Rules of Entanglement

Day 7: Saturday


As Vanessa exited the cab and walked through the main entrance of the Mau Loa, she felt like the worst worst best friend in the history of worst best friends. She’d called Lucie and ditched the rehearsal dinner last night because she couldn’t deal with seeing Jackson. She knew he’d try to talk to her, and she wouldn’t have any way to escape without making a scene.

In fact, she’d just barely escaped him at her hotel yesterday afternoon. The guy who worked the front desk third shift told her the girl who worked before him mentioned a guy calling in to ask for a Vanessa MacGregor and a bunch of other names he thought might be aliases. Good thing she’d used something totally off the wall or he may have found her.

So her plan was to show up at the last possible minute, get through the wedding, and get shit-faced drunk with Fritz and her friends Eric and Kyle at the reception. She was calling it Operation Avoid Jax (At All Costs Because He Has the Power To Utterly Destroy My Resolve, Not to Mention Completely Shatter My Heart).

Okay, so the title was a little lengthy, but it was also more than a little accurate.

Passing the front desk, she noted Jillian wasn’t working. Happy, smiley, exotically beautiful Jillian. Vanessa bet she wasn’t a neurotic mess when it came to relationships. She probably charmed men with her customer service smile and took everything in stride, rule-free.

Vanessa took a turn down the hallway on the right toward the wing with the ballroom and bridal suite. Her palms grew damp and her heart beat a staccato rhythm behind her ribs. She prayed Jax wouldn’t be in the next hallway waiting to pounce. Another twenty feet…ten feet…five…taking a deep breath and holding it, she rounded the corner…

Her heart sank. No Jax.

Wait, her heart wasn’t supposed to sink. It should be buoyant. Like, super-mega-extra buoyant. Stupid heart, get with the damn program. Before she did something truly stupid, like knock on the groom’s room to the left and ask to speak with him, she opened the door to the bridal suite, slipped inside, and closed it with her back like the hounds of hell were on her heels.

“Nessie!”

She caught Lucie’s gaze in the vanity mirror, mid-application of moisturizer, in the back of the room. Surprise melted into joy on her friend’s face before the dark-haired woman spun on the padded bench and launched across the space. Vanessa met her in the middle and embraced her for several long moments.

“Lucie, I’m so sorry.”

Lucie pulled back and held Vanessa’s shoulders. “Stop. You don’t have to apologize. What matters is that you’re here now.”

“Well, hello, Vanessa.”

Looking past Lucie, Vanessa found a very stern-faced Robért dressed in white, cradling a clipboard in one arm and rocking a pencil in the air between his first and second fingers of the other hand. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized the jig was up. She’d been so wrapped up in her own shit, she’d forgotten all about the switcheroo they’d pulled on Robért.

“Uh, what are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t make it.” That’s it. Avoid the real issue. You’re good at that.

“Oh, that?” He waved his hand dismissively. “Turns out instead of renewing their vows, that couple decided to get divorced. So my friend was able to cover for me after all. Imagine my surprise when I showed up for rehearsal to find an entirely new bride and groom.”

She placed a hand on her forehead. Whether it was to make sure the rise in temperature she felt wasn’t actually a fever or to brace herself for the headache that was surely on its way, she wasn’t certain. “Jesus, Robért, I’m sorry. I never wanted to deceive—”

A huge smile broke over his face. “Honey, please, I don’t care if you pretended to be as many people as Cybil had personalities. I’d still rather work with people like you over ninety-nine percent of my clientele. Jackson already spoke to me and took full responsibility. Now get over here.”

Relieved, she did as ordered and stepped into his arms for one of their customary hugs. Then a flurry of let’s get readys had them scurrying to their separate vanities. They only had about an hour before the sunset ceremony.

A knock sounded at the door, pulling Vanessa’s stomach into her throat, until she heard, “Girl coming in!”

Jilli strode in pulling a rolling carry-on behind her and wearing a simple white sundress and her ever-present Employee of the Month smile. “Hui, everyone!”

Lucie and Robért greeted her with a “Hi, Jilli” and “Hui, girl” respectively as Vanessa blurted out, “What are you doing here?”

Real nice, MacGregor. Could you be more of a bitch, maybe? Her cheeks flushed and she muttered her third apology of the day.

“No worries,” she said, smile still in place. “I’m here to help with hair and makeup. Robért and I usually take care of the small bridal parties. I actually went to cosmetology school before I went back for hotel management.”

“Okay, great, then you can take care of Lucie and Ro—”

“Oh, no,” the woman said as she set up her station next to Vanessa’s vanity. “I’m good, but Robért’s a pro, so he gets the bride. But don’t worry, it won’t take much to make you stunning.”

Wonderful. Tension was making itself known in the base of her skull. It would only be a matter of time before it spread to the backs of her eyes and through her temples. Grabbing four ibuprofen from her purse, she watched Jilli plug in her curler, flat iron, and dryer, then organize enough cosmetics to make up Tammy Faye Baker for fifty years.

