by Lucy Kevin
It was a long time before they pulled back from each other, and even when she finally remembered that the reporter was still standing there, she couldn’t look away from Jason’s eyes.
“Wow, that was some kiss,” the blogger said as she lowered her camera. She at least had the grace to bite her lip and say, “Maybe I was wrong. Seeing the two of you together like that…” She shook her head. “Sorry. I’ll go and let you have your picnic.”
“Good idea,” Liz said, barely able to contain the triumph and the thrill in her voice, even if she was almost positive a shot of their passionate kiss would be online inside of the next hour. “I think you probably should.”
Meanwhile, she still hadn’t let go of Jason.
She didn’t ever want to let go.
Jason couldn’t stop smiling as Laurel climbed the cliff path. A few moments later, they heard the motorcycle start up and she drove away. “You were amazing. She doesn’t suspect a thing anymore.”
For a few minutes, Liz had completely forgotten that their relationship was supposed to be fake. But after Jason spoke about their kiss as if it was nothing more than brilliant acting on her part, she felt more foolish than ever.
Despite the ache spreading in her chest, she forced a smile as she made herself step out of his arms. “Like I said before, I’ll do whatever I need to do to make sure Amber’s wedding stays a secret.”
Chapter Eleven
Before Liz knew it, the morning of the wedding arrived.
Married in Malibu had been absolutely transformed with gorgeous Art Deco tablecloths, furniture, and decorations. Margaret had done up the room in white and cream, with hints of red and yellow to surprise the eye. Daniel had placed multicolored filters in front of several windows, which provided a stained-glass effect throughout the room. Kate had done a wonderful job with the flowers; tiger lilies were in tall vases at the centers of the tables, while roses on long stems were artfully wound together where the bride and groom would say their vows. A local jazz quartet who specialized in reworking modern pop pieces was going through their sound check on stage. And Travis had already briefed the security people that they’d brought in.
In Jenn’s kitchen, the counters were completely covered in food—which, Liz realized a beat before a wave of panic hit, was exactly how the kitchen at a wedding venue should look on the morning of a wedding. For once, Daniel wasn’t in the kitchen. Instead, he was upstairs, his cameras set up to shoot each guest’s arrival. Nathan was there as well, laptop at the ready, so that they could get the photos up as soon as Daniel was happy with them.
Of all of them, Daniel seemed the most relaxed. Then again, this wedding certainly couldn’t compare to any of the dangerous places he’d worked in over the years. Nathan, on the other hand, looked a little jumpy, likely because he’d had far too much coffee that morning in preparation for the big event.
One by one, the cars carrying Amber’s and Robert’s friends and relatives arrived. Liz was extremely pleased that none of the celebrities had to fight their way through press or brave a thousand flashbulbs to get to Married in Malibu’s entrance. Instead, they were able to calmly get out of the vehicles and take their time walking inside. As far as Liz was concerned, no one should have to make a hurried dash at a wedding.
“The paparazzi bought it,” Liz said as she looked around at the total absence of lenses pointed at the venue. “They actually bought it.”
Standing beside her with a beautiful bouquet in her arms, Kate grinned and said, “They should have, considering the effort you put in with Jason to throw them off the scent.”
Effort? No, it had been a complete joy to spend so much time with Jason. More fun than she’d thought the two of them would ever have again. And if she was already sad that their game of fooling the paparazzi was through—which meant no more need for any further “dates”—she was doing her darnedest to push those feelings away.
Just the same way she’d been pushing her feelings for Jason aside for years…
As Robert pulled up in a black SUV, along with his best man, Liz reflected that ordinarily by this point, she would have met the groom many times. But the rules were obviously quite different when it came to celebrity weddings, and she was already well on her way to figuring out this new world she was working in.
She moved forward to introduce herself. “Hi, Robert. I’m Liz. I run Married in Malibu.”
“Hello.” He was a good-looking man, older than Amber but not enough for the age difference to be remarkable. He looked stable and dependable, not to mention perfectly at home in his wedding suit. Most of all, he looked like he was already one of the happiest men on earth—because he was going to marry the woman he loved. “Thank you for putting this together on such short notice.”
“It’s been our pleasure. Why don’t you head inside? Our photographer, Daniel, will want to take a few pictures of you, and then we’re just waiting for your lovely bride to arrive.”
“I still have a hard time believing this is finally happening. With the way things were going at the chateau…”
“Fortunately,” Liz said with a grin, “we were able to move faster than a French chateau.” She gestured to the door again. “I don’t want you to see Amber when she arrives. For good luck.”
Kate led both men inside so that when Amber’s car arrived a few minutes later, Liz was the only one there to greet her. She gasped as Jason helped Amber step out of the limousine. The Rose Chalet’s dress designer had outdone herself with Amber’s wedding dress. It was a mixture of creamy tones that made Amber’s complexion come alive even better than a more classic white gown would have. She’d also been made up by a favorite makeup artist, and as a result she really did look like a movie star dream of a bride.
