Ivory Tower by Lace Daltyn

haggard, she saw energy. Where he should be feeling as torn in two as
she was, he looked whole.
    Josh smiled. That slow,
I’ve-got-a-plan-and-you’re-going-to-love-it smile that meant Jenna would never
be bored. As long as they survived this night.
    “Then let’s get married.”
    Of all the phrases she’d expected to hear, that wasn’t it.
The words rumbled through her mind, past the ones she had feared. I don’t think this will work anymore ... I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t
love me enough to...I’m sorry, but... It drove her straight into a brick
wall of confusion. “We are getting married. In one week. Aren’t we?”
    “No. That’s not what I mean. Let’s get married now.”
    At his “no”, Jenna gulped. Once. Twice. On the third gulp,
the flutter in her stomach settled down and the rest of his words filtered in. “Now?
You mean...tonight?”
    Josh laughed. “Yes. Tonight. We’re in Vegas. Marriage
capitol of the world.”
    “But...all the plans back home.”
    “You mean your mother’s plans?” He crossed to stand in
front of her, rubbing her arms. “Seriously, what about that fiasco is the way
you want it to be?”
    He had a point.
    “Nothing, really,” she said. Still, she wasn’t sure she
could disappoint her mother like that.
    Josh pulled her into his arms. “I know you. I know how
generous your heart is. It’s one of the things I love about you. But, honey,
you’ve got to stop thinking about your mother. She’s never once thought about
you.”
    “That’s pretty harsh.”
    “Harsh, but true. Right?”
    She shrugged, not quite able to agree. How could she do
this to her mother? Her father’s begged promise surrounded her heart, trying to
guard against her making a decision that would cause her mother pain.
    Josh tipped her head up to look at him. “Your father
wouldn’t want you to be unhappy. You know he wouldn’t. He would consider this
promise more than fulfilled.”
    She nodded, tears filling her eyes.
    “And besides, where has it gotten you? Or your mother? Is
she any happier?”
    “No, she’s not.”
    “Then it’s time to let her live her life. For herself.
She’ll never find what she truly wants while she’s using you as a shield.”
    Jenna’s mind exploded as the thought took hold. Josh was
right. Her mother was hiding. Could
her mother actually be afraid of putting herself out there? It was a new
concept and one Jenna would need to think through, but not right now. She
snuggled deeper into Josh’s embrace, knowing she could spend forever here.
    He pulled away and dropped to one knee. “Jenna Wilton,” he
said. “I’ve loved you ever since I first laid eyes on you. I love your spirit,
your sense of right, your love of life. I want to spend the rest of my life reminding
you of how special you are. Will you marry me?”
    Jenna didn’t hesitate. She didn’t want to. She’d waited for
this her whole life. A sense of peace settled over her as she stared into Josh’s
dark eyes. Eyes filled with love she tried to reflect in her own. She wanted to
be Mrs. Josh Latham more than anything.
    “Yes,” she said.
    “ Woohoo !” Josh leaped up and
grabbed Jenna, swinging her around. Her grin was wider than his, but Jenna
didn’t have time to reflect on that as he swallowed her smile with a kiss that
left no doubt what they would be doing that very night.

 
    Chapter Fourteen
     
    When Josh set her away from him, Jenna wanted only to be
back in his arms. But he bounced around the hotel room in excitement.
    “I’ll call the front desk and find out how and where to do
this. You,” he waved to her, “do whatever you want to do to get ready.
Although,” he ran back to her, cupped her cheeks, and kissed her, “you look
perfect just as you are.”
    Contagious excitement filled Jenna with wonder. She waltzed
over to the closet and the emotion faded as she stared at the empty hangers.
She had meager offerings when it came to wedding attire. Or any