When she thought about it, Vanessa wasn’t even sure why she felt a level of agitation with the manager. She’d always been very pleasant and helpful, but there was something about her…

Jillian stood behind Vanessa in front of the large mirror and got to work brushing through her hair and sectioning it with clips. Behind them, Robért and Lucie were busy chatting away, laughing and going over wedding details. And somewhere in another area of the resort, Jackson was… She sighed. She wished she knew how to finish that thought.

“Jackie’s pretty upset.”

It took Vanessa a second to realize Jillian had spoken and another to realize whom she was talking about. Jackie. A nickname. Holy shit.

“You two dated.” It wasn’t a question. It was a damn good guess, one that explained why the sweet woman bothered her. She was competition.

“A couple of years ago.” Jillian glanced at her in the mirror and then refocused on her task of curling the bottom sections of hair. “We weren’t serious or anything. More like a friends-with-benefits thing. In fact, in all the years I’ve known him, I’ve never seen Jax get serious about anyone.”

Ouch. That smacked of truth with a hint of he warned you sprinkled on top.

“Until you.”

Vanessa’s eyes snapped up to the mirror. “I’m sorry?” Hell, now she was apologizing in the form of a question. She sounded like a broken record.

“He tried finding you yesterday, and then when you didn’t show up for the rehearsal he came over.” This time when she smiled, it was more sympathetic in nature. “No need to throw darts with your eyes, sweetie. He came over to talk to me and my husband.” She held up her left hand and wiggled her ring finger with the wedding band on it.

“Ugh, I’m sorry— Shit! There I go again.” She released a frustrated huff and pushed in on her temples where the pain was settling in. “If I never have to say that word again, it’ll be too soon.”

Jillian chuckled and grabbed another section of curls to straighten. “Don’t worry about it. I can understand why you’d be a bit territorial about him.” Chocolate brown eyes met her gaze, all hints of play falling away. “He’s a really great guy. I know you’re upset with him, and truthfully, you have the right. But he’s not normally a dishonest person, and I think you should at least give him the opportunity to make it right.”

“I appreciate your concern, Jillian, but there’s nothing to correct. Even his lie aside, Jackson and I made an agreement for three days with no strings. It was fun, but now it’s over. And I’d rather not talk about it anymore.”

The woman gave her shoulder a light squeeze as if to say, I understand, then finished Vanessa’s hair and makeup in silence, leaving her to her thoughts that had no intentions of following Jillian’s example.

Jackson Maris seemed to be a permanent fixture in her mind. What was that saying Fritz always had? I’d rather have a bottle in front o’ me than a frontal lobotomy. At this point, if it would rid her of the memories of the past week, Vanessa would take either.

Eventually, Robért and Jillian finished with their hair and makeup and packed their things up.

“O-kay,” Robért said at the door, “I’m going to check on things, but Jillian will be right outside if you need anything. The next time I see you, it’ll be to collect you for the ceremony, so get dressed, have some champagne, and relax.”

Lucie hugged the planner. “Thank you so much, Robért.”

Once the door closed, Vanessa turned to study Lucie in her wedding gown. “You look like Cinderella, Lucie.”

The strapless Grecian-style sheath flowed to the floor like a chiffon waterfall. Intricate beading trimmed the sweetheart neckline and the sweep train added a princess touch. Her dark brown hair fell in soft curls around her shoulders with an aqua hibiscus hair comb holding one side back. Robért had done an excellent job with her makeup, using subtle tones to accentuate Lucie’s natural beauty and highlighting her dove gray eyes.

“Really?” Lucie asked.

Vanessa offered her friend a reassuring smile and blinked back the moisture blurring her vision. “A more beautiful bride never existed. You look exquisite, honey. Truly.”

Lucie beamed but then faltered. Pressing a hand to her stomach she said, “Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick. I don’t know if I can do this.”

Oh, shit. Lucie and Reid were perfect together. If she didn’t believe in love, what hope was there for the rest of the world? Namely me.

“Come sit over here,” she said, leading the pale bride to the fancy settee. Once she was sure Lucie wasn’t about to faint, Vanessa crossed to the sideboard table where the opened champagne was chilling in a bucket of ice and poured them each a glass. “Every bride gets cold feet, honey, but you’re going to be fine, I promise.”

Lucie accepted the glass and downed the contents. “What? I’m not nervous about marrying Reid. I love him more than anything in the world.”

“I should probably cut you off after that, but since when have I ever been the voice of reason in this relationship?” She handed Lucie her champagne, too, and went to find her garment bag. “So what is it you don’t think you can do?”

“Walk down the aisle in this gorgeous gown with everyone staring at me! Have you forgotten how klutzy I am and how much I hate being the center of attention? There’s no way I’m not falling flat on my face. None.”

“Damn it, Lucie, don’t scare me like that,” she said as she extracted her dress and went through the careful process of getting it on without messing up Jilli’s hard work. “When you walk, gather a handful of your dress and hold it up so you don’t step on the front. Plus, you’ll have Fritz to hold you steady.”

“If you say so.” Down went the second glass.

