I Only Have Eyes For You (6 page)

Smith was frowning as he looked between her and Jake. She’d known her family was going to be watching her very carefully when she walked back into the reception area, and that even the slightest indication that something had happened to her would send all six of her brothers on a rampage. Especially given her new look for the wedding, she knew they were already suspicious that something was going on. She took her seat and flashed a bright smile at Smith, thankful when Marcus stood up and all eyes turned to him.

“This is a big day for the Sullivans.” The guests immediately stopped talking and focused their attention on Marcus. “I’m sure there are some who thought the day would never come when one of us would say ‘I do’.” As the crowd laughed at his on-point observation, Sophie worked like crazy not to stare at Jake, who was seated next to Lori at the far end of the large table. “Now that it has, I know there isn’t a single one of us who is surprised.”

Marcus turned from the crowd to face Chase and Chloe. “Chloe, if I had tried, I couldn’t have found a partner more perfect for my brother.” The bride's eyes were already filling with tears as her new husband threaded his fingers through hers. “Chase, I’m as happy for you as I’ve ever been. And so damn proud. Our father was one of the best men I’ve ever known and you’ve always reminded me so much of him. He would be as proud of you, Chase, and he would love you, Chloe, as much as the rest of us do.”

Marcus’s strong voice broke slightly on the last word and he looked up toward the sky and paused like that for a few long moments. Sophie could hear sniffles from all throughout the reception area. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her mother beginning to cry, but Sophie knew if she actually looked at Mary, she’d dissolve into a wet puddle, too. Smith gripped her hand hard and she squeezed back with all her strength, the two of them holding on to each other as Marcus continued.

“One other thing I’m absolutely sure of—” He paused again to smile at Chase and Chloe, and turned to briefly look at each of his brothers and sisters, before focusing on his mother. “—is that he’s here with all of us today.”

Marcus was holding his hand over his heart by now and Sophie knew why. That was exactly where she held her father to her. He’d passed away when she was only two, but she’d heard so many stories about him over the years, and had each of his pictures memorized, that she felt she could remember him just as well as any of her older siblings.

“We can’t wait to meet the first of the next generation of Sullivans.”

The applause came, then, as everyone got to their feet to toast not only Chase and Chloe, but the baby growing inside of the beautiful bride. Chase’s hand rested possessively over her gently rounded stomach as he kissed Chloe, and Sophie leaned into Smith’s shoulder as she whispered, “They’re so beautiful together, aren’t they?”

Smith kissed her forehead, then took the mic from Marcus. As he stood up, everyone let out a collective gasp. It wasn’t just that he was a movie star. Smith had always had a huge presence, had always been mesmerizing, especially when he was decked out in a black tux with tails. Sophie was sure every woman at the wedding—taken or not—was dreaming about what it would be like to have Smith Sullivan give her a second glance.

“My brothers and sisters like to tell me I live in a world of make-believe,” he said in the voice that a billion people around the globe could have recognized with their eyes closed. “I don’t know what they’re talking about. My life is perfectly normal.”

Laughter rolled through the crowd as Ryan and Gabe shook their heads as theatrically as possible.

“One thing we can all agree on,” he continued when the laughter subsided, “is that there’s nothing imaginary about the love between Chase and Chloe.”

Oh my.
Sophie knew her big brothers could be big softies. But had any of them ever let anyone but the family see it before? Especially Smith, who had to guard himself from the pressures of fame and strangers who thought they knew the real man when they definitely didn’t.

And yet, in this moment, for the brother he loved, Smith was pure emotion. If he was willing to risk baring his soul for a few moments like this, Sophie knew she didn’t have a prayer of being anything but a big old splashy puddle by the time the microphone landed in her hand.

“To your forever.”

Everyone raised their glasses as Smith toasted the bride and groom, Chase nodding at his brother with a big grin in acknowledgement of the beautiful wish he’d just made for them.

