Meddling in Manhattan (3 page)

When he kissed her, it was as if the world stopped for just a moment.  The kiss was short, but for all its brevity, it caused more rioting emotions than she'd ever experienced.  Yes, she was meant to marry this man.

Chapter Two

Addie took Jake back to the bride's room as soon as the ceremony was over.  She wanted at least a few minutes to talk to her new husband.  She didn't even know what he did for a living!  Not that it mattered.  She didn't believe in divorce, and she'd signed a contract not to separate for a year.

When they got to the room at the back of the church, Jake did what he'd wanted to do in front of the entire congregation.  He pulled her into his arms for a real kiss. 

He put his hands at her waist and looked deeply into her eyes.  "I didn't want to embarrass you with a real kiss in front of everyone."

Addie felt breathless as she stared back at him.  His eyes were a deep chocolate brown, and she felt as if she could be lost in them.  "You didn't?"

He shook his head.  "No, but we're alone now."

Her mouth turned up into a slow smile.  "We do seem to be alone.  I wanted to talk for a minute, but I guess that can wait."  She was babbling, and she wished he'd kiss her to shut her up.  She'd never been so nervous, or so excited, at the idea of a kiss before.

He stroked her cheek with his index finger.  "You guess?"  He slowly lowered his head.

Addie had enough of waiting, she wrapped one arm around the back of his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.  As soon as his lips touched hers, she felt electricity shooting through her body.  She moved closer to him, her breasts pressing against his chest.  Never had she felt so much passion.  Even when she'd kissed other men, she hadn't felt this strongly.  How had Dr. Lachele known he was the one for her?  What magic formula did it take to see two people, apart, and know they were meant to be together?

Jake let out a low groan and lifted his head.  "Who'd have thought Lachele knew so much about matchmaking?"

Addie grinned, leaning her head against his shoulder.  "She was certainly right with us."  She took his hand and led him over to two chairs, sitting beside him.  "Can we talk for a minute?"

He shrugged.  "Do I have to stop touching you while we talk?"

She laughed softly.  "I'd rather you didn't!"  She couldn't believe how strong the attraction was between them.  She turned to face him.  "Dr. Lachele said you live in Montana?"

He smiled.  "I currently live in King, Montana, which is a small town outside of Billings.  I've lived there my whole life, but I'm open to moving."  He was not only open to moving, he coveted the Manhattan Library.  He'd move into it if he thought he could get away with it.

Her eyes widened.  "You are?  I was hoping you'd say that!"  She frowned.  "What about your job?"

"Oh, that's not a problem.  I'm a writer."  He watched her face carefully as he said it, hoping he wouldn't see dollar signs appear in her eyes.  For some reason, people thought that if he was a writer, he made a boat load of money, which wasn't necessarily true.  It was in his case, but it didn't have to be.

"Oh," she said with a frown.  "I can't make ends meet on my own.  Will you be able to help with the bills at least a little?"  She'd known a few people who called themselves writers, but they'd had to wait tables to make ends meet. 

Jake blinked a couple of times at her misunderstanding.  He started to correct her but immediately thought better of it.  Better if she thought of him as an impoverished writer trying to put out his first or second book.  "I can help some.  Couple thousand a month?"

She sighed with relief.  "Oh, that's great.  That'll be enough with what I make.  I found a little apartment, but it's just out of my price range on my own.  With that added to my income, we'll be fine." She didn't mind helping him reach his dream by taking on the bulk of the bills.  He may eventually have to get another job, but for now, they'd be fine. 

Jake couldn't believe how excited he was at the prospect of getting to know her without his money being a huge issue.  He was almost as excited about that as he was to get back to the hotel with his new bride.  "Good."  He lowered his head and kissed her again.  "How soon can we get away from here?"

Addie blushed.  "We have to go to the reception.  My whole family is out there."  But she wanted to be alone with him too.  She was a twenty-five year old virgin, and she was convinced she was lacking in some way.  She'd never even been tempted to sleep with one of the men she'd dated. Of course, two or three dates was all it had ever been for her.

