by C. C. Wood
Lucy wanted us to be comfortable and look great and she’d succeeded on both counts. Her dress was beautiful, a simple white gown that skimmed over her body like water. Gorgeous white lace overlaid the silk dress and the neckline was a simple white vee. The vee neckline also revealed the incredible diamond necklace that had been delivered this morning. It was Chris’ wedding present to her. When she opened the box, Lucy had gasped and refused to touch it, afraid that she would lose such a lovely and obviously expensive piece of jewelry. The diamond studs that sparkled in her ears had been a birthday gift from Chris a few months earlier and they looked perfect with the necklace.
My boss was a class act and he showed it in unexpected ways.
Amanda, the wedding planner entered the room, smiling when she saw us all gathered around Lucy. Though Lucy was a photographer, she wanted us to have privacy while we got ready for the wedding, so the photographer she hired was waiting in the ballroom to take the pictures rather than hovering around us in the dressing room.
“It’s time,” she said simply.
Lucy’s smile faded for a moment before it returned full force. “Does he look nervous?” she asked.
Amanda shook her head. “No.”
Lucy laughed. “I bet he’s shaking in his shoes but he’ll be damned before he shows it.”
I disagreed but said nothing. I knew Chris was more than ready to marry my friend. He’d been more content this week than I’d ever seen him, even as we worked like fiends to prepare for his week-long honeymoon. He’d been adamant that work wouldn’t intrude on his time with Lucy after their wedding.
I didn’t mention any of this to her, though. I had no doubt that Chris would show her exactly how happy he was to be her husband once the wedding was over.
Amanda lined us up and led us toward the ballroom doors.
I took a deep breath as I heard the music inside change. Tanya was first, followed by Grier, Yancy, then me.
Lucy’s dad approached her side and grinned at her. “You look beautiful, honey.”
She grinned at him
Then my ability to breathe deserted me completely when the doors opened to reveal the ballroom. It was magical. And very, very crowded.
To Lucy’s utter surprise, Chris had insisted on a big wedding. She assumed he would want to do what Tanya and Jordan had and have a civil ceremony at the courthouse. When she asked him why, he’d replied that they were only going to get married once and he wanted it to be impossible to forget. Then he’d spared no expense at making it happen.
As Tanya started down the aisle, moving gracefully despite her pregnancy, I turned toward Lucy and reached out. The urge to say something to her gripped me and I couldn’t fight it.
“You look beautiful,” I told her. She smiled and squeezed my hand and I continued, “And you’re marrying a man that loves you more than anything or anyone else in this world, you know that, right?”
Lucy blinked at me and I saw her eyes shimmer. I returned her hand squeeze.
“No matter what he says or doesn’t say, that man will love you forever,” I told her.
“I know,” she murmured, one tear escaping her eye when she blinked. “Now shut up because you’re making me cry and I don’t want to be a red, snotty mess when I say my vows.”
I winked at her and released her hand, turning back around just in time to see Yancy step forward. Then I squared my shoulders and started down the aisle, my eyes resolutely ahead.
Amanda was right when she said that Chris didn’t appear to be nervous. He didn’t. But I knew him well enough to see the anticipatory gleam in his eyes. He was looking forward to the entire hoopla. I managed to suppress the desire to shake my head at his strangeness and continued to move forward.
Unbidden, my gaze shifted toward the man that stood to the right of him and I nearly stopped moving. Landen Weber on a normal day was enough to make my stomach tighten but today was worse. So much worse. He looked incredible in his tux.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of him as I continued down the aisle. The black fabric draped over his shoulders and tapered to his torso. It must have belonged to him because it was clearly tailored to fit him perfectly.
I was only a few feet away when my gaze lifted back to his face and I sucked in a sharp breath. His lean jaw was tight and his dark blue eyes burned as they met mine. I wondered if the same heat lingered in my stare as well because I saw the muscles in his neck flex as he swallowed and a dull flush spread across his cheeks.
I tore my eyes from him and concentrated on my task—making it to the spot next to Yancy. My legs were unsteady but I managed to climb the two steps onto the raised platform without tripping. I winked at Chris as I passed but his attention was at the back of the ballroom.
Once I stopped and turned to face the guests, I felt the lingering heat on my skin and knew that Landen’s gaze was still on me. I ignored it and him. It was the only way I would get through the ceremony without sweating.
When Lucy appeared in the doorway, it felt as if the entire room held its breath. She looked stunning as she came down the aisle, a huge smile on her face. Her eyes never left Chris as she moved with slow, steady steps toward him.
I glanced over at him and found myself grinning as well. Chris smiled. Not often and usually they were small, but the full-out grin on his face was one I’d never seen before and I doubted I would ever see it again. It was reserved for the woman walking toward him.
The rest of the ceremony passed in a blur. I kept my gaze on Chris and Lucy though every so often I would feel the weight of eyes on my face and body and I knew Landen was looking at me. It was an instinctive awareness, the same one that responded to his nearness or when his hand touched mine on Wednesday.
When the officiate pronounced them man and wife and the music played, I steeled myself. After Lucy and Chris stepped off the platform, I moved forward and lifted my gaze to Landen’s. Without a word, he held out his arm and I slid my hand into the crook of his elbow.
Together we walked down the aisle and I tried to ignore the feel of his bicep beneath my hand. He was warm and solid. I’d always blocked out the shape of his body from my mind, never wanting to acknowledge that he had a build that I appreciated.
