Wedding His Takeover Target (Dynasties: The Jarrods #5)(22)
Author: Emilie Rose

The inn’s phone rang. “I’ll get it,” Sabrina said and hustled down the hall.

Henry waited until she was out of the room to set down his champagne flute. “You’re determined to do this?”

“I make her happy.”

Henry’s snowy white head bobbed. “That you do. If not, I’d be calling off the whole deal despite my concern about her being alone after I’m gone. But I’ll be watching.”

“As you should be.”

“Don’t think that ring—no matter how much you paid for it—gives you carte blanche to anticipate your vows under my roof again.”

“I understand. We’ll have a private ceremony at Jarrod Ridge as soon as I can arrange it. I’m shooting for Monday.”

“Why not here?”

“Because if the marriage doesn’t work out, I don’t want Sabrina to have any bad memories attached to the Snowberry Inn.”

Henry grunted. Gavin didn’t know if the noise indicated approval or disapproval.

Sabrina returned. The confused, or maybe dazed was the right word, expression on her face, made him want to hug her—not a normal reaction for him. He wasn’t the hugging type.

“That was Samantha Jarrod. She said she’s your sister-in-law. I’ve been invited to a bridal shower for your sister Erica on the nineteenth.”

Blake must have said something to his new wife. Gavin’s family was already bringing Sabrina into the fold. Too late to back out now—even if he could find another way to get his hands on that land.

Her wedding day.Sabrina paced inside the atrium at Jarrod Manor Monday afternoon, struggling to settle her rattled nerves and slow her breathing before she hyperventilated.

She needed to remind herself why she was rushing into marriage. But between shopping for a wedding dress and several walk-in guests at the inn, she’d only seen Gavin once over the weekend before this morning’s rushed trip to the Pitkin County clerk’s office for their marriage license.

So much for it being bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony on her wedding day.

Was she doing the right thing?

Her conscience had been screaming that question since Gavin had presented her with the prenuptial agreement Saturday evening. Signing the document had seemed like planning the end of her marriage before it began. But Gavin had explained she needed to protect her interest in the inn, and he needed to protect his siblings’ interests in Jarrod Ridge. Logically, everything he said made sense, but that didn’t mean it didn’t bother her.

To focus on something besides the emotional cauldron boiling in her belly she examined the location Gavin had chosen for their ceremony. She had to give him points for choosing a scenic setting.

The solarium with its vaulted ceiling had already been decorated for Christmas even though Thanksgiving was still weeks away. A massive Christmas tree decorated with red and white poinsettias and twinkling white lights dominated one end of the room, lending a festive air to what should be a simple exchange of vows officiated by one of her grandfather’s poker buddies—a retired judge. At the opposite end of the solarium a poinsettia and greenery-draped stone fireplace dominated the wall. And in the center of it all, a beautiful brass fountain shaped like the jagged mountains beyond the windows gurgled. Under other circumstances, she imagined that gurgle would be quite soothing.

Chilled, she made her way toward the crackling flames and held out her hands toward the heat. Light from the overhead chandelier caught the Colorado-blue-sky diamond of her engagement ring, revealing the inner fire Gavin had mentioned. She’d fallen in love with the ring the moment she’d seen it, but when she’d learned the blue of the stone happened to be Gavin’s favorite color she’d loved it even more. Finding a dress in the same hue felt as if destiny had stepped in to confirm her decision to marry a man she barely knew.

But that didn’t lessen her nervousness.

She swept a hand down the long satin skirt and shifted her shoulders in the sheer lace and beaded bolero jacket overlaying the strapless satin sweetheart top. The dress was a little lower cut than she was accustomed to wearing, showing the top curves of her br**sts. She turned to let the flames warm the skin left bare by the deep V-back of the dress.

She hadn’t had a wedding dress when she’d married Russell. They hadn’t had the money for one.

Stop. Don’t think about Russell today.

The door opened, providing a much needed distraction, and Gavin strode in looking powerful and charismatic in his black suit, white shirt and blue-and-black-striped tie. He had a red rosebud in his lapel and one hand behind his back. Her heart quickened.

“Are you ready?”

If she said no would he wait? “I think so.”

He swept out his arm, revealing a gardenia and red rose bouquet. “For you. Henry said these were your two favorite flowers.”

His thoughtful gesture reminded her of one of the reasons why she’d said yes. Gavin was generous and considerate. He might not have said he loved her yet, but he did show it. “Thank you, Gavin. The flowers are beautiful.”

“So are you.” He traced a fingertip over her neckline beneath the sheer bodice, making her shiver as desire swept a few doubts under the expensive rug beneath her feet. “Your dress is sexy.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Blushing, she accepted the bouquet and lifted it to her face, drawing a deep breath of the heady fragrance. “Mmm. Smells good.”

“Where’s Henry?”

