Page 58 of Landry
"I'm sure you'll find them eventually." She squeezed his hands. "Shall we?"
"I've been waiting fifteen years for this." Tucking her hand through his arm, he led the way.
* * * * *
At the very back of the church, the distinguished-looking gentleman with the smoothly cut salt-and-pepper hair and a tiny goatee dabbed at his eyes, eyes of a brilliant and sharp Caribbean blue, as the couple exchanged vows.
"Wonderful couple, aren't they?" the buxom woman seated to his right and wearing too much Chanel No. 5 commented. She had squeezed herself into a dress that was one size smaller and looked absolutely ridiculous. "I'm friends with the bride's mother," she added proudly, as if that was some sort of accomplishment. He could tell her that he was the groom's father but decided to let it rest.
"Lovely." His smooth tone left her in no doubt that he was not in the mood for a conversation. It had been pathetically easy to slip inside the overpriced and ostentatious club. All he had to do was swipe a member's card. It was that easy. He was going as Joseph Bailey, the name on the card. He suspected the man was now searching for it.
The disguise had been the hard part. He was an expert at being a chameleon and had honed his skills over the years. He had taken a risk, but he wasn't about to miss the most momentous time in his son's life. He would take pictures to place in the scrapbook he had compiled. Amusement twisted his lips as his eyes tracked over to where his former friend and his whore of a wife sat in a place of prominence in the front. He could so easily take them out. But nothing would spoil this very special occasion.
He could objectively admire the bride. She was staggeringly beautiful, but that meant little or nothing to him. Beautiful women were known to be fickle and faithless. His eyes hardened as he stared at Jessica, his lips curling contemptuously. The dress she was wearing was more suited to a younger woman. She should be ashamed of displaying herself like the whore she was.
But then again, she was dressed appropriately. Tearing his eyes off her, he forced himself to concentrate on the ceremony.
* * * * *
"My wife." Emotions swamped him as he waltzed with her around the ballroom. "It's going to take me a few years to get used to the fact that we're husband and wife."
She laughed up at him, the feeling of happiness and well-being tucked deep inside her heart. She was anticipating their wedding night.
"I'll keep reminding you," she assured him teasingly.
They were being observed but had eyes only for each other.
His fingers trailed intimately up and down her back. He could feel the warmth of her skin through the lace and silk of her wedding dress. "I cannot wait to get you naked." His voice had deepened, sending shivers up and down her spine.
"Why do I get the feeling that's the main reason you married me?"
He merely grinned, eyes wandering over her beloved face. "That might be a factor. I-"
"I would tell you to get a room, but I think that's covered. You're monopolizing the bride, my friend," Jackson said, clapping him on the shoulder. "How do you put up with his possessiveness?"
"Why don't you go to-"
"And his rudeness?" Taking her arm, Jackson's eyes danced merrily as his friend glowered at him. "Besides, as part of my duties as your best man, I'm honor bound to dance with this lovely bride."
"One dance," Landry muttered.
"Of course. Now go away." Jackson swept her into his arms as the band picked up a livelier tune. "He's still boring holes in my back."
"I bet he's thinking up ways to pay you back," she said.
Jackson's grin widened. "You know him well." His smile faded as he gazed down at her. "He adores you."
Her heart turned over and settled. "I adore him back."
"It shows. Now how about we show these jokers what we're made of?" he suggested.
"What do you have in mind?"
Dipping her to the ground, he showed her. Within minutes, they were whirling around the dance floor and attracting a lot of attention. The other couples moved aside and simply watched as they whirled and tap danced to the music. At the end of it, Kady held up one hand and pressed the other to her chest, her breathing coming hard and fast.
At the sound of applause, Jackson grabbed her hand and took a bow, a grin splitting his face.
"I think your husband is planning to murder me."
