Today wasn’t one of those days, especially with Kristin Quinn as the bride.
Jack buttoned himself in and frowned, a little uncomfortable with how closely he resembled a groom at that moment. But then just as soon as that feeling came . . . it left. Maybe one of these days he would be. Maybe someday soon he would meet a girl, fall in love, and find himself walking down the aisle to meet her. He fully expected that day not to occur for the next decade or so, at least that’s how he had things planned. It’s what he felt most comfortable with in his mind.
Which is why the sudden image of April in a wedding dress his imagination conjured up had him feeling particularly uncomfortable.
He shook off the mental picture and reached for a pair of gold cufflinks, taking a moment to attach one and then the other. Satisfied that his look was complete, he headed for the door. He barely got the thing open when he spotted April across the church hallway, looking down at her feet as though trying to find something. She looked stunning. He hated that superficial word, but it was the only way he could think to describe her. Her hair was pulled up, her slender neck a smooth line of tanned skin from hairline to collarbone. He traced it down to her bare upper back, taking in the way her waist narrowed and disappeared underneath the clingy silk fabric. His eyes traveled lower . . . lower . . . until he caught himself and swallowed. She was stunning. Absolutely gorgeous.
He was frozen in his own doorway, unable to move, until he realized she had turned around and was looking right at him.
“If you’re finished ogling me, do you think you could come help with this?”
Busted. The word she used last night, suddenly appropriate right now. He felt his stupid face turn red, a sensation he hadn’t experienced since high school. So many incidents from those years crashed over him like a hurricane of bad memories. He wouldn’t go back there for anything, not even if it meant Katie McKeen—most popular girl who never once gave him the time of day—sat on his lap at lunch, shared her order of ketchup and fries, and kissed him on the mouth while the entire cafeteria watched in awe.
A dumb schoolboy fantasy that stayed with him through sophomore and junior year. And maybe a little bit of senior year, too, but that wasn’t important.
“I wasn’t ogling you.” The lie bled red all over him, and inwardly he cursed. “What do you need help with?”
“I dropped Sam’s wedding band and now I can’t find it anywhere. Help me and I’ll dance with you at the wedding.” It was a sarcastic comment, meant to sound amusing. The disappointment Jack felt surprised him.
“I’m singing. I won’t be able to dance with you.”
He didn’t miss her frown. Or the way she covered it with a tug on her hair and a small smile. They were both bothered.
“I was kidding. But I saw the way you filled those birdseed cups yesterday. You were practically racing to finish them on time. I’ve never seen anyone work so fast, and for nothing but a single scoop of chocolate.”
“It was a double scoop, and there’s nothing wrong with chocolate.”
“Only boring people get plain chocolate.”
“Must be the reason you went with the super-exciting chocolate chip.”
In response, she smacked him on the arm. Using her very smooth, shapely arm. And funny thing, he liked being hit. By her. As far as he was concerned, she could do it again and again.
“Would you just help me for a second? If I don’t find this ring, my sister will freak out, and I’m just really not in the mood for that today.”
“Your sister needs to chill.” Jack shot a quick glance at his feet. Something flashed right next to the sole of his shoe. In Tune with Love “Is this it?” He leaned over and picked it up, then handed it over.
Instead of the relieved smile he expected to see, she rolled her eyes. “Of course you would find it without even trying. I’ve been out here looking for ten minutes.”
“What did you expect? I’m Jack Vaughn. I can do anything I want.”
For the first time ever, he regretted that line as soon as it escaped his mouth. If April’s expression was any indication, the words were definitely a mistake.
“It would seem that way,” she said with a shrug. And without another word, she slipped the band over her thumb and disappeared behind the door to the room that housed the rest of the wedding party. Jack could hear a half dozen excited conversations going on inside the room.
He swallowed. He had so much to make up to her. He only hoped today would put him on the road to getting there.
“What do you mean you lost it?” Kristin’s shrill voice carried across the room. “I bought it as a gift and gave it to you only yesterday. How could you lose it?”