Page 31 of Then Came Love
JAX HEARD THE dressing room door open and turned to see Jordan walking out in the strapless gown he’d chosen because it was most like the column dress and full, detachable train from Sabrina that she loved so much. He couldn’t look away from the woman who had claimed a part of him eight months ago and even more of him since Nick’s wedding. He didn’t want to miss a second of her beauty. He’d seen hundreds of brides-to-be in their gowns, and never once had he felt like he was making a mistake.
Until now.
He was dressing the woman he was certain was meant to be his future wife so she could walk down the aisle to another man. He was starting to understand how much it had hurt Zev to walk away from Carly all those years ago. How his love for her had consumed him, growing more with every passing day for a decade until he finally got his girl.
Only Jax wouldn’t get his girl in the end.
But he’d made a promise to design Jordan’s gown, and he wasn’t going to let her down.
“You are exquisite.” He stepped behind her to zip the dress, inhaling the sweet scent of lavender. “Do you use lavender shampoo?”
“I do. You’re as good with scents as you are with clothes. Lavender is a scent of hope.”
He loved knowing that, and it made sense that she’d surround herself with things that represented hope, since the people closest to her didn’t share her feelings about Casey. He gathered her hair over one shoulder—smooth as silk, just as he’d imagined—and his gaze fell to the most beautiful shoulders he’d ever seen. They were dusted with freckles, a smattering of them spilling down her spine like raindrops frozen in time. He wanted to kiss each and every one of them. Stifling that desire was like trying to wrangle a runaway bull, but he forced himself to remain focused on making this a memorable experience for her and zipped the dress.
“Let’s take a closer look.” He took her hand, leading her toward the fitting stand, and helped her onto it. She was surrounded by six full-length mirrors, but as he fixed her train, he noticed she kept her eyes downcast. “What do you think?”
“It’s a beautiful gown.” Her eyes remained trained on the floor.
“Take a look in the mirror.” He waited for her to do as he’d asked, but she didn’t. “Does it feel uncomfortable?”
She looked at him, eyes wide, as if he’d said something awful. “No. It’s perfectly comfortable.”
“Then why aren’t you looking in the mirror?”
“I will.” She feigned a smile, inhaling deeply before looking in the mirror. That feigned smile quickly disappeared, and the color drained from her face. She fanned herself with her hand. “Is it hot in here?”
“Not particularly.”
She lifted her arms. “I’m sweating. Can you unzip it please so I don’t ruin your dress?”
“Of course. Is it too tight?” He unzipped it.
“No.” She fanned her face again.
“Jordan, come off the platform.” He took her hand as she stepped down. She wobbled, and he put his arm around her, drawing her against him. “Did you eat anything before coming here?”
“Yes, a little dinner.”
“Do you feel sick?”
“No, just overwhelmed.”
Me too, wondering how I’m going to let you go.He struggled to push that reality aside and focused on helping her find her footing.
“That’s not uncommon among brides. Let’s go sit down.”
“No.”She clung to him. “I might not make it over to the chairs.”
“Okay. I’ve got you, sweetheart.” I’d rather you were in my arms anyway. “Take a few deep breaths and blow them out slowly.” She breathed deeply. “Attagirl. There’s no rush. We have all night.”
“This is so embarrassing.”
“It shouldn’t be. Lots of brides get overwhelmed or have cold feet.”
“I’ve had cold feet for so long, I think they’re nearly frozen.”
Doesn’t that tell you something?He wasn’t going to be a dick and try to talk her out of marrying that dolt, no matter how much it killed him. “Getting married can be scary, and moving away and starting a new life in an unfamiliar place adds to that. Plus, you’re leaving a lot more behind than the typical bride does. But you’ll be fine, Jordan. You’re a smart, strong woman, and I am one hundred percent certain that there is nothing you can’t do for the man you love.” Those last words tasted bitter.
Her brows knitted, and she looked like she wanted to say something, but she pressed her beautiful, kissable lips together and let go of him, drawing her shoulders back. “You’re right. I’m just afraid of the changes that’ll come after the wedding. Starting over is hard. And finding a new job in a new city where I don’t know anyone will be scary.”
“With a new husband,” he reminded her, steeling himself against the reality that he’d no longer even have the chance of running into her in town.
“He’s not new,” she said softly. “But the husband part is.”
