Love After Dark (43 page)

“Although our parents always loved me better than him,” Paul said to more laughter, “they’d be delighted to welcome Jenny into the Martinez family, and on their behalf, I say to Jenny that the Martinez family is lucky to have you—and so is Alex. I love you both and wish you a lifetime of the kind of happiness you’re sharing with all of us today.” He raised his glass to them, and when he saw tears in their eyes, he decided he’d done his job. Then he shifted his gaze to Hope and caught her dabbing at her own eyes.
 

Alex stood and took the microphone from him. “Thank you, Paul, and for the record, Mom and Dad always loved
me
best. They frequently said they should’ve quit while they were ahead.”

Paul punched his brother’s arm and returned to his seat.

“I want to thank you all for being here today. Jenny and I are so thrilled to share our special day with you. I’m sure you must be wondering why there’re bowls of tomatoes on your table. This was a little surprise I orchestrated for my lovely bride, who introduced herself to me by chucking tomatoes at me the day we met. It was true love from the second that first tomato hit me square in the back after my gang mower woke her up during last year’s heat wave.”

Jenny hid her face behind her hands as she shook with laughter.

“Don’t let her fool you—that sweet exterior and soft Southern accent hide a steel magnolia on the inside, and she set the tone from the beginning by letting me know I wasn’t going to get away with anything. She’s been keeping me in line ever since, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He held up a flute of champagne. “To my beautiful wife, Jenny. Getting hit by your tomato was the best thing to ever happen to me. I love you forever.”

As Jenny wiped up tears, the rest of the gathering laughed and clapped at Alex’s story.

Paul had heard about the tomatoes many times before, but hearing it in this context made him more determined than ever to throw a few tomatoes of his own—if that was what it took—to convince Hope that the only place in this world she and Ethan belonged was with him. One way or the other, they were going to get their happily ever after.
 

Torture. That was the word Hope would use to describe the last few days as she packed up her belongings and Ethan’s while searching for a new job that would take them away from Paul and the people who’d become like family to them. She’d had a promising second phone interview yesterday, and they were eager for her to come to the mainland to meet in person. She should be relieved to have a hot job prospect, but it had been a very long time since Hope had felt at home anywhere the way she did in her cozy cabin, across the yard from the Martinez house that had also begun to feel like home, and she had absolutely no desire to leave. So rather than feeling relieved, she felt despondent.

Paul and Alex had done the right thing to move Marion when they did. As a medical professional, Hope had fully supported their decision and had done everything she could to make it easier for them even as her heart broke into a million pieces at the implications for herself and Ethan. And Paul…

Other than the night he’d intervened with Ethan, Paul had respected her wishes and kept his distance. The more he stayed away, however, the harder it was for her to respect her own wishes. She lay awake night after night, fighting the desire to leave her bed and go to him. Only Ethan sleeping across the hall kept her where she belonged.
 

The sight of Paul in a tux today hadn’t helped her resolve at all. Her mouth had watered at the first glance of him decked out in formal attire. He looked so sexy, and she wasn’t the only woman in attendance who noticed. The punch of jealousy and the sharp sting of desire between her legs was a reminder that it would be a very long time—if ever—before she “got over” Paul Martinez.
 

She’d received the message he’d sent her in his speech loud and clear. What they’d found together didn’t come around every day. She certainly knew that, but she’d like to think she’d learned from the mistakes of the past and couldn’t gamble her future—or Ethan’s—even for something as wonderful as what she had with Paul. She would never again allow herself to become financially dependent upon a man, no matter how much she loved him or suspected he loved her.

Her gaze took in the room full of happy people and found Ethan at a table with Seamus, Carolina, Kyle and Jackson. The three boys were giggling at something Seamus was saying to them, and her heart ached all over again at the thought of taking him away from his new friends. Ethan had thrived here, and having to tell him they were leaving had nearly killed her.

He’d been furious with her ever since, which had only made a difficult situation worse.
 

A tap on her shoulder had her spinning around to find Paul standing behind her, extending a hand to her. “Dance with me.”

She noted that the request wasn’t made in the form of a question but rather a plea. Powerless to resist him, she took his hand and let him lead her to the dance floor. Of course the song had to be Elvis Presley singing “Can’t Help Falling in Love.”

For the first time since the last time she’d been in his arms, the ache inside her subsided and the longing intensified.
 

“You look so incredibly sexy today,” he whispered in her ear, setting off a whole other reaction.

“That wasn’t the goal,” she said with a nervous laugh.

“You’re effortlessly sexy.”

In all the years she’d been married, her husband had never said anything like that to her. Everything about this man was different from the man she’d married, but even knowing that, she couldn’t seem to throw caution to the wind and forget the many lessons she’d learned the hard way.
 

