Commissioned In White (Art of Love Series) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Edition License Notice

  Dedication

  Author’s note about this “wedding book”

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  Connect with me online

  Excerpt from NEXT SONG I SING

  Excerpt from THE DEMON OF SYNAR

  Contemporary books by this author

  Paranormal/SciFi books by this author

  Commissioned In White

  Book Four of the Art of Love Series

  by

  Donna McDonald

  * * * * *

  Copyright 2011 by Donna McDonald

  Cover by LFD Designs for Authors

  Edited by Toby Minton

  Edition License Notice

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should delete from your own device and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is coincidental.

  This book contains content that may not be suitable for young readers 17 and under.

  Dedication

  This book is for Toby because I wanted him to have the happy ending I think he wanted for Shane and Reesa, and every couple like them, who doesn’t always come across to the world as being a perfectly matched set.

  Author’s note about this “wedding book”

  Bruce and I are planning our own wedding for late spring or early summer 2013. It was impossible to write a book so full of wedding planning and weddings without thinking about my personal situation.

  Bruce and I have been together a very long time, but just got engaged three years ago. We have a deeply committed relationship, just as deep I would say as most marriages, but when asked why we have waited so long to make it legal, neither of us really has a good answer. Well, at least we don’t have an answer that makes sense to anyone but us.

  In the process of writing this book that is mostly about the question of marriage, weddings, and why people in love choose to do the ceremony, I started realizing that like my characters I was also struggling to make sense of it for myself.

  We were out to dinner while I was about two-thirds finished with this book, and Bruce asked how the writing was going. I said I wasn’t sure because I was sort of stuck on a question the main characters were dealing with in it. When he asked what question, I thought for a few minutes and then decided to just put my true concerns out there and see what he said.

  “Why do you want to marry me after all this time?” I asked. “What will be different from the relationship we have without being legally married?”

  He took so long to answer that I drank half a glass of Dos Equis while I nervously waited. If you knew how much Bruce loves to talk and how glib he normally is, you’d have been nervous too. When he finally spoke though, what he said surprised me.

  “I don’t know all the reasons why,” Bruce said. “I just know I’m not the man you dated all those years ago when we met. I’m not even the one who gave you the engagement ring three years ago. I just know it’s the right thing to do now. I want to be married to you. I want you to be my wife. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

  Well okay, I thought, going back to my dinner feeling chastised because my reasons for finally conceding to making our relationship legal—at least the ones I’m conscious of—didn’t seem nearly as romantic as his. For example, he knows my heart better than anyone, even my children, so when it comes down to hard decisions, I definitely want him making the one not to bury my body in the ground. And there are other practical considerations for the advantages of a legal marriage in the US, but they are equally as boring.

  Much like my character Reesa, I am used to being a pragmatist most of the time. This happens when you’ve had a life too full of responsibility. But that pragmatist in me is not the romance novelist. Well, she is, but she isn’t. That’s my quandary. So I resolved the “why get married” question over and over again in this book for various characters in this series, but really not for myself, which makes me laugh.

  In the end, I concluded that everyone says yes for their own unique reasons and they choose their ceremony because of unique thoughts. Each marriage is its own agreement between the partners, and I guess that’s how it should be.

  Okay. Enough philosophy. This isn’t Brooke’s story yet.

  I hope you enjoy this short novel that I jokingly referred to as the “wedding book” in my head as I was writing it. I literally crammed all the happily ever after I could into its pages. And I tried really hard to make it funny, because all these characters have complicated lives like we do, and they really needed to laugh through a book for once.

  So don’t be expecting anything serious. This is just all sexy, love stuff in these pages.

  Thank you for reading this series and for buying my books. It remains my sincerest desire to bring you joy with my words.

  ~ Donna McDonald

  PS: For those of you who haven’t read this series, this short novella builds on stories from previous novels. For Jessica and Will’s full story, read “Carved In Stone”. For Carrie and Michael’s full story, read “Created In Fire”. For Reesa and Shane’s full story, read “Captured In Ink”. Word of warning….you probably want to have a box of tissues nearby. There are some moments in each of these books that might require it.

  Chapter 1

  Despite his questionable friendship with Steve Lipton, Will sat on the groom’s side of the church, smiling at the picture Jessica made in her soft green bridesmaid dress standing next to a beaming Susan in her white bridal gown. While he was sincerely happy for Steve and Susan, his mind couldn’t help daydreaming about him and Jessica.

  They were three weeks away from their own wedding, and he was anxious for the time to pass. He was ready to be married again and didn’t care who knew it. He was ready to make love to Jessica while the gold bands Michael was making for them gleamed in the soft lighting they preferred in the bedroom.