Vanessa asked Lucie to zip her up and then checked herself in the mirror. The deep aqua chiffon dress ended at her knees in an asymmetrical hemline, and the strapless ruched bust drew the eye nicely to one of her better assets. Her hair was styled the same as Lucie’s, but Jillian had had to straighten her tighter curls before making them into the large, soft ones they were now.

“Okay,” she said, turning to face Lucie. “I guess we’re ready.”

Lucie stared pointedly at the spot below her clavicle. Then up at her eyes. Then down. Then back up.

“Luce, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Jackson mentioned he’d given you a necklace, so…”

“Oh, yeah, um…” She busied herself smoothing the front of her dress so she wouldn’t caress the place on her skin that felt bare ever since she’d taken it off two nights ago. “I figured it wasn’t part of the ensemble, so…we should probably go, huh?”

Which meant she’d be seeing Jackson very soon, and she was as sure as she was of her name that she’d want to wrap her arms around him and let him hold her until…until when? Tomorrow morning? When she left to go back home? The next time he decided to deck a guy because he said something Jax didn’t like?

No matter what, their separation was inevitable. Prolonging it and giving her time to fall even more in love with him was the worst idea ever. And yet, the idea of seeing him and not walking into his arms made her physically ill.

“You love him, don’t you?”

She put a hand to her forehead and nodded. “God, I never meant to, Lucie, I swear. I thought… Hell, I don’t know what I thought.”

“He looked everywhere for you yesterday. He’s a wreck, Ness. I’ve never seen him like this. You two should talk.”

“I need a drink,” she said as she quickly crossed the room, then, since Lucie had both glasses, lifted the bottle to her mouth and drank until the bubbles made her eyes water. “Lucie, I’m not feeling so hot. Would you totally and completely hate me if I excused myself after the ceremony?”

Vanessa felt like a schmuck for even asking. This was her best friend’s wedding and she wanted to help make it the most wonderful and memorable day of Lucie’s life. Being near him would be hard but not impossible. But the thought of dancing with Jackson, of being so intimately close…

Dancing is no different than sex. It’s all about moving with your partner. Finding a rhythm together.

She’d never survive it.

Lucie joined her at the sideboard table and held out the two glasses. Vanessa refilled them and reluctantly set the bottle back in the ice bucket to take the flute thrust at her.

“I know this is going to be difficult, but you can’t leave, Nessie. Stay at least through dinner, okay? And if after that you still don’t want to stay for the dance, I’ll understand if you leave. Okay?”

With as bright a smile as she could muster, Vanessa said, “Okay, let’s go get you hitched.” Then she raised her glass and said, “Salut, my friend.”

Joining in on their time-honored drinking tradition, Lucie raised her glass and clinked it against Vanessa’s. “Salut, Nessie.”

As they tossed back their last glasses of champagne, Vanessa saw a glimmer of something oddly secretive in Lucie’s smile.

…

“Jax, the groom is typically the nervous one at a wedding. If you don’t stop pacing, you’re going to wear a path to the bottom of the island.”

Jackson threw a dirty look in Reid’s direction but didn’t stop his brisk walk back and forth across the room where they’d gotten dressed. His friend’s placid disposition as he lounged on the couch was enough to aggravate him—he didn’t need his smartass comments, too.

It was driving him insane that mere drywall was all that separated him from Vanessa in the next room. He hated waiting to see her, to tell her the things that had been like bullhorns in his mind for the last thirty-six hours. But he’d promised both Reid and Lucie he’d keep himself in check until after the wedding. That way, if things went badly, it wouldn’t affect the ceremony.

The last thing he wanted to do was ruin his baby sister’s big day. But the next to last thing he wanted was to let Vanessa run from what they had together. Because that’s what she was doing. He’d had a lot of time to think about things since she got into that cab and seemingly disappeared off the face of the damn island.

He had no doubt the deception bothered her, but he did doubt that it was the main reason for her avoidance. When her sister called, everything from the past—the pain, the fear, the guilt—came rushing back from the dark place she’d buried it. And with the reminder of the past came the reminder of why she’d created her rules and why she needed to keep them.

Jax was certain Vanessa loved him. She’d admitted as much when she told him he’d caused her to break Rule #1. But even without that, he’d never been more sure of anything. They fit together, made sense together. As cliché as it sounded, they completed each other.

So now it was up to him to prove how much he loved her in a way he hoped would speak to her.

Reid stood and stepped in Jackson’s path. His casual wedding attire of white linen pants and shirt matched his composure. Not even a hint of unease marked the man’s face. This was a man who trusted in his love and the love of his bride. As much as Jax loved them both, a pang of jealousy twisted deep in his gut. Jax wished he could be as trusting, but right now things were a mess.

Reid clapped a hand on his shoulder and asked, “Got the rings, bro?”

Jax put his hand in the pocket of his pants and felt the cool metal of both rings. He nodded.

“Good,” Reid said. “And how ’bout your best man speech?”

