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Ch16: Happy Occasions & Buzzwords

Leah discovered two hours after Seth picked up Peyton Hale at Halestone Farms that it wasn't a date but a business meeting. The first hint should have been that Peyton looked nothing like the women Seth had dated, and the other was she referred to Seth as Mr. Clearwater. She stood in the powder room with Peyton at a Staunton steakhouse, reapplying a coat of lipgloss.

A pair of large smoky gray eyes met hers in the mirror. "You thought I was your brother's date."

Leah capped her chapstick. "I did until I heard you call him Mr. Clearwater."

The petite woman removed a comb from her purse pulling it through thick, blunt cut, honey blond, shoulder length hair. "I want a position as an assistant veterinarian and coming on to Seth Clearwater will definitely not endear me to him."

Leah picked at her curls. "You like him?"

Peyton blushed. "What's there not to like?"

"I'm biases, so I'm not the one to answer truthfully."

Leah felt sorry for the newly licensed veterinarian. Over dinner she had discovered Peyton had graduated from the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatchewan, Canada, lived at Halestone Farms, but decided she wanted to establish a reputation as a veterinarian without using the Hale name.

"Have you applied to any of the other farms in the area?"

"Yes but with no luck. I'm willing to work as a vet tech, but everyone claims they can't afford to add another employee to their payroll."

"Has Seth said he couldn't pay you?" Payton shook her head. "Why don't you offer to volunteer Seth would be crazy to turn down free medical care for his horses." Leah barely had time to react when the veterinarian hugged her.

"That's an ingenious idea, Leah." She blew her an air kiss. "Thank you." Peyton cut a dance step, and then stopped when she saw Leah looking at her in amusement. "What are you thinking, Leah? That I'm some horny chick who wants to lure your brother into the sack and kill two birds with one stone."

"I'm nothing thinking anything Peyton. I only know what I see."

"And, that is?"

"You're in love with my brother and you're frustrated because he acts like you don't exist."

The tears Peyton had suppressed from the time Seth arrived at Halestone Farms with his sister and her fiance fell. She had asked Seth to have dinner with her to discuss employment possibilities and find out whether his indifference was real or imagined. She had her answer. It was real.

Leah felt completely helpless as she watched Peyton cry. It reminded her of the time when she had come home sobbing into her pillow because her first boyfriend had cheated on her and didn't care if she knew. There was no one to console her, or dry her tears. No one to tell her that the cheating son of a bitch wasn't worth her tears. But it was different with Peyton. Seth had related to her as if she were a stranger, a face in the crowd of millions.

She took a step, pulling Peyton into a comforting embrace. "I'm not the one for matchmaking, but I'm going to try to help you out. Jacob and I are getting married Thursday afternoon. Seth has agreed to be our witness, but I'm going to need an attendance. I'm going shopping tomorrow for a dress. Will you come with me?"

Peyton sniffled, then reached for a tissue from a box on the countertop and dabbed her eyes. "You would do what for me?"

"I have been where you are, Peyton, crying my eyes out over a man. Only the man I shed tears over wasn't worth the gum that was stuck on the sole of my shoe. Seth is different. He is one of the good guys. I have never know him to mess over a woman."

"But why me Leah?"

"It's not so much you, but sisterhood. Now, clean your face so we can tell the men that you have agreed to be my maid of honor."

Jacob and Seth stood up when Leah and Peyton returned to the table. Seth pulled out the chair for Peyton, seating her. "Are you are all right?" he asked, noticing her red puffy eyes.

"I'm okay now."

Seth leaned closer. "What happened?"

Peyton fluttered moist spiky lashes. "Leah asked if I would stand in as her maid of honor, and I got a little emotional."

Resting an arm over the back of Peyton's chair, Seth winked at Leah. "If Peyton's going to be your maid of honor, then I guess that'll make me Jacob's best man."

"Peyton and I are going shopping for gowns after Jacob and I pick up our licenses."

Jacob ran a finger around his wineglass. "Well, if the ladies are going to get all dressed up, then that means we men have to step up. Seth do you happen to have a tailor on speed dial?"

Reaching into the breast pocket of his jacket, Seth took out a cell phone. "As a matter of fact, I do."

Three pair of eyes were fixed on Seth when he told his personal tailor what he needed on very short notice. He ended the call and smiled. "Black, we have an appointment at one. Will that give you and Leah enough time to pick up a license?"

"We plan to get to the courthouse when it opens."

Seth smiled at Peyton under lowered lids. "Dr. Hale now that we're going to be hanging out together for the next few days I would like you to call me Seth."

"I will if you stop calling me Dr. Hale."