And…wow…did Jason clean up well. Liz had seen him in jeans so often that she had forgotten just how good he looked in a suit. She’d never forget again.
Working to cover her lapse in attention, she turned to the bride with a wide smile. “Amber, you look incredible. It’s so lovely to see you again.”
“Thank you for doing all this, Liz.” Amber sounded overjoyed. “I really appreciate it.”
“It’s my pleasure. Now, are you ready?”
“Yes.” There wasn’t any hesitation whatsoever in Amber’s voice.
Liz couldn’t help but be struck by how differently she’d felt about her own upcoming wedding to Jason all those years ago. If only she’d been as confident as Amber, as mature, then maybe things—
No. It was neither the time nor the place for those kinds of thoughts.
“Let’s go on through,” she said as she led them inside. “I’ll leave you with Daniel to take a few quick photographs, and then we will all be waiting for you in the main hall.”
Jason caught up with her as Amber paused to take pictures with Daniel. “Seriously, Liz, thank you for making it possible for my niece to have the wedding of her dreams without any reporters in sight.”
“I’ve loved doing it,” Liz told him, and she truly had—especially their ‘dates.’ “Now, are you all set?”
“I think so.” But he looked a little overwhelmed as he said, “Although a part of me still can’t believe that I’m about to give my niece away to the man she’s going to spend the rest of her life with.”
“I’m so happy for both of you, Jason. Truly.” Her throat felt tight. “And I’ll be right there for anything that either of you needs.”
In the main hall, Robert was standing by the intertwined roses, waiting with obvious anticipation for his bride. Liz moved into place as the officiant, which meant that she had nearly the same view as the groom when Amber made her grand entrance—a vision in cream.
Amber’s hair was loose, her veil no more than a token gesture, which let everyone see her beauty as she approached. She carried a bouquet that was almost minimalist in its simplicity, with tiger lilies forming the center of a small spray of flowers. And when Jason finally presented her to the man she was about to marry, h
is eyes damp as he gave her a warm hug and kissed her forehead, the look that passed between the bride and groom was one of pure, sweet love.
Liz took a calming breath, then smiled at the happy couple and began. “We are here today to bear witness to the love between Robert Wakefield and Amber Blakely and to see them joined together in marriage. I was going to have the privilege of officiating at this ceremony, but I’m pleased to let you all know that Amber’s uncle, Jason Lomax, will be marrying Amber and Robert today instead.”
From the delighted gasp Amber gave as Liz stepped aside to let Jason take her place, she knew they’d done the right thing when they’d had Jason authorized as a justice of the peace earlier that week. She remained close in case she was needed, but she already knew the ceremony was going to be fine—better than fine.
Perfect.
“Amber,” Jason said in his deep, resonant voice, “twenty-three years ago you completely stole my heart as a newborn baby. As your uncle, I’ve only ever wanted the very best for you, and I know that Robert is the man who will give you that as your husband and partner in life’s adventures. Nothing but the best. And all the love in the world. Every time you two look at each other, I see so much love in your eyes. I’m beyond pleased that from today forward, you are going to be together as two halves of one whole.” With each word Jason spoke, he filled up with more and more emotion, so much that he had to clear his throat to say, “Robert, do you take Amber to be your wife?”
Robert gazed at his bride in wonder. “I do.”
“And Amber, do you take Robert to be your husband?”
“Oh yes,” she exclaimed in a slightly breathless voice, “I do!”
It was amazing to Liz how simple the marriage ceremony was, just a few words, a couple of signatures on a marriage license, and two people were joined together. But it was about so much more than the ceremony—it was the love between the bride and groom that truly mattered. Love that bound them together as one.
With a smile that lit up his entire face, Jason said, “By the power vested in me by the State of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Robert and Amber sealed their love with a kiss while their friends and family cheered. And as Liz watched them, she couldn’t help remembering the kiss Jason had given her on the beach. One that had her constantly replaying the moment inside her head ever since.
But now was definitely not the time for daydreaming about Jason’s delicious kisses…or how badly she missed them. With the ceremony over and the reception about to begin, Liz needed to be on top of her game for another few hours at the very least.
Even so, she allowed herself a sigh of relief as she watched Robert and Amber. They were so perfect together, so happy, and it meant so much to her that she’d been able to give them this precious, magical moment.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” she said when the two finally drew apart, unable to take their eyes off each other. “I’d like you to join me in congratulating Amber and Robert on their marriage and in celebrating it further in the reception room just outside the double doors.”
In other words, it was time for the party.
Chapter Twelve
“It’s amazing to think that after the work everyone here put in,” Jason said, “it’s over now.”
He had stayed behind after the guests had gone home, the wait staff had left, and the security personnel had been debriefed, to help pick up glasses, bus the tables, and just generally make himself as useful after the wedding as he’d been during the preparations for it. At present, the others were cleaning up in other parts of the building, so Liz and Jason were the only ones on the dance floor.
“You didn’t have to stay,” Liz said. “You should be at home relaxing, not picking up napkins and wine glasses.”
