Page 80 of Playing for Keeps

I can’t think of anything as beautiful to say, so I tug him down for a kiss and hold on through two songs. People move aroundus. The party continues, yet all I see is Val Mercer offering me his heart.

The mood at the reception is jubilant. Though we have security posted outside, they apparently get distracted enough to allow a party crasher.

Not long before people are ready to sit down to eat and make toasts, I hear, “I’m here to stop the wedding!” I spot a blonde woman at one of the meeting room doors. She looks around and yells, “I object!”

People gasp. Well, mostly the women in Val’s family gasp, echoing each other and dialing up the drama.

Slow to notice the growing craziness in the room, Val finally tugs his gaze away from me and frowns at the woman wearing a red dress and matching high heels. Still dazed from making out for the last thirty minutes on the dance floor, I struggle to zero in on what she said or why she’s dressed for clubbing.

“Jessica?” Val asks.

The woman frowns. “It’s Jennifer.”

“That’s what I said.”

“No.”

Val taps his jaw and nods. “I think it is.”

“No, and I know you know my name. We’re in love! That’s why I’m stopping your wedding!”

Another round of gasps takes place. Kerrie gets swept into the gasping chorus, but Clover refuses to take part. She does scoot closer to Duke as if trouble might be brewing.

I return my gaze to Jennifer and find her bright-eyed and pink-cheeked. She really thought this plan would work. Rather than give dirty looks to the guys who were supposed to keep an eye out for troublemakers, I only stare at Val.

“Your behavior is fricking adorable,” Val tells the woman as he wraps an arm around my shoulders. “But you’re late. I already got married. This is the reception. That’s why peopleare dancing and getting wasted. Don’t you know how weddings work, Jessica?”

“Jennifer.”

“No.”

“I’m pregnant!” she screams and lets out a rebel yell like Tuesday does when she’s losing an argument.

“Mazel tov,” Val says and smiles. “Does the baby daddy know you’re still hot for me?”

Jennifer narrows her gaze at him, still completely ignoring me. “It’syourbaby.”

Val shakes his head. “Um, I’m no OB/GYN or mathematician, but that seems wrong. We haven’t been together in many full moons. Seems like if I knocked you up, you’d have abiggerbump.”

Jennifer grabs her belly and frowns at the “bigger” part.

“I’m carrying small. It’s yours. You’re the only man I’ve ever been with.”

“Bullshit,” West announces from nearby where he was dancing with Alexis before the party got interrupted. “You were with me years ago before I saw my redheaded dream girl.”

“Well, then, Val is the only man I’ve been with this year.”

Val smiles down at me like we’re just chilling. Of course, I’m ready to light the very short fuse on my temper and deal with this troublemaking bitch, even if it means my dress gets ripped.

Instead, Val taps his head and smiles at Jennifer. “I believe you. Without a doubt, my jizz has the power to blast through a condom. You’ve been knocked up with my baby and are six months along. That means you can go get me one of those ultrasound pictures with my kid’s weird-looking face on it. Do that and come back. I’ll give you support. After the kid’s born and we get a DNA test, you will name my son Bucky after my preferred Marvel character. If it’s a girl, she shall be Bucky-Leighanne.”

Jennifer tilts her hip and frowns. “I’m not naming my kid anything dumb.”

“Babe, that’s not your choice. I’m the man, and you’re carrying my kid. Now go get me one of those ultrasound pictures, so I can see my little Winter Solider.”

Jennifer frowns at how Val turns his back to her.

He smiles down at me. “I don’t think she’s actually pregnant,” he whispers. “Shh, it’s a secret.”

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