When Uzuri and Beth were halfway down the aisles, Rainie and Andrea followed, glancing across the center seats at each other to keep in step.
Jake smiled. Hell, most men seeing Rainie would have to smile. In contrast with Andrea, Rainie was shorter. Rounder. And so happy that the light seemed to increase when it struck her.
He’d never met a woman like her. From the way she was transforming their clinic, to her pleasure in Rhage, to the way she’d defended her friend, to the way the animals—and owners—instinctively trusted her.
She was…amazing. What they had was amazing.
He intended to hang onto her.
The music changed, and the audience rose.
Much to their fiancés’ bemusement, the two brides had decided on a traditional entrance.
So Gabi’s father escorted her.
Sally’s father, who apparently was a total asshole, hadn’t been invited. However, in Jake’s opinion, Sally had found someone better. She’d asked Sam to act as her father and walk her down the aisle.
And the sadist—who terrified every submissive in the Shadowlands—had choked up with tears in his eyes.
As they came down the aisle, Gabi’s father moved like a robot, far more concerned with his dignity than with his daughter. Upon arriving at the front, he handed his daughter off to Marcus and strode away.
In contrast, Sam kept his gaze on Sally, openly pleased with the girl’s sparkling joy. He brought her to a halt at the gazebo and offered Galen her left hand, Vance her right. After kissing her cheek, he shot her men an easily interpretable stare—treat her right or answer to me.
When Sally made an undoubtedly impertinent comment, he barked a laugh.
He paused to give Marcus the exact same warning look. Touching Gabi’s cheek gently, he said something too low to hear.
And, Gabi, having easily dismissed her own father, smiled at Sam and blinked back tears.
As Sam took his seat, Z cleared his throat and began, officiating the ceremony with the dignity and polish everyone expected from him. With an occasional revision to accommodate Sally’s ménage, he blended together a psychologist’s hard-won knowledge with a Master’s even harder-won wisdom.
Vows were exchanged. Rings were exchanged. Most of the women in the audience were dabbing at their eyes.
Amused, Jake shook his head, then caught the look Marcus offered his woman. Openly loving and proud and possessive.
Next to him, Galen held Sally, resting his cheek on top of her hair, as if he’d acquired something so precious he feared to squeeze too hard. After exchanging a long pleased look with Vance, he passed her to his partner.
And Jake found himself blinking back tears.
Weddings, truly a treacherous battlefield. His gaze rested on Rainie. Hazardous or not, he planned to win the skirmish and take her home tonight.
Chapter Ten
Both exhausted and fizzing with happiness, Rainie stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Gulf shore. From the dark waters of the Gulf, white frothy waves rolled up onto the beach. In the rising wind, the tall palms shook and bowed.
Behind her, dinner over, the reception was going gangbusters. Filling the center dance floor, an older crowd gyrated crazily to the old tune, The Twist.
Most of the over-fifty crowd were business associates invited by Galen’s mother and Gabi’s parents. In the interests of harmony, Gabi and Sally had caved in…and for a while, Rainie’d wondered if any relatives were worth the bother.
But in the past couple of days, Vance and Marcus’s loving, supportive families had demonstrated what a family could be—and made her wish she had one.
A flicker caught Rainie’s eye as the light of the moon gleamed off the sails of a boat gliding toward the marina. What a gorgeous location. To her delight, despite a fair amount of parental pressure early on, the brides had held out for their beachside wedding location. Gabi and Marcus had romantic memories of playing together in the waves, and Midwest-born Sally had loved the idea of a true tropical wedding.
Rainie smiled. If Sally wanted something, Galen and Vance would work their asses off to see she got it. Although “legally” people in a ménage couldn’t “marry,” the men had wanted their Sally to have a beautiful, traditional wedding ceremony, so despite any objections, that’s what she’d gotten. Even Gabi’s mother quailed when faced with Galen’s implacable stare.
Rainie had practiced that expression in the mirror and added it to her personal arsenal. In her future corporate position, she’d need all the firepower she could wield.
However, the reception wasn’t the ground on which to employ such weaponry.
