“She knew I was leaving the day after the wedding. I figure she put two and two together.”
“Too bad you can’t,” Jimmy muttered rather audibly under his breath as he left the room.
Kevin didn’t turn around, even though he was tempted to. Instead, he merely smiled to himself. He appreciated what Jimmy was trying to do, what they were all trying to do. But he couldn’t allow that to make him change his mind.
It wouldn’t be fair to June and June was all that mattered.
He heard a noise behind him. Jimmy was here for round two. But he wasn’t about to step back into the ring. Not if he wanted to get out of here on time. “You might as well save your breath, Jimmy. I’m not going to be talked out of it.”
“So, you’re really leaving.”
The sound of her voice, hollow and still, shot through him like a silver-tipped arrow. His breath lodged in his throat as he turned around.
June looked exactly the way she had when he’d first arrived three weeks ago. She was wearing a pair of faded, worn blue jeans and a blue-and-white work shirt over a tank top and rolled up at the sleeves. The perfect farm girl. Making every man who saw her want to suddenly return to the soil and work with his hands.
He hated the accusing look in her eyes, but it was for the best this way. “Yes.”
She blew out a slow, measured breath, trying to get a handle on her anger, on her hurt. Just when she thought she knew the man. “I didn’t believe it when Alison told me. I thought she’d made a mistake.”
Kevin looked away. He had to finish packing. “The plane ticket has today stamped on it.”
“And what about you?” She tugged on his sleeve, forcing him look at her. “What do you have stamped on you?”
“What?”
Her temper flared. “Does the word coward fit in anywhere?”
It was the anger making her talk that way, Kevin thought. “June—”
But she wouldn’t let him speak. “I wouldn’t have thought it.” Her eyes narrowed. “Not you, not the man who single-handedly raised three kids when he was hardly more than a kid himself. Not the man who told me not to run from life, to leave myself open to things.” Her tone grew icy. “But, obviously, I was wrong.”
He didn’t want it to end like this. Not with her hating him. “Don’t you see? I am leaving you open to things. To a lot more things than you’d sample being married to me.”
Her mouth dropped open. He’d broadsided her. “Married?”
The word had just slipped out. He’d never intended for her to know that he’d considered asking her to marry him. But now that it was on the table, he felt he had to explain. “I’m not the kind of man who’d want to have an affair, June. I’d want to get married.”
He made it sound so nebulous. “To just anyone? For the sake of marriage?”
She trapped him in her eyes. “To you. For the sake of happiness. But I’ve done my living, you—”
Okay, enough was enough. It was time she stopped being demure and went on the attack. “Have you been to Hawaii?”
He stopped. What did that have to do with anything? “No, but—”
Determined to get her point across, she cut him off again. “Seen the Roman Coliseum?”
“No—”
On a roll, she threw in another location. “Big Ben in London?”
“No.” Frustrated, confused, he had no idea where she was going with this. “What are you—?”
She illuminated before he could grope his way around in the dark. “Well, then I guess that makes us about even, because neither have I. We can do those things together if you want.” She saw him about to protest. “Or not,” she allowed. “Point is, maybe experience equals life, but age doesn’t. Someone can do a whole lot of living in ten years, someone else not half that much in a lifetime.” She looked at him pointedly. “And I don’t have to take a bite out of every chocolate in the box to know which one I want. Now, if you don’t want me—”
That wasn’t even under consideration. “You know that’s not true.”
“No.” She shook her head adamantly. “I don’t. I don’t know that because if you wanted me, you’d stay and fight for me—if there was anyone to fight, which there isn’t—”
“That miner last night, Alan something—”
She thought for a moment. Except for the wedding itself, and the reconciliation with her father, all she remembered yesterday was Kevin. How handsome he’d looked in his tuxedo. How her heart had pounded when he held her to him and danced.
And then she suddenly realized who he was referring to. “Simpson? What about him?”
“He looked taken with you—”
The laugh almost exploded on her lips. Was that what this was about? He was bowing out for the likes of someone like Simpson? That crazy, wonderful man had it all wrong.
“Alan Simpson would have looked ‘taken’ with a raccoon if it’d had on a slinky dress.” She grew serious, wanting to make herself, her feelings for him, perfectly clear. “And even if he were ‘taken’ with me, I’m not ‘taken’ with him.” Her eyes looked into his. “What I want is to be taken—by you.”
She took a breath, backing away for a moment. The limb she’d climbed out on was fragile and thin and her hold on it was not the best. She fell back on something that was more sturdy, something she felt she could argue successfully.
“What about the transport service? You got a lot of people stirred up about that when you started asking questions, making them think that we were heading into the twenty-first century. Are you just going to give up on that, too? Because if you are, they just might come up with another way for you to leave Hades involving a rail, feathers and some tar.”
Damn it, he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms again. To tear up his ticket and live out that fantasy he’d allowed himself to buy into. The one that had “happy ever after” attached to it. “They still do that kind of thing?”
