Chapter 3

"Special occasion?"

"Not particularly. I just enjoy a good shave every now and again."

"You've been in more frequent like lately."

Seth stared coolly at Bill's reflection. "A-yuh."

"How's Mrs. Fletcher?"

"Now why should you ask me?"

Bill snorted. "And who else should I ask?" Seth grunted. "Who else has been keeping company with her these days?" Seth grunted again. "Fine-looking woman, she is."

"Now hold on just a minute, Bill—"

Bill held up his hands in mock surrender. "Easy there, partner." He fixed Seth with a stare of his own, then began lathering him up. "But you know as well as anybody. She's a fine-looking woman." Seth harrumphed in his chair. "Be still, Doc, unless you want a dandy scar across your cheek." Bill paused for a moment, then began shaving Seth. "Don't think Mrs. Fletcher would care for that too well." Seth drew in a long breath. When I get out of this chair…

Bill was mercifully quiet during the remainder of the shave, and Seth felt himself relax, in spite of Bill's earlier liberties. After the warm towel and the aftershave that Jessica always commented favorably on, Seth felt much more well disposed to Bill.

Bill smiled at Seth's reflection, and clapped him on the shoulders. "Now then, sonny…are you gonna fish or cut bait?"

From Bill's, he went to the florist, then to Mara's to pick up the dinner he'd ordered. It was a special occasion, but he hadn't wanted to share it with Bill. In fact, he felt a little foolish even sharing it with Jess. Today was the third month since they'd admitted their feelings for one another, since they'd said I love you, since they'd shared that first kiss.

Fish or cut bait. Fish or cut bait. The words kept sounding in his ear. He'd spent the last three months courting Jess, showing her in word and deed how deeply his feelings ran. She knew already, of course she did. But he was stubbornly determined to show her himself.

He placed their meal and the flowers in the floorboard and carefully drove the ten minutes to Candlewood Lane. Not for the first time was he tempted to pull around back. He had a ready excuse tonight, what with carrying in the meal and the flowers. He shook himself. He couldn't. Not yet. It wouldn't be right.

He pulled in front of the house and parked the car. He went around to pick up the food and flowers and made his way thoughtfully up the familiar walkway.

She had the door open before he'd made it halfway to the front door. When she saw his arms were full, she hurried out to meet him, fussing.

"Here, let me help you!" He handed her the flowers without comment. "Roses! Oh, Seth; they're lovely. Thank you. But why didn't you pull around back, Seth? It's less of a trek!"

"I told you, woman! Courting you means coming in through the front door." Among other things.

She rolled her eyes playfully at him and he smiled in spite of himself. He'd mentioned he wanted a night in, a special night in, and she too had dressed with care. She was wearing one of his favorite shirt dresses, pink, with heels and one of those chunky necklaces she often wore.

He followed her through the house and into the kitchen, listening to her happy chatter.

"I love you," he blurted.

She turned from the sink, where she'd been filling a vase with water and arranging the flowers. "I love you, too," she said simply, looking at him with curiosity and no little concern.

"It's been three months, Jess."

"Yes," she said calmly.

"I just wanted…"

She came to him, taking the bag from Mara's from his hands and placing it on the table. "I know," she said quietly.

"I know that. I just wanted you to know that I knew."

The kitchen went quiet for a moment, then they both laughed. He kissed her soundly. "Come on, Jess. Let's eat."

Jessica demurred when Seth suggested that he set up the board for a match. "Let's sit on the couch," she said, smiling as she reached for his hand.

Seth followed her dumbly. He had kissed her. They had kissed—enough to add details to his fantasies…details, if he was being honest, he didn't actually need. The way she'd pressed against him last night! It took all the willpower he could summon to leave through the front door instead of dragging her up the stairs to her bedroom.

"Seth," began Jessica as he sat beside her. "Why all this fuss? You've already got me," she said softly.

