Wedding Song in Lexington, Kentucky

by Jennifer Johnson

  Kirk placed his hand on his chest. “But I’m the man. I’m supposed to provide for her.”

  Justin grinned. “Sounding a little chauvinistic, aren’t we?”

  Kirk peered at him. “Justin, I’m serious.”

  “Man, I know. I’m just kidding with you.” He sat on the chair across from Kirk. “I know you want to be sure you can take care of her. But isn’t that God’s job? And isn’t that part of marriage? Taking care of each other in the good and bad times. You’ve got a job. You’re good at it. You can’t worry about the future.”

  Justin thought of Megan. He should be listening to his own advice. He wanted her to be his future. He worried about his past rearing its ugly head. He didn’t want her to experience any pain or discomfort by running into women he’d once known. But he had to trust God with all of that. He couldn’t let the past dictate the life God had for him now and later.

  Kirk sucked in a deep breath and took another drink of water. “You’re right, man.”

  Justin stood and offered his hand. “Come on. We’ve got a wedding to go to.”

  Kirk nodded as he took Justin’s hand and stood up. He looked in the mirror and adjusted his tie. “Do you think she’ll think I look okay?”

  Justin shook his head. “I am not discussing your appearance with you. You’re fine.”

  Kirk grinned as he headed to the door. “I bet she’ll look beautiful.”

  “She looks like Megan. Of course she’ll look beautiful,” Justin mumbled.

  Kirk stopped and turned toward Justin. “Look. We never talked after that night at the gym. I was wrong. You are different. I know you won’t hurt Megan. I …”

  Justin grabbed his shoulder. “I know. But now’s not the time to talk about me and Megan. You’re about to get hitched.”

  Kirk blew out a long breath. “Don’t say it like that. I think I feel sick again.”

  Justin nudged him forward. “Get out there. You’ll be fine once you see her.”

  Justin followed Kirk into the sanctuary. They made their way to the front of the church. Marianna, Megan, their mom, and the other girls had done a good job fixing the place up. He liked the red flowers and the little splashes of yellow.

  Looking out at the congregation, his legs started to twitch. He enjoyed being the center of attention. Nothing better than walking into a crowded room with a beautiful woman draped on your arm. But weddings were not generally his thing. He couldn’t remember the last one he’d attended. Grooms didn’t tend to be big chums of his.

  Still, he was anxious to see Megan. She’d mentioned the bridesmaid dress not being a color that suited her skin tone, but the comment had been made in passing. He knew she wanted Marianna to have all that her heart desired for her wedding. Megan’s selflessness was one of the qualities he loved about her.

  He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He wanted to see her. Wanted her to walk down the aisle for him. Not to be a part of her sister’s wedding. He scratched his neck, wondering if the wedding would ever start.

  Sneaking a peek at his friend, he saw the sweat beading on Kirk’s brow. If the ceremony didn’t start soon, he’d be picking his friend up off the ground. Justin reached into his pocket, pulled out a handkerchief, and handed it to Kirk. Kirk nodded his thanks and wiped his brow.

  The music started. The group silenced as one of their friends made her way down the aisle. Another friend followed. Then came Megan.

  Justin drank in the pale yellow, strapless dress with the thick red sash around the waist. He took in the length of her neck. The ivory color of her skin. Her hair was pulled up, much the same way as it had been for the charity ball. Though he tried to shake the thought, he wondered how the small of her neck would feel beneath his lips.

  She looked at him, and their gazes locked. At first she seemed glad to see him, pleased with his appearance, possibly as eager to be near him as he was her. Then the wall lifted in front of her eyes. She masked her expression then looked away from him.

  He had to convince her of his affection. He’d tried to hide his feelings, to spare her of his past long enough. God didn’t want him to live in the past. He was going to tell her.

  Megan moved to her place across from him. The music changed, and Marianna appeared in the doorway. Justin looked at his friend. Kirk’s eyes welled with tears, and his nerves seemed to fade away. Though he never would have believed it possible, jealousy welled inside Justin.

