Diamonds & Desire: The Priceless Collection

by Gill, Angelita

  She grinned, the sweet smell of the fruit enticing her, and his intimate gesture pushing away all insecurity. She bit off the delicious offering as he took hold of her hand and brought her over to face him, tossing the stem away. He kissed her softly, then again. And she couldn’t resist fingering his hair, stroking down his face, tracing over his lower lip.

  A slow smile spread across his mouth, and contagious as it always was, she smiled back. He reached for the controller, pressed a button, and the automatic curtains drew together, encasing the room in lovely darkness.

  Chapter Ten

  Jordana gasped awake.

  Vegas.

  Wedding.

  Lucee!

  Scrambling out of Logan’s hold, she saw the bright rays of sun attempting to pierce through the blackout curtains that had been doing their job all too well. Logan moaned as she scooted to her side of the bed and grabbed the clock. Lucee’s wedding ceremony was starting in twenty-five minutes.

  “Logan!” Jordana’s heart pounded as she rushed around the room and gathered her dress. She couldn’t believe she had slept in and nearly forgotten about the reason she was here in the first place.

  Logan sat up, scratching his handsome head of disheveled hair. “What’s wrong?”

  She halted from bolting from his room to give him a quick, harried reminder. “Lucee’s wedding! It starts in less than thirty minutes!”

  His head whipped to the clock, and then sprung off the bed with a haste that endeared him to her even more. “We can make it. Get dressed and I’ll call down for the car. Which chapel did she say they were having the ceremony?”

  “Um…” Her brain was still too clouded as she racked her memories to her brief conversation with Lucee. “The...The Red…uh, The Red Carpet Chapel!”

  He yanked on a pair of slacks. “Okay. Go, go, go!”

  Jordana had to narrow down her routine to brushing her teeth, washing her face, and twisting her hair up in a quick ponytail. She threw on her light blue dress and forced on a pair of flats; there was no way she could run in heels. She buried a frustrated scream when she realized her cell phone battery was dead, had forgotten to plug it in when they came back last night.

  Minutes later, they were downstairs and inside the limo, with ten minutes to get there.

  He squeezed her knee with reassurance as he pocketed his phone. “The concierge said the chapel is six miles or so away on the south end near downtown. We’ll make it.” She did her best to smile, and found it easy to do as she met his eyes. The shadow of his dark beard gave him a rugged appearance in contrast to his sharp charcoal-colored dress slacks and light gray shirt. His hair looked run-through, but still sickeningly stylish. He glanced over with a slight upturn of his mouth and she jerked her gaze away.

  Traffic was surprisingly light along the boulevard due to the early hour on a Saturday morning, but her anxiety increased with every red light. Jordana figured most tourists were enjoying the dark and quiet of their hotel rooms. She’d been doing the same with Logan, and regretted how she had to spoil their slumberous morning with panic. Oh, how she wished her sister could have waited a few months to give Jordana time for all of this! However, if Lucee hadn’t had the gumption to elope, Jordana would’ve never come to Vegas with Logan. For that, she silently thanked her sister.

  Logan brought her hand up and kissed it. “Don’t worry, Jordana.”

  His soothing words quelled the fire burning her stomach, and it was then she realized how easily she could fall in love him, if she hadn’t already.

  The driver made a turn and came to a stop. “The Red Carpet Chapel, Mr. Savant.”

  Jordana didn’t wait for Logan or the chauffeur to open her door before she climbed out and rushed to the entrance. A woman in her fifties with frizzy red hair and a yellow suit greeted her from behind the counter. “Good morning, sweetheart. I’m Mage. How can I help you?”

  The ordinary clock behind her told Jordana she had three minutes to spare. “I’m here for the Wardell-Shaw wedding.”

  Impatience raced through Jordana when the woman gave her a puzzled look.

  “Wardell-Shaw?” Mage twisted her lips and opened the large, worn appointment book sitting in front of her. “Hmm…” She flipped through several pages as Jordana waited, fidgeting with her hands. Mage shook her head regretfully. “Are you sure you have the right place, honey? I don’t even see Wardell-Shaw ceremony in the book for today.”