Jake sighed.  "Fine.  We'll go to the reception, and I'll pretend not to be fantasizing about removing that beautiful dress from your body."  Normally Jake wouldn't have been so forward, but she was his wife.  He could say what he wanted.

She was sure even her shoulders were blushing at that point.  The dress she'd borrowed from her sister left her shoulders completely bare, so she was sure he knew how embarrassed she was.  "I think we should be around other people.  We'll talk more later." 

He grinned, happy that he could make her so uncomfortable.  He considered it a good sign.  "Much later.  I have a feeling other things are going to need to take precedence for me."  He got to his feet and took her hand in his.  "Let's go greet everyone."

As they walked toward the church's fellowship hall, she was very aware of the man at her side.  She had signed a contract to spend the next year of her life with him, no matter what.  It was good so far, but was that only because their hormones were running rampant?

Her mother made a beeline for her as soon as she stepped into the room with the rest of the guests.  "Are you all right?  He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Mom, we just talked.  He's a nice man."  Addie turned to Jake.  "Jake, this is my mother, Carolyn Myers.  Mom, this is Jake."  Her mother had seemed all for the wedding the last time they talked.  Hadn't her father told her that he'd only discovered good things during his investigation?

Her mother nodded.  "It's nice to meet you.  My husband was a police officer and still has a lot of connections.  Just so you know."  With that, she turned and walked away.

Addie was mortified.  "I'm sorry.  She's really freaked out about me marrying a stranger."

"Want to know a secret?" he asked, his lips close to her ear.

"What?"

"I didn't tell my parents."

"Would your mama be freaked out too?" Addie asked, giggling softly.  She could just picture a tiny little woman with white hair chasing after him with a frying pan, telling him he shouldn't marry a stranger.

"Definitely.  She'd be calling you Lizzie Borden by now, convinced you'd murder me in my sleep."  He didn't add that his mother would think she'd murder him for the money.  Did that really matter?

She introduced him to her brothers and sisters and finally her father, who shook his hand.  "I want you to know I had you investigated," her father said.

Jake nodded, his eyes meeting the older man's.  "I assume you found nothing negative?"  Did he know about his pen name?  Jake knew it was a matter of public record.

Mr. Myers shook his head.  "Nothing.  I'll still be keeping an eye on you, but for now, you have my blessing."

"I'm happy to hear that, sir.  I'll take good care of your daughter."  He hadn't realized he'd be so nervous meeting her father.  Of course, he was the man who would be taking the other man's daughter to bed that night.  It was an odd relationship.

"I trust that you will."  Billy Myers smiled at his daughter.  "You know where to find me if you have any trouble."

Addie smiled.  She didn't know why her father being overprotective made her feel safe, while her mother doing the same thing just made her angry.  "Thank you.  I'll be fine."  She squeezed Jake's hand which had been in hers since they walked into the fellowship hall. 

"Where are you taking her for a honeymoon?" Billy asked, his eyes on Jake.

"We're going to a small resort in South Dakota known for its healing waters.  In fact, the name means healing waters."

Addie looked at Jake.  "I didn't realize we were going anywhere.  That sounds interesting."

Jake shrugged.  "It's off the beaten path, and the same family has owned the place since 1874.  I went to college with the man who runs it now.  Kyle McDonough.  He was a good friend."

Addie nodded.  His friend must have gotten him a discount.  She was glad he knew how to be frugal.  "I only have a week off work."

"That's fine.  I was only planning to stay for a week.  I'd go crazy if I had to take longer than that off work myself."

Billy eyed Jake.  "What city is the resort in?  I want to know where you're taking her." 

"It's called Whisper Creek.  It's not really a city, just a small town. Closest decent sized city is Rapid City. It's got a lot of character.  I've been a few times."  Jake studied Addie.  "Did you pack for a honeymoon?"  He could think of things he hoped she'd packed, but he'd be just as happy seeing her in nothing at all.

