“Trust me, you’ve seen it before. When I’m done, it’s time to dine, dance, and romance.”
Once she was nearly horizontal on the cushioned chaise, even those activities sounded like too much effort. Which must have been the last thing she thought before the crashing waves and the potent margarita lulled her into a peaceful nap.
She woke to Jon’s voice, carried to her on the gentle breeze.
“. . . you sound worried . . . You do realize there’s no logical weight behind that phrase, don’t you? . . . We’re in this together. And there’s no such thing as too good to be true.”
Talking business. Always business, even here in paradise.
Hearing Jon’s footsteps crunching toward her in the sand, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep until she felt a soft kiss on her lips.
“Water yoga in the infinity pool must have been even harder than it looked.”
“It’s impossible to balance on those floating mats,” she said drowsily, looking at him.
Jon had changed out of the suit he’d worn to the conference at the three-star resort next door and into blue bathing trunks. How he looked equally good in both was a mystery for the ages.
“Sounds like a decent workout, anyway.”
“How was the conference?” she asked.
“The speech was the speech. At the reception afterward, I learned that Farber Nanotech is a mere ten years behind us in diagnostics, and their technology sucks. I also talked investment with a guy who may or may not have been a member of the Saudi royal family.”
“So, an arms dealer?”
“Gone legit,” Jon said. “Or trying to.”
“A successful morning, then.”
“All I could think about was getting back to you.”
“Objective accomplished,” Jessica said, pulling him in closer for a longer kiss. “What should we do next? There are some amazing ruins we could tour, but I’ve always wanted to swim in a cenote. Or we could—”
“Jessie,” Jon said, sitting down on the edge of her chaise, suddenly serious. “My divorce came through.”
“What?” she said, certain she’d misheard him over the surf.
“There are a lot of logistical details to be worked out, and things are definitely going to be difficult for a while, but the papers are signed.”
She had been waiting for this moment for so long. Even though she’d suspected he would surprise her, she was utterly dumbfounded.
He took her hands and held them between his. “I’m officially single, and I have no intention of staying that way for long.”
“Jon,” she whispered, her pulse racing.
He slid off the edge of the chaise and knelt in the sand. “Let’s get married.”
Her heart beat so hard it almost hurt as she struggled to process what was happening. She’d abandoned her fellowship and followed Jon to frigid Chicago in the fervent hope that this moment would come—but had always assumed it lay just beyond the horizon. She’d never imagined it could happen so fast.
A shadow crossed his face. “Is it too soon?”
“Yes,” she said, tears suddenly streaming down her face. “I mean no, it’s not too soon. Yes! Let’s get married!”
“Perfect,” he said, tilting his face upward to kiss her. “They have the most stunning area for weddings, and I reserved it for us.”
“Tonight?” she gasped.
“I’ve never felt so impulsive or vulnerable, but I can’t think of a better way to officially start our life together than to exchange our vows right here, in this beautiful place.”
“I . . . I just don’t know what to say. I can’t even find the words.”
“Follow my lead: I love you. I want to marry you. Right away.”
“I love you, and I want to marry you right away,” she said, trying to regain her composure. “But what about my mom and my family? I feel like they should be here.”
“We’ll have a second ceremony or a big celebration after the dust from the divorce settles. Whatever you want. But today is about us.”
“What about rings?”
“I’m having them custom made in Antwerp.”
“So you’ve been planning this—”
“Since my lawyer emailed yesterday. It caught us both by surprise. Now that we’re here, I can’t pass up an opportunity like this.”
“I can’t believe this,” Jessica said, her whole body electric.
“Believe it,” Jon said.
“I need a dress! I didn’t bring anything I can get married in.”
“Come as you are,” Jon said. “All we have to do is show up, and the El Oro wedding package will take care of the rest: flowers, music, officiant, and the most beautiful setting you can imagine.”
“I love you,” she told him.
“I love you, too. But if we don’t stop gushing, you’re going to be late.” Standing up, he reached for her hand and helped her off the chaise. “You’re due at the bridal salon in thirty minutes.”
Jessica really did feel dizzy. “This can’t be happening. I’m still asleep in the sun.”
“If that’s what you want to believe.”
Jessica wasn’t one of those girls who’d grown up planning a picture-perfect big day, going over all the details in her mind until all she needed was a willing groom. She had always assumed there would be a billowing white dress, a church, and a car with JUST MARRIED written on the back window in shaving cream, but she found the idea of starring in a big production much more intimidating than, say, defending a thesis. Though she’d expected a traditional wedding, she preferred the idea of an elopement.
Somehow Jon had managed to give her both.
Of course.
Her only regret was that her mom would miss it. But, really, there was no need to fret about how her thrice-married mom would handle it when she learned her daughter had gotten married in Mexico on the spur of the moment.
With that thought, Jessica relaxed into the prewedding pampering Jon had arranged and slowly accepted the reality that she was truly a bride.
Her anxiety about a dress evaporated when a van from a nearby bridal shop arrived with a rack of choices in her size, all of them perfectly suited to a beach wedding. She did feel a fleeting moment of loneliness
