A wave of relief rushed over Mallory when she saw her fellow FBI agent arrive. She knew that meant Alex was here, too. Just like he’d promised.
The wedding planner appeared with Ashley’s bouquet and hustled her friends towards the rear door of the hotel and out into the garden.
Her father patted her hand. “Are you all right, love?”
Mallory looked up at him. “I am now.”
And they stepped out to face the congregation.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Alex, Frazer, and Lucas made it to their places at the front of the crowd with one minute to spare. That was cutting things a little fine.
Was Mallory still here or had she left in disgust? He wouldn’t blame her one bit. For all she knew he’d ditched her, or had been lying to her all along. Or was just an asshole, and she’d wised up and changed her mind.
Frazer turned him around by the shoulder and gave him a thorough onceover. “Not bad, considering.”
Alex laughed and shook hands quickly with all his guys and Haley who was looking unimpressed with his tardiness.
Her hair was arranged in fancy curls and she wore a long, dove-gray dress held up with thin straps.
He kissed her cheek. “You look lovely.”
She let out a long-suffering sigh. “You must be hellish good in bed for Mallory to put up with your nonsense.”
“Was there ever any doubt?”
“I guess not.” She touched his cheek and blinked rapidly before turning away. Haley wasn’t one for mushy talk.
Cherry blossoms on the nearby trees trembled on the slight breeze. He glanced around the crowd. Matt and Scarlett were back. Tanned. Happy. Grinning like lazy loons. Scarlett’s parents were here, too, at Alex’s invitation. Richard Stone was still battling cancer and had lost most of his hair, but the treatment seemed to be working for now. Killion and the cute and feisty Audrey Lockhart sat holding hands. Izzy Campbell and her sister Kit sat beside the spook. Darsh Singh and Erin Donovan completed that row. Some of his favorite people.
Alex nodded to Darsh, a man who’d saved his sanity and probably a lot more on the first day of the year. Sam Walker, Bradley Tate, Moira Henderson were in attendance, as were Dermot’s and Haley’s families.
Steve McKenzie, whom Alex had helped foil a domestic terrorism plot back in March, had his arm around Tess Fallon who’d been badly injured during the same event. Tess sent him a tentative smile which he returned. There was no sign of a wheelchair or crutches, which was a good indication she had recovered from her ordeal. She probably felt as comfortable as he did surrounded by all these politicians and law enforcement officers.
Jed Brennan grinned at him from where he sat with Vivi and Michael. Lucas’s family took up two rows—the Rooneys and the Randalls were old family friends—and Becca, the girl Lucas and Ashley had saved in Boston earlier that year, sat next to Lucas’s nieces, all of them giggling madly.
That was good to see.
Mallory’s mom sat in the front row. As he eyed her worried expression, Alex felt a pang for what he’d put her through. He walked over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Sorry, Margret.”
She closed her eyes and when she opened them again they were full of unshed tears. “I’m going to buy you a new watch for Christmas, Alex.”
He grinned and went to stand next to Frazer again. He’d made it. He could barely believe he’d made it. Jane Sanders caught his eye, and she sent him a grateful smile as she slipped into a chair at the back of the congregation. Reilly gripped her hand, and she held onto Taylor’s. Alex wasn’t sure she’d ever let the kid go again, but that was their problem. At least Ahmed Masook was permanently out of the picture.
The string quartet started playing the wedding march, and Alex felt a nervous flutter inside his chest cavity like bird’s wings unfolding against his ribs. He was never nervous, but today he was. Nervous that Mallory might hate and despise him. Nervous that she might change her mind.
There was a flash of movement near the hotel doors.
“Face front, Parker,” Frazer ordered.
For once, Alex did as he was told.
He stared at the minister who was giving him a look that spoke of a possible case of indigestion.
The bridesmaids came first, peeling off to stand on his left.
He heard people gasping and wondered if Mallory had taken him at his word and shown up naked, painted green. He wouldn’t care. He squared his shoulders as he sensed her coming up the aisle and turned to face her.
Their gazes met, and the wind was knocked out of his chest. Instead of angry and accusing, those whiskey eyes of hers were soft and full of love.
She looked so beautiful. Tall, slender—from the front anyway—dark hair gleaming with pretty flowers. Her dress made his mouth go dry. She looked like a princess, like a nymph or a goddess.
She arrived at his side, and the scent of her and the bouquet hit him in a wave of something fresh and exquisite. He loved everything about her. She was all he’d ever wanted and rather than being here for her, he’d let her down.
Her father placed her hand over his. Her fingers were warm, her grip firm. He couldn’t stop looking at her.
Slowly she smiled and then turned away to face the minister, and he followed her lead.
He spoke the words that would bind them in the eyes of the law and the people around them, but he knew they were already bound, as if they’d been destined for one another and maybe lived out this connection before. Because a love this big, a romance this earth-shattering couldn’t be satisfied with just one lifetime.
Death do us part seemed too short a time to pledge his love, but he didn’t want to go off script.
Frazer handed him the rings, and his hands shook when he placed one on Mallory’s finger and she on his. Wedded for life. Bound for eternity.
He leaned down and captured her mouth with his.