  “Are you sure?” Jordana said exchanging looks with Logan as he sauntered up beside her.

  “Yup,” the woman answered.

  “Maybe they slept in too,” Logan said with a teasing smile.

  “You know,” Marge interjected, “people are always confusing us with The Red Velvet Chapel down on Fourth Street. It happens all the time.”

  Jordana froze. Oh, no. She grabbed Logan’s arm and closed her eyes. “Red Velvet. That’s it.”

  “Thank you for your help,” Logan said to the woman before they rushed outside to the limo. He told the driver the new destination.

  It was several minutes after ten by the time they were halfway there. The stoplights cooperated kindly this time as they cruised through green light after green light and when they pulled in, she had to commend the driver for getting them there so quickly under the legal limits. As she stepped out of the limo, she caught a red Mustang convertible in the parking lot and knew it had to be the car Lucee and Adam rented for the weekend.

  Logan beat her to the door this time and opened it for her.

  “Jordana!” Lucee had been standing just a few feet away from the front door. Adam was on his cell phone near the Elvis Presley statue. Relief flooded Jordana as her sister hugged her, looking pretty in her vintage, ballet-neckline, fitted white dress. “You’re late for the first time in your life on my wedding day?”

  Jordana grasped her sister’s arms in relief. “I’m so sorry. I got the name confused and we went to the wrong chapel. And my cell phone’s dead.”

  “Bad memory? Dead cell phone?” Lucee asked with smiling incredulity. “What sorta wild night in Vegas did you have?”

  Jordana drew back. “I thought for sure we missed it. Its quarter after ten already.”

  Lucee gave a look of total shock. “You know I couldn’t get married without you! It all works out because the couple after us rescheduled, so they’re letting us take that slot instead. The wedding lady is so nice! She even threw in free show tickets and... Wait, why do you keep saying ‘we’?” She flicked a glance behind Jordana.

  Guess she would have to explain there really were no “girls” as Lucee had assumed from the start. Jordana half-turned and reached to slip her hand in Logan’s arm, bringing him forward with a small smile. “Lucee, this is Logan Savant.”

  Her sister’s mouth dropped open in blatant reaction as Logan grinned and shook her hand. “Lucee Shaw,” he drew out, “it’s about time we met. Jordana speaks of little else than her sister.”

  Lucee’s smile grew. “She talks about you a lot, too. I can’t even tell you how excited she is when it’s Lunch-with-Logan day. How sweet of you to be my sister’s date for my wedding!” She paused, whipping a wide gaze to Jordana. “Hold the phone. You came to Vegas with him?”

  Jordana’s face flamed, unprepared to explain everything to her sister on the spot. “Yes, well—”

  “You told me it was a girls’ weekend!”

  “No, you assumed it was. I’ve barely gotten a word over the phone since you told me you were eloping!”

  “You sneaky little thing!” Lucee cried.

  Just then, Adam came over, ever the trend-following actor in his designer slacks, dress shirt, and sport coat. “Hey, future sister-in-law. Lucee wouldn’t say the vows without you. The chapel people were worried they’d have two cancellations to deal with, but I knew you’d show! I love you for it.” He came in for a quick, h
ard hug. “Ready to be family? I know I’m pumped.”

  Logan introduced himself to Adam and they shook hands. “Why don’t we give the girls some privacy before...?” He looked at Jordana meaningfully, as if he wasn’t sure whether or not there would be a ceremony, then slapped a hand to Adam’s back, leading him away. “Before this goes down.”

  Lucee watched, then reeled to face Jordana, clasping her hands together. “Oh. My. God. You have some serious explaining to do, sis. He’s so hot, I can’t even deal. Those eyes! That voice. He even smells rich. I can only imagine the rest of him so tell me everything.”

  “I will later. Is there somewhere I can go and freshen up?”

