Page 5 of Something Borrowed

Chapter Three

Adrianna watchedTeresa and Mark walk effortlessly down the aisle, gliding over the pink and white flower petals with ease. She had been utterly on edge since learning Jaxon was suddenly in the wedding – both because she knew Kailey would have had a meltdown, and because she’d never quite outgrown her childhood crush.

Ten years had apparently not been the appropriate amount of time to move on from your best friend’s arrogant brother. Not when he’s gorgeous and a war hero at least, she thought bitterly. She’d only seen Jaxon a few times since he’d joined the Marines, but each time she’d noticed another ribbon decorated his dress uniform. He never wore it, but when he came home, she somehow managed to spot it hanging in one room or another when she’d pick Kailey up or come over for a girl’s night. She had spent nights dreaming of what he’d done to earn those medals – dreaming of nights she’d spend in his arms as he spun the tales of just how he’d come to donthem.

Yet, each time he was home he’d been little more than the jock big brother from high school. He’d say hi, make a smart remark about something or other and then head out the door. Jaxon had shone even less interest in her as an adult than when they’d been teens. His lack of interest should have been cause enough for her to lay her fantasies to rest. Yet, for some reason, it wasn’t. There was a spark in Jaxon Donovan that took her breath away – a draw to him that she couldn’t resist anymore than a moth could resist a flame. An appropriate distinction really, as she knew if anything romantic ever did take place between them, he’d leave her in an embarrassed pile as he wandered off to his nextgirl.

“You look stunning,” warm breath whispered into her ear as a hand tenderly landed on her lowerback.

A shiver streaked through her from the intimacy of the interaction. Sucking in a deep breath she turned, knowing full well it was Jaxon beside her. She’d know the sound of his voice anywhere, even at a low whisper. He’d never had much of an accent, but most locals in New Orleans did not, tourists just assumed a thick Cajun accent came with the territory. Cerulean blue eyes seemed to sparkle with extra life from the blue of the tie around his neck, and his smile brought about the same reaction it always had; a slight tremble in her knees and a desire to fling herself into his arms. There wasn’t even anything special about the way he was looking at her, in fact, it was the same way he always looked at her – like she was merely there.

Shake it off, Laurant.Blowing out the breath she hadn’t realized she held she tensed as the shift in the Wedding March indicated it was time for the Maid of Honor and the Best Man to take their place. Suddenly the idea of touching Jaxon made her nervous, afraid even that he would find little interest in such a touch when she knew she’d read far too much into it, simply because that’s what one did when their high school crush came back into their lives as an adult. Or so you tell yourself because movies dictate it for their plot lines.

Jaxon stretched out his hand and winked. “I believe this is ourcue.”

Slipping her hand into his, she forced herself to ignore the sudden burst of warmth the contact brought. It seemed to start where he touched and slowly seep through her body, like a warm cup of soup or hot cocoa in winter.

Tearing her gaze away from his she let her left foot lead the way. Step. Together. Step. Together. She chanted as if they were dancing as opposed to a simple strut down a wedding aisle. Forcing herself to look at the aisle closest to her so she wouldn’t see Jaxon proved to be a mistake. Nearly every eye on Kailey’s side of the wedding was looking at them. Suddenly, she wasn’t the Maid of Honor. She was the bride, anxiously walking to meet her groom. It didn’t matter that in her fantasies, the groom was the man standing beside her, not the handsome man at the end of the aisle.

Lost in a daze, she felt it too late as her heel tore into a rose petal beneath it. Arching her back to keep from falling, she was shocked to feel Jaxon’s hand catching her before she’d moved more than an inch. There were no sharp intakes of breath from those seated, which meant he’d done more than saved her from falling, he’d stopped her from embarrassing herself and ruining Kailey’s wedding aswell.

“Just keep moving. I promise, no one saw.” He whispered out of the side of his mouth as they came closer to the alter.

