Something Borrowed Read online

  Laughing, she hugged Mr. Donovan. “This is going to bite me in the ass if I ever get married, but okay.”

  Shaking her head, she stepped back in the room, closing the door behind her.

  “What did my dad want?” Kailey asked from behind an elegant bouquet of white roses.

  “Just for me to tell you how much he loves you.”

  She watched as Kailey’s smile shifted from forced for the photo, to genuine happiness. There’s got to be a certain ring in hell for people who lie to their best friends – let alone for people who lie to brides.

  “I wish he’d come in,” Kailey said, a slight trace of sadness in her voice.

  “He will see you when it’s time to walk down the aisle. For now, why don’t we let the photographer do her job of creating those elegant memories you wanted.”

  Kailey wrapped her arms around Adrianna in a hug when she got close enough. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’m fairly positive you’re the only reason everyone is still alive in this room.”

  She chuckled, “I don’t think I can take all that credit, but just slip me one of the fancy presents you don’t want and we will call it even.”

  Chapter Two

  “Did you tell her?” Jaxon asked, focused on his reflection as he tied the robin’s egg blue bowtie. He didn’t bother to turn because he could see his father perfectly in the antique mirror in the guest room where all the men had been sent to wait.

  “I told someone.” His dad said, sitting down on the bed with a smile.

  “Oh god, she’s going to kill me,” Jim groaned, dropping onto the bed.

  “Has anyone ever told you,” Jaxon asked as he turned from the mirror, “that you and my sister are literally a perfect match?”

  “You don’t want to be on your sister’s bad side. She’s brutal.” Jim said, sighing dramatically. “And for the record, I am nowhere near as dramatic as she is. I just want this day to be perfect for her. Having Marco and having you step in is likely going to ruin any chance at wedding night sex I was going to have too.”

  “Hey! Father in the room.”

  “Sorry, Harry.”

  “It’s all right, I’d just like to pretend that my baby isn’t old enough to be doing that, even though she’s getting married tonight.”

  Everyone in the room let out a laugh.

  “So, Dad, who did you tell I was going to be a replacement in the wedding?”

  “Adrianna.” He shrugged at his son. “It felt like the safe choice. She is the one you’ll be escorting down after all.”

  Jaxon tried to not smile at the idea of walking Adrianna down the aisle. While big brother with little sister’s best friend is considered an off limit relationship, he’d always had feelings for Adrianna. It would have been impossible not to have feelings for a girl like her – even in high school she was beautiful, poised and had a sassy streak that always made him smile.

  He’d thought about her countless times, but he’d never felt like he had any right to contact her. An aside friending her on Facebook and the occasional post comment, they hadn’t interacted in years. He and Adrianna hadn’t been friends, and they still weren’t. Jaxon had just always admired her, and as he’d gotten older, he realized she had possessed so many of the traits he wanted in his wife.

  Wonder if she’ll think I’m still that cocky asshole from high school?

  Being in the Marines had done for him what it did for every person – it made him grow up. A person couldn’t remain some arrogant sports star when they were dodging bullets while escorting children out of a war zone. He’d seen that, in fact, he’d seen quite a bit more. For the last ten years, he’d moved from deployment to deployment, each one more harrowing than the last. When he’d joined he’d been looking for a way to pay for school because his parent’s had forbidden him from going on a sports scholarship as it would “take too much time away from his studies.” There had been five blissfully indulgent months in Australia before he’d been recruited for a cleanup mission of a bombed orphanage in Iran. He would never forget the broken bodies, the blood or the way the sadness seemed to crush him into the floor.

  It had been impossible to go back to sand, sun and surf after that. He put his name on every list he could find that would take him to areas where his help would be needed. He’d saved children, the elderly and every day folks caught up in a war zone. However, he’d also cradled a child as she took her last breath, watched as countless bodies were pulled from many a wreckage and had lost three brothers’ to enemy gunfire.