  The wedding coordinator, happy to see Jordana’s arrival, showed them to a small room designated for brides just off the lobby. Lucee commanded Jordana to sit down on the wicker chair while she reached in her bag for her cosmetic case, insisting Jordana put on some blush and mascara for pictures. Jordana sat still, eyes closed while her sister tended to her lashes, as she gathered the courage to finally have the talk she’d been waiting two days to have.

  “I envy your cheekbones, did you know that?” Lucee stated as she swept blusher up the contours of Jordana’s face. “One of these days, you have to let me give you a makeover. I know you think it’s a waste of time, but it’d be fun. All you really need is some blush and eyeliner and you could be ready, every day, in no time at all—”

  “Lucee.” She set her hand on her sister’s forearm, bringing her arm down to halt her blushing.

  “What’s wrong?” Lucee asked, searching Jordana’s gaze.

  Ever since Lucee had told her she was getting married, Jordana had a speech ready to give at the right moment. For some reason, right now, she didn’t remember a word of it. Something about marriage being a big deal...taking more time...making sure Adam was the one. Now, suddenly, all of those arguments didn’t want to come out.

  Her sister had every right to expect total support from her, not judgment. Their parents would have done the same, regardless of their reservations. Jordana could hear her mother now, telling her she didn’t have to take on her role. Like it or not, Lucee was old enough to make her own decisions, and deserved whatever happiness she could find in this world, with whomever she chose.

  She didn’t have to ask Lucee if she really loved Adam. She’d seen it.

  She didn’t have to ask her if she was ready to be someone’s wife. If Lucee was willing to take on the responsibilities marriage demanded, that was her and Adam’s business.

  She didn’t have to run after her sister anymore, making sure she was okay. She had a feeling she would be.

  There was always going to be a time when Jordana had to stop acting like a parent, and more like a sister, a friend. Now Lucee would have someone to take care of her, instead of Jordana always coming to the rescue. She just hoped Adam was ready for the task of a lifetime.

  Rising, Jordana pulled her bewildered little sister into a long hug. Her eyes filling and voice catching, she choked, “I’m so happy for you. And proud. Very proud.”

  Her sister’s arms came around, squeezing tight.

  A rap on the door startled them both. “You have two minutes.”

  “Thank you!” Lucee pulled back. “I’m so glad you’re here, Jordy. I’m a little nervous and scared. I think I might have rushed into this.”

  Jordana smiled ruefully. “Yes, well, you’ve never been the planning type.”

  Lucee moved away to the mirror, retouching her makeup. “I know. I think if I had been engaged for more than seventy-two hours, I wouldn’t be getting married at all.” She laughed. “Okay, here’s your bouquet. And here’s Adam’s wedding band.” She thrust the white gold ring and a bouquet of plastic white roses in Jordana’s hands, then grabbed her own, tossing her hair back. “How do I look?”

  “Beautiful. I wish Dad was here to walk you down the aisle.”

  “Me too. Although, if Mom and Dad were here,” she added over her shoulder as they walked out, “they’d probably talk me out of it!”

  ***

  After the ceremony, Logan made a quick decision to arrange something special for Jordana’s sister and new brother-in-law. He called ahead for reservations to give the newlyweds a proper reception before their honeymoon and he was happy to do it. More so to please Jordana than anything. Within a matter of an hour, the four of them were celebrating Mr. and Mrs. Wardell’s vows at an acclaimed, celebrity-owned restaurant.

  The servers endowed their group with special attention, a rare vintage wine, and tastes from the chef’s specialty menu.

  Though he had suspected all along Jordana wouldn’t talk her sister out of getting married, he didn’t know what to expect while he and the actor waited in the chapel. He had stereotyped the young man as an Abercrombie-type Hollywood hopeful who was marrying for looks and out of foolishness. However, as he listened to Adam talk about not having any family of his own, but would now gain not one but two a “wicked awesome” women in his life that actually cared about him, Logan’s opinion shifted.

  Jordana had loaned Adam rent money a couple times because his hours were cut at the restaurant where he served, and he’d often traded good shifts for unfavorable ones for auditions. Lucee pushed him to pursue his dream even though he didn’t make much money doing it and Adam wryly admitted most of the girls in theater behaved artificially, never really caring or paying attention to him as a person. But Lucee was different and he loved her desperately for it. Adam was a lucky guy in more ways than one. Not only would he be married to Lucee, he’d get the instant fierce loyalty from being Jordana’s brother-in-law. Now her sister wouldn’t be her only relative, he thought with a private smile.