Sticking his hand in the other pocket, he almost shit himself when he came up empty. Then he remembered he’d moved it. Touching the breast pocket of his aqua shirt, he felt the outline of the folded sheet of paper and told himself to calm the f*ck down. “Yeah,” he said, his voice sounding strained. “Got it.”

“Then relax. Everything’ll work out. I got your back, all right?”

Jax inclined his head once.

A knock at the door announced Jilli before she entered, all smiles as usual. “Well, don’t you boys clean up nicely. Looking good, Jackie.”

“Jackie?” Reid said with a hitch of his brow.

Jax cut him a death look. “Don’t even think about it. You can still get married with a black eye.”

“It would totally be worth it, but Luce will kill me if I ruin the pictures, so you’re safe. For now,” he added with a smirk.

“A*shole.”

Jilli held the door open wide. “Come on, children, time to take your places.”

Reid turned to Jax and with nothing more than a look, they said more things in three seconds than most women could say in three hours.

Thanks for always being there for me.

No problem, you’ve done the same for me.

I love your sister, man, I’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy.

I know you do, and I know you will. Plus, if you don’t, I’ll break your f*cking legs.

Fair enough.

Then let’s do this.

Hell yeah.

Reid walked out first. Jax followed but paused when he reached Jilli. He knew she’d seen Vanessa. He wanted to ask her how she was doing, if she was okay, if she said anything about him…but he knew that if he let himself start, it would be a slippery slope.

She seemed to read his thoughts. Rising on her toes, she gave him a big hug that helped to somewhat calm his nerves. Then she kissed his cheek, pulled back, and said, “Good luck, Jackie.”

“Thanks, girl. Let’s hope I don’t need it.”

Jax walked down the hall, his heart tugging in his chest as he passed the bridal suite like a magnet being pulled to its other half. Clenching his fists, he forced himself to keep moving. To distract himself, he counted his steps. Forty-three to the exit. Twenty-two across the outdoor lounge area. And one hundred and seventy-one to the elegant setup for the beach ceremony and reception where the small group of guests mingled.

An aisle of smoothed sand, bordered by lit Tiki torches strung together with more white netting, bisected the two groupings of six chairs. Blue and aqua sea glass pebbles were scattered along the edges in lieu of the typical rose petals that would just blow away in the ocean breeze. Reid stood at the front, speaking with the minister beneath an archway made from aqua and white netting draped among four wooden posts. Beyond them the setting sun was just beginning to inject the sky with pale shades of lavender and coral as the sea lapped lazily at the shore.

This was what his sister deserved: a wedding in paradise.

Just like Vanessa deserved to expect a hell of a lot more from a relationship than following her rules, half of which ensured she didn’t date an a*shole and the other half protecting her even if she did.

He understood why she’d created the rules—and he supposed they made sense to an extent and had served her well up to this point. But now she’d outgrown them and it was time she realized that she’d be okay without them.

Jax greeted the few guests he knew and introduced himself to the few he didn’t until finally Robért shooed him into his place next to Reid.

The violinist was cued.

Reid and the minister stood at attention.

A hush fell over the guests as they turned in their seats.

Jax straightened…and lost his breath.

Vanessa. Her name whispered through his mind like a silent prayer as she glided in slow motion toward him. Words probably existed to describe her beauty but not in his vocabulary. Exquisite, flawless, timeless…none of those even came close.

She smiled at her friends Eric and Kyle—decent guys he’d heard a lot about over the years from his sister—and rolled her eyes when they blew kisses in her direction. Finally, she reached the end, putting her within reaching distance. His body vibrated with the need to touch her, to hold her, but he held firm, doing nothing more than praying she’d look in his direction. But she didn’t. She greeted Reid with a quick hug and kiss on the cheek…then turned and took her place on the other side without ever acknowledging his presence.

He’d expected her rebuff, but that didn’t make it sting any less.

The sound of muffled gasps brought his attention to the back once again as Lucie appeared on the arm of her grizzled father-figure Fritz. She’d originally asked Jax to walk her down the aisle, but he casually suggested she ask Fritz, saying the man was getting on in years and it would probably mean a hell of a lot to him since he thought of Lucie and Vanessa as his second and third daughters.

In reality, Jax knew he’d be a jacked-up mess if he had to be the one to give her away. The moment she asked, he knew what every father in the world must feel like. No matter how much you approve of or like the guy she’s marrying, everything in you wants to throw her over your shoulder and haul her ass back to her bedroom and ground her for life. So for her sake, he was trying to focus on being the best man, because the best man’s main concerns were not losing the rings and getting drunk at the reception. Way easier.

Though he tried to keep himself in that juvenile mentality, Jax’s heart swelled with pride and love as his baby sister walked toward her future. He’d never seen her more beautiful or more sure of herself. The moment her gaze collided with Reid’s was almost palpable. The rest of them could disappear in a puff of smoke and neither would notice.

Once they reached the archway, Reid held out his hand to accept his bride’s, only the old man wasn’t giving it up so easily.

Reid quirked a brow. “Fritz?”

