So now she had a husband who existed only on paper and no clue as to how to deal with it.
Crystal’s mouth hung open in shock as Lydia finished things with, “So I guess I’ll see him for the first time today since he’s in the wedding.”
Lydia wasn’t sure how she’d expected Crystal to respond, but it certainly wasn’t the loud whisper, “So . . . how was he in bed? Awesome, right?”
She sagged back into the plush chair behind her and rolled her eyes. “Is that all the women at Danvers ever think of? Sex?” Lydia and Crystal had worked together in the marketing department at Danvers International for a few years. Crystal’s sister also worked for Danvers, as did her husband, Declan Stone. Through Crystal and Ella, she’d made friends with a group of amazing women there. When they all got together for lunch, the conversation tended to get pretty risqué. These ladies loved their significant others, but they also admired handsome men in general, so when it came to girl talk, no one’s man was off-limits. Jacob had been a regular subject of speculation ever since Mark DeSanto had opened an office in the Danvers headquarters. She’d read in a company newsletter that The DeSanto Group designed and manufactured one of the best communication service routers in the world. And when Jason Danvers had redesigned his top-of-the-line communications system, he had reached out to Mark and now most of the Danvers equipment included the DeSanto routers. Thanks to that continued partnership, both he and Jacob were now regular fixtures in the building and the subject of a lot of feminine admiration.
Crystal raised a brow then gave a wicked smile. “I think you already know the answer to that and need I remind you that you’re usually front and center in those discussions, so don’t try to act shocked now. You’ve wanted Jacob for a while, and it’s finally happened. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think anyone could have predicted how you two would get together. But it’s happened.” When Lydia put her hands over her face and groaned, Crystal laughed softly. “You, my friend, have never been a woman who did things halfway. You once said that you’d gladly be Jacob’s baby mama, and now that might be coming true in the near future.”
Lydia snorted in disbelief, but she couldn’t quell the tiny shiver of delight that Crystal’s words brought forth. A part of her still felt disloyal to Brett’s memory by wanting Jacob, but she also knew she needed to stop living that way. Brett had made her promise to move on with her life and leave herself open to falling in love again. At the time, she’d have told him anything to give him the peace he needed. She hadn’t been able to imagine ever wanting a future with another man. And for three years, she hadn’t. Her heart had been frozen with grief and she hadn’t so much as seriously looked twice at another man—until Jacob. He’d brought her back to life that day in the garage, and he’d also jump-started her libido.
Cobwebs had practically covered her vibrator for years. But now, she’d already had to replace the batteries twice since meeting Mr. Tall, Dark, and Smoking Hot. Realizing that Crystal was still staring at her, waiting for a response, Lydia cleared her throat and shook her head. “I don’t see that happening. I mean he’ll probably hit me up for a divorce before the night is over.” Then a horrible thought hit her and she cringed. “Crap, what if he brings a date with him? We never even discussed whether we were exclusive. God, that would be so awkward.”
Now Crystal shook her head at her words. “No, he’s a nice guy. Even if your marriage isn’t exactly a traditional one, he’d never bring another woman to an event you’re also attending. Plus, I don’t think he’s really into the whole dating scene from what Mark’s said.” As if realizing how that sounded, Crystal gave her a look of apology.
Before Lydia could think of something to say, the door burst open and Suzy Merimon walked in. Lydia had been in awe of the beautiful redhead since the first time she’d met her. She handled special events for Danvers and was married to the oh-so-sexy Gray Merimon. “Why in the hell am I the last to know that you married hung-like-a-horse Hay? I swear I swung by the guy’s room to tell Gray something and all of the men were in there congratulating Jacob on getting hitched. So I drag my hubby aside and ask what in the hell they are talking about and he says that you and Jacob have been married since Vegas. That was two days ago—and no one told me? Heck, I’d have even settled for a text message. But no, for the first time since I found out that Nick knocked up Beth, I’ve been blindsided. Jesus Christ, Lydia, how could you marry a guy like that and not shout it from every street corner in Myrtle Beach? I was tempted to take out an ad in the paper when Gray put a ring on it.”
“I—I’m sorry,” Lydia stuttered. “It all happened so fast and it’s not real so I didn’t think we were telling anyone. It was just one of those drunken Vegas things that people do . . . Wait, are you sure Jacob told all of the guys himself? Or did maybe Mark let it slip?” She had no idea why it mattered, but somehow, it seemed important that Jacob had the loose lips and not his friend. It was bizarre, but she wanted to know if Jacob would claim her, instead of trying to keep the news to himself.
Suzy still appeared irked that she’d been left out of the information circle, but she answered the question anyway. “Gray said that Jacob told them all together. The hubby didn’t indicate that Jacob said anything about an intoxicated tying of the knot.” Suzy studied Lydia for a moment, seeming to read between the lines. Her voice was softer when she added, “He looked happy and was accepting the congratulations from his friends with no sign of discomfort.”
When Ella walked into the room at that moment, Lydia could tell by the look on her face that she’d heard the news as well. Good grief, what was Jacob thinking? She’d never imagined everyone finding out in this way. Truthfully, she figured she’d be divorced before telling her friends anything was ever an issue. So for the remaining time they had left before the start of the wedding, Lydia filled her friends in on what had happened after the bachelorette party and how she woke up to be Mrs. Jacob Hay.
Then the wedding planner for the Oceanix Resort who was handling everything arrived to tell them it was time. Crystal was having a fairly small wedding with Ella as her matron of honor and Lydia as her one bridesmaid. Mark would have his cousin and assistant, Denny, and his father as his best men. Crystal looked as if she would faint for a moment before Ella took her hand and gave her a quiet pep talk. Whatever she’d said calmed her sister almost immediately, and soon, the women had made their way downstairs and Ella, Lydia, and Crystal, were making their way down the aisle. When Lydia took her place at the front beside Ella, she felt the hairs on her neck prickle. Scanning the room, she saw him almost immediately—her husband. He was sitting in the front row just a short distance away. She swallowed audibly as his eyes appeared to devour her. She suddenly felt naked in the form-fitting sheath dress she wore, even though it was floor length. Instead of avoiding her, as she had feared, it was as if no one else existed in the room beyond the two of them.