Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (80 page)

Chapter Four

Samantha

I feel so invigorated after our sexy shower together and I am vaguely aware that I’m humming the chorus of “I Knew I Loved You” as I wander around the bedroom in my towel, getting ready. Josh has been in a strange mood since dinner last night and it makes me wonder even more what my mother must have said to him. I bet it was something really hateful since he seems to be having trouble letting it go. At one point, I almost expected him to back out of going to the wedding with me today; he just doesn’t seem to be into it. But he’s never mentioned not going. In fact, he hasn’t said much at all this morning, preferring instead to make love again and again. Not that I’m complaining!

Carefully, I slip into my maid-of-honor dress. It’s really beautiful, the softest shade of purple. ‘Wisteria,’ I believe, is what the sales clerk called it when we all went to the bridal shop a few months ago. It’s strapless chiffon with a layered skirt that hits right above my knees, and Meg and I chose the prettiest silver peep toe pumps to go along with it. The other bridesmaids will be wearing a similar dress in a darker shade of purple; the pictures are going to be lovely.

I really wish that Josh had a full-length mirror somewhere in this house. It’s so frustrating trying to get dressed without one, especially on a day like today. I sigh with a huff as I mull that one over, and as I do, I suddenly feel Josh’s hands at my lower back, zipping up my dress.

“Oh, thank you.”

He softly kisses my left shoulder as his hand slowly rises. “Well, I’d much rather be unzipping it. But you’re most welcome, baby.” When my dress is secure, he sweeps my hair over my shoulder and slips his arms around me. Then he trails soft, wet kisses from my shoulder all the way up to that spot behind my ear that always makes me shiver. “I will always love the way you felt in my arms this morning,” he whispers softly as his lips gently brush over my ear. And I think I moan softly. I can feel his smile on my skin and it makes me shiver all the more. He is so …
oh!

I turn to face him, and he kisses me deeply for a moment. Mmm. We are never going to make it to the wedding at this rate! I pull away from him with a small smile and walk off to the bathroom to put the finishing touches on my hair and makeup. I had at least a million phone calls from Megan this morning as she was freaking out about the hairdresser having the flu and not being able to make it today. So I promised her that I would be there at least an hour early to help her with her hair. She’s such a drama queen sometimes.
She is getting married today, Sam. She’s allowed to be a drama queen just this once.
I roll my eyes at my subconscious as I wonder idly if I’ll be a crazed loon when I get married. And then I can’t help wondering if maybe I’ll marry Josh one day.

And as that thought hangs in the air above my head, I feel myself blush slightly. I know the thought of marriage would probably freak Josh out big time. But then, he did tell me that he loves me with the playlist. And he was so sweet when we made love that night.

“I have been waiting all my life for you, baby.”

He told me that he loves me in the only way he’s able to right now. And I know that wasn’t easy for him, but he said it anyway. He may not be ready for marriage just yet but, he does appear ready for a more committed relationship. That thought makes me happy and I can’t help my smile.

When I come out of the bathroom I am stopped in my tracks at the sight of him as he slips on the jacket of his charcoal gray suit. He’s wearing the white dress shirt and striped purple tie that I set out for him, and he looks so freaking hot! And I notice that the suit he wore last night and this one both fit him as if they were made just for his body. That’s important when the suit’s not a high-end one and I wonder if he’s had them tailored.

“You are so handsome it should be a crime, Detective.” My voice is soft and full of longing, and he turns and gives me that devastatingly sexy smile of his.
Oh, boy!

“Is that so, Miss Colby?”

“Mm hm,” I manage as he saunters over to me with a chuckle.

“Well maybe you can handcuff me to the bed later,” he whispers as he places his fingers beneath my chin and lifts my lips to his, kissing me tenderly. And I blush as I recall our fun with handcuffs a few nights ago. “We should get going if Meg wants you there early,” he says, running a finger down my cheek.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

Josh is sort of quiet on the ride out to Bellevue. The closer we get, the more preoccupied he seems to become, and I begin to wonder if something’s wrong. As we arrive at the house and Josh helps me out of the car, I notice that he looks a little apprehensive.