  He was about as far away from the conceited eighteen-year-old as he could be. Yet, the idea of doing something of this nature with Adrianna made him feel like he had gone back in time. She’d never given him the time of day. No matter how much charm he’d put on, or how relentlessly he’d flirted, she’d never once given into him. In fact, had he not caught her staring at him one day he would have never wondered why she hadn’t at least asked Kailey to date her brother.

  Yes, because everyone would ask to date their best friend’s older sibling.

  “How badly do you think Kailey will react to this? On a scale of one to ten?” Jim asked, peeking through his fingers.

  “Oh, at least a fifteen.” Jaxon grinned. “If there is only one thing about me that remains from my pre-military years, it’s that I live to bug the shit out of my little sister.”

  Laughter erupted around them, but Jim’s sound of terror was still louder than his entire four-person groom’s party laughing.

  “All right then,” his father said, pushing off his knees to stand up from the bed. “I believe it’s time for me to do one last sweep of the house and make certain the guests are all enjoying the delicious Brennan’s appetizer’s.”

  “Jesus, is that’s who is catering? I need to rescind my offer to stand in the party, I miss Brennan’s food.” Jaxon joked as he checked his cuff links one last time.

  “You’re joking right; tell me you’re joking?” Desperation beamed up of Jim’s eyes.

  “Calm down, Jim. Of course, I’m kidding. Though the food is tempting. I need to come home more often,” he said as he watched his father slip out of the room.

  And he meant it.

  Five years ago his mother had passed away. He hadn’t been able to come home while she’d battled Leukemia, and he would never forgive himself for that. His father and baby sister should’ve never had to shoulder that responsibility without his help – shouldn’t have had to watch her die alone.

  “Well then boys, it sounds like there’s just one thing left to do before we help make Jimmy here an honest man!” Tom grinned like a wolf as he pulled a flask from his jacket pocket. “Obligatory jitters shots!”

  “She’ll kill me if we’re all drunk,” Jim warned, side-eyeing the glasses as Tom filled them.

  “Live a little, Jim. I promise my sister is going to drive you nuts for the rest of your life, she won’t want to kill you today and ruin that opportunity.”

  Jim shot Jaxon a glare as Stewart passed him a filled-to-the-top shot glass. Grasping it, he tipped it to his lips, emptying the glass in one gulp.

  “All right then. Let’s help calm my nerves down with one more round.” Jim smiled, though a look of uneasiness still shone out of his eyes.

  Jaxon snickered. He’d spent what time he could watching Kailey and Jim grow in their relationship the past three years. Jim was a good man, even if he was utterly whipped by his sister. It felt good to be home for a celebration this time, not a funeral.

  Chapter Three

  Adrianna watched Teresa and Mark walk effortlessly down the aisle, gliding over the pink and white flower petals with ease. She had been utterly on edge since learning Jaxon was suddenly in the wedding – both because she knew Kailey would have had a meltdown, and because she’d never quite outgrown her childhood crush.

  Ten years had apparently not been the appropriate amount of time to move on from your best friend’s arrogant brother. Not when he’s gorgeous and a war he
ro at least, she thought bitterly. She’d only seen Jaxon a few times since he’d joined the Marines, but each time she’d noticed another ribbon decorated his dress uniform. He never wore it, but when he came home, she somehow managed to spot it hanging in one room or another when she’d pick Kailey up or come over for a girl’s night. She had spent nights dreaming of what he’d done to earn those medals – dreaming of nights she’d spend in his arms as he spun the tales of just how he’d come to don them.

  Yet, each time he was home he’d been little more than the jock big brother from high school. He’d say hi, make a smart remark about something or other and then head out the door. Jaxon had shone even less interest in her as an adult than when they’d been teens. His lack of interest should have been cause enough for her to lay her fantasies to rest. Yet, for some reason, it wasn’t. There was a spark in Jaxon Donovan that took her breath away – a draw to him that she couldn’t resist anymore than a moth could resist a flame. An appropriate distinction really, as she knew if anything romantic ever did take place between them, he’d leave her in an embarrassed pile as he wandered off to his next girl.

