Tessa’s eyes widened. “I never thought of that.”
The mayor looked at him. “Do you?”
“Um, sort of.”
“You do?” Tessa looked stunned and almost scared.
“Not exactly a ring,” he said, reaching into his pocket to close his hand over the seashell. He’d planned to give it to her as a parting gift when he’d left, but nothing about this day or weekend was going as planned. “I have this.”
She gasped softly, her jaw unhinged. He slipped the junonia into her palm and closed her fingers over it. “It means your every dream will come true.”
For a long minute they looked at each other, both hands clasped over the shell, the connection as real and powerful as when they made love.
“Well, then, that’s unconventional,” the mayor joked. “But good enough for me to pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, sir.”
They both waited a second, then leaned into each other, angling their heads, meeting their mouths, and finally breaking their clasped hands to put their arms around each other.
“Don’t throw that shell away,” he whispered in her ear.
“Not this time,” she promised.
The cheer went up over the beach, but the crowd really didn’t know what they were cheering for. A life found, that was what.
Ian threw an arm around Tessa and walked through the small gathering, nodding to a few people he recognized from the resort and restaurant, holding his wife tight to his side. As they got through the crowd and reached the sea grass, he stopped.
“We’re going over to Rockrose to sign the papers,” she said. “That’s where we’re supposed to meet the mayor.”
He shook his head.
“No?”
“Yes, but not yet.” Taking her shoulders, he pulled her closer. “Tessa, listen to me. This is important. I made a—”
“John Brown?”
He whipped around, ready to jump down the throat of whoever felt it was necessary to congratulate him now. Then he just froze and stared at the very last person he ever dreamed he’d see here. Bloody hell.
Sharp-eyed, bearded, and leaning in to lower his voice, Henry Brooker always had impeccable timing. “You need to come with me. Now.”
Instinctively Ian stepped in front of Tessa, wanting to protect her from this part of his life, this dark, broken, abnormal life of his. “Why?” he demanded.
“It’s now or never if you want any chance of getting Shiloh or Sam. Things have changed. Drastically.”
Yes, they had.
“What’s going on?” Tessa asked, her face china white now, her eyes wide with horror.
“Nothing.” Damn it, he wouldn’t let Henry toss him around like a rudderless boat on whitewater. He had to have a life, and Tessa was his—
“Ms. Galloway,” Henry said softly. “John is going to leave now. You have about one minute to say good- bye.”
“What?”
“One minute,” he said gruffly.
She put her hand on her chest, and, right in front of him, Tessa collapsed in the sand.
Chapter Thirty
Sign the paper.
“Tessa? Honey, wake up.”
“Shhh, wake up, sweetheart.”
Using every ounce of strength, she managed to open her eyes, the face in front of her a blur before the features crystallized into…“Ian.”
He put light fingers over her lips, his eyes flashing enough so she got the message.
“Is she awake?”
“Is she okay?”
“Tess, you fainted.”
She managed to tear her gaze away long enough to focus on Lacey. And Jocelyn. And Zoe. All of them and at least a dozen others peered at her over Ian’s shoulder. Not Ian. John. She had to call him John.
And she had to say good-bye to him.
“Tess?” He stroked her face. “You still with us, honey?”
She nodded and opened her eyes, pushing herself up, feeling sand under her elbows and backside. God, she was lying on the sand surrounded by wedding guests. “This is a nightmare,” she whispered, trying to laugh but, honestly, nothing was funny.
“Brides faint. I’ve seen it a lot.” The comment came from the back of the group—the girl with blue hair.
Oh, Lord, the wedding planners. The fake wedding was a complete failure—unless she signed that paper. At least John could get his kids.
She grabbed his hand and tugged him closer. “We have to sign the papers before you go.”
He shook his head, using her hand to help her up. “You have to get steady on your feet.”
“In Rockrose,” she insisted. “Take me into the villa.” That was where the marriage certificate waited to be signed and witnessed. “Where’s the mayor?”
“Right here, dear.” White-haired Mayor Lennox stepped through the circle of people.
“I’m fine,” she said, standing now and still holding John’s hand. “Where’s…” She tried to speak silently through her eyes. “That man?”
Ian barely nodded in acknowledgment, taking her a step forward.
“Is he gone?” she asked in a soft whisper.
“Come with me, Tess.” He gestured to move her friends back. “Let me take Tessa into Rockrose for a few minutes.”
“We’ll come with you,” Lacey said, already on her other side.
“No.” Tessa gave her a firm look. “I need to be alone with John.”
Confusion and maybe a flash of hurt passed over her expression, but Lacey was a friend for life, and she got the message. “Okay. I’ll take care of…everyone.”
“I’m sorry,” Tessa said quickly. “I think the wedding is a bust.”
Lacey almost smiled. “Vows felt real enough. And you dropped this.” She put the junonia in Tessa’s hand. “Go rest a few minutes and we’ll take it from there.”
Tessa squeezed the shell, grateful. Behind Lacey, in the distance, the hot-air balloon waited for the sunset wedding flight that was supposed to be the showstopper for the consultants.
“Zoe, c’mere,” Tessa said, reaching for her other friend. “Can your pilot take the VIPs up instead of us? It would be a good way to deflect some of this mess.”
“We can do that,” she said. “I’ll talk to them.”
That would buy some time. Enough to sign the papers and…say good-bye. The thought almost made her dizzy again, damn it. Taking a slow, deep breath, Tessa looked up at John.
She would not be that woman. She would not be weak, helpless, faint, or pathetic. He needed her help for the most important thing in his life and she’d give it; somehow, explanations would follow.
“Let’s go,” she said when he hesitated. “We’re not done…yet.”