Ryan was next as he took the microphone from Smith and stood up. Any of the women who hadn’t just lost their hearts to Smith would have been hard pressed not to give it up to the pro baseball player. Sophie couldn’t think of the last time she’d seen Ryan or Zach in a tux. Both of them had complained when she’d informed them that’s what they were going to wear as groomsmen. Knowing her brothers and the way they charmed absolutely any woman they came into contact with, Sophie made sure to let the tux rental company know she’d be extremely upset if they caved and gave her brothers alternatives to the tuxes.

And she’d been right to hold firm. All of her brothers looked absolutely fantastic, a picture perfect postcard of male perfection. Sophie shot a glance at Lori, silently acknowledging that the two of them didn’t look half bad, either. Their mother, Mary, was pure elegance in her floor-length lace and silk dress in a soft coral that perfectly set off her coloring.

“Guys like me tend to look at life as a game.” Sophie could see how much the crowd loved Ryan’s easy manner. He’d always been the most relaxed and easygoing of them all. On the baseball field he took no prisoners, but even then, he made it all look so easy. So effortless. It was the same now, as he surveyed the guests with a lazy appreciation. “Helps if early on you realize that some games are gonna go better than others.” He shrugged. “A year ago, if you’d asked me for my thoughts on the game of love, I would have told you to ask some other sap.”

Surprised laughter burst from the crowd and Sophie had to shake her head and roll her eyes at Ryan, before catching her mother’s gaze and grinning. They’d predicted just this, hadn’t they? It was nice to know there were some things you could count on, she thought with a grin that she didn’t bother repressing.

“But I’ve watched my brother and his bride pretty closely since they first found each other, and even for a guy like me, there’s no denying that if life is a game, I’m betting on their chances at taking home the pennant.” He lifted his glass to Chase and Chloe. “To both of you.”

Sophie couldn’t believe Ryan had actually made her tear up. He was supposed to be the comic relief. Fortunately, she actually found herself thinking, Zach was up next.

Zach grinned as he took center stage, knowing darn well that none of the women in the reception could even remember Smith or Ryan’s names anymore. How many times had one of Sophie’s girlfriends told her they’d never seen anyone as gorgeous as Zach? She was certain plenty of flat tires had been faked on his behalf, if only for the chance to get close to him for a few minutes.

Her brother should have been utterly insufferable and arrogant. And, at times, Sophie had to admit Zach was pretty darn close to being the dictionary definition of both those words. Still, despite his endless teasing, she couldn’t help but love him.

“Let this be a lesson to all of you who aren’t keeping up with your auto maintenance,” Zach said to the group. “Flat tires and totaled cars can lead straight to something truly shocking.” He paused for effect, then lowered his voice and said, “Marriage.”

The guests all laughed, but even though Sophie was on the verge of laughing, too, she made herself shoot her brother a hard look. He grinned unrepentantly at her before turning to the bride and groom.

“But seriously, this is a great day and I couldn’t have picked a better girl for my brother. To Chloe, for being brave enough to take the plunge with a Sullivan.” He raised his glass and everyone followed.

Gabe pretended to tackle Zach as he pulled the microphone from his hand, but he instantly sobered as he turned to Chase and Chloe. “All my life I’ve looked up to you, Chase. But never more than today, when you had the courage to make vows of forever with Chloe.”

Trust Gabe to get right to the heart of it. Her firefighter brother had always lived a life of risk and bravery. Just a few months ago he’d finally found his own true love in Megan and her daughter, Summer, two hearts and souls that were just as brave as her brother’s.

“Just as you’ve always been there for me, I want you both to know that I’m here for you. Anything you need, any time, don’t hesitate to ask. Because I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure that it’s yours.”

Chloe blew Gabe a kiss as everyone applauded. Sophie felt bad for the men in the audience whose wives were now looking at them with new—higher—expectations after hearing from the firefighter.

Sophie had been trying to prepare herself for the moment when Jake took the microphone to make his toast. She told herself not to stare at him for too long, but not to look away too many times, either. She needed to behave like everyone else in the audience...rather than like someone who was hopelessly, irrevocably, in love with the man standing before them.

