Beautifully Irresistible (47 page)

The church was thankfully only ten minutes away.

Zack never let go of Scarlett and held her hand, leading her into the church. He turned around from time to time to check that Jasper was okay. Jasper tightened his grip on my hand.

There were quite a few press there taking photographs but some burly blokes that worked for Zack managed to usher them back.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Zack asked, keeping a tight grip on Scarlett.

She managed to briefly nod as we took our seats at the front of the packed church.

“Jasper, are you okay?” he whispered.

“Not really Dad,” he sniffed quietly.

I put my arm around him and pulled him into my shoulder. Zack looked at me and gave me a brief smile.

Scarlett sat in between us, tightly grasping Zack’s hand and she reached for mine, holding it tightly. Jasper was at the other side of me with his head buried in my shoulder.

The vicar started the service and talked a bit about Phoebe and her charity work. He painted her as some sort of saint but it wasn’t for me to say otherwise. A took a quick look around the church and I saw Alex at the back of the church and then a few rows in front of him I saw Tyler. I wondered if any more of her exes had turned up.

We sang a couple of hymns then the song Arms of the Angels was played into the quiet church. Scarlett had been doing quite well until that point but she let the floodgates well and truly open.

Zack put his arm around her as she sobbed into his shoulder. Tears filled my eyes as I watched them together. He struggled to keep his tears in.

My heart broke for all of them.

After the service, it was just close family at the internment. I wanted to leave them to it but Zack had insisted that I be there.

The vicar said a few words then Scarlett and Jasper threw a single white rose onto the coffin. Zack threw a single red rose on.

His face was a tight mask of composure as he hid behind his sunglasses. I gripped his hand and he gave me a grateful smile.

A single tear trickled down his cheek.

Chapter Sixty Nine

We went back to the house where the caterers had prepared a buffet. I started to un-wrap the food, happy to have something to do.

As I glanced out of the window, I saw Alex hanging around in the back garden. I looked around worried that Zack had seen him but he was in the lounge talking to Phoebe’s brother, Harry.

Alex beckoned me outside so I quickly ducked out through the kitchen and walked towards him.

“What the hell are you doing here? Zack will kill you if he sees you, Alex. Are you crazy?” I whispered, pushing him around the corner into some tall trees.

“I’m sorry about what happened in Paris and London, Jennifer. I feel so foolish about it.”

“Don’t worry about it, Alex. It’s in the past and I hope that I didn’t do you any serious damage!”

“Ha! No. I’m fine.”

“I must get back, Alex.”

“Well, I hope you will be happy with Zack. I realise now that he is a good man and a good father. Phoebe filled my head with lies about him and I just wanted to tell you that.”

“Okay, Alex. Thanks.”

“Jennifer, this money is for your dress. The thugs I hired told me what happened. They were pretty scared of you! I had no idea you were a detective!”

“No one did! My dress doesn’t matter but thank you for the gesture. I hope you find love that is as deep as the love I have found with Zack. I really do, Alex.”

I took the money from him, touched by his gesture.

“Goodbye, Jennifer. Take care.”

He kissed me full on the lips and quickly disappeared into the woods. Looking down at the cash, I quickly counted it. He had given me £1,000.00.

“Jennifer, where are you?” Zack shouted.

“Sorry, Zack, I was just getting some air. I felt a bit overwhelmed. Is Scarlett alright?”

“I thought I heard you talking to someone.”

“I was. It was Alex.”

His face flushed angrily.

“What did he want? What’s that in your hand?”

“He wanted to apologise for Paris and London and he wished us all the best, actually. He gave me money for my dress. It’s yours, I guess.”

“I don’t want it. Treat yourself with it, baby. Scarlett has gone for a lay down. Can you go and check her in a bit?”

“Of course I will,” I said, holding his hand tightly.

He put my hand to his lips and kissed the palm.

“Jennifer, where is Jasper? I haven’t seen him for a while and he’s not in his room.”

“I will go and find him,” I told him, heading out into the garden.

“I will have a look for him too. We must find him!”

I looked in the gym, the cabana and the garage but there was no sign of him. I decided to head into the stables and then I saw him crouched in Puzzle’s stable, sobbing his heart out.

Pushing the stable door open gently, Puzzle came over and nuzzled my hand. I patted him softly and kissed his nose.

“Jasper, shall I get your Dad?” I whispered.

I walked over and put my arms around him. We sat on a blanket together in the corner of the stable.

“No, it’s okay. I’m sorry. I just needed a quiet moment,” he told me, rubbing his eyes.

He raked a hand through his hair and looked so like Zack it was spooky. His face was red and blotchy from crying. I kissed his forehead softly as he buried his wet face into my chest.

“I’m not much of a man, am I? Men don’t cry, do they?”

“Real men do cry and it’s nothing to be ashamed of, Jasper.”

“You need to let your emotions out or they build up inside you and that’s no good for anyone.”

“I shouldn’t be that upset, really. You have been more like a mother these last few months. Mum was always just out for herself. I think she regretted having us so young, you know. Dad makes up for her though. He is the best Dad anyone could have. He saved me and protected me. He would give his life for me,” he whispered.

“I’m sure she loved you and Scarlett a great deal, darling,” I told him, stroking his hair off his face.

Saved and protected him from what?

