“I bet I can guess,” Reid interjected. “Our dearest Jax here is in love with your best friend, but he did something to fuck it up.”
Jax wanted to lash out at the man, maybe throw a punch to knock that smirk off his face. But that wouldn’t do anything but give him a split second of satisfaction and a pissed-off sister when her groom had a shiner in their wedding photos.
Lucie looked up at him for confirmation. “Jackson?”
Releasing her, Jax took a step back and scrubbed a hand over his face. He hadn’t bothered grooming after his shower earlier, so his usual five o’clock shadow was now the start of a decent beard. Another couple of days and he could get a job as a model for lumberjack fashion wear.
He cleared his throat, glanced at Reid’s smug face, then met his sister’s inquisitive stare. “That pretty much sums it up, yeah.” A slow smile spread over her face. Oh, shit. “Shorty, don’t start getting all mushy on me, okay?”
“What?” she asked innocently. “A girl can’t be happy her big brother finally found love? And with my best friend, of all people?”
“Yeah, well, I wouldn’t get too excited if I were you. She doesn’t even want to see me, much less date me. But she’ll just have to deal with me today because I’m going to Nashville whether she wants me there or not.” Then he remembered Reid had said Lucie had been on the phone with V. “She’s not answering my calls. Call and tell her not to do anything until I get there. I don’t want her around those criminals, and I sure as hell don’t trust Kat’s boyfriend to—”
“Jackson!”
Hearing Lucie yell his name made him realize she’d tried interrupting him a couple of times before that. “What?”
“Vanessa isn’t in Nashville. She’s still on the island.”
Relief that she’d never left and concern for why she hadn’t flooded his system from opposite sides of his body, colliding somewhere in the center of his chest. “Tell me where she is.”
His sister’s eyes turned sad. “I can’t.”
He took a step forward and lowered his voice just above a growl. He must have looked pretty menacing if Reid felt the need to place himself half in front of his fiancée. As if Jax would ever lay a finger on his sister. The dude had gone all Tarzan over her. He would’ve respected Reid for that protective instinct if he wasn’t on the verge of losing his shit over Vanessa. “Lucie, I’m not playing. I want to know where she is.”
Lucie stepped around Reid while giving him her famous back off, Cujo look she used to use with Jax when he got too parental with her. And just as Jax had done years ago, Reid gave in. A little. “I mean, I can’t tell you because she won’t tell me. And when I asked why she switched hotels, she told me about Kat and said she didn’t want to bring me into her funk.”
That sounded exactly like something she’d say. That was his V. Always trying to save the ones she loved in one way or another. “She was supposed to go to Nashville to bail her sister out of a problem.”
“Yeah, I know.” Lucie tucked her long brown hair behind her ears and looked as though she debated on how much she should tell him. “Before she got on the plane last night, she found out Kat had taken off. Vanessa got a text from her this morning saying that she didn’t want Nessie getting mixed up in her problems.”
Jax snorted in disgust. “In other words, her boy Lenny told her they were better off doing another cut-and-run instead of facing the music that could very well be his death march.”
Lucie nodded. “More than likely. And if the future can be predicted by looking at the past, Kat will probably be off-grid for several months again. It’s nothing Nessie’s not used to. She’ll be fine; she just needs some time to herself.”
“Fuck that,” he growled. That’s not what she needed at all. Left by herself, she’d do what she’d always done: bury the hurt and the guilt until she couldn’t see it anymore. Feel that somehow, no matter how hard she tried, she wasn’t enough. And that was bullshit. She was more than enough. She was everything to him, and he needed to tell her. To show her.
But in order to do that, he needed to stop hiding.
Vanessa deserved a man who owned up to who he was in life. Not a fighter who pretended not to own part of an exclusive resort so he wouldn’t have to deal with the publicity and responsibilities that came along with it. And certainly not a brother who hid his true identity for fear of losing his place in his sister’s life.