Seth inhaled sharply. He put a gentle hand on her face and stroked her cheek softly. "You've got me, Jess," he rumbled. "You deserve the finest things I can give you, the best I can do for you." Before she could speak, Seth rubbed a gentle thumb against her bottom lip. "I don't ever plan to stop courting you, Jessica," he murmured. "I love you, but even more than that, I treasure you. I respect you."

Her eyes filled with tears and she leaned forward so that their foreheads touched. "I love you, Seth. I didn't think it was possible." She took a shuddering breath. "But I do now. I suspected it when you disappeared to Juniper Lake. But I knew it with a cold certainty when he tried to…when he accused you of…"

Seth gathered her in his arms, rubbing her back in warm, soothing circles as though she were a child, or a bird, he thought as her quick pulse tattooed against his chest. "I'm here now, Jess," he murmured.

"So you are," she said quietly, and shifted slightly against him, freeing her arms to wrap them around his shoulders. He drew in a sharp breath as he felt her warm, soft lips press against the hollow of his neck.

"Jessica," he said in a strained voice.

"Mmm?" she said as she continued to place delicate kisses along his jaw and in the hollow between his collarbones. The suprasternalnotch, he thought wildly, as he tried to recall its Latin designation in an effort to keep himself from growing too aroused. If he didn't stop her soon, he wouldn't be able to stop himself.

"Let's not get carried away."

She drew back, a puzzled look on her face. "I love you. I'm attracted to you. I want to make love with you."

"And I'm attracted to you, Jessica. Of course I want to make love with you. Each time we're together…" He exhaled. "It gets harder to leave. But…we can't. Not yet."

"Not yet? What do you mean? We're two consenting adults. Even were I able to carry a child, I'm well past childbearing years. And," she added brightly, "we're old enough and wise enough to decide for ourselves when to make love."

His heart clenched at her lovely, kind face, its expression perplexed but curious. "You're right, Jess, of course. But it's not that." He scrubbed his neck. "It's not right. Not yet."

Jessica's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean…it's the way I was raised. The way we were raised. Don't tell me you and Frank…before you were married?"

"No," said Jessica carefully. "He didn't press, and I certainly didn't offer. You're right. It was different. Times were different. I had no way of knowing at the time…but later…I understood that he'd had at least some experience in that area," finished Jessica, uncharacteristically shy.

But, Seth thought, as she met his eyes boldly, that didn't last long.

"And now you're telling me you were a virgin when you married Ruth?"

"Aww, Jess," Seth pleaded. "Be reasonable."

She drew apart from him. "Reasonable? I think I'm being eminently reasonable! You just informed me that you can't go to bed with me right now because of the way we were raised. Am I understanding you correctly?"

"I did say that Jess, but—"

"Am I not eminently reasonable, logical, to conclude that you, like me, had no sexual experience before you married Ruth?"

"Now Jess. You have to understand—"

"What do I have to understand? That only bad girls have sex outside marriage? How many relationships have you had since Ruth died?" Seth was quiet. "How many?"

"A few," he admitted reluctantly.

"Am I to understand that these were sexual relationships?"

"They were," said Seth, holding her gaze without flinching.

"And were those women bad?"

"Of course not!" snapped Seth.

"And did you both enjoy the sex?"

"Jessica!"

"Well? Did you?"

"I did, and as far as I know, they did, too."

"Then what makes this different?"

"You, Jess! You make this different! You aren't like those other women! You aren't like any other woman," he finished quietly.

Jessica moved closer to him. "Seth," she said gently. "I'm exactly like other women." She touched his face gently, then tried to lean in closer.

Seth gripped her shoulders firmly, but she felt a tenderness in his touch all the same. He was wrestling with something. Whatever it was was the tangled root of this courting business. "You are different, woman. You're different to me." He squeezed her shoulders, then drew back to allow some space between them, letting his hands drift down her arms. "Being with you…being close to you...it's what I've wanted for some time now." He shook his head. "It's more than just sex, Jessica. I want it all with you." He took a deep breath and let it out. "All, Jessica. I want to be married to you. I want to be your husband. I want you to be my wife. I want to stand up in public, before God and man, and declare my love for you." He squeezed her hands even as he turned his face from hers. "I'm embarrassed to have told you like this." He felt a surge of relief as he felt her hands clasp his.