“I was ten years old when I met Chase Sullivan. I was in his backyard and I didn’t want to be there any more than I thought anyone else wanted me around.”

Sophie forgot all about acting normal. What was Jake doing? Sure, everyone else was pulling out the stops, but that was what brothers did for each other. Jake had always held his cards much closer to his chest than the rest of them, even Zach. Sophie fell even more in love with Jake as she watched him unexpectedly open up in front of hundreds of strangers.

“I still remember watching the football come sailing from out of nowhere straight toward my puny little head.”

One look at the large man standing before them and it was absolutely clear to everyone that nothing about Jake had ever been puny. Sophie shivered as she remembered how big, how strong, his muscular body had felt pressed into hers while he’d been holding her.

“Somehow I managed to catch it a before it nailed me right between the eyes.” Grins turned to laughter as Jake turned to Chase. “Your aim has always been dead on, buddy. After witnessing firsthand the way you—and the rest of this motley crew—took in a scared kid more than twenty years ago, Chloe, you’ll be pleased to know that you’ve chosen to spend the rest of your life with one of the best men I’ve ever had the honor of knowing. There’s a saying in Ireland that seems pretty appropriate for today:

If you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love.

If you must steal, steal away from bad company.

And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away.”

Sophie couldn’t pull her gaze from Jake’s chiseled face as he raised the glass of specially brewed McCann beer that, she was surprised to suddenly realize, had just been delivered to all the guests’ place settings during the other toasts. That he’d planned such a beautiful toast for her brother and his new wife simply stunned her with its poignancy, as did his final words on lifted glass: “To one of those moments.”

Lori gave the crowd a saucy grin as she stood up. Putting her hand on her hip as if she were mad about something, she said, “I’ll have all of you know that I always figured I’d be the first Sullivan to get married.” She pouted into the laughter, somehow managing to look beautiful even as she pushed out her lower lip. “And if anyone had told me that my big brother was going to up and steal my thunder, I would have reminded him that little sisters know how to exact our revenge.” She winked in Chase’s direction.

Sophie had to admit that her twin knew how to work a crowd. It was why she was such a great choreographer. Lori understood what people wanted, and she was talented enough to give it to them. After the deep emotions from her brothers and Jake, Lori’s seductive playfulness was just what the doctor ordered.

“Good thing my love for you, Chase, is only surpassed by my thrill at calling Chloe
sister
.” She raised her glass to the bride. “Welcome to the family, sis. We’re thrilled you’re officially one of us now.”

Sophie’s heart started pounding an out-of-control beat as Lori sashayed across the reception area to give her the microphone. She wasn’t comfortable speaking in front of people, had always been able to rely on a crowd of charismatic Sullivans to disappear behind.

Her twin pulled her to her feet and shoved the mic at her, leaving Sophie no choice but to grab it before it fell to the floor. Sophie knew she must look like a deer caught in the headlights, with all of those people staring at her, waiting for her to say something beautiful and moving like every one of those who had spoken before her.

Oh no.

She didn’t know where to look, wanted to disappear into the floor. But then, just as she thought she was going to suffocate from being unable to take a full breath, she looked up and found Jake’s eyes on her.

You can do this,
he seemed to be saying to her. And there was such belief in his unwavering gaze that Sophie had no choice but to believe, too, if only for long enough to make her speech and sit down.

“Hi.” She wasn’t used to hearing her voice echoing out of speakers like that and it took her aback, until she locked on to Jake’s dark gaze again.

You’re not really afraid of this bunch, are you?

She suddenly remembered him looking down at her from a tree fort the boys had built, so many years ago. She couldn’t have been more than six or seven and her legs had been trembling the same way they were now, but she’d seen that challenge in Jake’s eyes and she’d risen to it, climbing up that tree so fast she hadn’t been able to let fear grab hold of her and toss her to the ground. He hadn’t congratulated her for making it into the fort, had probably made some crack about banning girls in the future...but she’d known he was proud of her.

She wanted him to be proud of her now.