Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

P enny zipped up her dress, catching sight of the tag still attached hanging right below her armpit. Dang it! Running to her kitchen, she grabbed the craft scissors from her junk drawer and snipped the tag off. She'd bought the pretty sundress yesterday when she realized she had nothing to wear to the rehearsal dinner. She wasn't really a dress girl. Unless you counted her R2D2 cosplay dress from Comic Con last year.

Somehow, she didn't think that would be appropriate for a wedding rehearsal.

Thankfully, Kismet was full to the brim with charming tourist shops overflowing with one-of-a-kind clothing. A quick afternoon shopping trip and she'd bought a very simple, but pretty, forest green cocktail dress. The crisscross bodice gave her the illusion of boobs, and the skirt flared out enough to allow her to walk without tripping over her own feet.

Slipping her feet into her black ballet flats—the only dress shoes she had other than the terrifying sky-scraper heels she had to wear at tomorrow's wedding—she did one last check in the mirror.

Frizzy hair tamed back into a sleek French twist, check. Light application of makeup to the best of her ability—thank you Internet makeup tutorials—check. Dress, shoes, light wrap, and purse, check. Satisfied she had everything in order not to make a fool of herself—or Cassie—she grabbed her keys and headed out.

The rehearsal was being held at the new restaurant. In the back, technically. The Jackson family had turned a portion of the cruddy, pothole ridden parking lot in back into a beautiful outdoor patio. When the restaurant opened in a few weeks, there would be seating. She'd heard Del mention something about trying to have live music occasionally. But right now, it would serve as the perfect venue for a small, intimate wedding.

She drove the few miles to Jacks, parking in the distillery lot and heading over. Loud peals of laughter and chatter reached her ears as she walked. It seemed most everyone had arrived. Shoot! She hated being late. Worried she was holding everyone up, she quickened her pace. A sigh of relief escaped her as she came into view of the back patio. People milled about, chatting, holding drinks in their hands. No one seemed in a rush to get things started.

"Penny! Oh, I'm so glad you're here!"

She let out a surprising oaf as Charlie grabbed her in a fierce hug, the woman crushing her close as if they were long lost best friends. Her surprise turned to mirth as the bright cheery voice lowered, whispering in her ear with desperation.

"My aunt Karen is here, and the woman will not stop asking me when I'm going to finally settle down and start popping out babies. Cassie is glued to Del's side, and I have no one to distract her. Save me!"

She laughed. Finding it oddly amusing to see someone the great and powerful Charlie seemed to be afraid of. Most of the time, Charlie told anyone who annoyed her to screw off. Guess that didn't really work with relatives.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Oh thank you, you're an angel. An absolute angel."

Not really. She was just happy to have someone need her for more than computer issues.

"Charlene! Oh Charlene!"

Bright red painted lips peeled back with a groan. "It's Charlie, Aunt Karen. My name is Charlie."

A very tall woman came gliding up to them. Dark brown hair, dyed judging by the gray roots, hung in loose waves around the woman's face. She smiled kindly, but shook her head, making a tsking sound through her teeth.

"I know. It's just preposterous naming a girl Charlie. I cannot fathom why my sister let your father give you all such silly names."

The Jackson children's names were a well-known joke around Kismet. Lawrence Jackson had been a career military man. A Marine ‘til the day he died, which had sadly been too soon. Penny had only known him less than a year before he died, but she remembered him as a kind man. He loved his wife and children. He also had a strange sense of humor. Humor that extended to his children's names: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta.

"Dad was a good man. Nothing wrong with a little silliness."

Penny felt Charlie's hand tighten on her arm. The woman's jaw clenched. The Jacksons took family seriously, especially Charlie. She didn't take anyone insulting her family. Even other family members.

Karen's eyes filled with sympathy. She patted Charlie on the cheek. "Of course, sweetie. He was a wonderful man. Taken too soon, rest his soul." The woman glanced around. "He would have loved to see this. Del so happy and getting married to such a lovely girl. I know he's looking down on you all and probably eager to see the rest of you kids happily married and giving your mama some bouncing grandbabies. Speaking of babies—"

"Aunt Karen, have you met Penny?"