“I’ll never leave you again,” he whispered in her ear.
She smiled into his eyes. “Yes, you will. But as long as we both come back to one another, that’s all that matters.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
The air felt cooler here after being in the south of France for a week, but smelled so sweetly of spring, so perfectly of home that Reilly preferred it a thousand times over to the dry, arid heat of the Mediterranean.
They’d broken a few of the laws of physics to get here, but they could relax now. The sun shone brightly and birds sang gaily as if celebrating with the happy couple. It wasn’t like him to get all hearts and roses, but apparently, after thirty-eight years on this earth, it was finally his turn.
Izzy Campbell had provided a pale-blue, knee-length dress, white cardigan and sandals for Jane to wear, and a floral dress with a pretty headband for Taylor. Everything fit perfectly, even the shoes. Reilly could barely keep his eyes off the woman at his side, but forced himself to stop staring.
He faced forward.
The bride looked beautiful, elegant and regal. Alex looked stunned.
Reilly knew how the guy felt. He glanced at Jane again. He knew exactly how Alex felt.
It was probably dumb to fall so hard and fast, but he hadn’t had much choice in the matter. The more time he’d spent with Jane the more time he’d wanted to spend with her. There’d been no way he was abandoning her on that boat. Anthrax or no damn anthrax.
Her fingers rested on his thigh, and he took her hand in his. Even here, surrounded by hundreds of people, his body reacted to her presence.
They hadn’t been alone much over the last few days, and Reilly hadn’t even kissed her yet. The timing had been wrong. The place had been wrong.
She glanced over at him and blushed prettily when she caught him staring. He grinned. At least this attraction wasn’t all one sided. But he wanted more than a physical relationship. More than a hard fuck against the nearest wall—although that would be good, too.
He rubbed his thumb over the smooth skin of the back of her hand as Alex and Mallory exchanged
promises to love and honor one another. They skipped the “obey” part of the vows.
Spoilsports.
Taylor was watching the proceedings with awe. Reilly leaned toward Jane and waited for her to turn to face him, a question in her eyes. He slowly lowered his head and watched her breath hitch before she opened her mouth slightly. He took it as an invitation and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips, tasting what she offered. Then he pulled away and leaned back to watch the rest of the ceremony, clasping her hand tightly in his.
He needed to be careful not to freak her out after her last awful experience with love, but Reilly knew this was the real thing. Something that would last. Something that would grow into a shared home and shared family. He wouldn’t rush it, in fact he was going to do his damnedest to court Jane the old-fashioned way for as long as his weak body could hold out.
She leaned up to whisper in his ear. “Am I still your client?”
Reilly shook his head.
“And do you consider me in a suitable mental place to decide who to have sex with?” she asked very quietly.
He gritted his teeth against the vision her words created. “Yes.”
“Then I suggest you lock your door tonight unless you want a midnight visitor.”
His mouth went dry. “Taylor—”
“Will be fine in the room next door.”
Christ. He looked at Jane’s sweetly determined expression, and his inner resolve cracked wide open. “I’ll give you a key.”
“Thank God.”
“Amen.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Frazer fingered the small, white card with Izzy’s name on it. He’d written it while sweating it out on that boat in the Med, waiting to see whether or not Alex had been exposed to anthrax and was in danger of imminent death. He’d added a small love heart to Izzy’s name. She hadn’t noticed that she was the only one with that love heart. He hadn’t told her he’d been the one to painstakingly write half the cards at the reception.
He sipped on a glass of very expensive single malt Art Hanrahan had bought for him, a peace offering of sorts, while watching Alex and Mallory step up to get ready for their first dance as man and wife.
Izzy came up behind him, laced her fingers with his, and pulled him to his feet.
“Oh, no,” he said, realizing what was happening.
“Yes.” She said it sweetly, but there was no denying that hint of former Army captain in her tone. “It’s your last official duty.”
“Kit, save me,” he pleaded with Izzy’s little sister who sat at the table checking her phone.
“You’re on your own, pal. But if you suck I will publicly disown you.”
Frazer groaned as Izzy towed him to where Ashley Chen and Lucas Randall stood beside the dance floor. Lucas gave him a look.
Frazer gave him one back. He pulled Izzy close. “Wait here for me. If I have to suffer I’m taking you with me.”
She laughed up at him and he found himself captivated all over again by those green eyes and that elusive beauty mark near her mouth. “I thought you didn’t dance, ASAC Frazer.”
“I never said I didn’t dance. I just said I don’t like dancing.”
“Ah, a subtle difference.” She went to pull away.
“Wait for me,” he insisted.
The music started, Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good.” He held out his hand to Ashley Chen who took it graciously. Alex and Mallory began dancing and everyone clapped and cheered. Frazer had to remind himself not to start weeping.
When Alex told Frazer he thought he’d been exposed to a new strain of anthrax, Frazer’s insides had shattered. For a man who rarely let anyone close, Alex Parker had snuck under his guard remarkably quickly. Mallory, too. The idea of having to tell her Alex wasn’t coming home…best not to think about it.