She’d thought about his sweet offer many times during sleepless nights and had been tempted more than once to say to hell with lessons learned. What did they matter if it meant having to live without him? But then she’d remember what it had felt like to be desperate and alone and deeply in debt, and the fear would trump the desire every time.

“Ethan is spending the night with Seamus and Carolina,” Paul whispered in her ear. “After the wedding, I need a few minutes of your time.”

Surprised to hear of plans she’d known nothing about, she said, “Wait, since when is he staying with them?”

“Since I asked if he could. They were happy to have him. Seamus said he’s good for the boys because he makes them laugh, and they need that right now.”

“Why did you ask if he could stay there?”

“Because we need to talk, and I want you all to myself when we do.”

Though every part of her wanted to hear what he had to say, her better judgment ruled the day. “It’s not a good idea, Paul.”

“How do you know that?” he asked, his dark eyes dancing with amusement. “You haven’t heard what I have to say yet.”

She shook her head. “I can’t let this get any worse than it already is. These last couple of weeks…”

“I know, sweetheart. Believe me. I know. Give me tonight. Please?”

Her better judgment was going to have to get the hell out of the way, because there was no way she could deny him when he asked for something in that particular tone of voice. “Okay.”

Erin had to work up the nerve, once her bridesmaid duties were officially finished, to take Slim over to meet her parents. Thankfully, her ankle had healed enough to forgo the crutches, but the high-heeled sandals would have to go soon because her ankle was beginning to ache.

“Mom, Dad, this is my friend Slim Jackson,” she said, having practiced the introduction in her mind repeatedly in the last few days. “Slim, my parents, Mary Beth and Tom Barton.”

“Such a pleasure to meet you,” Slim said, full of the charm she’d come to expect from him. He looked amazing in a navy suit with a light blue shirt. His dark hair had been combed into submission, and she’d felt his sexy brown eyes on her all day while she tended to Jenny.

“I understand we have you to thank for rescuing Erin after she hurt her ankle,” her dad said.
 

Erin had no doubt her parents would love Slim. He was their kind of guy—friendly, accomplished, easy to talk to. In many ways, he reminded her of Toby. He’d been less gregarious than Slim but no less charming.
 

“That was certainly no hardship,” he said with a smile for her. They talked for a few minutes about Slim’s work as a pilot. “Could I get you a drink?”
 

“That’d be nice,” Mary Beth said. “White wine for me and a beer for Tom, please.”

“For you?” he asked Erin.

“I’m good for now. Thanks.”

“Be right back.” He walked backward toward the bar. “Don’t talk about me while I’m gone.”

Erin rolled her eyes and laughed at him.

“Well,” her mom said, taking a closer look at Erin. “What’s this I see? A spark of true interest?”

“Perhaps,” Erin said. “It’s very new. Don’t get too excited just yet.”

“He’s lovely,” her mom said. “Handsome as all get-out, too.”

“Is he? I hadn’t noticed.”

That made them both laugh, which warmed her heart. For many years after Toby died, she’d wondered if any of them would ever laugh again.
 

“I assume Slim is a nickname?” Mary Beth asked.

“It is, and you’re not going to believe what his real name is.”

“What?”

“Tobias Fitzgerald Jackson Junior.”

“Oh,” Mary Beth said, the single word sounding more like a gasp. “That’s…”

“Crazy,” Tom said softly.
 

“Isn’t it?” Erin asked. “When he first told me… You’re going to think it’s silly, but…”

“You felt like our Toby might’ve sent him to you,” Mary Beth said.

“Yes,” Erin said, relieved that her mom got it. “I’d like to think such things are possible.”

“So would we,” Tom said, smiling at her. “Your brother would be pleased to see Jenny so happy, and he’d like your Slim.”

“I’m glad you think Toby would’ve liked him, but he’s not
my
Slim,” Erin said. “We’re friends. That’s all.”

“I guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?” Tom asked with a wink for his daughter.

Slim returned with drinks for her parents, which they accepted graciously.

“You two ought to go dance,” Mary Beth said. “I love this song.”

The DJ was playing “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

“May I?” Slim asked with a gallant bow as he extended his arm to her.

“She’d love to,” Mary Beth said.

“Honestly, Mother.” Erin sent her parents a teasingly withering look and let Slim lead her to the dance floor. “Sorry about that.”

“About what?” he asked as his arms came around her for the first time since he carried her into the lighthouse.

Erin had danced with plenty of men, but never before had she been so unsure of where to put her hands or why it seemed so difficult to get air to her lungs. God, he smelled good.

“You okay?”

“Um, sure. Why?

“You’re kind of stiff.”

She blew out a breath and tried to force herself to relax.

“It’s okay,” he said. “I’m used to it. I have that effect on women.”

Erin poked his rock-hard abdomen, which made him laugh and helped her to relax. A little. Why did this moment feel so damned monumental? It was just a dance, for crying out loud.