“Lucie,” he rasped. “I need to talk to you.” He flicked a glance at his best friend, who gave him a nod of understanding. “Alone.”
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as she held out her hand. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go for a walk, big brother.”
Lucie’s private bungalow sat on the outskirts of the resort property facing the crystal blue waters of the Pacific. Jackson sat on the wood steps that led to the porch, forearms resting on his knees, one hand clasping his other wrist in the middle. He closed his eyes and sucked the salty sea air deep into his lungs, then regulated his breaths with the sounds of the waves hitting the shore.
When Lucie had sat him down for their talk, he’d been prepared for the worst reaction possible. Not because he truly believed his sister would abandon him, but because he couldn’t let himself hope for something more if she wasn’t able to give him that much.
Now he was ashamed of himself for thinking she’d react any differently than with the compassion, understanding, and love she’d shown him. Lucie truly was one in a million. When he told her about finding his adoption papers after their parents’ deaths, he expected her to quietly process the information in that Lucie way he knew so well. Not only did she surprise him by responding without thinking, but the first thing out of her mouth completely leveled him.
“I won’t lie and say this isn’t the last thing I expected you to tell me. But Jackson,” she said, gazing at him with her dove gray eyes, “I don’t care who gave birth to you. It doesn’t make you any less of a Maris than I am. And it sure as hell doesn’t change the fact that you’re my big brother.”
More than fifteen years’ worth of keeping his secret crashed over him, and he’d been helpless to stop the tears from flooding to the surface. Lucie wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed for all her tiny frame was worth. He wasn’t sure how long they held each other like that, but when they finally separated he had himself back under control.
They spent the next hour talking about everything from the real reason he moved to Hawaii to learning to accept not knowing why their parents never told him the truth. They speculated some, but in the end they both agreed that it probably wasn’t something they meant to keep to themselves forever. Neither of their parents could have ever predicted being taken from their children so early. Not telling Jackson sooner in life may not have been the wisest course of action, but they must have had their reasons.
Either way, Lucie was right. Just because his DNA claimed differently didn’t mean he wasn’t still a Maris.
The door behind him swung open and shut just before Lucie handed him the cold beer she’d gone inside for. “Here you go.”
“Thanks, shorty.” He took several long swigs, letting the cold liquid soothe the tightness still gripping his throat.
“Now,” she said, descending the steps to stand in front of him. “Whaddaya say we stretch our legs on the beach, and you can fill me in on what happened between you and Ness.”
Jax took in the folded arms across her chest and the single eyebrow hitched up between a part in her bangs. “This is nonnegotiable, isn’t it?”
“Yep.”
Sighing, he unfolded from the stairs and followed her lead down the beach. “How much do you want to know?”
“Might as well start from the beginning. I’ll let you know when I get bored.”
He smiled around the lip of his beer bottle and took a fortifying sip before launching into the whole story. She listened attentively as they strolled at the water’s edge, the warm water occasionally lapping over their b
are feet. She didn’t even miss a step when he told her about being part owner of the Mau Loa, just told him she was proud of him for doing something to secure his future in case his career was cut short by an injury. He supposed that would be something in the forefront of her mind, since she was a physical therapist. The majority of her patients were injured athletes, including Reid. Or at least he had been one of her patients. Now that Reid had retired, he probably no longer needed PT unless he wanted to role play in the—
Gross! That was one of the downfalls of having your best friend hook up with your sister. All the “yeah buddy” thoughts of Reid getting some action were tainted by the fact that it was with his innocent baby sister.
“What?” Lucie asked when he gave her a sideways glance.
Yeah, right. No way was he opening up that conversation. “Nothing.”
She shrugged and let it go. “So what did she say when you told her the truth?”
“Exactly what she should have said. That I was the worst kind of liar and took advantage of the situation to get…close to her. And she’s right.”
“Yes, but it’s not like you were the one who made the first move, right?” She grabbed his beer and took a sip, then handed it back. “I mean, technically, she was the one who proposed the fling, not you.”