She fought against letting the corners of her mouth lift. “They will if I ask them to.”
His eyes held hers. It was all he could allow himself. “And why would you do that?”
“To make you think twice about leaving everyone in the lurch.” She climbed back out on that shaky limb. “About leaving me in a lurch.”
His heart hurt from wanting her. But she would get over this. All too soon, she’d get over it.
Kevin took her hands in his. “June, you’re caught up in the moment, in seeing your brother get married, in reconciling with your father—”
She almost yanked her hands away, but for once she curbed her temper. Yelling wasn’t going to help. She needed to use his best tool against him. Common sense.
“The moment has nothing to do with it, Kevin, except that I want to spend it with you. I want to spend all my moments with you.” She had to make him understand what he meant to her. It wasn’t just the attraction, it was everything. And it would never happen again. “Look, until you came along, I couldn’t see myself ever even thinking of settling down. That kind of thing might have been all well and good for April and Max, but I never wanted to be put into a position where someone else held my heart in his hand. I’d seen what it did to my mother and I swore that wasn’t going to be me.”
She smiled at him. “I guess growing up means that you realize you can’t always control what happens to you, or who gets to hold your heart. I figured I got lucky for the first time in my life because the man holding my heart in his hand was good and kind and decent. A man who made me feel safe even while he made me feel other things that I’d never felt before.”
She looked at the suitcase that was opened on the bed. It was packed. All he needed to do was close it and snap the locks down.
“Maybe my luck ran out without me even knowing about it.” And then she squared her shoulders, looking for all the world like Joan of Arc before she rode into her final battle, a battle she knew she was bound to lose, but bound to fight anyway. “But even if you don’t want me anymore, you c
an’t do this to Hades, can’t make them think that you’re going to do something for them when you’re not. They need this transport service, Kevin. On the one hand, the world’s getting smaller because of things like the Internet where you can have Mount Rushmore at your fingertips. On the other, here, we’re getting more isolated because half the year, we have to rely on Sydney or Shayne to get us places. If you’re not going to think about me, at least think about them.”
It was ironic, he thought, that she should choose just those words. Because they were the furthest thing from the truth.
“Not think about you?” He needed to hold her one more time. Just one more time before he left. Kevin slipped his arms around her, drawing her closer, feeling his pulse come alive. “Every day of my life for the rest of my life, I’m going to think about you. There isn’t going to be a waking minute when I won’t be thinking about you, about what you’re doing and about who you’re with.”
Damn it, if he loved her, then why was he leaving? Why couldn’t he stay? Did she have to tie him up? “Wouldn’t you rather have the real thing instead of just mental projections?”
Her mouth was so close to his. It took everything he had not to kiss her. “Yes.”
“Well then?” She exhaled and her breath lightly slid along his skin. His gut tightened. His desires loosened. She cocked her head, looking for all the world like a cat that had just dined on canary hors d’oeuvres. “I believe you said something earlier about marriage…”
He held his breath. “Would you be willing to consider that?”
Restraint wasn’t easy. She held back, wanting him to actually phrase the question. Their grandchildren would want to know. “If the right man asked me, yes, I’d be willing to consider that.”
Bits of sunshine began to open up within him. “Am I the right man?”
“Kevin, you’ve always been the right man.” Expecting Kevin to kiss her, her mouth fell open as she saw him going down on one knee instead. “Kevin, what are you doing?”
Striking the classic pose, Kevin took her left hand in his. “You’ve done everything else, I’m going to do this the right way.” The smile faded from his lips, to be replaced by a tender expression as he looked up at the woman who held his fate in her small hand. “June Ursula Yearling, will you do me the supreme honor of being my wife?”
Without meaning to, she winced. “You know my middle name.”
“Max told me.” Now that they were finally at the fateful question, was she having second thoughts? “You’re stalling.”
Recovering, she grinned wickedly. It was happening, it was really happening. He was asking her to be his wife. “No I’m not. In my book, it’s called drawing out the moment—so I can savor it later. And remember it when I want to throw things at you because I’m having a dumb tantrum.”
She wasn’t going to have tantrums, he thought. Life was going to go smoothly from here on in. “Is that a yes? This has to be official.”
“One big, fat yes coming up. Yes!” She threw her arms around him. “Now, do I get to tear up your ticket?”
“No.”
“Why?”
He was already making plans. “I’ll need it when I go back to sell the house.”
She’d half expected that he’d want to keep it, perhaps even have her come there to live. She’d go anywhere, as long as it was with him. But this was the best possible scenario. Because she belonged here. “You’re okay with moving up here?”
“Like I told you, everything I’ve ever wanted is right here.” He cupped her face. “Now more than ever.”
She couldn’t believe one person could feel this happy and still live. “And you won’t change your mind?”
“Not a chance.”
She searched his face for doubts and found none. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.”
He brought his lips down to hers and proceeded to show her just how sure he was.
Epilogue
“Omigod, what did you do?”
