Summer Kisses (34 page)

“I do love you,” she said as she helped him pull his shirt off.

“I love you too. Only you. Nobody else.”

“That’s good to know.”

He smiled at her as he discarded the rest of his clothes. He locked the door and then climbed onto the bed next to her and held her close. He needed Jill much more than she needed him, but he decided to save that small tidbit for later. No need to confess all at this very moment. He could wait until tomorrow to tell her he’d be lost without her. For right now, he decided, he was just going to enjoy the moment and relish in the feel of having her arms wrapped around him, knowing she loved him for who he was, hoping she would love him for years to come.

He and Jill and Ryan would go on many adventures together.

He needed to take Jill skinny-dipping before Ryan was old enough to know that his parents were up to no good. He would spend the rest of his life testing her recipes and learning to like chocolate soufflé.

Life couldn’t get any sweeter than that.

Nine Months Later

Jill and Derrick could not have asked for a more beautiful day to get married.

The sun was out, the clouds were few, and although it was unusually warm for May, a nice breeze kept their guests from getting too warm. The pastoral setting of the Baylor Pony Farm provided a relaxed, carefree atmosphere. As Jill made her way up the grassy aisle wearing a to-the-knee strapless chiffon wedding dress, she held tight to Phil Baylor’s arm. She was thankful to have him at her side, glad to know she could call him Dad. Her parents, devastated by Laura’s decision to join a band, still blamed Jill and thus declined any and all invitations to attend. A quick glance at Phil before he handed her off to his son revealed misty eyes and features softened from decades of love.

She kissed his fatherly cheek and thanked him for everything. Then she turned to Derrick. Although it was not part of the plan and had not been rehearsed this way, he wrapped her in his arms and kissed her as his father took a seat next to his mother.

Before joining Sandy and Aaron, who stood waiting with the family priest beneath the vine-covered trellis, Derrick gazed into her eyes and said, “How is it that you look more beautiful every day?”

She answered with a smile and then cupped his face between her palms. “You didn’t run away,” she half teased. “Thank you for that.”

“All of those ponies you see over there in the pasture couldn’t have dragged me away.”

She smiled. “No cold feet or wobbly knees?”

“My knee has never been better,” he lied, since she’d already heard that he was icing his knee all morning. “How about you?” he asked. “Feeling jittery? Are you going to faint and make me carry you the rest of the way?”

“Could you two move it along?” Zoey shouted from one of many fold-out seats facing the trellis where they would say their vows.

“Let them do their thing,” Jake said, trying to quiet his sister.

“Are you kidding me? We could be here all day.”

“Just ignore them,” Derrick told her. “I think we should take our time.”

“Just to bother your siblings?”

“No. I think we should take our time so that I can savor every moment of this day. When you look around, what do you see, Jill?”

She looked toward the pasture where ponies grazed, to Hank who was not happy about being tied up for the day, and then to all the guests before her gaze settled on his. “I see love.”

“What do you smell?”

She closed her eyes and breathed in. “I smell fresh hay and warm skies.”

He took a whiff. “I smell ponies and I think Mom snuck some of her ham rolls onto the food tables.”

Jill laughed, and he squeezed her hands, maybe because he was nervous, but she didn’t think that was it. Derrick Baylor seemed to be truly relishing the moment.

“We can’t hear you two!” Zoey said right before somebody muffled her.

Derrick’s gaze never left hers and Jill had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Her husband-to-be looked dashing in his fitted suit, although she knew he couldn’t wait to get changed into something more comfortable. She was marrying the father of her son, the man she loved. It couldn’t get any better than this. They would have the rest of their lives to live, love, and learn together while watching Ryan grow.

“Every day is going to be an adventure,” he said. “Every night, too,” he added with a wink.

She laughed again.

“I’m ready to do this,” he said. “Are you?”

“I am.”

They turned toward the trellis where Sandy, the maid of honor, stood on one side and Aaron, the best man, stood on the other. Ten minutes later, it was a done deal. The ceremony was short and sweet. Stepping away from tradition, they had written their own vows, both pledging to confide, trust, and love one another until the end of time.

