple sleeveless scoop neck that is fitted to my waist and billows down to the floor in a full skirt. There is beading at the waistline. I have a fingertip veil with a pearl encrusted comb tucked into my hair, which is swept up into a classic bun. I also have on the three presents Jack gave me…my heart necklace, my new bracelet and my engagement ring. I glance down at my engagement ring as it sits on my hand and once again thank God for letting us get to this day. So many things could have gone wrong. So many times, we could have lost each other. I will not take one day with Jack for granted…not one.

  “Baby,” Jack says, as he gently knocks on the door.

  “Jack, you can’t be here.”

  “I just needed to hear your voice. Did you get my present?”

  “Yes, Lizzy gave it to me. Jack, I love it.” I glance down at the beautiful bracelet that sits on my wrist.

  “I can’t wait to see you.” His voice sounds desperate through the door.

  “I can’t wait to see you, too. I’m sure you look totally hot in that tuxedo.”

  “What are you doing out here. Get lost, Lair.” Lori’s scolding tells me Jack just got busted.

  “Calm down, Lori. I can’t see her. Baby?” he asks through the wood panel door that separates us.

  “Yeah.”

  “I love you. I’ll see you at the alter.”

  “I love you, too…and I can’t wait.”

  “Blah, blah, blah…now get lost.” I hear shuffling in the hall before the door opens.

  “You two can’t be trusted.”

  “We’re allowed to talk.”

  “I don’t doubt that if I hadn’t shown up, one of you would have cav
ed and opened this door.” She firsts catches a glimpse of me and her eyes soften. “Oh, Lei. You look so beautiful.”

  “Thanks,” I reply shyly, “you do, too.”

  She truly does. My maid of honor looks stunning in the blush colored simple cocktail dress that we all chose together. Her hair is loose and wavy. She’s a complete knockout.

  Lori pulls me into her arms.

  “I’m so happy for you, Leila.”

  “Thank you, Lori.”

  “He truly adores you. I hope to have that some day.”

  “You will. Matt really cares about you. I’ve never seen him like this.”

  “Part of me still feels he’s going to break my heart. If I gave up that hot rocker, and he fucks me over, I’ll kill him.”

  I laugh out loud at the scowl on her face. “You didn’t love Trey. You love Matt.”

  “I know, Goddammit.”

  “You can’t help who you love.”

  “Don’t I know it.”

  “Lei, can I come in?” My dad’s voice outside the door interrupts our moment.

  “Yeah, Dad.” The door opens and he slowly walks in. His eyes immediately well up with tears.

  “Oh, my baby girl. You look so beautiful.” He moves towards me as Lori turns to leave.

  “I’ll go round up the girls.” Lori says and closes the door behind her.

  My dad wraps his arms around me. “I wish your mom were here right now.”

  “Dad, don’t make me cry.” I fan myself to attempt to stop my tears.

  “Ok, ok…sorry. I came to bring you something.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box.

  “What’s this?”

  “Mom was saving this for your wedding day.”

  The warning I gave my dad about making me cry flies right out the window. My eyes well up and the big, fat tears begin to flow relentlessly. My dad wipes them away as I wordlessly hold the tiny box in my hands.

  “Go on, open it.”

  I gently open the box to reveal a beautiful pair of classic pearl earrings. “Your something old. Her mom gave them to her and she wore them the day we got married.”

  “Oh, Dad.” I cling to him as I silently cry. The absence of my mom is an unbearable ache on what is the happiest day of my life. I know she would have loved Jack, and he would have loved her. I mourn for her as if it just happened. I mourn that she is not here with me on this day. I mourn that she will not see my children grow up. I start to tremble in my dad’s arms from my sobs.

  “Hey, enough. She is here and she is with you. Maybe not in body, but in spirit.”

  I turn towards the full-length mirror to check my appearance. Silently, I thank Lori for buying the industrial waterproof mascara that cost a small fortune.

  At that moment, Lori walks in with Patti, Lizzy, Alisa, and Mandi.

  “Lei, my God!” Alisa throws her tiny frame at me and wraps me in a tremendous hug. “I’m no longer mad at you for beating me to the alter.” Alisa has been holding a small grudge. Her smile tells me she is now over it.

  “Thanks, Lis. Your day is going to be amazing.”

  “I know,” she shrugs and hugs me again.

  Lori catches one glimpse of my face and frowns, “Anthony? What did you do to her?”

  “Sorry,” my dad mumbles, as Lori comes over and starts dabbing at my face.

  “Can you put these on for me?” I ask Lori. She takes the pearl earrings from my trembling hand and fastens them to my ears.

  “Your mom’s?”

  I nod wordlessly.

  “Ok, sit. I need to fix this.” She pushes me towards a chair and repairs my makeup. The rest of my bridal party all surround us. Their compliments and chatter causes the noise level to rise with each squeal.

  My dad looks completely out of his element. He sits on the couch, watching the five animated girls as if they’ve escaped from a mental institution. I am not a girly girl, never was. My childhood was filled with baseball and rock and roll. He has no clue how to react towards this.

  Lori finishes up with my face and stands back to admire her work. “Perfect. Do not cry again or I’ll hurt you.”

  “You don’t want me to cry on my wedding day?”

