JakesWildBride (5 page)

Lilah could feel Jake’s heat behind her, burning her up. When the chorus started, Jake turned so they faced each other. His clear baritone rang out over the dancing crowd. Lilah matched her voice to his and stared into his eyes. The green depths burned with an intensity and she felt the answering call of heat within her.

The experience was freeing. She was here. She was doing something wild and she was loving it. And it was all because of Jake.

Jake sweat under the hot stage lights and wondered how Lilah had talked him into this. Who would have thought Miss Priss was a Melissa Etheridge fan? He moved his gaze back to the prompter because, unlike Lilah, he didn’t know all the words.

For the final chorus, he faced Lilah again and they sang to each other of fire and desire. And he wondered, not for the first time, what it would be like to have someone be willing to walk through fire for him.

I’m the only one.

As the music died out, the crowd screamed and yelled their approval. Lilah's radiant smile was worth any embarrassment he might have felt about singing in front of a bunch of strangers.

I am a good person. I am a good person
. He couldn’t take advantage of the heat in her eyes, because it was false. Brought about by a weird set of circumstances. If he did, she would hate him in the morning.

But God, they could have a good time tonight.

Lilah's eyes sparkled. Thanks, she mouthed.

Because he wanted to grab her and crush her lips with his, Jake reached up with gentle fingers and brushed a stray piece of hair from her cheek.

Boomer hopped up on stage and took the microphones. “Okay. That’s it for our contest. Give us a few minutes and we’ll announce our winners.”

The waitress who checked them in led Jake and Lilah off the stage, handing them a pair of passes for free drinks. “There’s a back room reserved, through that courtyard. Just go on in. Good luck.” She waved them away and swung her hips back toward the bar.

Jake said, “Where do you want to go next?”

“Can we stay and see if we won?”

“Sure.”

“I wonder what the prize is. I’ve never won anything.”

Why did his night seem fraught with ‘Nevers’? “Never?”

“Nope. My father and my aunt always said gambling was a sin.” Lilah’s shoulder brushed his and the scent of her hair drifted toward him through the heat of the night.

“Entering a contest is hardly gambling,” Jake said.

A small frown creased her white blond brows. “I never thought so.”

Jake pushed open the door to the private room. The room was jam-packed with people. This contest must have been going on all night. The crowd wore an odd assortment of clothes. Top hats, garters, a lot of bouquets and a couple of women with veils.

The deep, rumbling voice of Boomer shot out over the loudspeakers in the party room. “It’s almost midnight folks. I know y’all are dying for the results. First, let’s thank our promoters for putting this on. Then we’ll get to it.”

Jake and Lilah moved up toward the bar. Lilah started talking to the woman next to her. Jake tried to ignore how Lilah’s back pressed into his chest. It wasn’t her fault that he was having trouble controlling his body.

He ordered another drink and realized they were going to have to stay in New Orleans. He didn’t want to be driving home. He wondered if he’d done it on purpose. He really didn’t want to go to his parent’s house tonight.

They’d get separate rooms. On different floors. He didn’t think he could convince her they should stay in separate hotels. Although if he thought he could get away with it, he would. Jake took a healthy swallow of his Hurricane.

Boomer started announcing the runner ups. Lilah asked the woman next to her another question.

“Oh my.” Lilah turned back toward Jake, her ocean blue eyes wide and round and filled with some emotion he couldn’t place.

“What’s wrong?”

Lilah held her breath. The action lifted her breasts and Jake forced his gaze to stay on her eyes. He had to get his mind off of her body.

“I found out what the contest is for.” A giggle escaped her. Lilah gulped down half of her drink. “It’s funny. Sort of.”

“What’s funny?”

“In an ironic way.” She flushed and bit her bottom lip. “You won’t believe it.”

“What?”

“And the winner is...” Boomer paused for dramatic effect, then shouted, “Jake and Lilah.”

“We won?” Lilah whispered.

Jake wondered at the look on her face. Part humor, part sadness. “What did we win?”

“We’re getting married.”

Lilah stood off to the side of the stage. A pleasant hum surrounded her as Jake cushioned her from the rowdy crowd. He braced his arms against the stage, buffering her without touching. While the second place couple received their prize, Lilah turned in the circle of his arms to peer up at him. Even through her pleasant buzz, she could see how tense he was beneath his casual smile. “You okay?”

“Sure.”

“You don’t look okay.”

“I don’t?”

He looked so surprised, Lilah almost laughed. She could see beyond his laid back facade and apparently he wasn’t comfortable with that.

“Your fiancé’s betrayal hit you harder than you let on didn’t it?” Lilah laid a comforting hand on his bare arm. The zing from the contact turned comfort into something else. She withdrew her hand. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“We don’t have to do this if it’s going to be too painful.”

“You’re protecting
me
?” Now he laughed.

“We can let that couple have the fun.” Lilah rolled her eyes at the couple on stage and tried not to let her disappointment show. “The way that woman is carrying on, the crowd will get a lot more for their money.”

“We can do it. Besides.” Jake nodded toward the woman clutching a bouquet of garish flowers. “She is a
he
.”

“Oh my.”

“And now let’s give a great big Cat’s Meow for Jake and Lilah!”

The crowd went crazy.

Lilah took an unsteady step toward the stage. Jake’s hand shot out to support her. The zing was stronger this time, burning off some of the buzz fuzzing her thoughts. She murmured, “No one I know would believe this.”

“Which part?”

“Take your pick. Up on a stage, in a bar, getting married, even for pretend.” To a man she’d known for about six hours.

“But you’re having fun?”

“Yes. I am.” She smiled radiantly. She was having fun.

