Inherited:OneChild(21)

In that moment, his wife-to-be had to be the most beautiful woman he'd   ever seen. Her hair had been pulled back from her face and allowed to   tumble in an abandoned riot of curls down her back. Her wispy veil was   anchored in place by a circlet of gold and silver, the craftsmanship of   the leaf-and-diamond-encrusted piece drawing attention to her vivid   eyes. Her ivory gown was perfectly suited to her tall, lean figure, the   bodice fitted, the sweeping skirt complemented by a long flowing train.   She looked like a fantasy creature from another era, and yet he knew   just how real she was.

Isabella also wore an ivory gown with lace insets that matched the trim   on Annalise's wedding gown. As far as Jack was concerned, his niece   resembled nothing more than a small angel. Instead of a veil, she wore   an adorable wide-brimmed bonnet that framed her apple-cheeked face.   Gold-tipped brown ringlets peeked out from the edges and bobbed in the   gentle breeze. She beamed with excitement.

Instead of carrying her Nancy doll-something he rarely saw her   without-she held a basket full of ivory and blush-pink roses. Then, much   to his amusement, he noticed the doll perched at the base of the tree   near where he was standing. He grinned. His adorable niece had dressed   the doll for the occasion in a gown and bonnet that, even to his   untrained eye, appeared identical to the one Isabella wore.

An instant later, the two joined him beneath the weighty fuchsia   blossoms of a crape myrtle, and the minister spoke the traditional   opening words that would soon join them together as husband and wife.   The ceremony took no time at all. One minute he was a man who'd sworn   never to take a wife. The next instant he was married to a woman who   gazed at him with such a wealth of emotion that it took every ounce of   self-control to keep himself from sweeping her into his arms and   carrying her off to where they could spend the next twenty-four hours in   uninterrupted seclusion.

That wasn't part of the plan, he reminded himself. This marriage had   nothing to do with his new bride and everything to do with the child   standing at their side. And he'd do well to remember that.

The minister cut across his thoughts, speaking the timeless words to conclude the ceremony. "You may now kiss the bride."

Jack didn't require any further prompting. He cupped Annalise's face and   tilted it upward. Her veil fluttered like a flag of surrender, while   her curls shivered in protest. But her eyes, those glorious honey-gold   eyes, gazed at him with undisguised want. Was she even aware of how much   they gave away? He doubted it. If she had the least suspicion, she'd   have done everything in her power to tuck the truth away behind that   serene facade she clung to with such determination. He hoped Taye and   Derek didn't notice her expression. That was his, and his alone,   something he refused to share with anyone else.

Slowly he lowered his head and captured her mouth. Her lips were softer   than the roses in Isabella's basket and tasted of sunshine and warmth.   He filled his hands with the glorious weight of her hair and the silken   curls twined around his fingers, anchoring them together. She sighed   against his mouth, the sound one of sweet surrender. If he could have   gathered up all the various scents and sounds and tastes and preserved   them for all time, he would have given his fortune to do so. But moments   like this didn't last, and their kiss was no exception.

From the direction of the house a great booming woof broke the spell and   the ground shook beneath their feet. Madam erupted from the kitchen  and  spilled onto the patio. Catching sight of the three of them, she  gave  her widest, most delighted grin and charged across the lawn.

The minister uttered a word that Jack was fairly certain couldn't be   found anywhere in the Bible he held and scurried behind the nearest   tree. The string quartet grabbed their instruments and made a beeline   for the gate exiting from the yard, toppling chairs in their haste to   escape. Taking a cue from them, the minister made a speedy departure, as   well. Only Taye, Derek and the photographer didn't budge. While his   friends burst into shouts of laughter, the photographer simply kept   snapping pictures as the beast joined in the festivities.                       
       
           



       

With a thundering bark of excitement, Madam reared back and lunged at   Jack, felling him with one blow. Unfortunately, his hands were still   anchored in Annalise's hair. She tumbled onto the grass beside him, in a   tangled heap of silk and lace. Isabella launched herself at Madam,   attempting to pull the dog off them. It was like watching a kitten   attempt to subdue a moose. She ended up riding Madam like a pony, her   bonnet turned half sideways, her dainty skirts hitched to her knees.

Beside him he felt Annalise's shoulders tremble and a muffled sound   escaped, something that sounded suspiciously like a sob. "Are you hurt?"   He tried to find her through all the lace, satin and tulle.   "Sweetheart, please don't cry. It'll be all right."

She managed to push aside her veil and a heavy swath of curls, revealing   eyes swimming with tears. But they weren't tears of sorrow or anger.   She tilted back her head and burst out laughing. His mouth twitched. And   then he was laughing, too.

"So much for a traditional, elegant affair," he muttered.

"Considering ours isn't exactly a traditional family to begin with, it   seems quite appropriate to me." Annalise attempted to twitch her skirts   into place, skirts that had ridden up high enough to reveal-Lord   preserve his sanity-a tantalizing glimpse of a sexy lace garter and a   hint of creamy thigh. "And, I hate to disappoint you, but I'm not really   cut out for elegant."

Jack leaned in and kissed her, a brief, thorough kiss that left her   cheeks glowing and her eyes sparkling. "Do I look disappointed?" He   shoved at the dog. "You two are now officially forbidden from sneaking   Madam any more treats. She's getting so fat, she's practically waddling.   And as for you two-" He shot his friends a glare that only served to   increase their amusement. "Thanks for your help."

Derek offered a broad grin. "Anytime."

"My pleasure," Taye added.

Jack gained his feet and helped his bride to hers. With one stern   command, he had Isabella removed from Madam's back and the dog sitting   calmly at his heels. The photographer stepped forward.

"Would you like a few formal shots?" His mouth twitched. "I think all the informal poses are covered."

"But we're a mess," Annalise protested.

Jack shook his head. "You look beautiful."

Her amusement faded, replaced by concern. "You wanted this to look   good," she explained in a low voice. "I know how important it is."

"It'll be fine. Here, just a few minor adjustments … "

Gravely, he finger-combed her unruly curls into a semblance of order-but   not too orderly. He liked how they rampaged down her back in exuberant   disregard. Then he centered the circlet on her brow and straightened  her  veil. He brushed the bits of grass and debris from her skirts and  then  nodded in satisfaction.

Isabella tugged at the tails of his tux and regarded him with a worried expression. "Your turn?" he asked gently.

At her solemn nod, he adjusted her bonnet, retying the ribbon beneath   her dainty chin. He took his time removing every blade of grass from her   skirts and then turned her in a slow circle. He nodded in  satisfaction.

"Picture perfect," he said approvingly.

He winked at Annalise, surprised to see tears in her eyes again. This   time they weren't from joy. There was bittersweet quality to her   expression. Forcing a smile to her lips, she stepped forward to join   them. The next half hour passed in a flurry of camera shots, some with   Madam, some without. By the time they were finished, afternoon had faded   into evening. Taye and Derek made their farewells, shaking Jack's hand   with impressive formality, and kissing the bride with far too much   enthusiasm.

"What next?" Annalise asked, once they were alone. She attempted to hide her nervousness with only limited success.

"Sara's prepared a formal dinner for us. I didn't think it wise to go to   a hotel in case Isabella has a problem, so we'll be staying here. I've   arranged for Mrs. Walters, just in case."

"Oh." To his intense fascination, color came and went in Annalise's face. "Is that really necessary?"