"You think I didn't know?" asked Jessica quietly. Seth's head whipped toward hers, and she smiled. "It's not that we don't want similar things." His eyes brightened and he moved to kiss her, but she put a little space between them. "I said similar, Seth," in a gentle tone that caused his heart to break, but a swift kiss from her caused it to lift again.

"Woman," said Seth brokenly. "We mean more to me together, than anyone since my Ruth. You mean more to me than anyone on this earth, Jessica. Anyone. And I want everyone to know that."

Seth watched a number of expressions he couldn't quite read pass across her face. "Isn't it enough that you and I know it?" Seth dropped his head, and she drew him to her impulsively. "I love you, Seth. I know you love me. Why do we need to be married?"

Seth looked up at her, shocked and wounded. "You don't want to marry me?"

"I didn't say that," said Jessica.

"But you don't want to be married."

"Not right now."

"Why not?"

Jessica blew out a frustrated breath and stood from the couch. "What happens when I go out on tour again?"

"What?"

She turned to face him. "What happens when I go out on tour for the next book? Will you come with me?"

"I don't know. Maybe. It depends, I guess."

"On what?"

"On my own work!"

She pointed at him. "See? We're just barely talking about this and already you're getting angry."

Seth stood abruptly. "I'm not angry!"

"It sure sounds like you are!"

"You're putting words in my mouth!"

"I am not!"

They stood for a few moments, glaring at each other. Then Seth's face softened and he reached for Jessica. "Aww, Jess. I'm sorry."

She met him halfway, grasping his hands in hers. "I'm sorry, too, darling."

"Could we sit down again?" Jessica nodded and they sat close together on the couch. Seth put an arm around Jessica's shoulders and she leaned in closer. "I know at best I sound foolish. At worst, a hypocrite—" Jessica made to respond, but Seth squeezed her shoulder. "Let me explain, woman."

He let the silence settle around them, then he took a shuddering breath. "Jessica, I'm ashamed of the man I was. That man violated every sacred thing he believed in except the Hippocratic Oath. That man disrespected the memory of his wife, disrespected his daughter for whom he ought to have been a paragon. That man was a bounder, a cad…someone not worthy to scrape your boot, much less hold you in his arms."

"Seth—"

"Jess, please let me finish. Yes, I had sexual relationships with women after Ruth died. I had sexual relationships before I met Ruth. Never while she was alive. I never did that." Jessica wrapped her arm around his middle, and he patted it gently. "But I did just about everything else an honorable man wouldn't. A man like Frank." His voice broke and Jessica tightened her grasp of him. "You are different, Jess. You are. You aren't like any other woman I've ever known. And those other women…well. They're nothing like you. I understand what you mean. I know times are different. But I'm different, too. Now." He rubbed her arm. "Making love with you…it's harder and harder to leave you at night. If you think I don't want to put you over my shoulder and carry you upstairs…" He barked a laugh. "But you, and what I feel for you, is sacred to me. When we make love, it will be as husband and wife. Can you understand?" He felt Jessica nod against his shoulder, and he let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He felt his collar grow damp. "Jess?" He turned so that he could see her face.

"I'm sorry," she said, dashing at her eyes. "What you said was so…no one's ever said anything like that to me before." She closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened them and pierced him with those sapphire eyes. "But I'm still a woman, Seth. A flesh-and-blood woman like any other. Or almost like any other." He looked at her quizzically. "No other woman has a man like you who loves her." She put a gentle hand to his cheek. "We can't marry yet, darling. We still have some things to work out. Not least is our work schedules," and she was pleased when he laughed along with her. "But someday. I do believe we'll marry someday." She was quiet for a moment. "But I won't marry you just to go to bed with you. That wouldn't be right."

