Page 8 of Bear's Midlife Bridesmaid
Then there she was. Jace had been looking forward to seeing Erin, only having caught a glimpse of her around breakfast time before he’d had to help set up. Then, she’d sat on a deck chair with a steaming mug of coffee and a book. She’d looked casual and relaxed, making Jace want to sit next to her and ask what she was reading.
Now? He wouldn’t be able to come up with any words to ask at all. He was stunned by her beauty. The dress of champagne silk didn’t seem to be her style, considering what else he’d seen her wear, but the thin material traced her curves out for him. The tiny straps showed off her pale shoulders, and thedraped neckline enhanced the slight movement of her breasts. Her hips pressed against the fabric, and as she walked down the aisle, she seemed to be walking straight toward him. The sunlight and the color of her dress enhanced the emerald of her eyes, which were focused on him. Jace’s mouth went dry, and his bear went wild. It pressed at the boundaries of his human body, and he fought to keep it under control. It was insistent and demanding. Through his beast, Jace felt the gravitational pull of this woman. If he’d had any doubts, they were erased. He knew she was his mate.
She reached him and then turned, taking her place just to Jace’s right. Erin turned her gaze away from him, and Jace felt the absence down to his bones.
But the music shifted at Ian’s command, and now everyone was looking away from him and toward the bride. Gretchen emerged in a tall column of white silk, but Jace barely registered her. His entire being was still lasered in on Erin. He’d been disappointed when she’d turned away—even though logically, he knew it was nothing personal—but now he was rewarded with a dazzling view of her backside. The champagne silk was just as flattering from this angle, as was the way she’d pulled up her hair to show offthe length of her neck. Only a day ago, he’d been certain that this week would drag by. Now, he didn’t want it to end.
The music changed once again as Gretchen came to take her place next to her groom. The couple looked at him expectantly, and Jace forced himself back on track. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today…”
He’d read the speech to himself several times before they’d left the harbor. It’d been a while, and Jace wanted to be sure he got it right. The words had come back to him quickly and easily, and now he spoke them with little thought at all. He looked at Gretchen and Hugo but maintained a steady awareness of Erin.
She’d looked calm and confident when she’d first arrived, but as the ceremony went on, she began to fidget. She smoothed her dress down her thighs. She checked the fastener on her earring and adjusted her necklace. Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, looking back and forth between Hugo and Gretchen. Concern wrinkled her brow, and her breaths became quicker. He readied himself to catch her in case she passed out. They just had to get through the last of the vows, do the ring exchange,and then they’d be done. Perhaps, Jace hoped, he’d find time to talk with her again.
Now, he was just as eager to get this over with. “If anyone present objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace.” Jace paused, as was tradition, and then pulled in a breath to continue.
But Erin’s hand darted out and touched Gretchen’s arm, making the bride turn toward her. “Don’t do this.”
“What?” Gretchen’s eyes darted from Erin to Jace and then to her groom and back.
Erin’s brows knitted together, and she licked her lips. “I’m sorry, but I saw Hugo and Blaire together in the storage closet last night. Like,togethertogether. You can’t marry someone who’s going to treat you like that. You deserve much better.”
Hugo’s face turned several shades of red, though it was from anger rather than embarrassment. “How dare you say such things!”
Blaire was on her feet now, too. “What did you just say?”
Jace could see he’d quickly lost control of this whole thing. He cleared his throat. “If we could all just take a breath and calm down…”
But it was too late. Gretchen’s eyes intensified as she stared at her friend, a look so fierce it could kill,and then burst into tears. She tossed her flowers on the ground. Her back heaved with her sobs as she turned away, walking stiffly back down the aisle.
Hugo heaved a sigh and trudged after her.
Jace looked at Ian, who stood at the back of the deck. The look of shock on his face reflected Jace’s.
“I’m sorry,” Erin whispered just before she hurried off.
“The chairs areall put away, and we put the furniture back where it normally goes,” Marissa reported.
“What do we do about everything else?” Ian asked.
Jace’s shoulders were tense. This would’ve been a bad situation anyway, but it felt even worse since this wasn’t his job or company. He hadn’t personally done anything to make the wedding go awry, but he still felt like he’d let Rodney down somehow. He looked around at the flowers and the fluttering ribbons, an odd contrast to the somber pall that’d taken over the ship ever since the wedding had come to such an abrupt halt. “The groom—er, Hugo—made it pretty obvious that there would be no partytonight. Still, it’s getting late and it’s been a long day. Leave the last bits of it for tomorrow and get some rest.”
“You sure?” Ian asked.
“Yeah. We’re anchored for the night, so after I check on a few things, I’ll be hitting the hay myself.” Not that he thought he’d sleep very well. If he weren’t thinking about the disastrous day, he’d be thinking about Erin—preferably the latter.
“All right. Good night.” Ian headed below the deck.
Though he knew everything was all settled and well, Jace went back to the helm station anyway. It’d been a habit he’d formed a long time ago, back when he used to have this sort of job on the regular, to double-check that they were good for the night. The routine had carried over into his personal life once he’d changed to only making daily runs, and he was at home at night with Ian. He’d do a quick security check of the house, making sure the doors were locked, the dirty dishes were in the dishwasher, and his little boy was sleeping soundly in his bed.
Things had changed a lot since then.
He took a quick glance over the controls and nodded. Nothing was coming over the radio. All was well. But then he spotted a shadow out by the bow.Jace stopped and studied it. The moon provided the only illumination out there, and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. It was Erin.
Slipping out onto the deck, Jace made his way forward. He could see her dark hair moving slightly in the breeze. She sat almost all the way in the bow, having passed by the large seating area and the sun pad. Her knees were drawn up to her chin. One arm was wrapped around her shins, and the other loosely held a glass of straight whiskey. Her other hand rested on one knee as she looked out to sea.
“I wasn’t sure if it was okay to be out here.”
She hadn’t moved or turned to him, and Jace thought she hadn’t heard him approach. “It’s fine by me,” he said softly. “Would you mind some company?”