  When he pulled his attention from the future back to the present, he saw Susan turning to hand Jessica her massive bouquet of gold roses. The colorful roses suited her, Will thought. Susan was just as bright and lovely as the flowers.

  “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Groom, you may now kiss your bride,” the minister said with smile.

  Steve pulled Susan up to him, his fingers digging into her lace covered hips. He bent her backwards with the force of a kiss that went on so long the minister cleared his throat twice before Steve finally relented and let her go. Susan stumbled a little, and a laughing Jessica reached a hand out to steady the back of the smaller woman she cherished as friend.

  The grinning groom gave the jaded maid of honor a wicked look over his new wife’s head. Jessica rolled her eyes at Steve, but grinned back, happier for Susan and him than she had words to express. She had followed her heart in introduci
ng them and had never regretted it for a moment.

  The recessional music started up and Steve took Susan’s hand, tucking it lovingly into the curve of his elbow. Jessica allowed Steve’s best man to do the same for her, but she looked at a grinning Will and winked as she walked down the aisle trying not to trip on the long trail of her gown.

  She was walking a bit unsteadily in the three-inch spikes Susan had insisted she wear, despite the fact that she towered half a foot over both the best man and the groom. It wasn’t quite the “hoot” Susan had planned on it being for the wedding, but wanting to be a good sport, Jessica thought about other instances where it might be fun to wear the shoes with Will. Those thoughts put a smile on her face as they all trailed out.

  Later, Jessica was standing in the receiving line shaking hands when she felt familiar fingers trailing gently down her spine and across one satin covered hip. Turning her head, she found herself eyeball to eyeball with a smiling Will, totally caught off-guard when he leaned forward and touched his mouth hotly and possessively to hers.

  “Wow—sexy kiss. And in public no less,” she whispered. “What was that for?”

  “Because you look amazing and I don’t want other guys getting ideas about hitting on the maid of honor. I saw the way the best man was looking at you,” Will said.

  Jessica laughed softly. “He’s married, doofus. So you got all demonstrative for nothing.”

  “Are you taking me home with you?” Will asked dryly.

  “I imagine,” Jessica said, her tone as ironic as his. “Since you’re sleeping in my bed every night.”

  “Then it was not for nothing,” Will said, keeping his voice soft and low in her ear. “You can consider it foreplay, and I’ll make good on it later.”

  “Well, you’re in rare mood,” Jessica said sweetly, turning reluctantly to the bride and groom as they stepped away from the line of well-wishers at last.

  The very tired groom stepped up and kissed Jessica boldly on the mouth, hugging her close even as Will frowned at him. Steve just smiled harder and counted more blessings.

  “I will never in my life be grateful enough to you for introducing me to Susan. I am the happiest man you’ve ever seen today,” he said, picking up his bride’s hand when Susan stepped forward and leaned into both of them for a giant three-way hug.

  Jessica held nothing back from the couple, sniffling as she embraced both of them. “Well, this is what it’s supposed to be like. Beautiful roses, shiny rings, amazing clothes, and weeping, jealous friends. All weddings should be as great as this,” she said, meaning it sincerely for them.

  Steve and Susan laughed, pulling away from Jessica as they all struggled to recover from the emotional outburst.

  “Three more weeks, and then you’re next old man,” Steve said, swinging his gaze to Will who wasn’t frowning anymore but still looked a bit concerned. “Think you’re going to feel less jealous when you have your woman branded at last?”

  Will pursed his lips and looked at the younger man thoughtfully. “Not sure yet. I’m waiting to see how it works out for you. You don’t exactly inspire me with confidence, Lipton.”

  Steve laughed at Will’s dry wit. The more he got to know the man, the more he liked him. “I’ve got it easy, Larson. You—on the other hand—need to brush up on your Shakespeare. Did you ever read Taming of the Shrew?”

  “Don’t make me kill you both over this sexist conversation,” Jessica warned, her tone only succeeding in making both men grin at her. “Steve, take my overwhelmed friend who is also your lovely bride, to the champagne table and get her something to keep her from fainting. If she hits the floor, you are dead meat.”

  “I’m fine,” Susan said, patting Jessica’s arm. “Can I have my flowers back, please?”

  Jessica separated the huge bridal bouquet from her discreet triple strand of single roses, handing the fragrant mass to Susan who immediately pressed her face into them and inhaled. Since Steve looked like he was going to kiss her again, or even worse, Jessica turned the love-struck bride toward the food table with a little push. “Go—both of you. Get a little something to sustain you. I’ll be along in a minute. Your mushy love vibes are getting to me.”

  The bride and groom wandered off laughing together, too bemused with each other to make rational decisions about much of anything. Jessica sighed as they walked away. She sure hoped she held it together better when her time came.