Seth gathered her in his arms. "Oh, Jess," he breathed. "I love you, and I'll wait for you for as long as it takes." He put his lips to her ear. "You're everything to me."

"Seth?"

"Yes?"

"Can I still kiss you?"

Instead of answering, he moved to kiss her deeply. Jessica broke the kiss and stroked his face with tender hands.

Six Months Later

Noted Mystery Writer Weds Physician

Bar Harbor, Maine—JB Fletcher, author of several best-selling mysteries including the recently released Murder in a Minor Key, has wed.

Mrs. Jessica Fletcher, of Cabot Cove, Maine wed Dr. Seth Hazlitt in a simple ceremony on Saturday, January 17. The bride, escorted by Grady Fletcher, wore a tea-length beaded lace gown with a deep V-neck in beige blush. She carried a spray of pink tea roses.

A reception given in honor of the couple was held at The Bayview Hotel. Guests enjoyed light h'ors d'oeuvres followed by a traditional Shore Dinner. The wedding cake was a three-tiered marble cake with buttercream frosting.

After a brief wedding trip, the couple will reside in Cabot Cove.

Jessica was pleased with the arrangements. It was an intimate wedding: only their nearest and dearest. Grady and Margie stood up with them. Amos came, along with Beverly and the rest of Loretta's Ladies, as Seth privately referred to them. Vaughn and Olga were in attendance as well; Jessica was pleased and touched by the gesture.

She and Seth hired the small ballroom and a DJ for after-dinner dancing. Small tables had been set up, close enough in proximity to allow for conversation. She took a moment to give silent thanks to family and friends who had so joyfully welcomed the news of her marriage to Seth.

Jessica kept stealing glances at her wedding band, then her groom. She'd known they would marry, known it that day at Juniper Lake, yet she could hardly have believed how quickly everything had fallen into place.

They'd talked—really talked—about all the difficult matters: sex, money, work.

I don't want a wife, Jess. I want to be your husband.

Even now that memory could bring tears.

Seth loved her, not just in the important ways, but in the small, subtle ways, too. It was in the quiet pride he took in her achievements, his affectionate chiding, the warmth of his lips against hers. She felt her face grow warm as she thought of other places she wanted to feel his lips.

They had waited; it hadn't been easy. A few times they'd nearly been carried away, but Jessica felt unexpectedly gratified that the first time she made love with Seth would be their wedding night. She didn't necessarily agree with Seth's line of thinking, but she respected it—because she respected him. A mischievous smile played about her lips. And she couldn't deny how much she enjoyed the feeling of being cherished by him.

Suddenly there was a tapping against a microphone; she looked up to see Grady nervously bobbing from one foot to the other.

"Hello? Hello? Can everyone hear me?"

For such a small crowd, the boisterous cries of the guests rang loudly through the room.

Grady smiled at Jessica, and for a moment, she was transported to the day 6-year old Grady had been brought to the house on Candlewood Lane, that same shy, sweet smile on his face. She smiled back at him as Seth squeezed her hand.

Grady cleared his throat. "Good, good." He pushed his glasses up his nose. "Uhhh, I've been asked to make a toast to the bride and groom."

"Hear, hear!"

Grady laughed self-consciously. "You all know my Aunt Jess and Uncle Frank took me in after my folks died. That first night, I lay in bed, crying. It was dark; I was in an unfamiliar place. I wanted to be in my own bed, in my house, with my parents. A sliver of light appeared in the doorway, then Aunt Jess sat down beside me. She rubbed my back and sang Moon River, Uncle Frank right behind her…they both stayed with me until I fell asleep. It was always like that. The two of them."

Grady smiled and Jessica blew him a kiss, then took the handkerchief Seth proffered to dry her eyes.

