Black Jack (Advantage Play #5) - Kelsie Rae Page 0,42
“So, this little surprise has something to do with our wedding, I presume?”
“You presume correctly.”
“And it’s out in the middle of nowhere?”
“Not nowhere,” he clarifies before giving me the side-eye. “Honestly, I’m kind of surprised it doesn’t look familiar to you.”
“Why would it look familiar?”
“I dunno.” He shrugs. “Just figured you might’ve been here before.”
Confused, I scan the foreign area again and wrack my brain for any possible clues that I might be missing. He pulls off the main road and up a long winding driveway lined with lush green trees and speckled with wildflowers, but the scenery doesn’t spark any memories.
A minute later, the road bends a final time and reveals an old, yet gorgeous, estate with emerald vines climbing up the gray siding. Twinkling lights are strung up on the front lawn where a man in a dark suit is waiting for us, along with a woman who’s sitting on a white folding chair a few feet away from him. Other than the strangers’ presence, the entire place looks like it was taken straight out of a fairy tale. Just for me.
My teeth dig into my lower lip as I release a shaky breath, then gain the courage to face the man beside me as he parks the car a few seconds later.
“Do you like it?” he asks. There’s a hint of vulnerability that seems to find the final chink in my armor.
“I’ve never been here before, but…yes, it’s beautiful.”
“So, you like it?” he repeats.
“Yeah, Jacky Boy. I like it. How did you come up with this place?”
Looking sheepish, he replies, “Kingston knows a guy.”
“Ah, I should’ve guessed. Who does he know?”
“Matteo Moretti.”
My eyes almost pop out of my head. “Matteo Moretti? This is his place?”
“Yeah. Or…”––his brows furrow––“one of them, anyway? We still thought it was too risky to have anyone attend, but I found a priest from a nearby church who was willing to meet us here and perform the ceremony with his wife as the witness. Is that okay?”
My eyes start to burn with tears, but I blink them away. No one has ever been this thoughtful for me. Ever.
“Yeah,” I breathe, answering Jack’s question as I take in the gorgeous ambiance all over again before covering up my awe with a look of indifference. “That’s…sweet of you, actually.”
“Don’t sound so surprised.”
“You’ll have to forgive me. I’m still getting used to the idea that you’re actually a nice guy instead of the ones I’m used to.”
“Should I take that as a compliment?”
“I haven’t decided quite yet,” I reveal with a watery smirk.
“Har, har. I also wanted to give you something.”
“Jack….”
He pulls out the velvet box that’s been taunting me for weeks then hands it to me. “Technically, I’ve already given it to you, but I figured since I didn’t help pick out your ring, these might be a solid second choice.”
I fidget with the box, desperate for him to take it back and relieve the guilt that’s swarming in my stomach. “Jack, you don’t have to….”
“Don’t have to what? Give you something on our wedding day?” His mouth curves up before he nudges me gently. “Come on. Open it.”
My hands are shaking as I lift the lid. With a gasp, I cover my mouth and take in the gorgeous diamond earrings nestled inside that somehow match the engagement ring on my left hand.
“Jack….” My voice trails off, replaced by a giant golf ball in my throat that I can’t seem to swallow past.
“Do you like them?”
“Of course, I like them. But they’re too much—”
“Says who?” he challenges with a laugh. “Put them on.”
I push down the car’s visor, then flip up the cover to reveal the passenger mirror before fiddling with the earrings that are hands down the most beautiful gift anyone has ever given me.
Once I’m finished, Jack slaps the visor back into place, then bounces his eyebrows up and down. “Come on, let’s get going. We have a wedding to attend.”
As he opens his door, the sound of the symphony filters into the cab. It’s soft and sweet and kind of perfect, though I don’t point it out as he closes the driver’s side, then rounds the front of the car before opening my door.
“You ready for this?” he murmurs in a low voice as I tuck my hand into his offered arm. I smooth my expression and force the excitement flooding my veins to simmer down.
“It’s not exactly what I was picturing when I envisioned my wedding.”
It’s better, a tiny voice inside