“Look, Sam,” he begins nervously, “while you’re helping Megan, maybe I should just … go around back to the wedding site. Stay out of the way and wait for the ceremony to start.”

“Josh, that’s over two hours away; don’t be silly. Come inside, you can watch TV or something.” At first I don’t understand his reluctance to come inside the house. But as I think back on last night, I start to get it, and I feel horrible. “Josh … I know that my mother was miserable to you last night and I understand your reticence. But this is not my mother’s house; she’s probably not even here yet. And you are very welcome here.”

“You don’t know that, Sam. I mean your uncle was very nice to me last night but … I saw the looks your mom was throwing him. She probably read him the riot act for being nice to me. He may not want me here today.”

“Why would you think that? Dennis enjoyed your company; and he lives here. And Megan. And she invited you here,” I counter. He is silent as he studies me, and he looks as though he wants to say something more but, he doesn’t. I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Why couldn’t we have had this conversation sooner? “Josh, do you want to just go?” I ask him quietly, and he frowns and cocks his head at me.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean do you want to go?” I repeat, looking him in the eye. “Just go back and I’ll … have Lucas bring me home after the reception.”

His frown deepens, and he reaches out and caresses my face. “No. That is not what I want, Sam. I want to be here with you.” His voice is earnest and his bright blue eyes flash like lightening as they bore into mine. “I just don’t think that’s what certain members of your family want.”

“Well that’s just too damn bad,” I say with an attitude. “Because what they want doesn’t matter.
They
don’t get a say in how I live my life or who I choose to live it with.” I place my hands on my hips in a show of defiance, and we both know exactly who we’re talking about here.

He smiles slowly at me and then wraps his arms around me as he chuckles, kissing my forehead. “You are my little firecracker, you know that?”

His words make me smile. I love the idea of being his firecracker. I just love the idea of being
his.
“And don’t you forget it, Detective.” I look up at him and he sweetly kisses the tip of my nose. “Please come into the house,” I say softly, and he nods at me.

He takes me by the hand then and leads me to the front door, and as we walk inside, we are met by barely controlled chaos as caterers and wait staff and florists all run around trying to avoid the wrath of the wedding planner. If it looks this hectic in here, I can only imagine what the scene must look like out back where the action will actually be taking place.

“Oh, thank God!”

I hear Megan’s panic-stricken voice from the top of the double staircase. She comes rushing down toward us in a white silk robe and slippers, and her blond curls are pinned up beneath a silk scarf. She looks like she belongs in one of those old black and white movies from the ’40s. She grabs both my hands and gives them a nervous squeeze.

“I thought you’d never get here! What took you so long?” she asks in frustration. Then she rolls her eyes at me and glances at Josh. “Oh, never mind; I know what took you so long. Hi Josh,” she says, smiling sweetly at him and implying that we’ve been canoodling all morning. Which we have.

“Hi Megan,” he returns her smile and her singsong tone, and we both giggle at him.

Then she turns to me, suddenly serious. “Okay, you have to come with me now; it’s a disaster!”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”

“Samantha. Now!” She looks on the verge of tears and I feel torn. I want to get Josh settled in front of a TV or something.

“Okay, let me just show Josh to the living room…,”

“Oh for heaven’s sake, it’s right through those doors,” she huffs impatiently as she motions to the open double doors off to our left. And then she raises her voice for effect as she shouts, “Dennis is already in there watching cars drive around in circles instead of getting ready
for my wedding!”

And from inside the living room, we all hear him shout, “Bite me, bridezilla!” And I can tell that this argument has obviously been going on all morning long. I shoot Josh an admonishing look when he can’t hide his amusement at Dennis’ snide comeback. He wraps an arm around my waist and kisses my temple; then I watch as he slowly crosses the foyer and walks through the living room doors and disappears. I’m slightly comforted by the sound of Dennis greeting him warmly as Meg takes my hand again and pulls me toward the staircase.

*****

Megan’s bedroom has quickly filled up with bridesmaids, flower girls, mothers and grandmothers, and we have just over half an hour ’til showtime. I have helped with Meg’s hair and watched as one of the other bridesmaids did her makeup, and now I stand holding the dress as Aunt Jenny and I help her into it. When it’s all fastened and she stands in the mirror before us, she looks like a dream.

