“Me either,” Meredith said.
“Oh yes, you are,” Hope said, taking her by the elbow. That’s all she needed—the maid of honor and the best man getting into a knock-down-drag-out fight before Jackie’s arrival.
“Fine,” Meredith said. “I could use some downtime.”
Sally glanced toward the library. “I think I’ll stay up and read for a bit.”
Ava appeared helplessly lost. Her mom was such a night owl; she no doubt considered the lot of them party poopers. “Coming, Mom?”
Ava’s gaze swept the room as Derrick flipped on the TV, turning to a sports channel.
“Uh, sure. Okay. Good night, everyone.”
She and Meredith linked arms and headed out toward the carriage house.
Hope gave Brent a shy smile. “See you tomorrow?”
“Yep.” He grinned. “Can’t wait.” When she turned to go, he winked. “I’ll text you later?”
Her face burned hot. “Yes, that would be—” Wait. “No, don’t!” Brent texting her meant he’d be texting her sister’s phone. “What I mean is, please don’t.”
His smile faltered, and his forehead creased. “Why not?”
Hope racked her brain for an appropriate response. Nothing she could think of sounded kind. She didn’t want him to feel like she wouldn’t welcome his texts—if he was texting her, rather than her sister’s phone. What if he sent sweet messages, or maybe even steamy ones recounting their time in the coat closet? Nothing Hope could say to her sister would explain her way out of that.
Panicked, she blurted out the only thing that seemed reasonable. “Because I’d rather hear from you in person.”
Brent’s grin widened. “Is that so?”
The blood instantly drained from her face. Oh, no. That hadn’t come out right at all. At this rate, he’d show up at her window wanting to revisit the coat closet, and that would be very bad. No matter how good it sounded.
Stop thinking like that!
She forced herself to laugh. “I just mean, so much of our relationship has been long distance.” She assumed. “Wouldn’t it be better to communicate in person as often as we can? It is our wedding week…”
His eyes positively sparkled with desire. “That it is. Good night, Jackie.”
Oh, but the things his heated gaze did to her…. Hope all but fled down the garden path, knowing without a doubt she was in very serious trouble when it came to Brent Albright. And worse, she didn’t want it to end.
…
Ava and Meredith peppered her with questions the second she caught up with them outside the carriage house.
“Where did you disappear to for so long?” Meredith asked with a suspicious gleam.
“I promised not to say a thing,” her mom declared, all the while looking like she was itching to do just that.
Meredith gave her an exasperated look, then centered her attention squarely on Hope. “You…and Brent?”
“All right, okay. I kissed him,” she admitted. “It wasn’t, like, planned or any—”
“In the coat closet,” Ava interjected. “Under the stairs.”
Meredith surveyed Hope’s face as they walked along, and Hope tried to avoid her stare. “Has this happened before?”
“Huh?”
Meredith nudged her. “You kissing Brent?”
She grimaced. “Only slightly.”
“Weird. Jackie and Brent were never that physical. I mean, she mentioned they’d kissed, but I’ve never seen Jackie looking quite like that.”
Hope gaped at Meredith, then her mom. “Like what?”
“All pink,” Ava said.
Meredith and Ava exchanged worried glances.
“This is a very messed-up situation,” Meredith said.
Ava perused Hope again and nodded. “Yes.”
Chapter Fourteen
Brent took Jackie’s hand as they headed down the driveway for their morning walk. He’d suggested this mild form of exercise to help stretch out her muscles, since she was still too sore from yesterday to run again. She was normally so athletic—he was surprised the shorter route had caused her issues. Then again, the first part of it had basically been uphill.
Now he was regretting not sneaking down to the carriage house the previous night. He might have been able to give her painkillers. Or a massage.
He’d nearly gone, feeling certain that’s what she was hinting at. But then, Jackie had never been that bold with him, and certainly not when family and friends were nearby. Had he misinterpreted it? Maybe let their kisses go to his head?
He shook himself free of those thoughts. The woman he loved was struggling. He wanted her to be happy and not in pain, like she seemed to be right now as she hobbled along beside him. “You sure you’re okay?” he asked her for maybe the tenth time.
“Yeah, yeah. I just woke up a little stiff.”
“Maybe you should take a dip in that hot tub later?”
“Mmm. That’s a good idea.”
“Maybe I’ll join you?” he suggested, and she laughed.
“Not with my mom staying in the carriage house, you won’t.”
Rats. “Oh yeah. I forgot about that.”
Jackie was finally loosening up about being in Blue Hill. He was happy about that, but he was even happier about how he and she had grown closer. They were learning things about each other and sharing intimate thoughts. And when she’d let down her guard last night in the closet…
Oh, man.
The woman had nearly set his body on fire.
Brent had never known Jackie to kiss like that. She’d practically devoured him with her fiery-hot kisses. Thinking of it later, he’d become so stoked about their upcoming honeymoon that he’d had to take a cold shower before bed.
Though they’d dated for over three months, he and Jackie hadn’t slept together. She’d said she wanted to wait until after they were married, and, especially given their circumstances, Brent had understood. So he’d been totally caught off guard by the vixen under the stairs.
Not that he’d minded.
Not in the least.
Now, every moment leading up to their wedding night felt like a slow-burning fuse on a loaded stick of dynamite. He’d never experienced these feelings before or understood how desperately a man could ache to be with a woman. Physically. Emotionally. The whole nine yards. Brent couldn’t wait to make love to Jackie and show her how deeply he cared. But he was a patient man, and Saturday was only three days away.