  He wanted what Kirk had. He sneaked a peek at Megan. She beamed in her sister’s direction. He knew the two of them were close, and he wondered what life would be like for Megan now that her sister would be married. He knew she had to be a bit sad at their soon-to-be separation.

  He would be happy to fill Megan’s time if she’d let him. Marianna made it to the front of the sanctuary, and out of the corner of Justin’s eye, he caught a young girl waving toward them. The girl sat beside an older version of herself and a large, blond cowboy of a man.

  Megan partially lifted her hand and grinned then focused back on the ceremony. Justin looked back at the attendees. The preacher spoke of love never failing and always remaining honest and true, and a bunch of other good, wholesome things, but Justin couldn’t take his eyes off that family.

  Was that the guy Kirk mentioned at the gym? Colt somebody or other? Kirk had said Megan was giving the niece piano lessons, and that the Colt fellow was her uncle whom she lived with. If that was them, then who was the look-alike sitting beside the girl?

  Justin looked back at the oversized cowboy. The man scowled at him with a vehemence Justin hadn’t seen since the last time he was in the same room with Timmy. He wasn’t a betting man, too busy with the girls to worry about games, but Justin felt confident the man was the Colt guy who had his eyes set on Megan.

  Well Justin had news for him. He wasn’t going to get her. There had never been a woman Justin felt willing to go the distance with, to fight to keep in his life. Megan was different. He wanted her until death did them part. The thought sent a shudder through his body. He never thought he’d feel this way.

  One of the tech guys handed Megan a microphone. She glanced his way. Her chest rose and fell as she bit her bottom lip. The music started, and Justin wished he could hold her hand, assure her she’d do a great job.

  Megan’s gaze shifted to her sister and Kirk as she started to sing of love and commitment. Surely her voice rivaled the angels. Her soft pitch wrapped itself around him. Tears glistened in her eyes as she gazed back at him. His feet itched to go to her, to take her in his arms and promise all the song said.

  The song ended, and he turned his attention to Kirk and Marianna as they exchanged their vows. Love and adoration reflected from Marianna’s eyes. Though he couldn’t see Kirk, he knew his friend felt the same. This was what he wanted. The next wedding he attended would be his own. With Megan.

  Justin took Megan’s hand in his and guided her to the dance floor. Marianna and Kirk had shared their first dance as man and wife. As planned, the wedding party would join them at the beginning of the next song.

  He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist. She averted her gaze, but he stayed focused on her face. He loved the slight smattering of freckles on her cheeks, nose, and forehead. From a distance, her skin was so clear, so smooth, but up close, the freckles showed. He wanted to trace his lips along the line of those freckles, to kiss each one in turn.

  She lifted her gaze to his for the briefest moment, and he noted pain behind her eyes. What had upset her? Maybe it was the wedding. He knew Marianna was moving out, that the two of them had never lived apart. He needed to be a comfort to Megan, to let her know she could count on him, spend time with him whenever she felt lonely or missed her sister.

  “Did you bring anyone with you to the wedding?”

  Her voice was hesitant, and Justin frowned. “Who? Like my dad?”

  “No. I mean a date.”

  A fist seemed to tighten around Justin’s heart and squeeze. Why would she think h
e’d bring a date to the wedding? “Megan, I haven’t gone on a date since I became a Christian. Unless you call the charity ball a date.”

  And he did. He’d had such a wonderful time with Megan. They’d laughed through dinner. She’d acted comfortable, even witty around his colleagues and other so-called prestigious members of Lexington’s society. And the kiss. He couldn’t look at her lips without replaying their kiss. The one touch wasn’t enough. It only whet his appetite for more.

  “I don’t call the charity ball a date.”

  Megan sounded angry, but her expression was sad. He didn’t know what was going on. They’d had a terrific time yesterday morning putting up chairs at the reception and wrapping ribbons around napkins. He hadn’t even seen her since then, so he couldn’t fathom what he’d done to upset her.