Reaching for his wineglass, he touched it to Peyton's. "Hello Peyton. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Seth "

Picking up her glass, she nodded demurely. "It's nice meeting you, Seth."

"I know what you're up to, m'ija." Jacob whispered in Leah's ear.

"Hush." Leah hissed. Reaching under the table, Leah placed her hand on Jacob's thigh. She heard him suck in a breath when her fingers inched closer to his groin.

"Okay, babe, okay." He gasped.

Leah kissed his ear. "I thought you would see it my way."

Leah stared up at Jacob as she repeated her vows. When she had walked down the garden path at Clearwater Farms, she had nearly lost her composure when she saw Jacob waiting under the arch of climbing roses, breathtakingly handsome in a tuxedo, pale pink silk tie and matching rose boutonniere.

She had tried on a number of gowns before selecting one that didn't have to be altered. It was a platinum silk sheath with embroidered tulle, a sweetheart neckline, short cap sleeves, beading, sheer back, and a sweep train. A stylist had blown out her curls, pinning them into a elaborate chignon on the nape of her neck. Tiny pink rose buds tucked into the coil of hair took the place of a veil. Peyton was ravishing in a similar gown in a darker gray that matched her large eyes.

Seth had invited two neighboring farms, and the owners and their employees were already in a party mood because of the upcoming weekend open house festivities. The owner of Clearwater Farms sister's wedding was an unexpected prelude to what was billed as an inexhaustible supply of food, drinks and music.

There was an exchange of rings, a kiss sealing their troth and then it was over Reverend Cullen had pronounced them husband and wife to the thundering applause of nearly two hundred guests who showered the newlyweds with birdseed and flower blossoms.

Seth had hired a party planner who'd performed a minor miracle when she had dozens of white tents erected in a pasture on the south end of the property. A caterer—with a staff of more than fifty—was on hand to take orders, keep the liquid refreshment flowing and serve cook-to-order meals. The DJ had something for everyone, and even before Leah walked the garden path, people were up on their feet dancing.

Leah held the train to her gown in her left hand. Then she placed her right in Jacob's as he led her to the portable stage for their first dance as husband and wife. She was surprised when she recognized Train's "Marry Me" coming from the speakers. As she listened to the lyrics she suddenly realized the depth of Jacob's love for her.

She rested her head on his shoulder. "Please tell me I'm not dreaming Jacob."

He tightened his hold around her waist. "Believe me, you're not dreaming, baby girl. And I'm going to prove that to you tonight. We'll have a wedding to remember."

"Does that mean I'm going to have two wedding nights?"

Pulling back, Jacob gave her a look of confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"We're going to have to do this again for our families. I know my father is going to go off when he finds out that he wasn't given the honor of giving his only daughter away in marriage. And I'm certain your mother isn't going to take kindly when you unexpectedly present her with a daughter-in-law."

"My mother will love you. She has been haunting me and my brother relentlessly about grandchildren."

"Is your brother seeing someone exclusively?"

"I never know with Em. He'll see someone for a while, and then when ask about her he'll pretend he doesn't know who I'm talking about."

"He probably adheres to out of sight, out of mind."

"That sounds like my brother."

Jacob stared out over Leah's head. There wasn't a day since he had been called into the meeting—what now seemed so long ago—that he hadn't thought about Embry. The fact that there was a contract out on his life frightened Jacob.

He and Embry seldom discussed their undercover assignments, preferring to instead to talk about sports and politics. And as long as he hadn't known what his brother was involved with or in, Jacob was able to make it through the day without the added burden of worrying about Embry. He never asked his mother if she had heard from her younger son because Sarah refused to broach the subject. It was as if she feared the worst, or she was waiting for agents to come to her door with the news that either one or both of her sons had sacrificed their lives serving their country.

"When am I going to meet your mother and brother?"

Leah was asking questions he wasn't able to answer truthfully. "I'm not certain about my brother, but I'll introduce you to my mom before the end of the summer."

"Is she retired?"

"Yes. She retired earlier this year. She still has another year before she turns sixty five, but she claims she's burned out. I didn't have the heart to tell her she was burned out twenty years ago, Sarah Black is one of those unrealistic social workers who believes she could change the world one client at a time."

"She'd probably more idealistic than unrealistic Jacob."

"Same difference," he drawled.

Jacob felt a tap on his back. He spun Leah around to find Seth grinning at him. "I guess you want to dance with your sister?" He released Leah's hand, bowed elegantly from the waist and extended his hand to Peyton Hale.

Leah gave her brother a tender smile. She admired his close cropped hair. he and Jacob had gone to a unisex salon where they had haircuts, facials and professional shaves. "I can't believe you pulled this off with only two days notice."