Lily’s horrified demand was directed at the black Labrador retriever Max had given her as a pet when they’d returned from their honeymoon. Behind her came a chorus of gasped exclamations as the rest of June’s wedding party filed into the bedroom behind her. It was exactly one hour to the wedding and they’d all gathered there to get dressed.
Except that now June couldn’t.
The gangly puppy was standing on what was left of her wedding dress. The rest had become a casualty in an odd tug-of-war between the Lab, King, and his oversize front paws which were firmly planted on the gown, refusing to let it budge while he continued yanking at it with his teeth. There were pieces of white satin everywhere.
June was the last one into the room. As she saw what had caused the others such concern, for the first time in her life, she was rendered utterly speechless.
“Don’t panic,” April pleaded, looking at her face. “I can run and get my wedding dress.”
“Or mine,” Lily volunteered. “I haven’t packed it away yet. It’s in the guest room closet.
“I’ve still got mine,” Alison chimed in. Of all of them, she was the closest in size to June.
The offer was echoed by Marta and Sydney. They all began talking at once to her, afraid of what this latest trauma might do to June. Wedding days were stressful enough without having a Labrador do last-minute alternations on the wedding dress.
June knelt down beside the puppy, who promptly began licking off the makeup Lily had carefully applied to her face.
“Stop, bad dog!” Lily cried, grabbing at King’s collar. She pulled the offending animal away. “June, I can’t tell you how sorry—”
June waved away her apology. “No, it’s all right.” Dressed only in lacy undergarments, she sank back on her heels to survey the final damage. There was no saving the gown she had picked out in Anchorage. With a sigh, she looked up at the circle of friends who had closed ranks around her. They all looked slightly panicked. It was strange, but she wasn’t. Not anymore. Her life felt as if it was in perfect order and she could cope with anything that came her way.
“No offense, ladies, but there’s no sense in rushing out to get any of your wedding gowns.” She glanced down at herself. “I’m smaller than any of you.”
“With a few pins, we could work miracles,” Alison promised, already crossing back to the doorway.
June rose to her feet. “It’s going to take more than that—”
“Well, you can’t just call off the wedding,” April protested.
“Nobody’s going to call off anything,” Ursula announced as she came into the room, drawn by the commotion. She was wearing a royal purple dress, her favorite color, and looked larger than life as she surveyed the damage done by Lily’s pet. She looked at June. “My granddaughter’s going to do what she’s always done, aren’t you, girl?”
“And that is?” Marta wanted to know.
Ursula winked at June as she stooped to pick up the fragments of torn wedding gown. “She’s going to rise to the occasion.”
All eyes turned to look at the bride.
He wasn’t nervous.
Unlike Max before him, and Jimmy before that, Kevin didn’t feel that he was about to be separated from his last meal, and he didn’t want to make a run for the border. He wanted to be exactly where he was, in the vestibule of the church, about to head for the altar and wait for the one woman in the world he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Jimmy could only marvel as he looked at his brother. “God, but you look calm.”
Kevin checked the angle of his bow tie in the mirror. “I am calm.”
Jimmy pretended to wipe a finger across his brow. He held it up for the others to see. “Look, no sweat. He’s telling the truth.”
Max peered at Kevin’s face. “Aren’t you the least bit nervous?”
“No, why should I be?” He smiled complacently. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.”
Luc shook his head. “Man’s not human.�
�
“No.” Ike grinned broadly. “The man knows when he’s got a good deal.”
“Hey, watch it,” Max pretended to take offense. “That’s my sister you’re talking about.”
Ike held his hands up in mock surrender. “Only in the highest sense of the concept, Sheriff.”
Jimmy glanced at his watch. It was time. The wedding march would be starting at any moment. “Let’s get this show on the road.” He gestured for his brother to lead the way.
Kevin couldn’t remember when he’d ever been happier. Taking his place at the head of the altar, to the right of the minister, he waited impatiently for the music to begin and for June to make her appearance.
Part of him couldn’t believe that this was actually happening, that in less than half an hour the woman who’d won his heart was going to be his wife. It didn’t quite feel real to him.
The beginning bars of the wedding march began. A beat later, so did the murmurs.
As one bridesmaid after another made her entrance and walked up the aisle in the company of one of his friends, Kevin felt an uneasiness taking hold. What were the whispers about?
Had someone found a note from June saying that she’d had a change of heart or cold feet or—
And then he saw what had caused the commotion. June was striding down the aisle in time to the music, her arm tucked through her father’s. The latter had been beaming with pride ever since June had asked him to be part of the ceremony. It was the best medicine anyone could have prescribed.
But it was June who commanded everyone’s attention. Kevin couldn’t believe what he was seeing. June was clutching her wedding bouquet and coming toward him. Dressed in blue jeans.
The murmurs in the church increased as speculations were lobbed back and forth amid the pews.
And then somehow, it just seemed right. He didn’t care what June was wearing, or not wearing, just as long as she was there.
The Bride Wore Blue Jeans Page 17
