Magical Weddings (122 page)

It was only one weekend.

Seventy-two short hours in Vegas with a man she’d tried her best to avoid for the better part of three years since they’d broken up.

She’d known Max was Jacob’s best man, and she’d thought she’d prepared herself for the weekend of hanging out, since it wasn’t like this was the first time they’d seen each other over the years. Occasionally they’d been forced to hang out with their mutual friends, but only for a few hours, not seventy-two of them at a time.

Seventy-two…

Easy. No reason to pay any attention to my stomach, which now feels like I’ve been on The Big Apple Coaster at New York, New York Hotel for about the millionth time in a row. Nope.

There was absolutely no reason why seeing Max again should have any effect on her whatsoever. It wasn’t as if she remembered the feeling of his hands on her body. Certainly, she didn’t recall the specifics about one weekend they’d spent in Florida with a bunch of friends, or the hot tub where the two of them had found themselves spontaneously alone.

No. She’d gotten over him long ago.

Of course, that didn’t mean she hadn’t noticed, or appreciated, his good looks. She’d have to be dead not to see his broad shoulders, messy-yet-styled hair, and sexy smile. He also looked like he’d never once slacked off at the gym with his trim waist—most likely still complete with a six-pack of abs like in college. The tiniest hint of love handles had been his only problem area, according to him. She’d never found them a problem.

“Hey,” she muttered, praying he hadn’t noticed her eyeing him from top to bottom. She wasn’t actually checking him out, but more like casually taking in his appearance the same way any friend would. It wasn’t as if she was ogling him like the dumb blonde three stools down who appeared to be one tequila shot short of falling off her seat onto her undoubtedly tight ass. That girl could stagger away anytime.

Not that she was watching how another woman eyed her ex.

“How’ve you been?” Max asked.

She shrugged.
Great. Lonely. Sexually frustrated.
“Fine. You?”

“Keeping busy.”

They held each other’s gaze for a moment. What was he thinking? Was it something favorable like, “Damn, Jenna’s hot!” or something bad like, “Damn, Jenna must feel pathetic to be the maid of honor instead of the bride”? Maybe she didn’t want to know exactly what was going on behind those dazzling blue eyes.

Max broke their connection, asking his next question toward the couple of honor. “Where’re we headed?”

When his attention turned back to Leah and Jacob, Jenna took a deep breath feeling as if she hadn’t had one in ages.

“We thought we’d wander up the strip. I want to see all the sights. Then we’ll grab dinner and drinks at a place I already have reservations at, then we’ve booked a VIP table at the club in our hotel. It’s supposed to be the most amazing club ever. Sound good?”

Sounded exciting. And exhausting.

Everyone nodded. Who would dare refute the bride on her wedding weekend?

“Whatever you want, Leah. We’re at your mercy.” Jenna meant it too. Whatever her best friend wanted would be done, including partying all weekend with her ex. It shouldn’t matter to her that Max was there, after all, their breakup was a long time ago. But it was still hard for her to forget the sting of his rejection. She’d only wanted him to commit to her as a boyfriend, and he’d acted as if she’d proposed marriage. He “didn’t want a serious relationship tying him down” if she recalled his exact words correctly, which she did since she’d gone over them many times in her head over the years.

But that was all in the past. Old news. And rehashing her old failed relationship was not the point of the weekend. Leah and Jacob’s wedding was, and she would do everything in her power to make sure it was perfect.

First up, a joint bachelor and bachelorette party, starting now. “Lead the way.”

Jenna followed and motioned for Sue and Marcy, the two bridesmaids, to keep up. Slugging back the rest of their bright pink drinks, they sidled up to the rest of the group.

As they left the arctic air conditioning of the hotel lobby, a wave of breathtaking mid-August heat washed over her. Walking the strip sounded like a good idea when you were inside, but being out on the sidewalk with the cement reflecting the desert sun, it was something only seriously drunk people did.

Sadly, she wasn’t nearly there yet.

