Im hoping you wont press charges, he said, moving to stand beside her.
In what universe would I not press charges?
Though he knew she was frightened, her expression was defiant. He couldnt help but be impressed with her spirit.
In the universe where I did you a favor.
You destroyed my wedding. Do you have any idea how important this was to my mother-in-law? How much she planned and spent?
To your mother-in-law?
Yes.
Not to you?
Her expression faltered. Well, me, too, of course. It was my wedding.
It was an odd way to put it, worrying about your mother-in-law first.
What I meant was, from my own perspective, I can get married any old time, in the courthouse, in Vegas, whatever. But she has certain expectations, a certain standing in the community. She wants to impress her friends and the rest of the family.
She sounds charming.
It comes with the Gerhard territory. There was a resignation to her tone.
What about Vern? How did he feel about the opulent wedding?
He was all for it. Hes close to his family. He wants them to be happy.
Does he want you to be happy?
Crista glanced sharply up at Jackson. Yes, he wants me to be happy. But he knows I dont sweat the small stuff.
Jackson lifted a brow. The small stuff being your own wedding?
She shrugged her bare shoulders, and he was suddenly seized by an urge to run his palms over them, to test the smoothness of her skin. Was she cold out here on the lake?
Itll work just as well with three hundred people in the room as it would with two witnesses and a judge.
Jackson stifled a chuckle. You sure dont sound like the average bride.
Her tone turned dry. The average bride doesnt have a five-hundred-dollar wedding bouquet.
Seriously?
I dont know for sure, but I think thats in the ballpark.
Jackson drew back to take in the length of her. And the dress?
She spread her arms. Custom-made in Paris.
You flew to Paris for a wedding dress.
Dont be ridiculous. The designer flew to Chicago.
This time Jackson did laugh. You have got to be kidding.
And that was only the start. Im wearing antique diamonds. She tilted her head to show him her ears.
He wanted to kiss her neck. It was ridiculous, given the circumstances, but there was something incredibly sensual about the curve of her neck, the line of her jaw, the lush red of her lips.
And you should see my underwear, she said.
Their gazes met. She took in his stare and obviously saw a flare of desire. Those gorgeous green eyes widened in surprise, and she took a step back.
He wanted to tell her hed give pretty much anything to see her underwear. But he kept his mouth firmly shut.
You wouldnt, she said, worry in her tone.
I wouldnt, he affirmed. I wont. Im not going to try anything out of line. He turned his attention to the shoreline.
Will you take me back? she asked.
I doubt theres anybody left at the church.
Theyll be crazy with worry, she said. Theyll have called the police by now.
The police wont take a missing-person report for twenty-four hours.
You dont know my future in-laws.
I know the Chicago Police Department.
Why are you doing this?
I was hired to look into Vern Gerhards integrity.
By who?
Jackson shook his head. I have a strict policy of client confidentiality.
Given their understandably fractured relationship, bringing Trents name into it would be the fastest way to completely lose her trust. Not that hed blame her. He felt the same about anything his own father touched.
But you dont have a strict policy against kidnapping innocent people? she asked.
To be honest, this is the first time its come up.
I am going to press charges. It was clear she was serious.
There was no denying that the situation had spiraled out of control. But there was also nothing to do but keep moving forward. If he took her back now, the Gerhards would definitely have him arrested. His only hope was to find proof of Verns infidelity and turn Crista against her fiancé.
His phone rang. He kept eye contact with her as he reached for it.
It was Mac, his right-hand man.
Hey, Jackson answered.
Everything okay so far? asked Mac.
Yeah. Jackson turned away from Crista and moved along the deck toward the bridge. You come up with anything?
Rumors, yes. But nothing that gives us proof. Norways looking into Gracie.
Pictures would be good.
Videotape better.
Id take videotape, said Jackson. Is somebody on the family?
I am.
And?
Theyve contacted the police, but theyre being waved off until morning. I guess runaway brides arent that unusual.