“Mom, please don’t cry or you’ll get me started,” Meg says softly.

“I can’t help it,” Aunt Jenny whispers. “My baby girl is getting married. You look so beautiful, honey.” Meg turns then and she and her mom hold one another for several minutes. And I feel a pang of jealousy as I watch them. Were Mom and I ever as close as Meg and Aunt Jenny have always been?
When you were a little girl and you wanted to be a princess.
Yes. My subconscious is right. Back then, Mom and I were best friends. Back before I discovered my passion for art and realized that the job of fairytale princess didn’t actually exist. Back before I began thinking for myself and developing interests that she didn’t understand or approve of.

I take a step back to give Meg and Aunt Jen a moment alone and, as I do, I bump right into my mother as she’s entering the room.

“Mom! Hi. I was just thinking about you,” I say quietly.

“Were you? What about?” She smiles pleasantly at me. Maybe the wedding has put her in a good mood.

“Oh, I was just watching Meg and Aunt Jenny,” I shrug at her and glance back at them. “I was wondering if … we would be that emotional if I were the one getting married.”

She raises her eyebrows and gives me a knowing look. “Trust me, Samantha. If you were marrying the
right kind
of man … I would be crying tears of joy all day long.” She reaches out to pat my arm and smiles sweetly at me, as if what she’s just said makes perfect sense.

“Yeah. That’s what I figured,” I say sadly. Rolling my eyes, I shake my head slightly as I walk out of the bedroom. I need a moment to recover from her negativity.

I walk down the hall a little ways and I wonder where Josh is and how he’s doing. I haven’t seen him in well over an hour since we first got here. Standing on the landing of the double staircase, I’m looking down at the entryway when I hear someone come up behind me.

“Hey, Pita. The craziness getting to you yet?”

“Oh, Lucas, would you do me a huge favor?” I ask, so relieved to see him.

“What’s up?”

“Would you check on Josh for me? Make sure he’s all right. I haven’t seen him since we got here and Meg pulled me away, and I have no idea how long Mom has been lurking around, spreading her cheer,” I say with a roll of my eyes.

He chuckles at me. “I take it you just had a run in with her?” he asks, and I give him a fake smile. “I wish you two could call a truce.”

“Well I am never going to be what she wants me to be, Lucas. And I don’t think she will ever accept that so … I don’t see a truce happening anytime soon,” I say sadly and he sighs. “Will you just check up on Josh for me, please?”

“Yeah, I’ll check, Sam. But you know, Josh is a big boy and from what I understand, he’s got a hell of a backbone. I’m betting he can handle our mother just fine,” he says, smiling at me.

“I’m sure he can handle her, but he shouldn’t have to. She was so rude to him last night; it’s just so uncalled for.”

“I know,” he nods in agreement. “Listen, I think Josh is still in the living room. Last I saw of him anyway. I’ll go get him before I head out to the backyard; he can sit with me. The guests are arriving.”

“Thanks, Lucas.”

“No problem, Pita.”

*****

My eyes locate Josh as I walk down the aisle and I can’t help but notice how uneasy he seems. He’s seated in the second row of chairs beside Dennis and Lucas, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why he’s so uncomfortable. At the end of the row, seated to Lucas’ right is my mother. Even with Dennis and Lucas there as human buffers, I’m sure that’s way too close for him.

He turns and watches me coming down the aisle and he smiles as our eyes lock for a moment. When I get to the end of the aisle and take my place next to Karen and the other bridesmaids, I glance at Josh once more and he winks at me. I think I blush slightly.

Suddenly, the wedding march begins and everyone stands. And there is an audible gasp as Meg and Uncle Kenny begin their slow walk down the aisle. She looks stunning, and I can’t help but venture a glance over at Scott. The look on his face is one of pure, unadulterated bliss. He looks awestruck, and so much in love. And for the second time today, I feel the unmistakable pang of jealousy at Megan’s life. What I wouldn’t give to have Josh look at me that way. Or to have my mother’s unconditional love and support. Now that would be something. What would that feel like?