  “Am I in trouble?” Will asked. “Steve started the discussion.”

  Jessica snorted. “Yes he did, but you are not innocent. Would you really brand me if you could?”

  Will lifted Jessica’s hand and tucked it into his elbow, guiding her forward. “I’m in a church and don’t want to lie, so let’s just go have some champagne too.”

  “Will,” Jessica chastised, her fingertips stroking his firm bicep as they walked. “There is no one else that even interests me.”

  He was fifty-three and the most masculine man she had ever known. Truth was William Larson had already branded her. Maybe it didn’t show to the world, but she had hoped by now he knew.

  Will turned a wicked smile to the woman he was never going to be one hundred percent sure of, but whom he was going to spend the rest his life satisfying in every way he could.

  “Reassure me all you want, but we’re still going through with the wedding. You insisted Ellen set up the whole dog and pony show, and we’re going through with it, no matter how sweet you talk.”

  “You know you are the one who needs the ceremony, not me. And I am not trying to talk you out of getting married—or the wedding,” Jessica protested. “I can’t help that I had a small anxiety attack when I tried on the dress. You can’t assume I’m reluctant about getting married just because of that. Carrie had the same reaction, I heard.”

  “Carrie was pregnant. What’s your excuse?” Will asked, holding her gaze.

  “Bride nerves,” Jessica said firmly. “Plus I gave my retirement notice for January. I’m starting part-time at the gallery during Christmas. Should I go on? Since I’m turning my life upside down, I think I’m entitled to a few nerves about being a bride.”

  “Don’t forget we’re also moving into the new house this week,” Will said, grinning at her resignation.

  Jessica sighed. “I hadn’t forgotten. That’s why I’m letting the new art teacher sub my classes. He’ll take over full-time after Christmas. I hate moving, but I’ve already accepted that there’s no way around the work.”

  “The kids are still going to help,” Will said, patting her hand. “And the new bed arrives tomorrow. Shane’s going to help me assemble it. You’re going to love diving into that monster every night with me.”

  “Are you going to soundproof it like Shane did theirs?” Jessica asked dryly.

  Will grinned widely and laughed at her amusement. “Why would I do that?” he asked, releasing Jessica’s hand to retrieve a couple glasses of champagne for them.

  He handed one to Jessica and waited until she had lifted it for a sip.

  “Besides, who’s going to hear us making out? I like the noise. I find it inspiring. Not to mention, I’d love to brag to my son that he’s not the only man that can move that size bed.”

  Jessica choked on her champagne, bringing the bride’s and groom’s attention immediately to her. Her face flamed with embarrassment at their stares. Will had developed the annoying habit of trying to shock her, and she fell for it nearly every time.

  “Larson, I can’t believe you managed to embarrass a woman who never loses her cool in public. What in the world did he say to you, Jessica?” Steve demanded, hearing his wife snickering at his side, the champagne already helping to steady her.

  “Do I pry into your private conversations?” Will demanded in return. “No—I do not. Just go back to seducing your bride, Lipton. Leave my woman alone.”

  Steve and Susan both laughed at Will’s pretense of consternation.

  Jessica lifted an eyebrow. “Your woman?”

/>   Will lifted his chin and sipped his champagne as he held Jessica’s gaze over the rim of the glass.

  “Want me to tell Steve what we were talking about?” he challenged.

  Jessica hooked her arm through Will’s, no longer trusting that he wouldn’t call her bluff. “That’s me. I’m his woman,” she said cheerily, laughing at Susan who giggled at Jessica caving in to Will.

  Steve just looked at Jessica in shock. “Unbelievable. So I just have to ask you this—you’ve dated so many men—why on earth did you click with Larson? He’s a good ten years older than your average guy, not to mention the man reeks of macho.”

  “I assure you Will never reeks,” Jessica said off the cuff, shrugging and leaning her head against Will’s. “But he does make me laugh.”

  Steve rolled his eyes and shook his head, not believing her statement at all.

  “Jessica—I thought you said it was because Will was really, really good in bed,” Susan proclaimed enthusiastically with a wide blurry smile.

  Will laughed softly, grinning like a fool while Jessica nabbed the second empty flute from the now tipsy bride’s fingers.

  Steve bit his lip but grinned back at Will, giving him a thumbs-up sign when the women weren’t looking.

  “Okay—I think we’ve all had enough champagne for now. Let’s get some canapés or something to soak up that buzz,” Jessica said, leading the bride to the next table.

  “Hell of thing to hear about another man’s expertise on your wedding day,” Will said sadly, stepping close so only the groom could hear him. “Sorry about that, Lipton. Hope your ego isn’t too bruised. I wouldn’t want you to disappoint your bride tonight.”