If Vern Gerhard is a typical example of our gender, I dont blame them.
Mac coughed out a laugh.
I guess weve got till morning, said Jackson.
It was less time than he would have liked. But thats what happened when you threw a plan together at the last minute.
And then? asked Mac. Have you thought through what happens in the morning?
He had, and most of the options were not good. We better have something concrete by then.
Otherwise shes a liability, said Mac.
Jackson had to agree. At that point, shes going to be a huge liability.
Crista was predictably angry at having her posh wedding ruined. If they didnt find something to incriminate Vern, Jacksons career if not his freedom would be at stake.
He heard a sudden splash behind him.
He spun to find the deck empty, Crista gone. His gaze moved frantically from corner to corner as he rushed to the stern and spotted her in the water. You gotta be kidding me!
What? asked Mac.
Call you back. Jackson dropped his phone.
She was flailing in the choppy waves, obviously hampered by the voluminous white dress. She gasped and went under.
He immediately tossed two life jackets overboard, as close to her as he could.
Grab one! he shouted. Then he stripped off his jacket, kicked off his shoes and dived in.
The water closed icy cold around him. He surfaced and gasped in a big breath. She was twenty feet away, and he kicked hard. He dug in with his arms, propelling himself toward her.
When he looked up again, she was gone. He twisted his head, peering in all directions, spotting a wisp of white below the surface. He dived under, groping in the dark until he caught hold of her arm. He clamped his hand tight and hauled her upward, breaking the surface and wrapping his arm firmly around her chest.
She coughed and sputtered.
Relax, he told her. Just relax and let me do the work.
She coughed again.
He grabbed one of the life jackets and tucked it beneath her. The boat was close, but the water was frigid. He wasnt going to be able to swim for long. Her teeth were already chattering.
He found another life jacket and looped it around the arm that supported her. He used his legs and free arm to move them through the water.
He found another life jacket and looped it around the arm that supported her. He used his legs and free arm to move them through the water.
You okay? he asked her. You breathing?
She nodded against his chest.
Dont fight me, he cautioned.
I wont, she rasped.
The side of the boat loomed closer. He aimed for the stern where there was a small swimming platform. It was a relief to grasp on to something solid. His muscles throbbed from the effects of the cold water, and his limbs were starting to shake.
He unceremoniously cupped her rear end and shoved her onto the platform. She scrambled up, her dress catching and tearing. He kept her braced until she was stable. Then he looped both forearms over the platform and hoisted himself up, sitting on the edge, dragging in deep breaths.
What the heck? he demanded.
She was breathing hard. I thought I could make it.
To the beach?
Its not that far.
Its a quarter mile. And youre dressed in an anchor.
The fabric is light.
Maybe when its bone-dry. He reached up and pulled himself to his feet. His legs trembled, and his knees felt weak, but he put an arm around her waist and lifted her up beside him.
With near-numb fingers, he released the catch on the deck gate and swung it open.
Careful, he cautioned as he propelled her back onto the deck.
She held on and stepped shakily forward. It tangled around my legs.
You could have killed us both. He followed her.
Itd serve you right.
To be dead? Youd be dead, too.
Im going to be dead anyway.
What? He was baffled now.
She was shivering. I heard you on the phone. You said tomorrow morning Id be a liability. We both know what that means.
One of us obviously doesnt.
Dont bother to deny it.
Nobodys killing anyone. He gazed out at the dark water. Despite your best attempt.
You cant let me live. Ill turn you in. Youll go to jail.
You might not turn me in.
Would you actually believe me if I said I wouldnt?
At the moment, no.
Right now, she was having a perfectly normal reaction to the circumstances. Proof of the truth might mitigate her anger eventually, but they didnt have that yet.
Then that was a really stupid statement, she said.
What I am going to prove is that I mean you no harm.
It was the best he could come up with for the moment. The breeze was chilling, and he ushered her past the bridge, opening the door to the cabin.