"When Uncle Frank died, I really wasn't sure Aunt Jess would make it. They'd been everything to each other, and I worried about her, alone, rambling around that big old house with no one to look after and nothing to do. But I needn't have. One weekend, I found a stack of papers in the kitchen and started reading." Grady smiled sheepishly. "I don't have to tell you all what happened next."

The laughter rippled through the room.

"Then Aunt Jess became a world-famous author, criss-crossing the country, but never forgetting her home and her friends. Or her nephew. But there was one special friend. A friend I kept hearing more and more about. I didn't know Doc Hazlitt all that well in the beginning, but later, as I got to know him, I thought of how much he reminded me of Uncle Frank. The way he could make Aunt Jess laugh in spite of herself, the way he teased and prodded her, challenged her. And I began to see that he loved her. Loved her so deeply and so well that she could go anywhere, do anything, and he'd always be right there waiting for her. So when Doc called me to ask my permission to marry Aunt Jess—"

Every head in the room turned to look at Jessica and Seth, to enjoy the look of surprised tenderness with a touch of annoyance she gave him, to see him lift her hand to his lips and press a soft kiss there.

"I wasn't surprised. Just happy. So happy that two wonderful people had found each other. So, if you'll join me, I'd like to raise a glass to my Aunt Jess and Uncle Seth."

As Grady lifted his glass, it was Seth's turn to look at Grady in shock and appreciation, sudden tears filling his eyes. Jessica leaned into him and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Soon everyone was raising glasses to Jessica and Seth, and Grady handed the microphone back to the DJ and left the stage amidst applause and happy shouts.

"May I present the bride and groom: Dr. and Mrs. Hazlitt. The groom has requested a special song for their first dance."

Seth stood and held his hand out to Jess. Rising, she put her hand in his as a familiar song began to play.

Only you can make all this world seem right

Only you can make the darkness bright

Only you and you alone can thrill me like you do

And fill my heart with love for only you

Oh, only you can do make all this change in me

For it's true, you are my destiny

When you hold my handI understand the magic that you do

You're my dream come true, my one and only you

Seth put a hand to his bride's back as they stepped into the elevator. They'd bade all of their guests goodnight and, Seth noted, they would be alone in the elevator.

It seemed Jessica had noticed the same thing. As soon as the doors closed, they fell upon each other.

"Oh, Seth," Jessica breathed as his warm mouth moved along her neck and collarbone. She pulled him more tightly to her.

"I thought we'd never get out of there," rumbled Seth. Jessica chuckled, then kissed him hard.

"Neither did I," she said. "Do you have the keys?"

"In my pocket," he said, then ran his hands along her sides and hips as he kissed her neck.

"Good," she gasped.

The elevator dinged and they quickly righted themselves as the doors opened. Seth took her hand and hurried her along the corridor. "Here we are," he said, dropping her hand so he could retrieve the key. He opened the door and ushered her inside. "I'd carry you over the threshold if I could," he said wistfully.

Jessica walked through the door, then turned as Seth entered. "Better to save your energy for other activities," she said and wrapped her arms around his neck as the door closed behind them. They kissed for a few moments, then Jessica abruptly turned. "Unzip me."

Seth grinned. "With pleasure." He unzipped her dress slowly, placing delicate kisses along her spine.

Jessica eased out of his grasp and laughed at his comical pout. "We need to change," she said firmly. "You look very handsome in your tuxedo, but it's time to change." She loosened his tie.

Seth rubbed his hands up and down her dress, which was coming loose now that it was unzipped. "And you look radiant, Jess. Did I tell you that?"

"You did," she smiled. "Why don't you change first, darling?"

Seth kissed her soundly. "I'll be right back."

Jessica laughed as she watched Seth hurry down the hallway. She gave him a generous head start, then walked to the bedroom. She turned the bedclothes down, turned on a bedside lamp, then found and opened her suitcase. She'd packed several pieces of lingerie, but she'd decided on one in particular for tonight. She quickly stepped out of her wedding dress and hung it in the wardrobe, then she slipped the robe on over her undergarments and gathered her toiletries along with the gown itself.