“Judge Roberts has cataracts and can’t drive. Pops is picking him up.”

“I could have sent a car rather than have you waiting here alone.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been…gathering my thoughts.” More like gathering her nerve.

Gavin lifted her chin with his knuckle. “Sabrina, if you’re having doubts, now’s the time to say so.”

The fact that he was giving her an out went a long way toward soothing her fears. “I want to marry you, Gavin.”

“Good. Because I can’t wait to hold you in my arms tonight. It’s been a long weekend without you.”

The last of her misgivings melted. “I can’t wait either.”

He took the bouquet from her, set it on a nearby table and pulled her into his arms. He lowered his head and she met him halfway, needing to feel his hunger. The kiss didn’t disappoint her. From the moment his mouth opened over hers, she felt the restraint in his firm possession, in the deep sweeps of his tongue and the way his hands tightened on her upper arms.

He tasted of mints and coffee and Gavin. He shifted his stance, then his palms coasted downward to her waist. His h*ps pressed against hers, generating heat, hunger and enough eagerness on her part that she should be ashamed of her out-of-control desire. But she wasn’t. As much as she’d enjoyed her numbness before meeting Gavin, she now relished the way he made her feel alive with nothing more than a glance or a touch.

The doors opened, startling them apart. Pops and Judge Roberts ambled in. Judge Roberts rubbed his hands and grinned. “Looks like we need to get this knot tied good and tight as quickly as possible.”

“Amen,” Gavin muttered beside her, making her smile. At least the passion wasn’t one-sided.

And for better or worse, Sabrina decided she couldn’t agree more. She wanted to get the wedding over with so she could stop questioning whether she was doing the right thing.

The gold band weighed heavily on Gavin’s finger as he washed his last bite of wedding cake down with champagne at the end of the brief wedding reception he’d arranged for Sabrina. He owed her that much since she’d had none of the fanfare at her first wedding. His family would probably insist on something larger later since he’d kept them away from the ceremony, but for now he wasn’t looking forward to playing the besotted bridegroom in front of the people who knew him—and his aversion to marriage—best.He signaled the photographer he’d hired to give them a moment and smoothed a loose curl from Sabrina’s soft cheek. She looked up at him from beneath her lashes with happiness shining in her eyes, and he felt the impact of that glance like a caress. It took him a second to recall what he’d been about to say.

He cleared his throat to ease the sudden thickness. “We need to get Henry and Judge Roberts on the road before dark. I’ll walk them to the car.”

She smiled and lifted her hand to lick a smudge of cake icing from her finger. He intercepted her and carried her finger to his mouth. The tastes of Sabrina and white chocolate buttercream icing mingled on his tongue. Her pink lips parted on a gasp and her pupils dilated, igniting a corresponding hunger in his belly. The woman had bewitched him, but not even a passion this strong could endure the absences his job would require.

But until that day, he would focus on the here and now. In a matter of hours he would have her in his bed, nak*d, wet, and begging him to taste her other sweet spots. He ground his teeth but he couldn’t contain the groan rumbling up his chest. “Give me five minutes.”

She licked her lips, unconsciously inviting him in for a quick kiss that ended up lingering until he almost forgot he had business waiting. A flash from the camera jarred him away.

“Take your time. I need to run to the ladies’ room anyway.” Her voice sounded breathless and a flush tinted her cheeks.

And he didn’t want to leave her. But the signed deed was the reason for this farce, and he wouldn’t end the day without having it in his possession. Once he had it he’d call Blake and give him the go-ahead to contact the construction team.

Releasing her hand and backing away was more difficult than it should have been. He did it anyway and joined the men by the door. “Gentlemen, shall I see you out?”

Once the door closed behind them, Henry nodded to Gavin then turned to Roberts. “Elwood, can you give us a minute?”

Roberts nodded, slapped Gavin on the back and shook his hand. “Congratulations, son. You are indeed one lucky bastard.”

More bastard than you know. “Yessir, I am.”

After the judge walked away Gavin gestured to a small sitting area around the corner. He and Henry made their way to the secluded spot. “You have the signed deed?”

“I do.” Henry offered the folded document. “A deed for a deed, as promised.”

Satisfaction rolled through Gavin as his fingers closed over the paper. He finally had what he wanted—and he’d achieved something not even his father had been able to manage—getting the land back.

“What is that?” Sabrina’s question jerked Gavin’s attention away from his prize. She stood in the hallway. Holding Gavin’s gaze, she quickly closed the distance and plucked the paper from his hand before he could think of a way out of this mess.

She unfolded it, scanned it and then looked up at him with confusion puckering her brow. “This is the deed to the mine.”

“Yes.”

“Tell me you were just doing business today and that this—” she rattled the page “—isn’t connected to our wedding.”

“It’s nothing for you to worry about, girlie,” Henry said and tried to take the deed from her. She snatched it out of reach and focused on Gavin.