The hand holding her arm moved to her back and gave a forceful shove right between her shoulder blades. Penny faltered but didn't fall on her face. Thank you, ballet flats. If she'd been wearing her wedding shoes, she'd have been toast.

"No. I don't believe I have."

The woman stuck out a large hand, enveloping Penny's with a grip far stronger than she would have imagined.

"Are you a friend of Cassandra's?"

There wasn't a simple answer to that one. It would be rather embarrassing—for both parties—to admit she was only a bridesmaid because Cassie needed a body. And that she was so desperate for female friendship, she readily agreed. She could lie, but she'd always been a terrible liar. "Oh, um, I—"

"Aunt Karen," a deep voice boomed. "Nice to see you. How's Florida?"

She was saved from her bumbling by the one person who had always come to her rescue since she was fourteen. BJ.

The back of her neck tingled, body heat rising. He stood just behind her, not touching, but close enough for his presence to reach out and wrap around her. Holy crap! Had it always been like this with him? Had she ignored this intense fire burning low in her belly whenever he came near, or was this new? All since…the kiss?

"Wonderful. I just moved to a new condo. Right on the beach."

"Sounds lovely."

"It is. And the new restaurant looks amazing, Bravo. You kids are doing such a marvelous job here."

"Thank you. You better take your seat. We're about to start."

Karen headed off to her seat, and Penny breathed a sigh of relief. She was all for helping Charlie deflect her aunt's nosy questions, but that didn't mean she felt comfortable when the tables turned on her.

"Hey, why the hell didn't she ask you about marriage and babies and shit?" Charlie smacked BJ on the arm.

"Ow!"

"Wuss."

"Witch." He stuck his tongue out. "Go get in line. Cassie said we're starting in five."

Charlie stuck her tongue out right back, then glanced at her with a smile. "Thanks for being my deflector shield."

"No problem."

She watched Charlie turn and head into the restaurant, where she assumed everyone was gathering to line up for the rehearsal. "Guess we better follow."

BJ didn't move. She looked to see his eyes focused on her. They were bright and…heated. An emotion she wasn't used to seeing directed at her. Especially not from her best friend.

"You look beautiful tonight."

He thought she looked beautiful? Her heart melted a little. No, crap, no heart melting. She'd been making her pro and con list for the last few days. While the pro was currently in the lead, something still held her back from agreeing to his proposal.

"Thank you. You look great too."

He did. In dark, pressed slacks and a charcoal gray V-neck sweater, he looked like he just stepped off a magazine cover. Yummy. That's the word she would have used to describe him. He'd even left his hair down tonight. The light brown waves, moving in the slight breeze. She wanted to run her fingers through them, pull his head down and caress his lips with her own.

Down, girl. We haven't agreed to his plan yet.

But she was leaning toward yes. Or, more accurately, her stupid, horny, haven't-gotten-any-in-over-two years self was leaning toward yes.

BJ held out an arm. She gave him a hesitant smile, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow. They walked back into the restaurant to take their place in line. The rehearsal went off without a hitch. Del and Cassie positively glowed as they stared into each other's eyes. Even though it was only the rehearsal, many people teared up. Penny even wiped moisture from her own eyes.

After the formalities were taken care of, everyone moved inside to enjoy some delicious food. A soft run of the restaurant opening, perfect for the rehearsal dinner. Penny enjoyed her penne pasta as she watched people talk and laugh. As part of the bridal party, she sat at a table with the Jackson siblings. BJ sat next to her, and she couldn't deny her body was aware of him.

Very aware.

One long arm stretched out along the back of her chair. His hand rested on her shoulder, fingers rubbing sensual circles on the bare skin. She had to cross her legs under the table to try to relieve some of the ache deep in her core. It didn't help. Just when she thought she'd burst into flames from lust, an adorable little girl—no older than ten—with dark brown curls and bright blue eyes rushed up to their table, bouncing on the balls of her feet like a windup toy.

"Cousin BJ, come dance with me!"

He grinned at the cute ball of energy. "You know I can't say no to you, Rosie."

Pressing a soft kiss to her cheek, he whispered. "Be right back."