She nodded.  "Yes, and I packed for any weather.  I have bathing suits and ski suits."  She shrugged.  "I'll condense what I really need into one suitcase, and we can drop it at the new apartment on our way to the airport."

"That works for me."  Jake looked at her father.  "Do you want my cell phone number?  Would that make you feel safer?"

Billy nodded.  "Yes, I think it would.  Then I have two numbers to reach the two of you at." 

"Oh, I have an idea," Addie interjected.  "I brought both suitcases here to the church.  If I condense into one suitcase, would you take the other home with you, Dad?  It would make it easier for us tomorrow." 

Jake nodded.  "It would.  Our flight is at nine.  It would make it a lot easier."

"I'd be happy to."

"Okay, I'm going to go move the winter clothes into one suitcase and summer stuff into another.  I just need summer stuff, right?  Do I need any dress clothes?"  She was mentally going through everything she'd packed.  Why hadn't she thought to put all the cold weather clothes into one suitcase and the warm weather into another as she was packing?  She should have thought ahead.  Usually she was a great deal more organized than this.

"There are nice restaurants we'll go to.  I'd pack lots of shorts and a couple of nice outfits."  Jake cared almost nothing for clothes, but he could tell his little bride would want to be dressed correctly for everything.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll go pack."  She squeezed Jake's hand and smiled at her father.

Jake looked at her.  "I'll come with you."

Thinking about the nightgown she'd packed for their wedding night, she shook her head quickly.  "No, it's fine.  I'll be right back."  She hurried toward the door, hoping he'd take a hint and not follow her.

Jake watched her go with a frown.  What could she possibly be hiding from him?  Her father had already walked away, so he wandered over to where Savannah and Scott were standing in the corner.  Dr. Lachele was holding Kaeden, fussing over him.

"She's getting the stuff she needs all into one suitcase for the honeymoon," he said to no one in particular.  He just didn't know anyone else, and he didn't want to look stupid standing alone in the middle of the room at his own reception.

"What do you think of her?" Savannah asked, keeping her voice soft.

"She's gorgeous!  She seems smart.  I have no complaints."  Jake watched the door, hoping she'd come back through it. 

"Oh, you will," Scott told him.  "Even Savannah and I had a rough patch at first.  It's hard being married to a total stranger, even if you know you're supposed to be a good match."  Scott winked at Savannah.

Jake grinned, remembering how clueless Scott had been at first.  "Well, I'll do my best to make her happy.  I'm sure we'll be fine."  He knew better than to accuse his wife of having PMS if she got angry with him for doing something stupid.

Dr. Lachele looked up from the baby.  "You will.  Just remember, no separating for the first year, because you two will have it all figured out by then.  And I need more Matchrimony grandbabies, so hurry up on that."

Jake shook his head.  "We've only been married for a couple of hours.  Slow down!"  He had no desire to add babies to his brand new marriage.  He wanted time to savor his wife first.

"No. You hurry up!  I need dozens, please."

Jake looked at Scott.  "I'm not having dozens of babies.  Are you having dozens of babies?"  He wasn't going to bend to the will of a crazy purple-haired woman.  He didn't care if he had known her his entire life.

Scott shrugged.  "Probably not.  But if she keeps matching couples up, she'll get her dozens."

Savannah laughed.  "I'm not having dozens, but a few more would be really nice." 

Scott swallowed hard.  "How many is a few?  I didn't much like watching you go through labor!"

Savannah linked her arm through Scott's and leaned into him.  "Another four or five maybe?"

Scott shook his head adamantly.  "Two more. That's my final offer."

Savannah rolled her eyes but said nothing.

Lachele looked back and forth between the couple who had almost reached their one year anniversary.  "You tell him, Savannah!" 

Addie rejoined them then, going to stand beside Jake, who automatically wrapped an arm around her shoulders.  "All done.  Dad has my suitcase, so we're all set."  The only strangers at her wedding were right in front of her.  They must be Jake's friends.