Eternally Yours - Brenda Jackson [120]
Jake raised a dark brow. “Why would you want to warn me about something like that?”
Jonathan smiled. “Because I know for a fact she wants you included in on it. With Clayton out of the way, she wants you to be next. She thinks it’s time for you to remarry.”
Jake took a sip of his champagne. He then met his brother’s gaze. “I have remarried.”
Jonathan smiled. “But she doesn’t know that, and unless you’re ready to share your secret with the family, I suggest you make yourself scarce for a few minutes.”
Jake took another sip of his champagne. Only a few people knew about his marriage to Diamond Swain, and Jonathan was one of them. He loved all of his brothers, but Jonathan was the one he was closest to.
“By the way,” Jonathan said a few moments later. “How’s Diamond? I guess it was hard coming here and leaving her at Whispering Pines.”
Jake lifted an inquiring eyebrow. “How did you know she was at the ranch, Jon?”
Jonathan chuckled. “That was pretty easy to figure out. You couldn’t leave the rehearsal dinner quick enough last night. You seemed somewhat relieved when Syntel offered to put up the wedding guests at this hotel, which eliminated you from having to put them up at Whispering Pines, and you barely made it to the church on time today. You almost gave Clayton heart failure.”
He shook his head, smiling. “Even now you’re biting at the bit to get out of here.”
Jake laughed a rich throaty laugh. “Am I that obvious?”
“Only to me and Marilyn. And she picked up on it right away. She says you always have a better disposition whenever Diamond is around. She thinks your wife is good for you.”
“Oh? And does she still think Diamond and I are making a mistake by keeping our marriage a secret for now?”
“I think she’s decided differently after seeing how the media hounded Syneda when word got out that Syntel Remington was her father. Marilyn knows they’ll do the same thing to you and Diamond.”
Jake nodded. “I want Whispering Pines to always be a place Diamond can come to when she wants to escape the lights and glamour and stress of California for a while.”
“And how long will her infrequent visits be enough for you? I can’t help but remember why your marriage to Jessie didn’t work out.”
Jake rubbed the top of his head, struggling to ignore the resentment and old feelings of anger whenever his first wife was mentioned. “I swore after Jessie I would never get involved with another city woman. But when Diamond came along, I couldn’t help myself. For as long as Diamond is comfortable with our arrangements, this is the way we’ll do things.”
Jonathan studied his brother. “And what about you? Are you comfortable with the arrangements?”
Jake’s dark eyes met Jonathan’s. There was no way he could lie to him. “Not really, but I don’t have a choice. I knew what the deal was when I fell in love with her.” His gaze sharpened when he saw his mother headed in their direction.
“Look, Jon, here comes Mama so I’m out of here. Tell the newlyweds that I’ll see them after they get back from their honeymoon.”
He turned and quickly made his exit.
Clayton looked at the fifteen or so single men gathered around him. None of them looked overly anxious to participate in this part of the wedding ceremony. At least three of them he knew for a fact did not relish the thought of possibly being next in line for marriage.
His gaze sought out those three, Alex Maxwell, Trevor Grant and Trask Maxwell. They were deliberately standing as far away in the back as they could. He smiled when he noticed Trask walking toward him.
“Why do we have to do this?” Trask Maxwell asked when he had reached Clayton.
“Because Gramma Madaris said so. She’s all wrapped up in traditions today.” Then he used the same tactic on Trask that his mother had used on him earlier. “And if you want to risk making her mad and never eating any of her bread pudding again, then go right ahead and don’t participate.”
Trask shook his head, smiling. “Do I look like a fool? Now, toss the darn thing. Let’s get this over with. Just make sure you throw it to one of