But he wasn't right back. Penny sat at the table for the next hour, staring in awe at BJ as he danced with his cousin and then tousled and played with almost every child in attendance. He let the little ones climb him like a jungle gym, took the girls on twirls around the room. He even encouraged a few of the older boys to ask the girls to dance.

"Oh my." Her ovaries were damn near exploding at the sight. The soft yes she'd been contemplating all night turned into a hard ‘yes sir!' Watching him interact with the kids at the party reminded her why she wanted BJ to be her donor.

He had a truly kind soul.

Even if things got awkward after the sex, he would never abandon her. BJ would be in the kid's life no matter what because they were friends. So why not conceive her child with her best friend? Friendship was a kind of love, and wouldn't it be a better story to tell her child?

She might be rationalizing so she could get it on with her sexy as sin best friend, but at the moment she didn't care. BJ was right. She could have her cake and eat it, too.

Mind made up, she rose from her seat, making her way to the improvised dance floor they'd created in the middle of the restaurant.

"Mind if I cut in?" she asked, tapping the little girl who was currently standing on BJ's shoes as he slowly turned them in a circle.

"Go get a second piece of cake, Stella."

"But mommy said only one."

He held a finger up to his nose. "Then don't let her see you eat it."

A wide grin spread across Stella's face, and she ran off.

"Hello." BJ smiled, pulling her into his arms.

She went willingly, swaying with him, letting him set the rhythm since the only thing she did worse than walking in heels was dancing. His hands rested on her lower back, gently brushing up and down, creating havoc inside. She wrapped her arms around his neck, tongue darting out to wet her lips unconsciously. Her gaze ensnared by his. Wow, how had she denied how drop dead gorgeous her best friend was for so long?

"Penny, what is it?" His brow quirked.

"Yes."

"Yes what?"

"Yes. I'm in. Let's do this."

"Do this?"

It seemed silly to talk about this while they were in public, dancing in the middle of his brother's rehearsal dinner.

"Let's make a baby…the old-fashioned way."

Shock filled his face, quickly replaced by hunger. "You're sure?"

She nodded. "Yes."

His hands stopped rubbing and gripped her tightly instead, bringing her closer until she was flush against him, feeling something hard and very large press against her stomach. Still, they danced, everyone around them unaware of the heat running between them.

"Tonight?" she whispered, wishing on her vintage Mac that she could kiss him right now.

"Hell yes tonight. I—" He swore, shaking his head. "Shit, I can't. Del's sleeping at our place tonight. A last night of single brother's celebration or something."

Disappointment swamped her. Now that she finally agreed to do this, she wanted to do it now. Her body screamed at her to grab him, strip him, and throw him on the nearest table to sate this maddening desire running through her.

Again, not appropriate for a wedding rehearsal. Besides…

"Oh shoot, I forgot. I'm doing the same thing with Cassie."

Dammit!

"Tomorrow? After the wedding?" he asked. "I can come to your place?"

"Yes."

What she wouldn't give for a time machine right about now.

"Until then…"

She didn't bother asking him what because he made his intention very clear by dragging her off the dance floor. He rushed them past all the revelry and into the darkened hallway leading out back. A giggle of excitement left her lips, but it was quickly swallowed as BJ pushed her against the wall and covered her mouth with his own.

Winding her arms around his neck, she pulled him as close as possible, rubbing herself shamelessly against him. He returned her sentiment, thrusting one large thigh between her legs as his lips worshiped her. Heat she'd never felt before consumed her body. Flames of fire licking at every nerve, exposing them like live wires. Too soon for her liking, he pulled away.

"Hot damn, honey. You're killing me."

Really? Because she was pretty sure she was the one near death here.

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

With one last longing look and a soft kiss, he tugged her back into the party where she had to finish the night, indulge in a bridal sleepover, and get through an entire wedding all while ignoring her body's demand to jump BJ's bones. Now that she'd said yes, she found all her doubts had vanished, or they were hidden by the cloud of lust she found herself encased in. Maybe once she and BJ actually had sex, her mind would clear, and she'd realize she miscalculated.

She hated being wrong about anything, but as she glanced out on the dance floor where BJ had once again resumed his playful interactions with his various cousins, she smiled. For once in her life, Penny realized she didn't care about being wrong. Not when what just happened felt so damn right.