“Doesn’t matter, Lucie. I created the situation that instigated her proposal. She should’ve been free to have a fling with anyone she wanted. But she chose me because she thought she was stuck playing house with me all week.”
Lucie stared at her feet as she put one in front of the other, hands in her pockets and chewing on her lower lip. Jax knew she was turning the information over in her head like a rock tumbler. She wouldn’t say anything else now until she could pull out something shiny and worth showing.
“She said I was the only person to ever make her break Rule Number One, and then she walked away.” He shook his head in self-disgust. “I should’ve gone after her.”
Lucie stopped in her tracks and grabbed hold of his arm. Jax turned back to her with a questioning look.
“Why didn’t you go after her?”
“You mean besides not wanting my eyes clawed out?”
Lucie frowned, telling him she wasn’t amused.
“Because it doesn’t matter that I never meant to take advantage of her or the situation. The truth is that I did. I should have come clean about my involvement in the resort, but I didn’t. Vanessa felt used, and I can’t blame her for that. She had every right to hate me.”
“I think hate is a little strong, Jax. Especially when she just got done telling you she loved you.”
“What are you talking about? I never said she said that.”
“Yes you did,” she argued. “The thing about her breaking Rule Number One.”
His heart stalled in his chest. His lungs refused all air.
Understanding dawned on Lucie’s face. “Oh, Jackson. She never told you what Rule #1 is, did she?” He shook his head once. She stepped toward him and laid a hand on his chest. It took everything he had to hold firm. “Rule #1 is ‘Never fall in love,’ and I know for a fact that she never has…until now. She loves you, Jackson. So what are you going to do about it?”
The knowledge filled him with hope and fear. And determination. “I’m going to search every last inch of this island until I find her. Then I’m going to get in her face until she accepts my apology and gives us a chance.”
“I’m not entirely sure on the getting-in-her-face part, but who am I to judge? Reid had to buy me for a hundred grand before I gave him the time of day again.”
“I hope I get off that cheap.” Jackson kissed his sister on the forehead. “Gotta run. Thanks, shorty. I’ll see you at the rehearsal dinner later, hopefully with a gorgeous redhead on my arm.”
Jogging back to his Jeep, he started to formulate plans for finding Vanessa and making things right.
Day 7: Saturday
As Vanessa exited the cab and walked through the main entrance of the Mau Loa, she felt like the worst worst best friend in the history of worst best friends. She’d called Lucie and ditched the rehearsal dinner last night because she couldn’t deal with seeing Jackson. She knew he’d try to talk to her, and she wouldn’t have any way to escape without making a scene.
In fact, she’d just barely escaped him at her hotel yesterday afternoon. The guy who worked the front desk third shift told her the girl who worked before him mentioned a guy calling in to ask for a Vanessa MacGregor and a bunch of other names he thought might be aliases. Good thing she’d used something totally off the wall or he may have found her.
So her plan was to show up at the last possible minute, get through the wedding, and get shit-faced drunk with Fritz and her friends Eric and Kyle at the reception. She was calling it Operation Avoid Jax (At All Costs Because He Has the Power To Utterly Destroy My Resolve, Not to Mention Completely Shatter My Heart).
Okay, so the title was a little lengthy, but it was also more than a little accurate.
Passing the front desk, she noted Jillian wasn’t working. Happy, smiley, exotically beautiful Jillian. Vanessa bet she wasn’t a neurotic mess when it came to relationships. She probably charmed men with her customer service smile and took everything in stride, rule-free.
Vanessa took a turn down the hallway on the right toward the wing with the ballroom and bridal suite. Her palms grew damp and her heart beat a staccato rhythm behind her ribs. She prayed Jax wouldn’t be in the next hallway waiting to pounce. Another twenty feet…ten feet…five…taking a deep breath and holding it, she rounded the corner…
Her heart sank. No Jax.
