Page 66 of Always a Bridesmaid

“I’m going to be all wrinkled,” she said, not really caring if she was.

“Then for the sake of wrinkles, let’s get you out of this ASAP,” he said as her dress pooled to the floor. “How long before we have to be back out there?”

“Ten minutes.”

He took in her white lingerie and groaned the groan of a man about ready to lose his cool. “I’m going to need at least twenty.”

“Hank,” she said with doubt in her voice.

“Okay, thirty.”

It took them thirty-five and when they walked into the reception there was no doubt what they’d been doing.

“Well, there you two are,” Jake said, coming up to them with a big grin. “We were all taking bets to see if you were going to come back or start the honeymoon early.”

“Speaking of bets,” Jane said with a smile. “Nice hat.”

Jake was wearing a tux, bow tie, and black hat that saidHenry Norris is my herobedazzled in white crystals.

“You know?” Jake asked, his face going a little pink with embarrassment.

“Hank told me the minute we left the airport. And by the way, he won the bet that first night. He was just too much of a gentleman to say anything.”

“Gentleman?” Jake laughed. “That’s a first.”

“Isn’t that like the pot calling the kettle black?” Georgia said in a cool-as-a-cucumber tone as she joined the group.

“Georgia,” Jake said, his voice going quiet with reverence and something else that reached out to Jane’s heart and tugged.

“Jake,” Georgia replied, and Jane had never seen her friend so cold with someone. In fact, now that she thought about it, her friend had been avoiding Jake all weekend and she didn’t know why.

“I’ve been meaning to say it’s good to see you again.”

Again?

Jane looked at her husband and he seemed just as confused as she. “You two know each other?”

“We met back in college,” Jake said at the same time Georgia waved a casual hand and replied, “It was a long time ago.”

OMG! He wastheJake who had absolutely shattered her friend’s heart? Georgia had a lot on her plate back then, taking care of her younger brother, putting herself through college, and being the rock of her family. Then some guy had come along, captured her heart, and bailed when things got hard.

Jane took her friend’s hand and pulled her off to the side. “Are you okay?”

“Me? I’m fine. I was just a little thrown off seeing Jake. It’s been a while is all,” she said as if it were no big deal, when it obviously was. “Anyway, I just came over to let you know that the photographer is looking for you. She wanted to catch a few pictures before dinner starts. But maybe I should smooth out your hair first.” Georgia laughed. “You guys couldn’t help yourselves, could you?”

“Nope.”

“I’m so happy for you. If anyone deserves to find their happy, it’s you.”

Before Jane could pry any further, Roxy walked up. “I put on my boots. Sorry not sorry.” She lifted the hem of her dress and showed off a pair of black steel-toed army boots.

Jane smiled. “I expected nothing less.”

“Good, because I’m about to lose the dress after your first dance. This silk stuff is screwing with my reputation.”

“Noted.”

“Ladies,” Henry said. “If you don’t mind, my wife and I have a photo to take and then a dance to perform.”

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