Narrowing his eyes, the old man spoke so only those standing at the front could hear. “You ever break this girl’s heart, Andrews, and I’ll serve your balls to my one-eyed bulldog for breakfast.”

Reid leaned in slightly. “If I ever break her heart, I’ll serve them to Willy myself.”

Fritz nodded with a satisfied grunt before turning to face Lucie. His weathered skin melted into a mask of wrinkles as he beamed with pride. She returned his smile, kissed him on the cheek, and let him place her hand in Reid’s with a firm pat of approval.

Jax drank in the sight of his sister, overflowing with happiness and love for the man who was a friend by blood but a brother by bond. When their parents died, Jax had doubted more often than not that he’d see this day. A day when he no longer had to worry about failing her. That despite the fact he’d had no idea how to raise a teenage girl, she’d managed to come through the other side a well-adjusted, amazing woman. And if anyone could continue to love and take care of her as he’d done, it was Reid. She was in good hands.

Knowing that, it left Jax free to think about his own future. As the minister talked about the usual wedding stuff in the background, Jax studied the maid of honor.

Her eyes were trained on the minister. She appeared to be listening intently with a sweet grin on her face. But Jax knew better. Her eyes were unfocused. Her body was tense, grasping her bouquet in front of her like a shield, and the lines of her smile were tight, forced.

Someone said something about rings and Jackson retrieved them from his pocket and dutifully placed them in Reid’s hand before his attention swung back to Vanessa again.

He could see the thoughts kicking up a storm in her mind, creating more pain, more doubt. Knowing he had any part of that felt like a hot knife twisting in his gut. He wanted more than anything in the world to kiss the tension away in that smile. To do whatever it took to make her happy, today and every day, for the rest of her life.

Hearing Lucie start her vows pulled Jax out of his ruminations.

“Reid,” she said, her eyes already brimming with unshed tears as she pushed the ring onto his finger. “I promise to continue trying to see myself as you see me, no matter how blinded by love I think you are.”

“I’ve got better than twenty-twenty vision when it comes to you, sweetheart.”

“Reid, you can’t interrupt my vows!”

“Sorry, Lu. Go on.” He winked and gave her a smile that said he wasn’t sorry at all.

The guests chuckled and Lucie did a horrible job of looking stern. A moment later she gave up, smiled, and continued.

“I promise to always rub the kinks out of your hands when you spend too many hours on a new drawing or sculpture. I promise to never let you forget how talented you are and to always support your dreams. Whether it’s just to create things for our home or to sell pieces in your own gallery someday. But most of all…I promise to cherish, honor, and love you with all that I am, from this day forward, until my very last breath.”

“Luce,” Reid began as he slowly slid her ring on. “I promise to stop cracking jokes about rubbing kinks out of other places when you’re trying to help with my cramped hands.” Lucie turned about ten shades of red and this time everyone straight-up laughed. “I promise to never let you flirt with another waiter for as long as I live.”

“You made me—”

He shushed her and pressed a finger against her lips. “No interrupting, remember?” Lucie released an exasperated sigh. Jax was finding the whole thing amusing as hell. He’d only seen their unique and playful relationship as a couple for a short time before this. If Lucie had thought Reid would forgo the teasing during their wedding, she’d been sadly mistaken. Though, from the twinkle in his sister’s eyes, he didn’t think she’d expected anything less than business as usual.

But then Reid sobered and lifted her right hand, placing it over his heart. The onlookers quieted and even the sea breeze felt more serious as it tousled Lucie’s curls.

“I promise that someday you will shed every last one of your insecurities and finally see yourself as not only I see you but as the entire world sees you. I promise to never take your love for granted and to show you every day how very thankful I am to have you in my life. But most of all…I promise to cherish, honor, and love you with all that I am, from this day forward, until my very last breath.”

Tears flowed unchecked over Lucie’s cheeks, and as soon as they were announced as husband and wife, Reid gathered his bride up and kissed her like she was the breath of life, which was probably how his friend felt.

He could relate.

Now more than ever, Jackson knew how much he truly loved Vanessa. He wanted with her what Reid had with Lucie. A life together. A forever.

He couldn’t tell her any of that now. But soon he would. Very soon.

…

Vanessa knew that everything looked stunning, that the food was exquisite and the cake was like little bites of heaven. After all, she’d been the one to choose all of it during her many meetings with Robért. But that was the only reason she knew it. Nothing seemed to quite come into focus, and she couldn’t remember what any of the five courses tasted like.

From the moment she saw Jackson, she felt as though she’d been underwater. The world around her looked wavy, the conversations were muted and unclear, and no matter how hard she tried, she could never move fast enough to get away.

After the ceremony, she tried excusing herself to use the restroom, thinking she could sneak away long enough to avoid the dinner portion of the night where she’d be forced to sit across from Jackson and his stares that bored through her like fricking lasers. But she’d been swept along to pose for a million pictures where—thanks to the photographer, who was now on Vanessa’s hit list—she was forced to stand with Jackson and endure the heat of his hands on her waist and the smell of him in the air.