Here, people fought their battles with beautiful attire and graciousness. Turning away from the windows, she smoothed her gown and looked around for possible dance partners. She saw Shadowlands members scattered throughout the room.
Near the head table, Kim, Andrea, and Kari chatted with their husbands.
In the center of the room, Beth was dancing with Nolan. Who knew the rough Master could actually dance? Dancing with the couple who’d chosen him as their submissive, Tanner looked blissfully happy.
Like a good pregnant woman, Jessica sat beside Linda, both their Masters nearby. By the punch bowl, Uzuri’d nabbed a sizzling hot man.
Anne was dancing with a young man who was obviously star struck and hardly a challenge to the Mistress. Rainie frowned. Anne better be careful or she’d be on the receiving end of one of Master Z’s infamous talks.
In the center of the dance floor, Gabi and Sally were showing off steps from the bachelorette party, and somehow their virginal wedding dresses transformed the exotic dancing moves to breathtakingly sexy.
Off to one side, the Shadowlands’ security guard Ben stood with Galen and Vance. As they talked, the two grooms watched their bride with wide smiles. Ben’s gaze kept drifting to Mistress Anne.
As the song came to an end, Rainie moved out. She should check in with the brides in case they needed something. After that—
Around the side of the room, Jake was heading toward her.
Her heart skipped a beat. Not knowing how late her bridesmaid’s duties would keep her, she’d told him he was on his own, and she’d go home to her apartment after the reception was over. Now she regretted her decision; she wanted to sleep in his arms.
But, either way, at least she’d get to dance with him.
Unfortunately, even as she watched, Gabi’s parents intercepted him. Rainie considered a rescue, but from the way Mr. Renard clapped a hand on Jake’s shoulder and shook his hand, they were well acquainted.
Despite his annoyance at the delay in reaching Rainie, Jake shook hands with William Renard and answered the man’s question. “My parents are enjoying their trip. Thank you for asking.” He smiled. “They made a stop in Paris before heading home.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t join them,” Mrs. Renard said. “Certainly you’d have more fun in Europe than running that clinic of yours.”
Jake shrugged. “I get bored on vacations.” Although a holiday with Rainie might defeat boredom nicely. He glanced over his shoulder, but she’d been pulled out to the floor by Uzuri, Saxon, and Holt.
She really could dance…
He’d noticed her talent at the Shadowlands and the bachelorette party. Here she was simply having fun and looked incredibly sexy in that floaty-skirted gown. “Damn,” he said under his breath.
A body blocked his view. Irritated, he sidestepped.
Two soft hands clasped his. “Jake, don’t you recognize me?”
Startled, he glanced down to see a slender woman. Dark copper hair in an up-swirl style, gold designer dress, sultry blue eyes. “Nadia.” His distant cousin looked beautiful, as always. “It’s good to see you. Mom mentioned you might come. Is your husband here as well?”
“Oh, we’ve been divorced for ages. That’s why I took a job with William’s law firm.” A pout crossed her expression as if she were miffed Jake hadn’t kept track of her.
He had, at one time. As an undergrad, he’d chased her until his tongue dragged on the ground, but she’d scraped him off in favor of richer prey.
“I’m sorry about the divorce,” he said politely. “However, I’m sure William is pleased to have your expertise. I imagine he keeps you busy.”
She drew closer. “He does. But I can always find time for you.”
“We’ll have to have a drink one of these days.” Over her shoulder, he noticed Rainie heading for the drink table. “Excuse me, please.”
“Of course.” Nadia rose up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Later, honey.”
Rainie managed only a gulp of punch before Jake steered her away. Typical Dom—he hadn’t even asked if she wanted to dance.
Then again, slow dancing with Jake was almost as good as having sex with him. She snuggled closer. “Truly Madly Deeply. I love this song.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You got them to play it? Is that why they played two slow tunes in a row?”
He rubbed his cheek against hers. Although his hands were positioned properly, he kept her plastered against him…and the half-erection he boasted. “Did I mention that in high school, my friends and I had a garage band? I know from experience that a good bribe works wonders on a playlist.”