"I hadn't planned to host an open house this year, but you marrying Jacob gave me the perfect excuse to usurp the other breeders. With the exception of Jasper Hale, the other owners consider me a brash upstart with an overblown ego."

"Why are they hating, Seth?"

Seth's expression became a mask of stone. "It's probably because they had to start from scratch to get to where they are today. U had heard talk that I'd outbid someone for the property, so their plan was to gang up on the new guy in town. Then when I brought the Arabian stallion all hell broke loose, and there were rumors that someone was going to steal the horse. That is when I hired added security, because I was negotiating the sale of an Arabian mare. This is private property, and if anyone attempts to trespass, then I'm not responsible for what happens to them."

"I thought horseracing and breeding was gentlemen's sport."

Seth snorted. "Gentility goes out the window whenever there is competition."

"But, your horses aren't competing."

"It's not about winning purses, but stud fees, Lee Lee. I have made a small fortune putting New Freedom out to stud."

The beginnings of a smile softened Leah's mouth. "You have made it as a successful breeder, not what about your love life?"

"What about it?"

"You have a twelve bedroom house you need to fill up with a few little ones."

"I'll think about a few little ones after you have one."

"I'm sorry brother. My children with be Blacks not Clearwater. You and Brady will have to carry on the name."

Seth swung his sister around and around, until she pleaded with him to stop. "I told the housekeeper not to come down your wing of the house tomorrow in case you and Jacob want to sleep in late. And don't worry about Terry. I'll take care of the pup."

Her whole face spread into a smile, dimples deepening. "Thank you Seth."

"Don't party too hard tonight, because we're going to have to do this again tomorrow at Halestone Farms and Gerandyfarms Saturday."

Leah entered the bedroom, stopping when she saw Jacob filling flutes with pale bubbling champagne. He had put on a pair of black pajama pants, but had left his chest bare. His exposed skin glistened in the glow of lighted pillars in hurricane lanterns spanning the length of the fireplace mantel. He had showered while she had soaked in the Jacuzzi to ease her tired legs and feet. They had tried to sneak away from the wedding reception once the sun had set, but whenever she tried to escape, someone grabbed her to dance.

The scent of a familiar perfume wafted in Jacob's nostrils and he turned to find Leah standing near the bed in a white silk lace trimmed nightgown that reminded him of her wedding gown. She had taken the pins out of her coiffed hair and the ends were curling softly around her face.

He smiled, walking over to Leah and handing her a half filled flute. "At last," he murmured. "I can get you all to myself." Leah giggled when he nuzzled her neck. "Did I tell you how much I love you, Mrs. Black?"

Leah giggled again. "Not enough, Mr. Black."

"I love you. I love you and I love your life." He crooned in singsong. Jacob knew he would have to wait a few more days before he was able to make love to Leah. Her period couldn't have come at a worse time, but he knew waiting to consummate their marriage would make their coming together even more unforgettable. "After we renew our cows I'm going to take you on a real honeymoon."

Leah's heart swelled with a love she hadn't thought possible. Her free arm went around her husband's neck, holding on to him as if he were her lifeline. "Hush we can honeymoon when we get back to North Carolina."

Jacob pressed a kiss under her ear. "You don't want to go to the Greek Isles or the French Riviera?"

"It doesn't matter where we go as long as we do it together."

"Seth told me you're a workaholic, so if we make plans to go away I don't want drama Leah."

"You won't get drama." She touched her flute to his before taking a sip of the premium vintage.

Jacob stared at her fresh scrubbed face. He still hadn't process that Leah was legally his wife. This time there would be no pretense, no need to lie and lie again to cover the previous lie.

What had surprised him was Seth's disclosure that he suspected his brother in law was a federal agent. Langley and Quantico were buzzwords for the CIA and FBI. Jacob knew whoever Seth's relative contacted at Quantico probably told his of his inability to disclose any information on Jacob Black, leaving the other to draw his own conclusion.

Peering at his wife over the rim of the flute, Jacob drained the glass. He eased the stem of Leah's glass from her loose grip, placed it on the sideboard, then swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed.

They lay together, talking quietly while planning their future. By the time the last pillar sputtered before burning out, they had fallen asleep

I was thinking about the drama aspect and IDK how to squeeze it in yet but I'm working out the kinks

Boy I would give my left foot to be married to Jacob. Okay maybe I wouldnt go that far. I need my foot. Okay how I give up something like... every Twilight poster hidden in my closet. Yeah that'll work I won't miss those if I had the real thing...

lol!

REview!