  He tightened his hold around her back. She stiffened, but he didn’t care. He loved her, and whatever he’d done to upset her, he needed to make it right. “Megan, you of all people know I’m not the man I was four months ago. I don’t want a new woman on my arm every evening. I want—”

  “May I cut in?”

  Justin turned at the sound of a man standing behind him. The overgrown, blond cowboy looked at Megan with the stupidest smile across his lips. A blush rose on Megan’s cheeks, and Justin couldn’t tell if it was because she liked the guy or she was surprised he’d ask to interrupt their dance.

  Justin inhaled a deep breath. He was a new creation, and part of that was to be civil, even when he didn’t feel like it. He couldn’t force Megan to love him. She had to do that on her own. The wedding party song had ended. He should let her dance with this guy and then ask her for the next.

  Justin forced a smile toward the man and then to Megan. He dipped his head. “Sure.”

  The man released a throaty sigh when he took Megan’s hands. Justin wondered if the guy would drool all over her. He headed toward the punch table and grabbed a filled, dainty glass off it.

  He let out a breath. He was behaving as a good Christian man would. He wasn’t a Neanderthal. He didn’t own Megan. He couldn’t force her to stay at his side the entire night.

  “The wedding was beautiful, wasn’t it?”

  Justin turned and nodded to Megan’s mom. “It was.”

  “I’m so proud of Marianna. She picked such a fine gentleman of a husband.”

  Justin looked at Marianna and his friend. Kirk twirled her around on the dance floor. She laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close to kiss his lips.

  Justin’s gut tightened. He wanted that to be him and Megan. He shifted his gaze to Megan and the cowboy.

  “Their stepfather was a good man. So kind. Gentle. Wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

  Justin tried to focus on Megan’s mother’s words, but then Colt lifted his hand to Megan’s cheek. Justin’s blood burned hot. No one would touch his Megan. He handed the cup to Megan’s mother and nodded. “Excuse me.”

  He bolted onto the dance floor, grabbed Colt’s shoulder, turned the man toward him, and said, “Don’t even think of touching Megan like that.”

  The man frowned, and Justin drew back his fist.

  “What are you doing?” Megan screamed.

  He didn’t care what she said as his fist connected with the man’s cheek. The guy stumbled a few steps back then lunged toward Justin, knocking him off his feet.

  Megan squealed, but he ignored her as he hammered the guy with a right punch. The man returned the favor with one of his own. He was stronger than Justin thought, but it didn’t matter. He’d take whatever the man dished out. By the time this was over, the blond cowboy would know he’d better keep his hands off Justin’s girl.

  Chapter 25

  It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction.

  Fiction has to make sense.

  MARK TWAIN

  Please, Megan. It’s your last day in the office. Let me take you to lunch.”

  Megan looked up at Justin, taking in the deep purple and blue coloring around his left eye, as well as the slit on his bottom lip. She still could not believe he’d hit Colt. For as long as she lived, she’d never be able to fully wipe the vision of the two burly men rolling around on her sister’s wedding dance floor. Over her.

  She thought Marianna was going to go into cardiac arrest. Even Kirk was punched in the arm trying to break the two of them up.

  Eighth grade, Mike Clark and Stan Bowling—that was the last time she’d seen such a ridiculous display of fists.

  She didn’t want to talk to Justin. She couldn’t remember another time she’d felt so humiliated. Hadley cried her eyes out—her mom trying to comfort her. Megan had been glad to see the woman attend the ceremony.

  Colt had been just as bad as Justin. He didn’t try to stop her boss’s insanity but joined in on it. He looked every bit as beaten as Justin with a busted nose and split lip.

  She exhaled a long breath and shook her head at her boss. “Justin, I have a lot to do. Tomorrow is my first day of new teacher training.”

  Justin’s dad walked up behind him and patted his son’s shoulder. “Come on now, Megan. Go to lunch with the man.” He winked, and Justin tensed. “He obviously wants to talk with you.”