****

Max pulled the light material of his button up shirt away from his skin in an attempt to fan a little air onto his chest to cool it. All he successfully did was funnel more blazing heat across his pecs, doing little to stifle the heat of the hundred-degree afternoon. They’d already watched the pirate show, stared at the fountains, and even wandered through a tiger exhibit. And he didn’t know how much more he could possibly take. If he didn’t find some air conditioning and a cold drink—preferably one with alcohol in it—soon, he was definitely going to melt into the sidewalk.

Jenna looked about as thrilled as he felt, though she did try to hide her discomfort. She failed, but at least she tried, which was more than he could say for the other bridesmaids. They probably should’ve had one less margarita and one more glass of water before heading out into the dehydrating heat. He’d already literally caught them staggering dangerously close to the road, and once or twice he’d thought they looked about ready to pass out. If the group didn’t head indoors soon, he’d need to find them some shade and water.

Even though Jenna smiled when Leah was watching, he’d seen plenty of times when her expression turned from one of happiness to one of misery. He knew the feeling all too well right now.

But damn if Jenna didn’t know how to make sweaty armpit stains sexy as all hell. He’d seen her a few times over the years when Leah and Jacob would host a barbeque or game night, but he’d always managed to be on the other side of the room and engaged in conversation with others for the few hours they were together. He’d tried very hard not to pay any attention to her or what she wore or how cute she looked in it. So far, he’d been mostly successful.

This weekend he’d thought he’d be able to do the same, but as the day wore on, he’d begun to think escaping or avoiding her wasn’t going to work this time. Maybe the best thing to do was face her head on, not avoid her. Instead, maybe he’d pretend she was any other friend or associate and banish the awkwardness between them.

“Think we can convince them to do an indoor activity for a while?” he asked Jenna, while walking down yet another block of scorching sidewalk. “Something with even a hint of air conditioning?”

“God, I hope so,” she replied without an ounce of distaste in her voice. Maybe the heat had worn down her dislike for him. “If you know of anything they might like, now would be a great time to suggest it.”

“I’m not sure Leah would listen. Despite sounding nonchalant and carefree at the beginning of this adventure, I’m pretty sure she has every moment already planned out.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I usually am,” he teased, trying to keep the mood between them light.

She sighed. “I see your ego is still so big it should have its own name and address.”

“Hey now. That’s not nice. I was only joking.” Her jab didn’t actually bother him. In fact, it was nice to see her feisty side come out to play. He’d loved her wit and sarcasm when they’d dated. Surprisingly, it was something that most girls he’d dated since didn’t have.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m just so hot,” she said, wiping her brow with the back of her hand.

Yes, you are.

Even with her hair sticking to her forehead, sweat stains and a less-than-enthusiastic expression, she was still more gorgeous than any other woman he’d seen on the strip so far. Not that he’d ever admit it.

Unsure of what to say to Jenna, he turned his attention to Daniel and Collin, the other groomsmen. “You guys want to kidnap Jacob and hide out somewhere with comfortable chairs, frozen drinks and hot chicks?” Maybe seeking out other hot women would distract him from the one beside him.

“I wish,” grumbled Collin.

“I think Leah would have us arrested before she’d let Jacob out of her sight. This is a his and hers party, remember?”

“How can I forget? The over abundance of tourist sights and the distinct lack of scantily clad women is a constant reminder.” Max sighed. Normally, he’d be totally fine going along with anything his friends wanted, but the heat was slowly killing him.

“Next stop on the party bus, this way!” Leah cheered, waving them all to follow her into the front door of The Venetian hotel.

Max didn’t care where the next stop was, he simply reveled in the waves of cold, climate controlled air as it washed over him. Instantly, he felt more energized and ready to have a good time again. Hopefully starting with a frosty drink somewhere nearby. Then he’d really be good to go.

“What’re we doing?” Jenna asked, calling up to Leah.

“Something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember, sort of.”

Max didn’t have a clue what the hell that meant, but as long as they were staying inside for a while, he was game. They wove their way through the late afternoon crowds, deeper and deeper into the hotel and casino, quickly loosing all sense of time and place—exactly what the casinos wanted to happen.

