Page 99 of Reckless
Her heart filled to the brim with happiness, Jazz took the first step to her bright, beautiful future. No matter what life had in store for them, she knew without a doubt that with Xavier by her side, nothing could keep them from their happy ending.
EPILOGUE
Holding his beautiful bride, her body swaying with his while music swirled around them, Xavier wasn’t sure he’d ever known a happier moment.
A swell of emotion washed over him as he looked down at the woman in his arms. Earlier, when she was walking down the aisle toward him, it was all he could do to stand still and wait for her to reach him. He had never wanted anything more in his life.
“Jasmine McAlister Quinn,” he said roughly, “did I tell you that you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen?”
Her eyes glittering like diamonds, her face flushed with love, she grinned up at him. “Yes, you did, Xavier Quinn, but I don’t mind hearing it again.”
The expression on her face was one he would remember forever. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her like this. This was what he wanted for her—to feel happiness and excitement for the rest of her life. He would do everything he could to make that possible.
Things were in place to make that happen. He’d gotten word just before the wedding started that Oscar Sullivan had abruptly canceled all his meetings to go out of town. Cagney’s team would detain him once Sullivan arrived at his destination. Xavier knew his lovely bride would like to meet the man, and Xavier looked forward to having a chat with him, too. It might be a bit of an odd beginning to their honeymoon, but not for two seasoned OZ operatives.
Once that immediate danger was out of the way, he would encourage Jazz to meet with the attorney in charge of the Byrne estate and claim her inheritance. She had described what she wanted to do with the money. He not only wholeheartedly approved, if possible, it made him love this woman even more.
As if she’d read his thoughts, she gazed up at him and whispered, “I love you, Xavier.”
Shutting out the music and all the chattering around them, Xavier lowered his head and kissed his beautiful bride with all the love and tenderness he had in his heart. She had given him so much, and in return he wanted to give her the world.
When the kiss ended, her eyes were glazed, and the pink flush in her cheeks had deepened. The buzzing noise of a text arriving on the phone in his pocket pulled him from the sweetness of the moment. He was waiting to hear from Cagney’s team and didn’t want to miss anything, but he didn’t want to let her go either.
A tap on his shoulder brought his head around. Hawke stood behind him. “Mind if I dance with your bride?”
To see his friend standing there, alive and healthy, was one of the best things Xavier had ever seen. He’d talked to him several times since he’d been injured and knew he had recovered, but to see him in person made all the difference. Xavier had told him how Clay Cotton had reached out to him with the backstory on the shooting. Even though Hawke had every reason to be angry, Xavier knew he held no ill will against Cotton. If another shooter had taken the job, the outcome might’ve been much worse.
Another buzz reminded him he had a text. Before handing his bride over to Hawke, he gave her a quick kiss and whispered, “Be right back.”
The delighted smile on her face as she went into Hawke’s arms told him she was thrilled to be able to dance with one of her favorite people.
Xavier grabbed his phone, glancing at the text as he strode toward the door. When he saw that it wasn’t from Cagney’s team, he jerked to a stop. The instant he read the short, terse message, he took off running.
Jazz took another swallow of iced tea. She had danced with Hawke, Liam, Gideon, and Ash, as well as Serena’s dad and all of her brothers. She was having too good of a time to be tired, but she did need a break to catch her breath.
Hearing a childish giggle, she looked up to see Nikki, Hawke and Olivia’s daughter, trying to catch the attention of Josh, Jules and Ash’s son. The two looked delighted to have found each other.
The fact that all of her OZ teammates were here, along with Aubrey, Liam’s wife, and their new baby daughter, Lily, melted her heart.
“I can’t believe everyone was able to get here so quickly.”
Holding Nikki in her arms while Olivia held Josh, Eve said with a laugh, “You should have seen us. The instant Serena called and told us what was happening, we were scrambling to get dressed in the fancy clothes Rose got out for us. We looked like frantic circus monkeys.”
“I can attest to that,” Rose said, the twinkle in her eyes showing her amusement. “Ash and Gideon tried to get into the same pair of pants, and Eve stood in the middle of the room, laughing like crazy.”
“True story,” Eve said. “I only wish I’d gotten a recording of it.”
“Me, too,” Aubrey said. “I would have paid money to see that.”
“Speaking of seeing, where did your handsome husband get to? I haven’t seen him in a while.”
At Rose’s words, Jazz looked around for Xavier. She had been so involved in catching up with her friends, she hadn’t noticed that he hadn’t returned from whatever message had pulled him away from the party.
Worried now, she stood, ready to go find him. When she spotted him heading her way, relief rushed through her. Silly, she knew, but until the threat against her was over, she wanted to know where he was at all times.
The look in his eyes said he had something on his mind, but the instant their gazes met, a smile lit up his face.
Suddenly needing to be in his arms, Jazz practically ran to him. “I missed you. Where have you been?”