“I could be back home staring out at the ocean alone, or I could be here with you. Easy choice.”
“Actually,” she said, her heart racing simply from being alone with him on the empty dance floor, “I think we’re at a point where we can stop for the evening. In a couple of days the team can take down everything specific to this wedding and pack it all away in case we need to use it again in the future.”
He looked around the room one more time. “I’m still amazed that you were able to create something so beautiful, just for this wedding, just for this day. And that you managed to do it in such a short space of time.”
“It wasn’t just me,” Liz reminded him.
“No, but it wouldn’t have happened without you.”
Jason stepped closer then, close enough that she could smell his aftershave. Close enough to pull her gently into his arms. And even though the band had packed up and gone home an hour ago, they still swayed together on the dance floor. At least, until she corralled what little self-control she had to draw back and say, “I need to make the rounds and let the others know they should head home. I want to tell them to take tomorrow off, too, because they did such a great job.”
“I’d like to thank them, too,” Jason said.
One by one, they told her staff what a great job they’d done and that they should go home and get some well-deserved rest. At least, Liz hoped that was what they told the others, because by the time she got out to the parking lot with Jason, she couldn’t remember half of what she’d said. Not when it was suddenly impossible to think of anything but him.
“I don’t want tonight to end yet,” he said in a low voice as he pulled her close. “Come back to my place.”
“I don’t want it to end, either,” Liz whispered back. Especially because she knew that tonight might be all they had left now that there were no more games to play for the paparazzi’s benefit.
As they drove the short distance to Jason’s house, it was a small miracle that they didn’t crash, given that he barely took his eyes off her.
“I’m so glad you agreed to do the wedding,” Jason said as they pulled into his driveway.
“I’m glad I did, too. It was a great first opportunity for Married in Malibu.”
“I know it was,” he agreed. “But it was so much more than that, Liz.”
As the weight of what he was saying—and what they were about to do—hit Liz, she knew she ought to worry about it. Ought to wonder whether being here with Jason tonight was a good idea after everything that had happened between the two of them in the past.
But right then, Liz didn’t want to worry about it. Not when she was still on the high of a beautiful, romantic wedding and she didn’t want to come down from it. Not now. Not tonight.
“When we were on the beach and that reporter showed up,” Jason confessed, “I was so angry, because that moment was special. But then when she practically forced us to kiss—I’ll be forever grateful for that.”
“I will, too,” Liz said with a laugh. “I almost forgot how good kissing you can be.”
“How about I remind you again?”
The moment their lips met was so sweet that she sighed at the pleasure of it. Every kiss he gave her made her more and more intent on living for right now—in a beautiful present that was all about being in Jason’s arms—rather than worrying about the future.
“The ocean is so beautiful tonight,” she said when they pulled apart enough for her to see waves crashing outside the window.
“You’re beautiful.” He spun her in his arms so they were both looking out at the night together, his arms wrapped around her waist. The stars provided a carpet of glittering points that reflected off the water like diamonds.
Liz could see Jason’s reflection in the window, his tie and suit jacket gone but his dress shirt still on. It wasn’t his usual rumpled writer look, and it was unbelievably hot. Turning to face him again, she wound her arms around his neck and loved feeling the strength, the heat of his body pressed against hers.
Kissing her deeply, he backed her up to the edge of the table where he normally worked, and for a moment Liz thought they might not make it back to his room. Only the tumble o
f a stack of papers—likely important notes for his next book—reminded them of where they were.
“Maybe not here,” he said.
“You’re right. We’ll get the plot of your next book out of order.”
“I don’t care about that. Just the part where anyone on the beach could see us.”
Liz looked over his shoulder out the window. There didn’t seem to be anyone on the beach right now, but that could change. “You’re right. Not here.”
“But somewhere,” Jason said firmly.
Liz lost her breath at that note in his voice, one she hadn’t heard in a long time. Jason had always written heroes who were commanding, powerful, and just dominant enough to be sexy. The reason he could write them so well was that all he had to do was look in the mirror to find inspiration.
“Yes,” Liz said. “Definitely somewhere.”
Jason’s eyes glimmered with wicked intent as he said, “It occurs to me that after a long day of working at the wedding, we could both do with a long, hot shower.”
She wrinkled her nose theatrically. “Well, I wasn’t going to say anything, but…”
Jason laughed and lifted her into his arms. Liz had tried to forget what it was like to have him hold her this close, how they’d been unable to keep their hands off each other, how he used to carry her off to bed and they’d both fall into it laughing. And now? Now she could so easily imagine what it was going to be like with the two of them slick with soap and tangled together under the hot water.
He carried her in the direction of the stairs, and she kicked off her shoes, slowly beginning to unbutton his shirt while he held her. He playfully pulled her fingers away, kissing them.
“Patience,” he said. “After ten years, you can wait just a few moments longer.”
Ten years. A part of Liz knew she should still be worried about that, about the question of how things could possibly work between them now when they hadn’t worked all those years ago, back when they had been so in love and it still wasn’t enough.
