Page 70 of Before You Say I Do
Jordan did not think. Any time she’d seen Abby, she’d looked nothing short of stunning. “I think she does just fine,” she replied.
But Marjorie wasn’t to be deterred. “It’s her pale Scottish skin, you see. It doesn’t suit much. I did offer her the use of my tanning lady, but she fobbed me off. I was just trying to help, particularly as she’ll be wearing white on the big day, which isn’t going to be her natural bliss point.”
Jordan smiled. Ah, the mother-in-law rant. It was good to know that Marjorie was converting to type. It set Jordan back on track and gave her more of a gauge on where she was in the wedding.
It wasn’t until she looked over Marjorie’s shoulder and spotted Abby and Marcus walking towards her that her muscles locked.
Because Jordan’s gauge of Abby was far more accurate than Marjorie’s had been.
When their eyes met, something passed between them. Something that made Jordan ache.
Nobody she’d met had impacted her like this in a long time. She had something with Abby. She made her laugh, which went a long way. Plus, they shared a similar life view. If only Abby would let herself believe her first instincts.
But she hadn’t. And now she was marrying Marcus.
Jordan had to let it go.
“Here they are, the couple of the moment!” Marjorie greeted the pair with air kisses and not-quite hugs, the way rich people did. “Ready to do your practice wedding?”
Abby nodded, focusing on her future mother-in-law. “The ceremony went well. Now let’s do the dinner and speeches.”
“Not too much wine, that’s the key,” Marjorie replied.
Marcus shook his head. “Nonsense. You can never have too much wine. Isn’t that right, Jordan?” He gave her a smile. “By the way, you look stunning. Hot pink is definitely your colour.” He put an arm around his mother and they walked away, leaving Abby staring at Jordan.
“He’s right,” she said, as she drew level with Jordan, her gaze dropping to Jordan’s lips. “You do look stunning.”
Jordan stared right back. “So do you.”
Abby touched her arm, before walking after Marcus. But she turned back, and the look she gave Jordan was scorched with want.
Jordan closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Two more days and this would all be over.
* * *
Two hours later,and they were onto their main course of the rehearsal dinner.
Jordan’s stomach growled, but she wasn’t listening. She’d lost her appetite. Down the long table she could hear Delta laughing at something, Taran and Gloria flanking her. Jordan had insisted she was sat on the end, so she could be on hand to iron out any issues.
However, it had meant that when she turned to her right, she kept glimpsing Abby chatting and looking for all the world like someone who was excited to be getting married this weekend. So Jordan had to surmise she was. Jordan wished she could accept it for what it was, but as the evening wore on, she just wanted to leave.
Marcus’s best man, Philip, tapped his glass, and all eyes turned to him.
“I just wanted to say, I couldn’t think of a better fit for Marcus than Abby. She’s kind, caring, and has done the right thing by keeping him hanging on and not moving in with him until after the big day. I asked if she was waiting to consummate the marriage, too, but she wouldn’t answer.”
Jordan took another swig of her wine. She should stop. She had to drive home tonight. Carrie the Capri was waiting outside, much to the consternation of the hotel staff who would rather it wasn’t. Jordan had always thought posh people appreciated antiques. Apparently it didn’t extend to cars.
Marcus was on his feet now, waving at Philip. “Whatever Abby stipulated, I’d have gone along with. Just so long as she agreed to marry me. And she did.” He took her hand in his, looking at her with adoration.
Jordan looked away.
However, she could still hear him.
“Abby, I can’t wait to reveal my vows to you on Sunday. To tell you how much I love you. To promise you I’m ready to be yours for the rest of our lives. There’s nobody I’d rather go on my life journey with than you, and I’m the luckiest man alive to know that you feel the same way, too.”
Jordan’s stomach turned. She pushed away her food. This was a little too much, even for her. She needed some air. She got to her feet, wooziness seeping through her. A mixture of half a glass of wine, minimal food, and a broken heart.