Wait, her heart wasn’t supposed to sink. It should be buoyant. Like, super-mega-extra buoyant. Stupid heart, get with the damn program. Before she did something truly stupid, like knock on the groom’s room to the left and ask to speak with him, she opened the door to the bridal suite, slipped inside, and closed it with her back like the hounds of hell were on her heels.
“Nessie!”
She caught Lucie’s gaze in the vanity mirror, mid-application of moisturizer, in the back of the room. Surprise melted into joy on her friend’s face before the dark-haired woman spun on the padded bench and launched across the space. Vanessa met her in the middle and embraced her for several long moments.
“Lucie, I’m so sorry.”
Lucie pulled back and held Vanessa’s shoulders. “Stop. You don’t have to apologize. What matters is that you’re here now.”
“Well, hello, Vanessa.”
Looking past Lucie, Vanessa found a very stern-faced Robért dressed in white, cradling a clipboard in one arm and rocking a pencil in the air between his first and second fingers of the other hand. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized the jig was up. She’d been so wrapped up in her own shit, she’d forgotten all about the switcheroo they’d pulled on Robért.
“Uh, what are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t make it.” That’s it. Avoid the real issue. You’re good at that.
“Oh, that?” He waved his hand dismissively. “Turns out instead of renewing their vows, that couple decided to get divorced. So my friend was able to cover for me after all. Imagine my surprise when I showed up for rehearsal to find an entirely new bride and groom.”
She placed a hand on her forehead. Whether it was to make sure the rise in temperature she felt wasn’t actually a fever or to brace herself for the headache that was surely on its way, she wasn’t certain. “Jesus, Robért, I’m sorry. I never wanted to deceive—”
A huge smile broke over his face. “Honey, please, I don’t care if you pretended to be as many people as Cybil had personalities. I’d still rather work with people like you over ninety-nine percent of my clientele. Jackson already spoke to me and took full responsibility. Now get over here.”
Relieved, she did as ordered and stepped into his arms for one of their customary hugs. Then a flurry of let’s get readys had them scurrying to their separate vanities. They only had about a
n hour before the sunset ceremony.
A knock sounded at the door, pulling Vanessa’s stomach into her throat, until she heard, “Girl coming in!”
Jilli strode in pulling a rolling carry-on behind her and wearing a simple white sundress and her ever-present Employee of the Month smile. “Hui, everyone!”
Lucie and Robért greeted her with a “Hi, Jilli” and “Hui, girl” respectively as Vanessa blurted out, “What are you doing here?”
Real nice, MacGregor. Could you be more of a bitch, maybe? Her cheeks flushed and she muttered her third apology of the day.
“No worries,” she said, smile still in place. “I’m here to help with hair and makeup. Robért and I usually take care of the small bridal parties. I actually went to cosmetology school before I went back for hotel management.”
“Okay, great, then you can take care of Lucie and Ro—”
“Oh, no,” the woman said as she set up her station next to Vanessa’s vanity. “I’m good, but Robért’s a pro, so he gets the bride. But don’t worry, it won’t take much to make you stunning.”
Wonderful. Tension was making itself known in the base of her skull. It would only be a matter of time before it spread to the backs of her eyes and through her temples. Grabbing four ibuprofen from her purse, she watched Jilli plug in her curler, flat iron, and dryer, then organize enough cosmetics to make up Tammy Faye Baker for fifty years.
When she thought about it, Vanessa wasn’t even sure why she felt a level of agitation with the manager. She’d always been very pleasant and helpful, but there was something about her…
Jillian stood behind Vanessa in front of the large mirror and got to work brushing through her hair and sectioning it with clips. Behind them, Robért and Lucie were busy chatting away, laughing and going over wedding details. And somewhere in another area of the resort, Jackson was… She sighed. She wished she knew how to finish that thought.
“Jackie’s pretty upset.”
It took Vanessa a second to realize Jillian had spoken and another to realize whom she was talking about. Jackie. A nickname. Holy shit.