Boomer started talking again. “And as a special treat, aaannnd, not to be out-done by the folks out in Vegas, we’ve got Elvis here to get them hitched.”

A man in a studded white suit, colored eyeglasses, and sideburns that put Elvis to shame jumped up on stage and turned to wave enthusiastically to the crowd.

“
Thankyouverymuch
.”

Lilah's jaw dropped.

“Close your mouth, honey.” Jake’s whisper tickled her ear.

“Why aren’t you even the least little bit amazed?” She whispered back.

“I’ve been living in California for the last fourteen years. Not much could amaze me.”

Boomer stepped between them, curled huge arms around each of their shoulders and squeezed them closer together. “Okay, you two love birds, let’s get this show on the road.”

Love birds. Oh, for a mere second, Lilah wished that were true.

Elvis held up his hands to quiet the crowd. And the ceremony started.

Lilah couldn’t take her eyes off of Elvis.

She knew it wasn’t real. But a small stab of hurt for all she had lost today speared through her. Jake must have sensed her distress because he grasped her hand in his and squeezed gently. Maybe if she ignored Elvis and concentrated on Jake she would be okay.

“Lilah do you take Jake....”

Take Jake. Those words conjured pictures better left blank.

“Little lady,” Elvis prompted.

“Oh, I do.” Her voice came out firm and sure.

“Well, Jake it looks like she’s ready.”

The crowd catcalled and hooted.

“Jake do you take Lilah....”

Lilah watched Jake. The wild boy had certainly shown her a wild time. If she went by the heat in his eyes, it could get even wilder if she were willing. And why shouldn’t she? Her life was in a shambles.

She had tried and tried to be the best, most decorous woman in town. The tears she’d managed to keep in check all day, threatened to turn this fun into sadness. And she wouldn’t let that happen. After all, look where being good had gotten her.

Her fiancé had slept with another woman and she was making a spectacle of herself in a bar. And she couldn’t even bring herself to care.

“I do.” His voice rumbled through her. Lightening arced at the heat in his eyes, but there was humor as well. And that’s what pushed Lilah over the edge.

“Son, you may kiss the bride.”

Lilah had forgotten about this part of the ceremony. She and Tom had discussed a small, short peck on the cheek.

Elvis pulled out the microphone and started crooning, ‘Love Me Tender’.

The crowd was screaming and yelling, but all the noise faded into oblivion as Lilah looked into Jake’s eyes. Time seemed to move in slow motion.

Jake’s hands circled her waist, burning her skin through the thin rayon dress. Lilah curled her arms around Jake’s neck, letting him know she wasn’t settling for a short peck.

His head angled to the right and Lilah tilted hers to the left, and his mouth hovered above hers for a tell-tale second. He was giving her time to retreat.

Lilah clenched her fists in his hair and dragged his head down that last half inch. But when his lips touched hers, they were gentle and hot. And the kiss was over nearly before it began.

All sensation had gone to her mouth, her lips were on fire. She needed his mouth on hers and she needed it yesterday.

And then he kissed her again.

His mouth touched hers again, chastely, tenderly, but then his tongue licked at the entrance to her mouth. And Lilah granted him access.

Heat pooled low in her belly, making her dizzy and weak with pleasure. A soft moan escaped her and she was grateful for Elvis’s singing.

It was almost as if the sound gave Jake the permission he asked for because in that instant the kiss changed again. His lips pressed harder against hers. He swept his tongue into her mouth and her tongue fought back. Lilah pulled him closer, and jammed her breasts against his chest to relieve the building pressure.

A bright flash of light burned her eyes, and she slowly opened them. She was up on stage in front a huge crowd of people. What had she done?

She should be feeling like this was wrong, but it felt absolutely right.

“Whoa, Lilah and Jake.”

Jake kept Lilah's body pressed up against his. If he didn’t, the entire bar was about to get an eyeful of his out-of-control erection. Christ, he’d forgotten where he was.

“Somebody, get them a room. Oh wait, we did. A suite. And fortunately for you two, it’s just around the corner.” Boomer laughed.

A room. Together. Oh this was a bad idea. He was a good person. But he wasn’t a damn saint.

“Tomorrow you also get a carriage ride around the Quarter in the morning and a lovely honeymoon brunch for two at the famous Court of Two Sisters. Everybody. Give Lilah and Jake a hand for being such great sports. But make it fast.” Boomer grinned and clapped his hands heartily.

The piped in background music from their winning song blasted through the bar.

I’m the Only One
.

Lilah’s gaze flashed to his. And in that moment he knew he could be. At least for tonight. Ah, hell. It looked like they might make it four ‘Nevers’.

Lilah and Jake walked silently next to ‘Cat Woman’ as Jake had begun to think of her.

"Thanks so much for participating in the contest. We've been trying to increase visibility and get people back in New Orleans ever since Katrina."

She chatted away about the contest, weaving in and out of the foot traffic which, even though it was easily past midnight, had grown heavier.

Lilah’s frozen hand clenched his tightly. He, on the other hand, was sweating. Profusely. This woman was leading them toward sure temptation. A hotel room, for Lilah and him.

Not a hotel room. A suite. Jake focused on that. There would probably be a sofa or something he could sleep on. Assuming he could resist temptation. Of course he could.

He was a good person. He just needed to keep reminding himself of that and trying not to picture Lilah naked. And sweaty. And kissing him like she’d done up on stage. Near inhaling him and making him forget. All sorts of things.

“God, it’s hot out here.” Jake wiped a damp hand over his forehead.

“You’ve been living in California too long.” Lilah’s mouth turned up and two little dimples winked out at him. “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.”