They were officially married.

Derrick and Jill stood hand in hand on the grassy knoll at the Baylor Pony Farm and turned toward the crowd, which had grown to include most of Arcadia.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the priest said, “I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Baylor.”

Everyone stood and cheered while the newlyweds made their way down the aisle.

Jill let her gaze sweep across all of the familiar faces. She looked from Aaron and Maggie. They had married six months ago. They looked happy. Her gaze went from Helen and Phil Baylor, to each of Derrick’s brothers and sisters. She felt blessed to be a part of the Baylor family.

Standing side by side, Jill and Derrick talked to the guests as everyone made their way to the area set up for refreshments. A dozen long tables were covered with an assortment of food. Helen Baylor was under strict orders to leave the cooking to everyone else. She was not allowed to set foot in the kitchen, mostly due to the fact that not one Baylor kid wanted to see ham rolls served on such a special day.

Outdoor games such as horseshoes and a bean bag toss had been set up for the kids. Music drifted from inside the barn as the band set up. The pond had been fully stocked and poles and bait were available for anyone interested in doing a little fishing.

A five-tiered cake that included all of Jill and Derrick’s favorite flavors sat alone on a special table shaded from the sun. There was also a separate dessert table that would soon be covered with mini chocolate soufflés, carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and homemade vanilla ice cream.

Garrett and his wife, Kris, had kept a close eye on Bailey and Ryan during the ceremony. Bailey was standing in the playpen while Ryan was sitting up, mesmerized by Lexi, who was entertaining them both with a dancing Ken and Barbie.

After everyone congratulated them, Derrick was pulled away by a few of his brothers, leaving Sandy and Jill to themselves.

“I guess congratulations are in order since you can’t back out now,” Sandy teased.

They hugged and when Jill pulled away she asked, “Where’s Connor?”

“I have no idea,” Sandy said, her voice tinged with regret. “The last time I saw him was three days ago and I’m pretty sure I scared him off for good.”

“He’s not coming to his own brother’s wedding?”

“Looks that way,” Sandy said with a shrug of her shoulders, although Jill could tell she was hiding a mountain of pain behind the gesture.

“What did you do?”

“I made the mistake of telling him how I felt about him. I told him I loved him.”

“Oh.”

“It’s better this way, you know, sooner rather than later,” Sandy said, “especially since Lexi was growing attached.”

Lexi wasn’t the only one, Jill thought.

Jake’s date dragged him over to where they stood and offered her hand to Jill. “Hi, my name is Candy. I’m with Jake.” She glanced at Sandy and lifted her nose to the air, letting Sandy know that Jake was off limits.

“Nice to meet you,” Jill said.

“The ceremony was cute,” Candy went on. “I was just telling, Jakey-pooh, that I, personally, would rather have my wedding indoors.” She used a hand to fan herself. “I tend to sweat when I get nervous and that could be a disaster, if you know what I mean.”

Jill smiled politely while Jake’s face turned crimson.

“If it gets any hotter, I’m going to have to strip down to my panties and bra.”

“Please don’t,” Rachel said as she approached, saving them all from an awkward moment. “I have a bathing suit you can borrow.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Candy said as her eyes roamed over Rachel. “I’m not even a size two. I usually have to shop in the junior’s department just to find something that will fit me.”

They all looked at Candy’s humongous breasts at the same time.

Candy laughed. “I know what you’re thinking, but believe me, these babies are the real deal.”

They weren’t thinking that at all. They were all wondering how a size two bathing suit would cover it all.

“Would you look at that,” Rachel said, saving them all for the second time in less than a minute.

Everyone looked in the direction Rachel was pointing.

Connor had come after all. He looked dead set and determined to get something off of his chest as he looked about until his eyes fell on Sandy. It only took a few long strides to make his way to where they all stood.

“Hi Connor,” Candy said, stepping in front of Sandy.

“Hi,” he said without looking at her. He only had eyes for one woman. He stepped around Jake’s date and handed Sandy the bouquet of red roses he was holding. “I was hoping we could talk.”

“It’s been three days. I left you two messages. You had your chance.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I messed up.” He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m an idiot.”

