Drake Sisters 07 - Hidden Currents

sorry about your brother being involved in this.â€
    Ilya shrugged. “It’s the world we live in. The world we grew up in. We al know we take our chances. I don’t have to like it, but I’l live with my decision to let him go.â€
    Jackson? El e’s voice trembled. Do you still want to get married?
    Jackson swal owed the love wel ing up inside of him. More than ever. We’re going to fight, Elle. You know we are. It’s going to be loud and I’m going to slip up and use bad language and be pissed as hell at you. But that is never going to take away how I feel about you. I prefer a fiery woman. I don’t want a yes woman. I want someone who will stand up to me and argue her point when she thinks she’s right. Of course in the end, you’ll realize I’m right and we’ll have great makeup sex.
    He felt the laughter in her and it warmed him. There was a part of him that worried she was going to come to her senses and walk out on him. His mother had retreated, distancing herself further and further until she eventual y was lost to him. His father couldn’t resist the lure of the biker world.
    Although he’d wanted to stay, their lives together weren’t enough for him, the bayou and home weren’t what he needed. Jackson wasn’t enough for him to stay. Sometimes he stil felt like that boy desperately trying to hold his family together and feeling he was never quite good enough for anyone to want him.

    I want you. El e’s voice was fierce. I want you with every breath I take. Can’t you feel me, Jackson? Can’t you feel my love for you?
    Such emotion poured into him, he nearly went to his knees. I feel you, Elle, all around me. I can’t wait to marry you.
    He moved back into his house and turned to the waiting men. Damon had gathered up his map and burned it in the fireplace before donning his jacket.
    The others were straightening ties, brushing lint from their suits and making certain they were going to make Inez very happy.
    â€œYou okay?†Jonas asked, putting a hand on Jackson’s shoulder.
    Jackson nodded. “This is the happiest day of my life.â€
    Jonas grinned at him. “I know what you mean.â€
    Jackson turned to Damon. “You real y think we can do this? Sink his ship?â€
    Damon nodded. “I do. There wil be enough energy at the celebration to draw on in order to combat anything Gratsos tries. It wil work. You just concentrate on getting married. Tomorrow, El e wil read about the untimely demise of Stavros Gratsos in the newspaper, unless the sharks get his body first.â€
    â€œIf it doesn’t work, I’l have this night with her,†Jackson said.
    â€œTechnical y,†Damon said, “this won’t even be murder. We may have planned it out ahead of time, but he’s going to make his try and we’l be acting in self-defense. So Jonas can stil sleep at night.â€
    â€œLet’s do this,†Aleksandr said. “Inez is coming up the dunes and she’s frowning.â€
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    â€œDEARLY beloved, we are gathered here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony.â€
    The preacher began and Jackson could barely make himself listen. Mostly he heard nothing but his heart thundering in his ears from the moment El e had stepped into view and walked toward him. Barefoot. Her gown a bikini top and sarong covered in sparkling beads. El e took his breath away with her beauty. Her red hair was swept up in an intricate knot and she stood there looking ethereal in her white gown with the long lace veil that seemed to float around her like a cape. Her flawless skin looked so soft beneath that transparent panel of lace that it was al he could do not to slide his hand over her bare midriff.
    Behind him, huge white tents were anchored in the sand with long tables of food and drink and an intricate wedding cake from one of the bakeries. The townspeople pressed al around them, standing shoulder to shoulder. Soft strains of music drifted on the light breeze and the fragrance of lavender permeated the air.
    He took El e’s hand, slipped the ring on her finger and felt an answering jolt in his chest. She put the ring on his finger and he caught her hand and kissed it.
    Ilya stepped forward, pul ing Joley with him. “Before you pronounce them man and wife, marry us.†He patted his pocket. “I