Epilogue

The bride was radiant in a bone white Vera Wang gown, a gown that BJ would have probably burned had Teresa not kept it locked up at her home under watch and key until their wedding day.

“You are stunning.” Jackson beamed down at his wife who floated around the dance floor in his arms.

She smiled up at him, her eyes alight with love. “How long do I have before I get to take this off?”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re such a romantic. How did I get so lucky?”

“I’m still trying to figure that out.”

She laughed then, and it was infectious. He pulled her in tighter, holding her close to his body.

“I love you, Bria,” he whispered against her ear, his heart bursting each and every time he said the words. He may have been joking, but he really couldn’t believe how lucky he was. He’d met her at a time when he’d been at his lowest and full of doubts. Nothing about them, or their initial meeting would have suggested love, but they’d found it.

He held her closer, his heart beating in time with hers. He counted himself among the luckiest men in the world that BJ now held his heart, and he held hers. She was loyal to those she loved and was as tough as any woman he'd ever met, but deep down—when they were alone and it was just them—she opened up to him, and showed him a vulnerable woman who sought love and reassurance just as eagerly as anyone. She was the other half of his heart, his soul, and when he looked into her eyes, he saw a future filled with little girls with golden eyes and plenty of sass and little boys full of the Downing charm.

She stopped on the dance floor and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close.

“I love you too, Jackson Downing,” she said in a quiet voice before stealing a quick kiss. When he lifted his head, her eyes were glowing with mischief.

“Now can we get out of here? I’m ready to start our honeymoon.”

“Bria.” He shook his head, but she was already pulling him off the dance floor and away from the crowd of guests. He glanced back. No one seemed to notice they were making a getaway.

“Bria, I think we—”

“Shhh.” She placed a delicate finger against his lips. “It’s our wedding night. What can they really say?”

She had a good point. He relented as he let her drag him away.

* * * *

“I cannot believe them.” Teresa fumed as she stomped off in the direction BJ and Jackson had disappeared. She knew exactly where they were headed. This had to be all BJ’s doing. She was going to ruin that gown if it was the last thing she did. Teresa was livid. Didn’t BJ know how many strings she’d had to pull to get a Vera Wang wedding gown at the last minute?

She was halfway across the dance floor when a hand snaked around her waist.

“What the—” She found herself clinging to a set of broad shoulders until she realised who they belonged to, and dropped her hands.

“Let them go. It’s their wedding night,” Jeff said in a husky voice, his warm breath laced with alcohol, fanning her face. Her nipples tightened and she had to bite her lip to keep from letting out a moan. What was it with this man that sent her body into overdrive?

“You’re drunk,” she said in a flat voice, trying to twist out of his arms.

His eyes lit up. “Not that drunk. Except for driving, I can still perform any necessary duties required of me.”

She glared at him. “Are you always such a gentleman?”

The intended insult had no effect on him as he held her even closer. “What can I say? I love the ladies.”

“And the ladies love you, no doubt.” She snorted. “You’re a real charmer, a class act. I am going to shed some serious tears tonight thinking about how I missed out on…” She looked him up and down, “…this.” She pushed at his chest. “Let go of me.”

He chuckled and then leaned into her, his mouth nuzzling the crook of her neck. Despite her scathing words, she couldn’t deny he turned her on and she had to fight the urge to shudder against him when her pussy clenched.

“I don’t know why you keep fighting me, why you keep fighting this every time I see you. I can feel your nipples against my chest and I know if I slide my fingers under this teeny tiny skirt of yours, I’ll find your tight pussy dripping wet. Stop trying to deny it, Teresa. I know you want me. I don’t know why you keep letting our age difference stop you. It’s only eight years anyway, which is nothing when you think about it.”

Fury exploded inside her and she pushed at him until he was forced to release her. He had no right to talk to her like she was one of his cheap playthings.

“Look around Jeff. They’re dozens of women here. If you want someone to fuck go grab one of them.”

He inched closer, his blue eyes flashing a stormy grey. “But I don’t want them. I want you.”

“But I don’t want you.”

“You’re lying.”

She was in many ways, but there was a part of her that didn’t want him, at least not what he was offering.

“I feel sorry for you.” That got his attention as one brow peaked. “You’ll never have what your older brothers have, you’ll never find a woman who wants more from you than your money, great sex and a bit of fun with a good looking man. Maybe it’s because you’re immature or maybe you just don’t want something of substance, something real. But it’s a shame because I know deep down you’re a good guy who’s just pretending to be a dick.”

She twisted on her heels and started to walk away, but stopped to glance at him from over her shoulder. His eyes were clouded over and she almost regretted her harsh words, until his lips curved into a cocky grin.

She shook her head. “You know what, Jeff? You were right about one thing. I was lying. I do want you, but I also want more, which is something you just don’t have in you to give me.”

She spun around and walked off, trying to be certain if she’d really seen determination flash in his gaze. She shook her head. It didn’t matter if she had. Jeff Downing was the quintessential playboy. The only thing he was determined to get was into her pants.

* * * *

BJ stretched her arms above her head and yawned. “We should probably get back now before they send out a search party.”

“Now you want to get back. Now you care if anyone’s worried about us.”

“You’re right. We should just stay.” She flopped back down to rest her head atop his chest and snuggled against him, a smile curling her lips when he chuckled.

“I agree. We should get back, but I don’t think I could move now even if I wanted to. Someone had her wicked way with me and wore me out.”

She lifted her head again, her hair falling over one shoulder to brush his chest. “It’s our wedding night. What can I say? I was impatient.”

“Apparently too impatient to wait until we could make it back to a bed. What is it with you and barns?”

“Not any barn.” Her eyes darted around the dark space, the fading sunlight bathing the area in a tawny glow. “This is where we first made love.”

“I know.” His voice was low, but his eyes blazed with the intensity of his love.

She gazed into Jackson’s face, her throat clogging with such a deep emotion that she couldn’t speak. It had been that way when she’d struggled to say her vows. Everyone thought she was having cold feet. Only Jackson knew she was simply too overwhelmed by the moment to speak, a lot like right now.

She stroked her hand down his cheek. His eyes were closed and she knew he was beginning to drift off to sleep.

“I love you,” she said quietly, gently kissing his lips before once again laying her head atop his chest. She’d never imagined that there was a piece of her missing until she’d met Jackson. But now she felt whole, her heart overflowing with love for him.

She listened to the sound of his even heartbeat and gazed up into the sky until her eyelids grew heavy and she fell asleep wrapped in the arms of the man she would love forever.