How are you going to do that?
For starters by not harming you. Lets find you something dry.
She glared at him. Im not taking off my dress.
He pointed inside. You can change in the headthe bathroom. Ive got some T-shirts on board and maybe some sweatpants, though theyd probably drop right off you.
This is your boat?
Of course its my boat. Whose boat did you think it was?
She passed through the door and stopped between the sofa and the kitchenette. I thought maybe you stole it.
Im not a thief.
Youre a kidnapper.
He realized shed made a fair point. Yeah, well, thats the sum total of my criminal activity to date. He started working on his soggy tie. If you let me get past you, Ill see what I can find.
She shrank out of his way against the counter.
He turned sideways to pass her, and their thighs brushed together. She arched her back to keep her breasts from touching his chest. It made things worse, because her wet cleavage swelled above the snug, stiff fabric.
Reaction slammed through his body, and he faltered, unable to stop himself from staring. She was soaked to the skin, her auburn hair plastered to her head, her makeup smeared. And yet she was still the most beautiful woman hed ever seen.
Jackson, she said, her voice coming out a whisper.
He lifted his gaze to meet hers. It was all he could do to keep his hands by his sides. He wanted to smooth her hair, brush the droplets from her cheeks and run his thumb across her lips.
Thank you, she said.
The words took him by surprise. Youre welcome, he automatically answered.
For a minute, it seemed that neither of them could break eye contact. Longing roiled inside him. He wanted to kiss her. He wanted to do so much more. And he wanted it very, very badly.
Finally, she looked away. You better, uh...
Yeah, he said. Id better. He moved, but the touch of her thighs made him feel like hed been branded.
* * *
Crista reached and twisted. She stretched her arms in every direction, but no matter how she contorted, she couldnt push the tiny buttons through the loops on the back of her dress.
Come on, she muttered. Then she whacked her elbow against a small cabinet. Ouch!
You okay? came Jacksons deep voice.
He was obviously only inches from the other side of the small door, and the sound made her jerk back. Her hip caught the corner of the vanity, and she sucked in a sharp breath.
Fine, she called back.
Im getting changed out here.
Thanks for the warning. An unwelcome picture bloomed in her mind of Jackson peeling off his dress shirt, revealing what had to be washboard abs and muscular shoulders. Shed clung to him in the ocean and again climbing onto the boat. Shed felt what was under his dress shirt, and her brain easily filled in the picture.
She shook away the vision and redoubled her efforts with the buttons. But it wasnt going to happen. She couldnt get out of the dress alone. She had two choicesstay in the soaking-wet garment or ask him for help. Both were equally disagreeable.
She caught a glimpse of herself in the small mirror. The wedding gown was stained and torn. She crouched a little, cringing at the mess of her hair. It was stringy and lopsided. If she didnt undo the braids and rinse out the mess from the lake water shed probably have to shave it off in the morning.
Are you decent? she called through the door.
Sure, he answered.
She opened the small door, stepped over the sill, and Jackson filled her vision. The cabin was softly lit around him. His hair was damp, and his chest was bare. A pair of worn gray sweatpants hung on his hips. As shed expected, his abs were washboard hard.
What happened? he asked, taking in her dress.
I cant reach the buttons.
He gave an eye roll and pulled a faded green T-shirt over his head. Ill give you a hand.
She turned her back and steeled herself for his touch. The only reason she was letting him near her was that it was foolish to stay cold and uncomfortable in a ruined dress. She told herself that if he was going to kill her, he would have just let her go under. Instead, hed saved her life.
His footfalls were muffled against the teak floor as he came up behind her. The sound stopped, and he drew in an audible breath. Then his fingertips grazed her skin above the top button, sending streaks of sensation up her spine. Her muscles contracted in reaction.
What was the matter with her? She wasnt attracted to him. She was appalled by him. She wanted to get away from him, to never see him again.