“Anyway, at least Dad is with someone who loves him now. I see how you look at him. Your face lights up when you look at him. You are crazy about each other. She can’t have ever loved him really. All those sordid affairs she had. She really disgusted me.”

His handsome face crumpled again.

“Just think about the good times, Jasper,” I soothed.

“Your boobs are really comfy, Jennifer,” he cheekily told me.

“Jasper, you are so bad and so like your father!”

We sat there for a while as he told me about Phoebe. I stroked his hair gently.

“Jennifer. Are you in here?” Zack shouted.

“We are here, Zack” I quietly replied, looking down at Jasper.

His eyes were closed and he had fallen asleep. He must have been completely exhausted.

“Is he okay? What did he say?” he whispered.

His face was a mask of concern for his son.

“He will be, with you around. Jasper has been telling me what a great Dad you are,” I whispered to him.

“I love them both so much,” he said, looking at Jasper lovingly.

“I will stay with him until he wakes up. He said you saved him. What do you think he meant by that?” I asked him, stroking Jasper’s blond hair.

“I don’t know, Jennifer,” he replied, looking puzzled.

He smiled at me warmly and I realised how tired he was. We could all do with a holiday.

“I love you all, Zack.”

“We all love you too, JB.”

Chapter Seventy

“What about a day trip to Paris, just the two of us? Do you fancy it, Miss Black?”

It had been several days since the funeral and the twins were taking a few days off college.

“Oh yes. We could do with a laugh, Zack!”

“Right, grab your bag and let’s go, baby! We will take the Aston Martin!”

“Can I drive, Zack?”

His face was a picture as he mulled over my question. He was struggling to decide. Minutes ticked by as I looked on the ground for a bale of tumble weed.

“Right, okay then, but keep your foot back a bit. The Fair Lady Martin needs respect, you know!”

“I thought I was the only weirdo that named cars!”

“Ha! What do you call the Audi?”

“I call him Colegasm as he is quick to respond, never lets me down and I am sure he could go all night!”

“Complete filth, JB!”

I settled in behind the wheel and acquainted myself with the dashboard.

Jesus! It was like Christmas had come early!

Gently easing onto the throttle, the engine throbbed and purred under my touch. The sound was so deliciously erotic.

“She’s very eager, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she reminds me of you!”

“You trust me don’t you, baby?”

I winked at him as I eased the car down the long gravel driveway.

“Don’t make me regret this, Miss Black!”

“You won’t, lover boy!”

We sped off in the DB9 to the private airstrip. His hand rested comfortably on my knee and he smiled over at me warmly. Butterflies whizzed around my stomach as I looked at him.

Driving this car was beyond amazing. I could totally see the attraction. It was like nothing I had experienced before. Pulling up, Zack looked relieved that I hadn’t totalled her.

“Wow, driving her was like when you give me a Cole orgasm, only not quite as good!”

“Glad to hear it! You did well, baby!”

Once we were on Zack’s plane, I noticed how nervous he was. He seemed to be sweating a bit. Something was bothering him.

He strapped me in and kissed me deeply, his tongue twisting with mine as I responded to his lovely kiss. His hands stroked my hair and heat rose between us. He dominated the kiss as I became aroused. I pushed my body closer into him, enjoying the feeling of him in my mouth. He seemed to be trying to tell me something with his soft and tender lips.

“Wow, that was very nice!” I told him breathlessly.

My heart was pounding loudly as a flush spread across my face and chest.

“Are you ready, baby?”

His gorgeous eyes shone beautifully in the bright sun light. We taxied down the runway and within minutes, we were making our ascent. He checked all the instruments and he still looked a bit twitchy. It was probably all the crap that had been going on recently with David and finding out about Phoebe’s death.

Well, we could only look forward now and at least he knew the truth about me and he still wanted me. I studied his stunning profile as he concentrated on his task.

He still loves me and I love him.

Reaching into his jeans pocket, he inserted the USB into the sound system. Our special songs started to play.

Settling in, I enjoyed looking at the landscape below us. After about fifteen minutes, he turned to me pointing down at the house.

I could see Scarlett and Jasper running and waving at the plane in one of the open fields.

“Look, there’s the twins!” I shouted into the headset.

“I know! Keep looking!” he instructed, grinning at me.

The small plane tilted slightly to the left then I saw it.

Oh my god! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was completely speechless!

The question ‘Jennifer, will you marry me?’ appeared in the field below. A heart shape surrounded the letters and each letter must have been about 4ft tall. The letters were formed by large rocks. It must have taken him ages!

So that’s where he disappeared to yesterday!

“Jesus, Zack, that is beautiful and so romantic!” I told him as tears blurred my vision.

Oh my god! This was it!

“Well, will you, Jennifer?” he asked, looking worried.

His blue eyes were wide as he waited for my reply.

“Can I think about it?” I coyly teased him.

“Yes, of course, if you want to,” he whispered, looking away.

“I’m just kidding! Of course I will marry you! Nothing would make me happier!”

“I love you so much, Jennifer.”

“I love you too, Zack. I always have and I always will.”

We touched down in Paris and Zack unstrapped me from my seat. He held my face lovingly in his hands and tipped my head back to kiss me. His lush deep kiss was full of love.

“Are you ready for some lunch, fiancée?”

“I’m starving, but I’m hungrier for you.”

“I love the way you are constantly horny!”

“It’s your fault for being so drop dead gorgeous, Mr Cole. I am completely under your spell.”