It took everything in her not to tilt her head to the side and look at him. The boy that went away to war certainly never would have taken even a breath to reassure her of anything. That boy would have likely snorted and made a snide remark.

Who are you, Jaxon Donovan?

Reaching the end of the aisle after what felt like an entirety, she un-looped her arm from Jaxon’s and took her place at the front of the bridal party line. Less than ten seconds had passed before the rest of the Wedding March boomed long and deep, leading to a mass turning of heads toward the back door and her beautiful best friend.

Kailey’s smile was nothing short of perfection as she moved down the aisle, arm in arm with her father. Adrianna felt a surge of emotion rush through her as she watched her oldest friend glow with the happiness only a bride could feel. The ire and panic that had held Kailey captive minutes before was gone, replaced with the effortlessly beauty and joy that accompanied someone on their wedding day. She’d seen the look on many of her friend’s faces, but seeing it on Kailey’s made her eyes water with happiness.

Step-by-step Kailey glided down the aisle like a ballerina, her smile faltering at the second row of chairs to the front, when her eyes shifted from Adrianna to her brother. Though it wasn’t audible, she could see the hiss of shock, or annoyance, briefly cross Kailey’s face before her eyes landed on Jim and her smiled blossomed even brighter than before.

“I love you, Daddy,” Kailey whispered as her father dropped a kiss on her cheek and stepped away from his baby girl to sit in the end chair in front of Adrianna.

Reaching out, Adrianna took the beautiful bouquet of mixed colored roses and held it next to her own so Kailey could take Jim’s hands. It was almost painful, seeing how Jim looked at her with so much love. It was evident that no matter how much Kailey bitched, and how many nights Jim came home late, there was no one else on the planet for either of them. Pure love shone out of his eyes as Kailey turned to look at him and she knew that look was mirrored in Kailey’s.

Without thinking, she leaned slightly forward to look at the groom’s party, her eyes catching Jaxon’s. He smiled at her, but it seemed different this time. As if for the first time he was truly looking at her. Instead of the side smirk that normally graced his lips, his smile was curved upward on both sides of his mouth, and she swore his light blue eyes swirled darker as they looked at one another.

He’s happy his sister is getting married. Focus, this isn’t about anyone but Jim and Kailey.

She heard the Justice of the Peace begin to speak, but she was unable to concentrate on the words. She was lost in the blue swirl of Jaxon’s eyes, transfixed as if they were the ones standing mere inches apart exchanging vows. He held her gaze, not looking away once. A small laugh rose from the crowd at Jim’s vows, but it wasn’t enough to pull her attention toward the happy bride and groom.

This means nothing. You’re both simply in each other’s line of sight. It would be impossible to not look at one another.Blinking, she forced herself to swing her vision down the grass beneath her feet. Sighing, she wondered what it was about Jaxon Donovan that could bring her to the point of distraction after all these years and during such an important moment.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

She glanced up just as Jim lovingly lifted the veil from Kailey’s face. For just a split second he didn’t move as he stared into his wife’s eyes for the very time. Adrianna felt her heart skip a beat as she watched one of the most intimate moments she’d ever witnessed. She was utterly transfixed as she watched Kailey’s dark, reddish-brown hair swish to the side as she turned her face to kiss Jim for the first time as hiswife.

The collective “awe” that rose up from the backyard made her flush as she realized she’d been staring just passed the newlyweds to Jaxon . . . again.

Music flared up in the yard, absolutely not the song Kailey had selected either. However, just as she seemed to be mostly unconcerned with Jaxon’s presence, Kailey was too involved with her husband to notice the slight detail. Applause erupted as loudly as the festive cheering at any Mardi Gras parade when Kailey slipped her hand into Jim’s.

She watched, finally taking her full attention away from Jaxon, as her friend walked into her proverbial future.

“Aid?” Jaxon cleared his throat as he said hername.

She shook her head and realized his arm was crooked, with his elbow waiting for her to take it to walk back up the aisle.

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