  “You look stunning,” warm breath whispered into her ear as a hand tenderly landed on her lower back.

  A shiver streaked through her from the intimacy of the interaction. Sucking in a deep breath she turned, knowing full well it was Jaxon beside her. She’d know the sound of his voice anywhere, even at a low whisper. He’d never had much of an accent, but most locals in New Orleans did not, tourists just assumed a thick Cajun accent came with the territory. Cerulean blue eyes seemed to sparkle with extra life from the blue of the tie around his neck, and his smile brought about the same reaction it always had; a slight tremble in her knees and a desire to fling herself into his arms. There wasn’t even anything special about the way he was looking at her, in fact, it was the same way he always looked at her – like she was merely there.

  Shake it off, Laurant. Blowing out the breath she hadn’t realized she held she tensed as the shift in the Wedding March indicated it was time for the Maid of Honor and the Best Man to take their place. Suddenly the idea of touching Jaxon made her nervous, afraid even that he would find little interest in such a touch when she knew she’d read far too much into it, simply because that’s what one did when their high school crush came back into their lives as an adult. Or so you tell yourself because movies dictate it for their plot lines.

  Jaxon stretched out his hand and winked. “I believe this is our cue.”

  Slipping her hand into his, she forced herself to ignore the sudden burst of warmth the contact brought. It seemed to start where he touched and slowly seep through her body, like a warm cup of soup or hot cocoa in winter.

  Tearing her gaze away from his she let her left foot lead the way. Step. Together. Step. Together. She chanted as if they were dancing as opposed to a simple strut down a wedding aisle. Forcing herself to look at the aisle closest to her so she wouldn’t see Jaxon proved to be a mistake. Nearly every eye on Kailey’s side of the wedding was looking at them. Suddenly, she wasn’t the Maid of Honor. She was the bride, anxiously walking to meet her groom. It didn’t matter that in her fantasies, the groom was the man standing beside her, not the handsome man at the end of the aisle.

  Lost in a daze, she felt it too late as her heel tore into a rose petal beneath it. Arching her back to keep from falling, she was shocked to feel Jaxon’s hand catching her before she’d moved more than an inch. There were no sharp intakes of breath from those seated, which meant he’d done more than saved her from falling, he’d stopped her from embarrassing herself and ruining Kailey’s wedding as well.

  “Just keep moving. I promise, no one saw.” He whispered out of the side of his mouth as they came closer to the alter.

  It took everything in her not to tilt her head to the side and look at him. The boy that went away to war certainly never would have taken even a breath to reassure her of anything. That boy would have likely snorted and made a snide remark.

  Who are you, Jaxon Donovan?

  Reaching the end of the aisle after what felt like an entirety, she un-looped her arm from Jaxon’s and took her place at the front of the bridal party line. Less than ten seconds had passed before the rest of the Wedding March boomed long and deep, leading to a mass turning of heads toward the back door and her beautiful best friend.

  Kailey’s smile was nothing short of perfection as she moved down the aisle, arm in arm with her father. Adrianna felt a surge of emotion rush through her as she watched her oldest friend glow with the happiness only a bride could feel. The ire and panic that had held Kailey captive minutes before was gone, replaced with the effortlessly beauty and joy that accompanied someone on their wedding day. She’d seen the look on many of her friend’s faces, but seeing it on Kailey’s made her eyes water with happiness.

  Step-by-step Kailey glided down the aisle like a ballerina, her smile faltering at the second row of chairs to the front, when her eyes shifted from Adrianna to her brother. Though it wasn’t audible, she could see the hiss of shock, or annoyance, briefly cross Kailey’s face before her eyes landed on Jim and her smiled blossomed even brighter than before.

  “I love you, Daddy,” Kailey whispered as her father dropped a kiss on her cheek and stepped away from his baby girl to sit in the end chair in front of Adrianna.