"You don't need the bathroom?" asked Seth.

Jessica, startled, wheeled around to face him. "Goodness that was fast!" Seth laughed. "Yes, I'll need the bathroom."

Seth walked toward her, reaching out to finger the silk of her robe. "This is nice," he said in a low voice. Jessica flushed, and he traced a gentle finger along her cheek. "Run along now," he rumbled.

"I feel a little foolish," she murmured.

"Why?"

"Feeling this way, at our age."

Seth pulled her as close as he could, and he felt her trembling in his arms. He rubbed his hands along her back in soothing circles. He kissed her neck, then put his lips next to her ear. "I'm glad for it, Jessica. Glad to feel this way for you and about you. I love you. I'm your husband now. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you." She yelped as he nibbled her earlobe. "You might say nothing's changed. That I'd have done anything for you when we were merely friends. And you'd be right." He kissed her neck again, softly. "But now, there's even more I can do for you." He set her back on her feet, then kissed her gently and squeezed her shoulders. "Run along now."

She smiled at him, then disappeared into the master bath.

Seth was sitting on the edge of the bed, drumming his fingers on his thighs. He'd surprised himself, taking such a masterful tone with Jessica, but he knew, instinctively, that she'd needed him to take control tonight. She was nervous. He was too, of course, but it was his responsibility to put her at ease. He laughed quietly. She'd been so sure of herself a few months ago. He supposed perhaps it was the gravity of the marriage sacrament itself that had both of them a little unnerved. Not that either one was unable or unhappy to have made such a commitment to one another, but still. It added another layer of depth to their feelings for one another. There was no other woman for him, and he could hardly believe she could be satisfied with him. That she wanted to be with him.

Catching the light from his peripheral vision, he watched as the crack of light grew and Jessica appeared in the doorway, clad only in a loosely belted robe. He swallowed involuntarily. "Oh my," he breathed. This evening, as she walked down the aisle toward him, he thought she'd never looked lovelier, but now, tonight, she was almost ethereal. The soft light from the bathroom surrounded her almost like a halo. In the dim light, he could just make out the shape of her long, long legs, and he swallowed again. He rose without thinking, walking to her with his arms outstretched. She started to move toward him, then stopped to flip the bathroom switch off. He took her by the hand and led her gently to bed.

Seth was snoring lightly beside her, his chin propped on her shoulder and his arm draped loosely across her. She'd have to get up soon, but she wanted to savor the closeness between them a little longer. Plus, she was loath to wake him.

She'd long suspected that they'd be physically compatible. On the night Seth proposed and Jessica accepted, there had been an even greater intensity between them. Seth's touch felt electric, and it took every bit of Jessica's self-restraint not to whisper an invitation to her bedroom in his ear. It had been so important to him that they be married. If she was a little frustrated with him, it was a small price to pay in order to help him assuage the needless guilt he felt over his previous…don't call them relationships, woman. Call them…dalliances. And, judging by tonight, she'd succeeded. She'd felt nothing but pure, unadulterated love from him. If there had been any ghosts to chase away tonight, they'd been hers alone.

She felt a few stray tears run down the side of her face, and she smiled. Seth had been so gentle, so tender. He seemed to know exactly what she needed, and certainly his open appreciation of her body was extremely flattering, but it was more than that.

He had been right; they had been right to wait. What had happened between them tonight was deeper and more meaningful than mere sex. Seth was his own man, and she loved him in a way she never thought she could. But she also knew that she could only have given herself to a man like him, who, in character if nothing else, so closely resembled Frank. She ran a light hand along his forearm and he murmured something unintelligible, then shuffled impossibly closer to her. She smiled again, burrowing deeper into Seth's warm embrace. Getting up could wait.

*Jess and Seth dance to The Platters' Only You.