Iris Johansen by Return to Santa Flores

Author:Return to Santa Flores [Flores, Return to Santa]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

SIX

IT WAS INCREDIBLY easy to marry in Las Vegas. With his usual efficiency, Steve organized the ceremony for two days later. It was to be a private affair with only Joe Magruder and Mike Novacek as witnesses. Pat Marchant, Steve’s secretary, was attending to the details of the ceremony, so it only remained for Jenny to find a gown.

It took a long, exhaustive search, but she finally found it. The gown was straight out of the Renaissance, and its low squared neckline, long, tight sleeves, and empire waist turned her into Juliet. Completely free of ornamentation, it relied on its cut and the richness of the taffeta for effect. She wore a simple Juliet cap as a headdress and let her hair flow loose and shining down her back. It was an incredibly romantic look, and it fitted her mood exactly.

“You make me feel like I should be wearing hose and doublet,” Steve said wryly as he helped her into the car that evening on the way to the ceremony.

She shook her head decisively. “You’re perfect just as you are,” she asserted. He was fantastically handsome in the black tux, she thought admiringly.

Steve looked down at the glowing face beside him for a long moment, his blue eyes oddly sad. “You look like the first breath of spring,” he said in a low voice. “And you make me feel a hundred years old and lost in wickedness.”

She smiled brilliantly, her hand reaching out to cover his on the steering wheel. This was the first really personal remark he’d made to her since they’d returned from Caleb’s Gulch. When they’d gotten back to the hotel, it was as if he’d erected a barrier between them. He had been as charming, affectionate, and considerate as one could ask, but try as she would, Jenny couldn’t see behind the urbane mask the lover who had ravished her senses.

He looked down at the delicacy of the small hand on his own. “You’re everything a bride should be, Jenny,” he said with a quiet sincerity that filled her with happiness. Then putting the car in gear, he pulled away.

They were met at the church steps by a surprisingly solemn Mike Novacek. He was taking his duties seriously, Jenny thought in amusement. His eyes widened as he helped her from the car and stood back a pace to look at her. His guttural voice was hoarser than usual as he said, “You look like a princess in a storybook, chicken.”

She squeezed his arm affectionately. “That’s what I feel like,” she said simply. “I’m so happy.” She looked him over thoroughly. “You look absolutely fantastic, Mike.”

Actually, he was positively debonair and sophisticated in his black tux. The excellent cut of the coat fitted smoothly over his massive shoulders, and the stark black and white discreetly complimented both his size and coloring.

He made a face. “I may not have the panache of a Fred Astaire, but I had to do you proud, Jenny.”

She kissed him lightly on the cheek.

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