Sweat broke out on her brow. Her skin dried and drew tight over her bones. Muted laughter, the rustle of silky fabrics, the click of high heels on the tile; it was all too loud. The heavy scent of hairspray, perfume and flowers burned her nostrils, stuck in her throat and made it impossible for her to breathe.
Why couldn’t anyone see she was suffocating?
Heedless of wrinkling the satin and lace, Keely yanked up the dress, dropped her head between her knees and sucked air deep into her lungs.
The room became momentarily still, then the crowd circled her. Gentle female hands patted her back.
The feminine buzzing began again, siphoning every available ounce of oxygen and sanity.
A voice boomed, “Oh for heaven’s sake, give her some air.” A round of annoyed female whispers and grumbles gave away to eerie quiet as her well-meaning relatives were shooed out.
In a soothing tone, AJ said, “Keely?”
Keely lifted her head. Her BFF-sister-in-law’s pregnant belly protruded in her lavender bridesmaid’s gown. “You look like an anemic grape.”
“Good thing Cord likes grapes. But this isn’t about me and my latest McKay baby bump, so cut the crap. Is your dress too tight?”
Maybe the bodice was cutting into her oxygen supply and making her lightheaded. And paranoid.
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All Jacked Up
Nope. The minute Keely sat upright, panic set in again. “I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I can’t do this.”
She grabbed AJ’s hand, pleading, “You’ve got to get me out of here.”
“Where would you go?” AJ asked calmly.
“I don’t know!” Keely leapt to her feet and began to pace in the large, sunny bedroom. “None of this is real. These aren’t my real clothes. This isn’t my real face.” Her voice caught on a sob. “What is Jack gonna think when he sees me?”
AJ clasped Keely’s hands. “It is you. Maybe a fancier you, but it’s still Keely McKay under the layers of chiffon and silk. Jack will think the same thing he always has—you are the woman he loves and wants to spend the rest of his life with.”
“Somewhere deep inside I think I know that, I just…” Keely trailed off, her heart threatening to beat right out of the lace-trimmed sweetheart neckline.
She loved Jack. Jack loved her. Simple. When had their simple declaration of that love turned into a three-ring circus, complete with clown makeup and funny shoes?
“We should’ve made a break for Vegas like you and Cord did.”
“It would’ve hurt your dad not to walk his baby girl down the aisle, K.”
“Part of me understands. But I still need…”
“I know exactly what you need, sweetie, and I’ll be right back with it.” AJ disappeared.
Keely hoped AJ planned to dose her with Wild Turkey. After several minutes passed by, Keely realized she’d been left alone for the first time in hours. She didn’t waste time contemplating her options.
She needed fresh air. She cracked open the door and peeked out.
The coast was clear.
Grabbing the billowy folds of her ivory wedding dress, she took off, the cushiony carpet muffling her footfalls. At the end of the long hallway stood a narrow set of stairs, which led to the first floor and her temporary freedom.
Hallelujah.
Keely’s hand had just connected with the antique brass handrail, when a deep voice behind her inquired, “Going somewhere?”
Jack.
Everything inside her jumped for joy.
Yet, Jack didn’t sound particularly overjoyed to see her. In fact, he sounded downright furious.
“Answer me.”
She stammered, “Uh, don’t you know it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?”
“Yeah? It’s even worse luck for the groom to see his bride making a break for it ten minutes before the ceremony is set to start.”
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Jack was close enough she felt his hot breath teasing her sweat-dampened neck.
“Keely, are you having second thoughts?”
“No!” She spun around so fast the veil whapped him in the face. “I just—” The words died in her mouth at his stunned expression.
Jack stayed absolutely still. Then he smiled the wicked smile that was hers alone. He captured her hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss. “You’d think by now I’d be used to the way you take my breath away every damn time I look at you, cowgirl.”
Speechless didn’t begin to explain Keely’s emotions. Before she could articulate a single one, voices echoed up the main staircase at the other end of the hall.
Jack read her panic and pulled her into the first available room—which wasn’t a room at all, but the closet Gib and his cohorts had hidden in. As soon as they were inside, Jack tugged at the string attached to the light bulb, plunging the space into darkness.