  She found it infuriating the man who had been a lawyer for three decades found his son’s skirmish at the wedding humorous. He’d actually congratulated his son for getting in a few good punches. Justin had squirmed under his father’s praise. She knew he didn’t want that kind of honor, but it served him right. What was he thinking attacking Colt like that? To her knowledge, the two men had never spoken a word to each other.

  Justin looked at her with the most ridiculously pitiful puppy dog eyes she’d ever seen. She wanted to stay angry with him. He’d flattered more women than she could probably imagine. He’d forced himself on Amy. He started fights with perfectly innocent men. And yet he still sent butterflies to dancing a rumba in her belly.

  She needed her head examined. There was obviously something very wrong with her. Maybe common sense was only delivered to one infant in a mother’s womb, and she had missed out.

  “Please, Megan. Just lunch.”

  She snarled her lip. Despite her better judgment, she nodded. “Fine.”

  The senior Frasure laughed as he walked back to his office. “Have fun, you two.”

  Megan pinched her lips together as she reached into the drawer and pulled out her purse. The new secretary had already left for lunch. Megan had planned to skip it all together and make sure she had everything ready for her last day.

  She glanced up at Justin. He fidgeted with his office keys. He seemed nervous. He had no reason to act that way. Unless he assumed she might pummel him herself for his behavior at the wedding.

  He opened the door, and she walked outside into the warm July air. Normally Kentucky was sweltering this time of the year, but a cold front had cooled the area, and it actually felt nice stepping out into the sun.

  Justin cleared his throat. “I thought we’d head over to the café. Eat outside so we can talk.”

  She nodded, and they walked the two blocks in silence. For someone who wanted to talk with her, he certainly had very little to say. They went into the café, and she ordered a turkey and swiss sandwich on rye bread. He asked for the same, which she found weird, because she’d never known him to eat turkey.

  She inwardly shrugged. But what did she really know of the man? They sat together at church, shared scriptures and thoughts at Bible study, worked side-by-side. She thought she’d gotten to know him well. But she never would have guessed him to force himself on a woman or to use his fists instead of his words. He was a lawyer, for heaven’s sake—a professional at using words.

  There was probably plenty she didn’t know about him. Stuff she wouldn’t want to know.

  He pulled out a chair for her at a table that sat at the far end of the café’s grounds. The place was bustling with people enjoying the warm weather, and Megan determined to watch those around her instea
d of the man she was with. She noted a baby who sat across from his mother. She grinned when the child pulled out or spit out each bite the mom tried to place in his mouth.

  “Megan, I’ve got to be honest with you.”

  Justin placed his hand on top of hers, and a flash of electricity bolted through her. She hated how her body responded to him. Traitor!

  “Okay. What is it?”

  She tried to keep her expression blank, her mind on guard, as he looked at her with a sincerity that threatened to make her melt into a pool of foolishness.

  “I love you.”

  “What?” She jerked her hand away from his and frowned. Did her ears need cleaning? Possibly she should make an appointment with her doctor when they went back to the office. Teachers need good hearing. His gaze was so sincere and sappy that she shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

  Justin raked his hand through his hair and tapped the tabletop with his other hand. His leg shook beneath the table. She’d never seen him so uncomfortable. She was beginning to feel a bit unnerved herself.

  “I don’t know what to say. I’ve never done this before. Never felt like this before. I want to be with you all the time. To talk with you. To dance with you. To kiss you.” He peered into her eyes, and Megan swallowed the knot in her throat. “And when that man tried to touch your face, I just—”

  Megan lifted her hand to stop him. “Wait a minute. You hit Colt because he was dancing with me?”

  He grabbed her hand again. “You’re not listening to me. I love you, Megan. I …”

  She pulled away again. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her head thumped. “I don’t love you.”

  He leaned closer to her. “But you haven’t even given me a chance. Let me win your heart. Let me—”

  She raised her hand again to stop him. The words that slipped from her lips had been a lie, and her mouth burned from having said them. Her chest tightened with the urge to take them back, but she wouldn’t be a fool a second time. Determined to stay strong, she peered at him. “Do you know why I don’t date?”