When they finally came to a stop along the fake river running through the building Leah addressed the group. “For a while, we talked about having a destination wedding in Italy, but since that was way out of budget for us, we opted for Vegas instead. Luckily, we can still get a little taste of Italy here at The Venetian. I’ve always wanted to take a gondola ride along the Venice canals. Since that’s not going to happen in real life any time soon, this will have to do.”

After arranging for two boats, she separated the groomsmen and bridesmaids into one boat and sent them on their way down the canal. A second boat pulled up to the tiny dock and Jacob held out his hand to Leah, helping her to climb in.

“Come on guys,” Jacob called from his seat on the boat. “You’re in here with us.”

Jenna glanced around. “There’s another boat coming. We can wait for that one,” she said.

“Yeah, then you guys can have a boat to yourselves,” Max added. He didn’t necessarily want to ride alone with Jenna, but at least then the bride and groom would get a romantic moment to themselves on their wedding weekend.

Leah shook her head. “No way. I want you with us. Get in here.”

Jenna sighed and stepped into the boat, which wobbled under her feet. After she took her place on the bench seat opposite Leah and Jacob, Max sat beside her. As they floated away from the dock, he tried not to notice how her skirt crept up her thigh, or how the heat radiating off of her body, warmed his leg.

The gondola driver did a half bow. “
Buonasera
, I am Valentino. I’m so happy to see two such beautiful couples tonight.”

“Oh, no, we’re not,” Jenna said, motioning to Max. “A couple. Anymore.” Her last word was almost whispered.

If Valentino noticed her correction, he gave no indication. Instead, he began singing in Italian as he pushed them along the canal. Max had no idea what the words meant, but by the slow and sultry melody, he could only assume it was a love song. Leah and Jacob gazed at each other with so much adoration and love in their eyes that he had to look away.

Maybe someday.

There was a time when he thought he’d never want that kind of love. But as he finished college, got a real job and saw his friends moving forward in their relationships, his opinion had slowly changed. Maybe with the right woman, he could see taking things beyond dating.

Valentino stopped singing and instead pointed at a bridge up ahead. “My favorite part of the canal—the most romantic spot in Vegas—the Bridge of Sighs. Not the real one of course, since that’s in Venice, but this one is almost as good. It’s almost as special, because it seems it shares the same magic as the real bridge.”

“How so?” Leah asked, leaning forward.

Valentino held his paddle in both hands and went down on one knee. His voice lowered as if he was about to tell them a great secret. “There is a legend—a very, very old legend from my homeland of Venice, Italy. It’s been passed down through ten generations of gondoliers in my family, all the way to me.”

“How do you know the legend is even true if it’s been passed along so many times? Doesn’t it lose something in translation with every retelling?” Max tried to keep the skepticism out of his voice, but was pretty sure he failed.

“Because it has come true for every one of my ancestors.”

“Tell us what it is already. The suspense is killing me,” Leah said.

Valentino smiled and got a dazed look on his face as if he were seeing into the past. “The legend says if a couple kisses while under the Bridge of Sighs, then their love will become eternal, and their sighs of unending happiness will forever be heard beneath its arches for all other couples in love to hear. I can say I know it works, because I kissed my wife under this very bridge. She’s been madly in love with me ever since. She is my one true, eternal love.”

He peered down the canal for a moment with a dreamy look in his eyes, then stood and began paddling and singing again.

“That is so sweet!” Leah said, practically cooing over the idea. “We’ve got to do that, Jake. Please? Kiss me and bring us eternal love.”

Jacob smiled at her with what could already be called undying love in his eyes. “Of course I will, sweetie. You don’t have to ask me twice to kiss those amazing lips.”

Max didn’t miss the tiny sigh that escaped Jenna’s lips when she watched her friends embrace and kiss as they floated under the arch of the bridge.

“Must be nice to be so in love,” Jenna whispered under her breath.

When Leah and Jacob broke apart she turned back toward Max and Jenna, suddenly yelling. “Quick, kiss! Before it’s too late!”

Max glanced to Jenna, meeting her gaze. “She’s not talking to us is she?”

“She couldn’t be,” she affirmed, shaking her head.