  “No. Please don’t be difficult, it’s not an outrageous request.”

  I shake my head as I gawk at her.

  “What?” she asks snippily. “Ok, inventory. Something old?”

  “My earrings.”

  “Something new?”

  “My bracelet.”

  “Something borrowed?”

  “And blue. Alisa lent me her blue garter.”

  “Good.”

  The door opens and Mrs. Lair pokes her head in. “Can I come in?”

  “Of course.” I motion for her to join us.

  “Oh, Leila. You look stunning.”

  “Thank you. I love your gown.” She is wearing a classic Grecian gown in midnight blue.

  “It’s not every day my first born and only son gets married.” She is a complete knockout. From the corner of my eye, I can witness my dad’s eyes bulge a bit.

  I turn towards my mother-in-law and ask, “Have you seen him?”

  “Yes, dear. He is busting at the seams. I’ve never seen him this happy.”

  Her words accelerate my already pounding heart. “I was sent to see if you are ready.”

  I look at my dad and ask, “Dad, are you ready to do this?”

  He nods slowly as he gnaws on his bottom lip. “I’m ready.” The look on his face crushes me. I need to look away to stop myself from completely bawling.

  Lori points her finger into my face and commands, “Stop.”

  “Whew…” I take in several deep breaths, desperately trying to corral my anxiety. After a few long seconds, I voice, “Ok, I’m ready. Let’s go.”

  “I’ll go tell them we are about to start.” Mrs. Lair leaves the room and five female bodies sheathed in blush colored silk all frantically move around grabbing bouquets, fluffing out my veil, slipping my feet into my shoes, and getting in last dabs at my watering eyes.

  Lori, the self-appointed ringleader announces, “Ok, people…show time.”

  The girls line up before us as we file out of the bridal suite into the hall. We chose a beautiful Victorian bed and breakfast on the Jersey shore, because it reminded us of the place we stayed at in San Francisco. It sits on the beach and has a quaint patio where we will be holding our reception. It’s simple and understated, just like Jack and me.

  As we get closer to the French doors that lead out onto the beach, I subconsciously shake my legs in anticipation.

  “You ok, sweetheart?”

  I choose to nod instead of speak for fear I’ll get yelled at by Lori. The lump in my throat would clue her into my threatening tears.

  The change in music tells our guests that the ceremony is about to begin. They all look towards the back of the big Victorian house, waiting for us to approach. First one out is Alisa, followed by Mandi, Patti, Lizzy, and finally Lori. The minute Lori walks away from us, I get my first glimpse of Jack.

  Our eyes lock and I lose all the air in my lungs. As I try to pull more air in, my chest constricts painfully. I don’t see the faces watching us walk down the aisle or the ocean behind him. The only thing I can see is my future husband looking more beautiful than I even could have imagined. The closer I get, the less I see. I’m in a vortex with everyone, everything spinning around me and at the opening is Jack.

  “Who gives this woman for marriage?”

  “I do.” My dad places my hand in Jack’s and kisses my cheek.

  My feet carry me up the step to stand before the minister.

  Lori takes my bouquet out of my hands.

  Our eyes remain locked on each other. His smile is now gone, in it’s place a heated, intense stare. His hands grip mine as we face each other.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey.”

  “You look incredible.”

  “So do you.”

  The
minister begins the ceremony as Jack and I keep our eyes locked in a trance.

  It could have been a minute later or many when the minister says, “Jackson, please recite your vows to Leila.”

  Jack rubs his thumbs over my knuckles as he still clasps my hands in his.

  “Leila, I love you so much that it’s sometimes hard for me to breathe. You have changed my life. You have altered every cell in my body. You completely own me. By simply staring into my eyes, you can bring me to my knees. I want you to know, I will do everything in my power to make you happy. I will laugh with you. I will cry with you. I will keep you safe. I will remind you how much I love you every day for the rest of our lives.”

  He repeated the words he said to me the night of our engagement. Yet still, I feel like I’ve heard them for the first time. My emotions overwhelm me as I stand before him on our wedding day.

  “Leila, please recite your vows to Jackson.”

  “Jack, I love you more than anything in this entire world. In times of sickness or in health, in success or failure, in plenty or want, I will be standing beside you. I will be your partner, your wife, your lover and your best friend. I promise to always cherish you, respect you, and support you. I give you myself, my heart and my love for all of eternity.”

  His eyes glaze over with unshed tears and a small smile plays on his lips. I return his smile, not able to stop my tears from falling. He reaches over and wipes them away, keeping his hands on my cheeks. I can feel my heart pounding frantically as it swells in my chest.

  “If any man can show any just cause why Jackson and Leila may not lawfully be joined together, let him speak now, or else hereafter forever hold his peace.” Jack’s eyes move to my lips and then back up to my eyes, igniting me from the inside.

  “May we please have the rings?”

  Lori hands me Jack’s ring as Hunter hands Jack mine.

  “Leila, please place the ring on Jackson’s finger and repeat after me. I, Leila, give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my commitment and love.”

  I repeat his words quietly, staring into Jack’s stormy grey eyes. As I slip his ring on, he entwines our fingers tightly.

  “Jackson, please place the ring on Leila’s finger and repeat after me. I, Jackson Henry, give you this ring as an eternal symbol of my commitment and love.”