  Reaching out, Adrianna took the beautiful bouquet of mixed colored roses and held it next to her own so Kailey could take Jim’s hands. It was almost painful, seeing how Jim looked at her with so much love. It was evident that no matter how much Kailey bitched, and how many nights Jim came home late, there was no one else on the planet for either of them. Pure love shone out of his eyes as Kailey turned to look at him and she knew that look was mirrored in Kailey’s.

  Without thinking, she leaned slightly forward to look at the groom’s party, her eyes catching Jaxon’s. He smiled at her, but it seemed different this time. As if for the first time he was truly looking at her. Instead of the side smirk that normally graced his lips, his smile was curved upward on both sides of his mouth, and she swore his light blue eyes swirled darker as they looked at one another.

  He’s happy his sister is getting married. Focus, this isn’t about anyone but Jim and Kailey.

  She heard the Justice of the Peace begin to speak, but she was unable to concentrate on the words. She was lost in the blue swirl of Jaxon’s eyes, transfixed as if they were the ones standing mere inches apart exchanging vows. He held her gaze, not looking away once. A small laugh rose from the crowd at Jim’s vows, but it wasn’t enough to pull her attention toward the happy bride and groom.

  This means nothing. You’re both simply in each other’s line of sight. It would be impossible to not look at one another. Blinking, she forced herself to swing her vision down the grass beneath her feet. Sighing, she wondered what it was about Jaxon Donovan that could bring her to the point of distraction after all these years and during such an important moment.

  “You may now kiss the bride.”

  She glanced up just as Jim lovingly lifted the veil from Kailey’s face. For just a split second he didn’t move as he stared into his wife’s eyes for the very time. Adrianna felt her heart skip a beat as she watched one of the most intimate moments she’d ever witnessed. She was utterly transfixed as she watched Kailey’s dark, reddish-brown hair swish to the side as she turned her face to kiss Jim for the first time as his wife.

  The collective “awe” that rose up from the backyard made her flush as she realized she’d been staring just passed the newlyweds to Jaxon . . . again.

  Music flared up in the yard, absolutely not the song Kailey had selected either. However, just as she seemed to be mostly unconcerned with Jaxon’s presence, Kailey was too involved with her husband to notice the slight detail. Applause erupted as loudly as the festive cheering at any Mardi Gras parade when Kailey slipped her hand into Jim’s.

  She watched, finally taking her full attention away from Jaxon, as her f
riend walked into her proverbial future.

  “Aid?” Jaxon cleared his throat as he said her name.

  She shook her head and realized his arm was crooked, with his elbow waiting for her to take it to walk back up the aisle.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, clutching his elbow a touch too enthusiastically.

  The walk felt considerably shorter than it had when she had been unused to touching Jaxon. Not to mention most people were buried behind their phones, snapping shots as the wedding party exited the ceremony space.

  “You can probably let go now.” Jaxson grinned once they were back in the house.

  “Right. Sorry,” She mumbled, releasing his elbow and turning, nearly slamming into Teresa and Mark as they walked into the house as well. Turning her attention to Kailey and Jim, she smiled wide.

  “Did you always do that?” Jaxon asked, stepping in front of her.

  “Do what?”

  “Apologize so much.” He winked and looked around. “I seem to remember you being a bit of a pushover with my sister, but you were always a spitfire with me.”

  She wasn’t certain if he meant it as a compliment or an insult, but before she could respond she heard the outside music stop.

  “I’ll need the wedding party outside in five minutes for pictures.” The photographer called from just outside the door.

  “Excuse me, really quick!” Kailey shouted, causing everyone to turn to where she stood, still holding Jim’s hand and smiling brightly in her crystal-covered white gown. “I know I’ve been kind of a witch the past thirty-six hours, but I really do appreciate each and every one of you for sharing this day with us.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her brother. “Except for you. I don’t even think I want to know what you were doing there.” There was a slight edge to her voice, but nothing compared to how she usually sounded when something didn’t go right.

  “What can I say? I’m too lovable of a guy not to have been a part of everything.” Jaxon grinned.