Page 41 of An Unexpected Love

“Not if I can help it.”

“Why do you want to marry me?” The answer evaded her. A man like Jordan could have his pick of women. He had wealth and prestige and a dozen otherattributes that attracted far more sophisticated and beautiful women than Jill.

The air between them seemed to pulse for a long moment before Jordan answered. “I’ve done some thinking about that myself. You’re intelligent. Insightful. You feel things deeply and you’re sensitive to the needs of others.” He traced a finger along the line of her jaw, his touch light. “You’re passionate about the people you love.”

She should’ve been reassured that he seemed to know her so well after such a short acquaintance, but she wasn’t. Because she knew that for a time she’d be a pleasant distraction. Their marriage would be like a toy to him. Then gradually, as the newness wore off, she’d be put on a shelf to look pretty and brought down when it suited his purposes. His life, his love, his personality, would be consumed by the drive to succeed, just the way her father’s had been. Everything else would fade into the background, eventually to disappear. Love. Family. Commitment. Everything that was important to her would ultimately mean nothing to him.

“I want us to marry soon,” Jordan whispered.

“I—I was hoping for a long engagement.”

Jordan’s eyes were adamant. “I’ve waited too long already.”

Jill didn’t understand what he meant, but she didn’t question him. She knew Jordan was an impatient man. When he wanted something, he went after it with relentless determination. Now he wantedher—and heaven help her, she wanted him.

“A bride should be happy,” he said, tucking his hand under her chin and raising her face to his. “Why the tears?”

How could she possibly explain? She loved him, although she’d fought it with everything she had. She’d been willing, for a time, to consider marrying Ralph in her effort to drive Jordan from her life. Yet even then she’d known it was useless and of course so had Ralph. Nothing could save her. Her heart had been on a collision course with Jordan’s from the moment she’d been assigned the seat next to his on the flight to Hawaii.

“I’ll be happy,” she murmured, silently addingfor a while.

“So will I,” Jordan said, his chest expanding with a breath and then a sigh that seemed to come all the way from his soul.

* * *

The small private wedding took place three weeks later in Hawaii at the home of Andrew Howard. Shelly was Jill’s matron of honor and Mark stood up for Jordan. Elaine Morrison was there, too, weeping through the entire ceremony. But these weren’t tears of joy. Her mother, like Jill, recognized Jordan’s type and feared what it meant for her daughter’s life, her happiness.

“Jill,” Elaine had pleaded with her earlier that morning, before the wedding. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Jill had nearly laughed aloud. With all her heart, with all her being, she longed to be Jordan’s wife. And yet, if the opportunity had availed itself, she would’ve backed out of the marriage.

“He needs me.” Repeatedly over the past few weeks, Jill had been reminded how much Jordan did need her. He didn’t realize it himself, of course, not on a conscious level, but something deep inside him had acknowledged his need. And in her own way, Jill needed him.

Andrew Howard had seen that they belonged together. He’d been the first one to point it out to Jill. From the time Jordan was a child, his life had been devoid of love. As an adult he’d closed himself off from emotion; he’d refused to allow himself to become vulnerable. That he should experience something as powerful as love for her in so short a time was close to a miracle. But then, Jill was becoming accustomed to miracles.

“All I want is your happiness,” her mother had gone on to say, her eyes, so like Jill’s, blurred with tears. “You’re my only child. I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did.”

Could loving someone ever be a mistake? Jill wondered. Her mother had loved her father, sacrificed herself for him even though, as the years went on, he’d barely seemed to reciprocate her love. And when he died prematurely, without warning, she’d become lost and miserable.

Jill knew she loved Jordan enough to put aside her fears, to bind herself in a relationship that might ultimately cause her pain. But she vowed she wouldn’t lose her own identity. She wouldn’t, couldn’t, let Jordan’s personality swallow her own.

He hadn’t understood that in the beginning, despite her attempts to explain it. To him, Jill’s desire to continue working after their marriage seemed utterly foolish. For what purpose? he’d asked. She didn’t need the income; he’d made certain of that, lavishing her with gifts and more money than she could possibly spend. Her insistence on continuing her job resulted in their first real argument. But in the end Jordan had reluctantly agreed.

Andrew Howard had gone to a great deal of trouble to arrange their wedding, warming Jill’s heart with his generosity. She’d come to understand that the older man looked upon Jordan as the son he’d lost. He was more than a mentor, far more than a friend. He was the only real family Jordan had—until now.

Flowers filled every room of Andrew’s oceanfront home, their fragrance sweet in the summer air. An archway of orange blossoms stood outside on the lush green lawn that overlooked the roaring ocean. A small reception and dinner were to follow. Tables laid with white linen tablecloths were placed around the patio.

The warm wind whispered over Jill as Andrew Howard came to escort her into the sunshine where Jordan was waiting. Andrew paused when he saw her, his eyes vivid with appreciation. “I’ve never had a daughter,” he said softly, “but if I did, I’d want her to be just like you.”

Tears of love and gratitude gathered in her eyes. Her mother, fussing about Jill, arranged the long, flowing train of the dress, then slowly straightened. “He’s right,” Elaine said, stepping back to examine Jill. “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

It was the dress, Jill thought. The dress and its magic. She ran her glove along the bodice with its Venetian lace and row upon row of delicate pearls. The high collar was adorned with pearls, too, each one sewn on by hand. The skirt flared from her waist, the hem accentuated with a flounce of lace and wide satin ribbons.

Andrew Howard stood beside her mother as the minister asked Jordan and Jill to repeat their vows. Jill’s gaze met Jordan’s as she made her promises. Her voice, although low, was steady and confident. Jordan’s eyes held hers with a look of warmth, of tenderness.

A magic wedding dress? The scenario seemed implausible. Yet here they were, standing before God, their family and friends, declaring their love for each other.

“You look so beautiful,” Shelly told Jill shortly after the ceremony. “Even more beautiful than the day you first tried on the dress.”

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