She’d braced herself for him to try and talk to her, to pull her aside or speak his mind where they stood, but he never did. He also never stood close enough that their bodies touched. She found it sadly ironic that she felt more bereft standing a mere three inches away from him than when she’d been thirty miles away.

She reminded herself that he was giving her exactly what she wanted. Relief should be lifting the huge weights off her shoulders, making it possible for her to breathe easily for the first time in days. But all she wanted to do was cry into a pillow until her ducts dried up and she passed out.

Once the pictures were finally over, she again tried to excuse herself, but the tidal wave of wedding organization that was Robért herded everyone, including her, to their seats at the long table. Bride and groom sat at the head with Vanessa to Lu’s right, Jackson to Reid’s left, and the rest of the guests filling in the other twelve spots.

Lucie had asked that she at least stay through dinner, and despite her attempts at escaping sooner, that’s what she did. And now she was getting the hell out of there before the first dance started and she was roped into dancing with her bridal party counterpart.

As the waitstaff began clearing the table of dishes, several people wandered over to the small tiki bar, including Eric and Kyle, her two best guy friends and dart league partners. Perfect. Vanessa pushed back from her seat. Lucie’s hand struck like a cobra, grabbing her wrist before she was even fully standing.

“Where are you going, Nessie?”

She smiled and nodded in the direction of the bar. “To talk to the boys and order a whole lot of something that rhymes with shequila.”

“Oh, okay. Hey, will you bring me back a beer? If I have any more champagne, I’ll have to look at my wedding album to remember anything.”

“Sure thing.” Or at least she’d send one of the guys back with one. Moving as fast as her beach shoes could carry her, she bee-lined it to the bar. After hugging the guys, she ordered a Patron on the rocks and didn’t begin to relax until she downed the first and ordered the second.

Kyle, her buff, blond, and bound-to-state-the-obvious friend didn’t disappoint. “So what’s with Lucie’s beau-hunk of a brother staring at you like you’re his last meal but you kicked him in the balls and ran away?”

Vanessa almost choked on an ice cube. “That’s the dumbest thing I think you’ve ever said.”

Eric, a solidly built Hispanic with black hair and too-observant chocolaty eyes, said, “No, the dumbest thing he ever said was when he told me certain things had become routine. He couldn’t sit without wincing for a week after that.”

“Which is why I consider it one of the smartest things I’ve ever said, babe.”

Listening to the familiar back and forth of Kyle goading Eric eased some of her tension. They’d been together since their college days and were as tight as any hetero married couple she knew. People who didn’t know them never guessed they were gay. Both men were extremely athletic and macho and neither were fans of PDA. But just like any group of close-knit friends, when they were hanging out with Vanessa and Lucie, not much was TMI. At least it had gotten her out of answering Kyle’s ridiculous inquiry.

As the guys continued to play-bicker about who did what intentionally, she glanced around, searching for Robért, who would no doubt usher her back within the reception parameters should she breach them.

“Good evening, everyone.”

Even facing away, there was no mistaking who the voice belonged to. Her body betrayed her the minute the sound entered her ears, bypassed her brain, and traveled straight south to settle between her legs. Clenching her thighs together, she turned just as Jax stood and reached into his breast pocket for a folded sheet of paper. The best man speech. The perfect time for her to slip away. All eyes would be on him and his would be on the happy couple. She’d just wait a minute for everyone to get settled, and then she’d make her move.

A hand closed around her elbow as another landed on her lower back and led her toward the reception table. The Wedding Nazi had found her. “Robért, I was fine where I was,” she stage-whispered.

“Nonsense, it’s toast time. The maid of honor has to be up there with the best man.”

Vanessa had no choice but to go along unless she wanted to cause a scene. After depositing her next to Lucie, Robért went off in search of his next mission. Letting out a discreet sigh of frustration, Lucie faced Jackson and feigned a happy interest. The idiot winked at her and turned to face the group.

“On behalf of Reid and Lucie, I’d like to thank you all for being here to help make their day special as they begin their new life together. As a fighter, I know that you can only do so much planning and prep for your opponents. You can study their moves, their strategies, learn how to defend and counter. But the truth of the matter is, when you step inside that cage, you never know what that guy is going to throw at you. You have to accept, adjust, and execute.

“Love is no different,” Jackson said, the sound of his deep voice washing over her on the salty breeze. “Growing up, we imagine the type of person we’ll someday fall in love with, and over time, we try our best to execute our plans to find—or for us commit-aphobes, avoid”—polite, muted laughter met his last comment—“that person.

“But just as a fighter can’t predict what an opponent will do as he works to execute his plan, we can’t predict what love will throw our way as we search for that perfect person.” Eyes alight with the setting sun met hers, melting her resolve from the inside out. “And more often than not, who we think we need isn’t at all who we really need.”

Jackson turned his head to address the couple. “Case in point, our very own Reid and Lucie. If they hadn’t accepted what love was throwing their way and adjusted their points of view, Reid would still be a miserable bachelor denying his passion for art, and Lucie would be married to a narcissistic surgeon who wouldn’t know true beauty if it bit him on the ass.”