He twirled Ashley onto the dance floor, and into his arms. He knew the moves thanks to his expensive private schooling, and Ashley obviously knew the steps, too.
She was a remarkable human being. Sure, she was a little cool and aloof, he didn’t generally trust people who weren’t, but Ashley’s survival story was inspiring.
Thankfully the song was a short one, and they escaped after only a minute or so. He bowed over Ashley’s hand before leading her back to Lucas, who’d been dancing with Haley Cramer.
“Nice dancing with you, Ashley.”
“You, too, boss.”
“You can call me Lincoln when we’re out of the office.”
The agent smiled in surprise. She was regaining her confidence after her secrets had been brutally revealed. He wasn’t one to let people off lightly. No point.
He spotted Izzy standing in the background. She didn’t enjoy the spotlight and that suited him fine. He indicated she come over with a curl of his finger. She raised her brow but strolled toward him. She wore a champagne colored gown that fit her body like a glove. He slid his hand over the slippery fabric and pulled her close.
She skimmed her hands up to his shoulders. “You’re actually a very good dancer.”
He smiled at her. “You sound surprised.”
“Nothing about you surprises me anymore.” She laughed.
He spun them around the dance floor and saw Kit cringe in the background. He winked at Kit and then kissed Izzy on the lips, showing her just how much he’d missed her this week. Izzy grinned when he let her come up for breath.
“I’m very good at a lot of things,” he said smugly.
“You know we have a room, right?”
“Kit has one, too, right?”
Izzy licked her lips, and he watched, riveted. “Adjoining. She’s sharing with Becca.”
Frazer nodded. “Thank God. As long as we can lock the door.”
“You have something in mind?” Izzy asked, not so innocently.
“I have plenty in mind, Dr. Campbell.”
“Maybe we should run up and make sure we have everything we need for the night?” Izzy suggested, moving even closer.
“You don’t think I’ll be missed?” asked Frazer, taking a quick look around, torn between duty and desire.
“We’ll be quick.” She leaned up and nibbled his ear lobe. “And Barney and Rex are in our rooms. I should make sure they’re okay.”
He pulled away and looked down at her. “And now, come to think of it, there was one thing I wanted to get from my bag. A wedding present.”
“I thought we’d already given the happy couple a gift?”
“We did, but I managed to get them something else that will make them both very happy.”
“What is it?” Her eyes glinted with curiosity.
“A job offer.” At her confused look he added, “I put Moira Henderson’s name forward for a position at headquarters. Gave her a glowing recommendation.”
“She got the job?”
Frazer felt his grin spread. “Starts in two weeks. Mallory might not get the chance to even say goodbye to the woman.”
Izzy laughed “And this is a good thing?”
He nodded.
“Well, we’re going to need that letter and to check on the dogs. Assuming you want me to come with you?” Izzy asked innocently.
Frazer nodded. “I’m going to need help carrying everything.”
Izzy laughed and led him off the dance floor.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Where do you think they’re going?” Mallory asked Alex, eyeing Lincoln and Izzy heading out of the reception as furtive as thieves.
“Exactly where I’d be going if I didn’t have two hundred people watching my every move,” Alex said, tightening his grip on the spot where her waist used to be.
She chuckled, leaning her head against his shoulder. “That’s what got us into this situation in the first place.”
He kissed her forehead. “Me being a lucky bastard is what got us into this situation.”
“You weren’t so lucky this week, were you?” Mallory said softly. He hadn’t told her what had happened, but she knew it wasn’t go
od.
He shook his head. “I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.”
Jane Sanders was dancing nearby with Jack Reilly, who sent Mallory a wink. They were both keeping a close eye on a little, blonde girl who was jumping up and down nearby with Michael Vincent, Vivi’s son, who was giggling audibly.
The boy was talking now, a miracle of circumstance and the right kind of therapy. The general consensus was he was on the edge of the autism spectrum, but he’d been selectively mute as a result of a traumatic childhood experience. He was making good progress in a new school.
“Did you almost die?” she asked Alex quietly, dreading the answer.
His fingers flexed, pulling her closer. “Not exactly. But for a little while I thought I might.”
Tears gathered, but she blinked them away. “I’m very grateful you didn’t.”
He rubbed his palm up and down her back, soothing her. “Me, too.”
“I thought we promised no more secrets?”
“We agreed no more lies. I didn’t lie to you, Mal. You have my word. I was worried what the stress would do to you and the baby.”
She met his troubled gaze with a wry look. “Don’t do it again.”
“No, ma’am, Mrs. Parker.”
She felt her lip curl though she tried to quash it. “And now I’m afraid I’m going to lose you again.”
He opened his mouth as if to argue but then must have spotted what she’d already seen—her mother approaching them with a purposeful gleam in her eye. He swore as he caught on to Mallory’s meaning. Alex’s new mother-in-law was claiming a dance.
Suddenly chaos erupted from near the entrance of the reception room and Mallory saw two fur balls, one black, one golden, race across the hardwood floor, jointly holding a stick, and inadvertently sending several people flying. Ouch. Half the room reached for their weapons before they realized it was just two harmless, if crazy, retrievers.
A Cold Dark Promise (A Wedding Novella) Page 13