“Maybe we should give you guys some alone time,” Jill said.

“No,” Sandy said. “Nobody move.”

Rachel looked at Jill excitedly. Coming from such a large family, Derrick’s sister was used to drama, and she was obviously happy to have a front row seat to whatever was about to go down.

Jill didn’t like conflict, but she knew that if she took even one step away, her friendship with Sandy would be severely compromised.

Jake, on the other hand, couldn’t care less and he walked off, leaving Candy to fend for herself.

“If you want to say something to me,” Sandy told Connor, “you’re going to have to say it right here in front of everyone.”

“I guess I deserve this,” Connor said.

Rachel nodded her whole-hearted agreement, while Sandy looked around as if she was bored stiff.

“Can you at least look at me?”

Sandy dragged her eyes upward to meet his, and Jill had to commend her friend’s acting skills because she made it look like the worst kind of chore.

“I love you, too,” Connor said the moment her eyes met his, which happened to be the same time Cliff and Brad joined their group.

Silence ensued. Even Candy was quiet.

“That’s it?” Connor asked. “You have nothing to say?”

“Did he just say what I think he said?” Cliff asked nobody in particular.

“He just told her he loved her,” Candy confirmed. “Why haven’t you ever looked me in the eyes like that and said you love me?” Candy looked around for Jake and when she realized he was no longer standing nearby, she wandered off in search of him.

As Jill prayed that Sandy wouldn’t completely ruin the moment since the man was obviously trying, she felt a hand settle on her shoulder. Jill looked up at Derrick, and despite the tension in the air, she smiled at him.

“What’s going on?”

“Connor just told Sandy that he loved her.”

Connor took Sandy’s free hand in his. “Do you want me to leave?”

Sandy held his gaze, her eyes unblinking. “I want to know why you love me.”

His brothers all groaned in unison.

“It’s a perfectly reasonable question,” Rachel chided.

Connor shifted his weight from one foot to the other and said, “I love your hair and the way it glistens in the sun.”

His brothers all looked pleased by that answer.

Sandy frowned.

“What?” Connor asked. “Did I say something wrong?”

“It’s not about the hair,” Derrick said, hoping to save his brother a little time. “It’s about what you’re feeling in here.” He laid a hand on his chest, over his heart, making Jill love him a little more.

Phil and Helen Baylor were approaching, with half the neighborhood following in their tracks.

“When you step out of the shower,” Connor tried again, “and your hair is a mess and you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, you make this cute little scowling face and—”

He stopped in mid-sentence when he saw Brad make a slicing motion through his throat.

“Scratch that,” Connor said. “When I’m late and you’ve been waiting for me, your brow puckers just so and—”

More slicing of the throat gestures from the ever-growing crowd.

“Oh, for God’s sake,” Connor said, clearly frustrated. “I just love you. I like every single one of those silly faces you make when I do something wrong, which I’m realizing is more often than I first realized. Clearly, I don’t deserve you. I’m moody and quiet more often than not and yet you never make me feel guilty or less than adequate. You show me nothing but love in everything you do. Go ahead and shoot me down for saying it, but I love your hair: the color, the shine, the way it feels sliding through my fingers. I don’t care if that’s not something I should tell you. I love the way your eyes light up when I walk into a room, except for today. Today your eyes didn’t light up and that makes me sad. When you’re annoyed with me and you tap your fingers and make galloping noises, yes, well, I think that’s cute. I also like your constant jabber.”

That particular statement caused all sorts of mutterings and grumbles, but Connor wasn’t paying attention to anyone but Sandy. “I love how you can ignore all of these people staring at us, listening to every word, not because they love me and care about how all of this turns out, but because they are the most meddlesome group of people in the world. Despite the fact that I’m related to many of these people, you still love me - at least you did three days ago - and I can only hope that you will continue to love me because over the past few days, I’ve been the loneliest, most cantankerous son-of-a-bitch and I can say with absolute sincerity that those three days without you were hell on earth. I want heaven, not hell. I want you, Sandy.” He pulled a ring from his pocket and dropped to one knee.