Laughs and murmurs of agreement rose from the guests. Lucie’s cheeks were moist from tears, but the smile she’d worn all day was still in place and the only way Reid could get any closer to her was if he pulled her onto his lap.

Clapping a hand on his best friend’s shoulder, Jackson continued. “I’m incredibly thankful that my best friend and my sister were smart enough to adjust and accept their love for each other.” His hand dropped and his eyes found Vanessa’s again. “But what about the future? Relationships have ups and downs just like everything else. One minute you’re winning and on top of the world…”

Jackson swallowed hard, pausing like he’d forgotten what came next. Or like it’s too hard to say. A tightness spread through her chest just as he came back to himself, but the last part of his sentence only made the pressure worse. “…and the next minute you’re knocked out, fighting against the darkness and wondering where the hell things went wrong.”

Just when Vanessa thought she couldn’t take any more—that she needed to stop him or she’d crumple where she stood from her bleeding heart—his speech took a left turn.

“So I wanted to give them some advice that might help them in the future, and I came up with a list of seven things. I guess you could call them rules…”

“Oh no.” Vanessa clapped a hand over her mouth, but it was too late. She’d blurted it out and now everyone was staring at her as ice shot through her veins. He was going to mock her. Right here, right now, in front of all her friends. Seeing as she’d already made a fool of herself, she skirted around the happy couple to Jackson’s side.

She tried not to notice the guests whispering guesses as to what was going on. The best man’s hijacking the f*cking wedding, that’s what’s going on. Damn him, this wedding wasn’t about them or what they did or didn’t want…

God, you are such a hypocrite, Nessie.

She’d been doing exactly that all damn day, trying to leave because she felt uncomfortable around Jackson. How fricking selfish could she be? Lucie should have told Vanessa to take a flying leap off a tall cliff hours ago, hell, yesterday even, but her friend was too kind for that.

So, yes, she felt slightly schmucky about all that, but at least Vanessa only intended on excusing herself from the party. She never would’ve dreamed to make the wedding a public forum for her relationship problems like an episode of The Jerry Springer Show. The whole thing was so ludicrous, she didn’t have the words.

Oh, who was she kidding? Yes, she did.

Stepping in close to keep her voice low, she angled her body away from the crowd and said, “Jackson, this is so completely and utterly unacceptable to do this to Lucie and—”

“It’s okay, Nessie.” Vanessa looked down at Lucie’s hand covering hers, then sought the hurt that would surely show in her friend’s eyes but found none. “Reid and I gave him the idea.”

“You what?” she whispered.

“Bitch me out later, Ness. Right now you need to listen to my brother.”

“Yeah, and make it quick, will ya? I’d like to dance with my wife.” Reid pulled Lucie closer to his side. “Before I need a hip replacement would be nice,” he added wryly. That earned him a discreet elbow to the ribs.

Speechless. They’d rendered her one hundred percent speechless. Which gave Jackson the perfect opportunity to carry out whatever asinine plan he had up his sleeve. Once again he addressed the crowd.

“As I was saying, I created a list of rules I’d like Reid and Lucie to have if they ever lose their way…” Jackson sought her out with intense eyes, and she was helpless to do anything but meet them. “…and need to find their way back.”

Damn him. Damn him and his amber eyes and his silver tongue.

He faced her and, if it was anywhere in the realm of possibilities, almost looked…nervous.

And if that was the case, then it explained why she was damn near jumping out of her skin with anxiety. Countless scenarios—good, bad, ugly, and horrifying—spun in her mind like Tasmanian devils on speed. Her heart had somehow escaped her ribs because she felt it beating faster and faster just under the surface of her skin, and her lungs must have collapsed because she couldn’t draw a full breath. Her organs were failing, the apocalypse was at hand, they were all doomed and holy shit what the hell is wrong with me!

Jax placed a large, warm hand at her hip and leaned in until his cheek kissed hers and his mouth rested close to her ear. “V, take some deep breaths for me, honey.” His tone lacked the gruffness he used during more intimate times, but it was still heavy and commanding enough to trigger her desire to obey, to let go.

With him coaching her softly, she managed to slow her heart rate and fill her lungs to capacity, banishing her panic attack and preventing what would certainly have been an embarrassing moment if she’d completely lost it. She felt his hand brush her hair over her shoulder, letting his fingertips glide lightly over the shell of her ear and down her neck. “That’s my girl,” he whispered, before placing a discreet kiss at her temple and pulling away.

“Don’t you mean ‘crazy woman’?”

“Uh-oh. Someone’s been talking to the locals.” At least he had the decency to wince. “Come on, it’s kind of funny. You thought it sounded pretty.”

“I also thought pupule wahine was a term of endearment,” she whispered a little too loudly. Snickers and giggles wafted up from the peanut gallery.

“Can you berate me for your nickname later?”

“Absolutely. I’ll add it to the growing list of things I plan on berating you for later.”