  When Jordana had walked down the aisle, he couldn’t rationalize the way his heart hammered in his chest, how his palms dampened, and the consuming need that roared to life. An occurrence that happened every single time their eyes met...something he had yet to get used to.

  For a moment, he’d wanted to sweep her up and kiss her like it was the last thing he was ever going to do.

  But of course, self-restraint and courtesy for the couple that was getting married prevailed. What was it about her that conjured up these irrational impulses?

  He watched her laugh, reminisce, and talk animatedly with Adam and Lucee. The newlywed’s enthusiasm would’ve been annoying, but today he found the gushing, the giggling, even the long kisses between sips of wine endearing. They were madly in love and wanted everyone to know it. His usually cynical attitude about marriage had no place here, and he was more than willing to shut the lid on it for the day.

  He excused himself to check his messages, of which he was expecting in abundance since he had switched his phone off last night. They were in such a hurry in the morning, he had yet to go through his emails, missed calls, and texts.

  Emerging from the restaurant to a private corner, he frowned when he saw he had a lot of work to catch up on. He wasn’t even allowed twenty-fours of freedom without having to answer for it.

  He had to get back to business.

  Once the four of them had stuffed themselves, the newlyweds were eager to get to the honeymoon and Jordana and Logan were happy to send them off. Jordana hugged her sister and kissed her brother-in-law on the cheek before they headed to the villa.

  Meanwhile, Logan’s phone kept buzzing and ringing at every available moment, but this time, he couldn’t ignore it, as much as he wanted to. Jordana retreated into her room as he took another call. Minutes after he wrapped up another conversation with one of his managing directors, he came to her door, seeing her curled up on the bed taking a nap.

  He quietly closed her door and shut himself in his own room, first showering and shaving before heading to a private den, booting his laptop to life. However, three hours later, instead of his workload dwindling down to a manageable pile, it had only multiplied. This was
why he didn’t take last-minute trips. And he was going to have to cut this one short.

  When he emerged from the den around four o’clock, he found Jordana in the living room, legs tucked under her, fresh and casual in a pair of white capris and a yellow blouse as she read a book. Did she have any idea how beautiful she was? He rounded around her chaise and when she lifted her sweet gaze to his, he wanted to curse for the disappointing news he was about to impart.

  “Good nap?”

  She sighed with a smile. “Yes. I needed that. My sister wears me out.”

  I want to wear you out in the bed. One more time before we leave. “This morning was fun. And a first for me. I’ve never been to a Vegas wedding.”

  “Now you can cross it off your bucket list.”

  Unable to resist, he pulled her up from her relaxing pose, wrapped his arms around her trim waist, and slowly brought his lips to hers. He felt her smile against his mouth first before he deepened the kiss with a slip of his tongue, and she opened with a whimper, flattening her palms on his chest before grasping his biceps, digging her fingers in.

  He just made this a thousand times harder. No. He couldn’t take her to bed.

  Breaking away, he pressed his forehead against hers. He shouldn’t start something he couldn’t finish. “I have to go back to San Francisco.”

  “Work is calling?”

  “Yes, unfortunately it won’t be ignored for even a day.” He sighed. “I’m heading back in an hour.”

  “So soon?”

  “Believe me, if there was a way to stay here, I would. But I’m afraid my board of directors will use my head for a bowling ball if I do. Mr. Hamilton is giving my staff multiple migraines.” She smiled, but she when she pulled away, he couldn’t help the guilt punching his gut. “I have arranged for a first-class flight for you in the morning. Feel free to do anything you like. See a show. Go shopping.” His smile faded as she cast her gaze down. “Look, I never promised the whole weekend, Jordana—”

  “No,” she quickly interrupted. “I know you didn’t. I don’t want to stay if you’re leaving. I’d rather go home with you.”