That time she heard a snort, pronouncing her best friend’s amusement of the dressing-down of her big brother. Vanessa crossed her arms and arched a single brow, daring him to finish what he started, though she wanted more than anything for him to spontaneously lose the gift of speech.

Clearing his throat, Jax glanced at their rapt audience, took a deep breath himself, and began. “I call this ‘Jackson’s Lucky Seven Rules to Love By.’ Rule #7: Always be one hundred percent honest. Even if it means you can’t pretend to be engaged to the most beautiful woman on the island.”

She inhaled sharply. He peered up from the paper briefly then continued.

“Rule #6: Always own up to your mistakes. Even if you weren’t that late and planned on buying her lunch to make up for it.”

“Rule #5: Always negotiate in terms of forever. Even if she gives you a little more Hyde than Jekyll.” He gave their rapt audience an audacious wink. “The crazy just adds spice.”

Everyone laughed at that one. If they kept this up, she’d wind up with them voting her off the island like a bad mash-up of Survivor and The Love Connection.

“Rule #4: Always use your fists in the cage and to protect her if necessary, but never bring violence into your life.” Jackson picked up her hand and cradled it against his chest. “Even if she’s strong enough to take care of herself.”

Hot tears stung her eyes and her throat closed tightly on something the size of a ping-pong ball. It was the only thing preventing her from cursing him aloud at the moment.

“Rule #3: Always be willing to move out of the bachelor shack into a grown-up house.” A grin hitched up one corner of his mouth where his dimple winked at her. “Even if said shack has bonus amenities you can’t get anywhere else, like mind-blowing waterfall sex.”

“Jackson!” she warned, sure her face was turning a bright red. The bastard ignored her and kept going.

“Rule #2: Always understand the balance of control and give as often as you take.” His thumb traced circles on her hand. “Even if it means admitting your chivalry can be a little pushy.”

“Little, my ass,” she muttered under her breath.

He gave her a wink that promised they could discuss her ass later, then he turned his expression serious and her heart caught in her chest. “And, most importantly, Rule #1.” He gazed deeply into her eyes. “Always, always, always…tell her how much you love her, now and forever, before it’s too late.”

Loved? Did he just tell her he loved her? Emotions rushed through her—joy, fear, relief, fear, happiness, did she mention fear—that she became lightheaded. She’d wanted so badly for him to love her. Half of her rejoiced, but the other half shrieked in terror like a B-movie vampire as the sun crept over the horizon.

It was in that moment Vanessa realized she hadn’t made the rules to ensure she found the right man to love her. She’d made them to prevent accepting anyone who did. Because if she didn’t allow herself to love someone in return, then he’d never have the power to hurt her. Her rules had been nothing more than a coat of armor protecting her from her past instead of a plan to protect her future like she’d thought.

She covered her mouth and nose with her hands, tears streaming on either side, unable to verbalize the overwhelming emotions coursing through her. He’d taken her coping mechanism and turned it into something positive and beautiful, each one of his rules directly correlating in some way to the ones she’d lived by for more than a decade. But whereas hers had held everyone at arms’ length, Jackson’s were vows of love, promises to her of how he wanted to treat her with respect and honor.

He could’ve written a hundred different speeches. Some may have worked, most probably not. But nothing would have made an impact on her like those seven rules did. And he knew that, because in the span of only a few days, Jackson knew her better than she knew herself. She loved that about him. She loved him period.

“V, please don’t cry.” He shoved the paper in his pocket and pulled her hands away from her face, placing a kiss in both of her palms before holding them over his heart. “God, baby, I am so sorry. I swear I’ll never lie to you again for as long as I live. Just please give me another chance. I love you so goddamn much—”

“I love you, too.”

“—and I— What did you say?”

She couldn’t resist. He’d taken her from depressed and cynical to ecstatic and giddy in point-oh-six seconds. Biting the inside of her cheek, she tried to keep the smile from her face. “If you weren’t listening, I’m not going to repeat myself. You might want to make ‘Always listen the first time’ Rule #8.”

His lashes almost fused together and she heard the familiar rumbling of a growl deep in his chest that set off a chain reaction of heat and wetness throughout her body. Stepping into her until she was forced to tilt her head back to meet his eyes, he gave her a command as she’d known he would.

“Tell me again, while I’m not in mid-sentence, so I can hear you properly.”

Game, set, match went to Jackson. In a matter of forty-eight hours, she’d managed to forget just how much he affected her like this. She swallowed and wet her lips, desperately trying to regain some semblance of moisture, but apparently every last available drop had pooled between her legs to soak her expensive new lingerie.

“I love you, Jackson,” she said as she slid her hands up his chest and clasped them behind his neck. “I love you so much I don’t know what to do with myself.”

A radiant smile spread across his face, showing the lines of his dimples and accentuating the wicked gleam in his eye. “Don’t you worry about that, Princess,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist and hauling her up his body, “I promise I know exactly what to do with a pupule wahine like you.”

Then, as their audience cheered—and Reid thanked God it was over—Jax gave her a little taste of his promise yet to come.