Now, I couldn’t ignore it. His arm flexed beneath my fingers and his leg brushed the skirt of my dress. I could smell the clean scent of his deodorant or cologne and feel the heat of his body through the thin fabric of his tuxedo.
It made me light-headed and a little freaked out. This was Landen Weber. The client that gave me a hard time whenever he came into the office. He was arrogant and irritating, not sexy.
We made it out of the ballroom without speaking a single word and I released Landen’s arm immediately. My body was still going haywire, but no longer touching him meant I would regain my equilibrium faster. Amanda was waiting for the bridal party and directed us to follow Lucy and Chris outside to take photos before the reception.
As we exited the lobby and walked across the grass, the short heel of my shoe sank into the ground, throwing me off balance. I stumbled and threw both of my arms out. Before I could hit the ground, two strong arms wrapped around me from behind and lifted me back to my feet.
Unfortunately, one of the hands holding me had landed directly over my breast. His other arm was wrapped around my lower belly with his hand cupping my hip. I gasped at the sensation of his hands on my skin, my body heating and stiffening in shocked arousal.
“Got your balance?” Landen asked me, his voice rough.
“Yes!” I replied sharply. “You can move your hand now.”
“Shit,” he cursed, jerking his hand off my breast. “Sorry. I saw you falling and just grabbed you.”
I kept my back to him, sucking in deep gulps of air in an effort to calm my traitorous body. When I felt him step closer, the front of his jacket brushing my bare shoulder, I lifted a hand. “I’m okay. Apology accepted. I just need a second.”
A warm gust of air blew across the back of m
y neck and I couldn’t prevent the shiver that ran through me. “It was an accident,” he murmured.
My head dropped forward and I closed my eyes. He sounded as though he truly regretted it and I knew it hadn’t been intentional. I knew he’d mistaken my silence for anger and forced myself to get it together.
“I know, Landen. I’m not angry. It just…caught me off guard.”
He hovered silently behind me for several long moments and I resisted the desire to turn toward him. That would be a mistake.
I heard the door behind us open and knew the rest of the bridal party was coming. I lifted my head and opened my eyes as they approached, turning toward them.
“Hey!” Yancy greeted me with a smile. “What are you doing?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “I nearly took a bad fall and Landen had to catch me. I needed a second to get myself together.”
Her brow knitted together. “Did you twist your ankle or something?”
I shook my head. “No, just scared myself. Ready?”
Yancy’s eyes narrowed and darted from my face to Landen. “Yeah.”
This time when we started across the lawn to where Lucy, Chris, and the photographer waited, Landen reached out, took my hand, and tucked it back into the crook of his arm.
When I twisted my head toward him, he smirked, “Just making sure you don’t hurt yourself.”
Though I narrowed my eyes at him, I didn’t pull away.
Chapter Three
As soon as we finished taking pictures and were announced at the reception, I hauled my ass into the room and made a beeline toward the open bar. I only had a few minutes before the first dance and dinner service and I needed alcohol.
I swore I could still feel the imprint of Landen’s palm on my breast. The fact that he kept looking at me as though he could still feel it too made it almost impossible to smile and pose for the pictures.
Now that it was over, I intended to grab a drink. It was either that or a Xanax because Amanda, the wedding planner, wanted the wedding party to pair off for one song after the dinner service. I’d never heard of such a thing before but I didn’t have the heart to tell Lucy I wouldn’t do it.
It was one dance. Just one.
And we would be on the dance floor in front of about two hundred other wedding guests. Nothing could happen.
Yeah, I didn’t believe it either.
Hence the reason I walked up to the bar and said, “Tequila. A double.”
The bartender looked at me, lifting a brow before he smiled. “Sorry. Wine or mixed drinks only.”
I growled which made his smile widen. “Fine. A margarita on the rocks, lots of salt, and make it a strong one.”
“Rough day?” he asked as he commenced mixing my drink.
“Yes and no.”
“You’re not happy for the bride and groom?”
I sighed and relaxed. “Of course I am. She’s one of my best friends and he’s my boss. I want them both to be happy. I just…don’t get along with one of the groomsmen.”
“Ah,” the bartender replied as he set my glass in front of me.
I reached for it and my fingers brushed his because he wouldn’t release the glass. I glanced up and realized for the first time that he was about my age and extremely attractive. His dark hair was cut short and he had a goatee that didn’t hide the dimples that popped out when he smiled. His dark eyes were nearly black and steady on mine.
It suddenly hit me that he was flirting with me. And being awkward, I suddenly wasn’t sure what to do or say. He was cute but he didn’t make my body feel as though it were on fire. Though that might be a good thing.
“If this doesn’t do the trick, I don’t think alcohol is going to help,” he stated with a wink before he removed his hand from the glass, his fingertips brushing mine as he let go.
I kept my eyes on his as I lifted the drink to my lips. I could smell the alcohol so I braced myself before I sipped. I was glad I had because the burn of tequila filled my mouth. My eyes watered as I lowered my hand.
“Perfect,” I replied hoarsely.
The bartender laughed, revealing straight white teeth. “Good. Though I won’t make the next one as strong. You’re a bridesmaid, right?”
I nodded, sipping the margarita again and appreciating the warmth of the liquor as it spread through my chest.
“Yeah, I don’t think the bride would appreciate it if I helped you get trashed at her wedding.”
It was my turn to laugh. “If anyone’s getting trashed, it’ll probably be her. She’s a little wild.”
“I’m Anthony,” the bartender stated. “If you need another drink, come find me.”
Before I could say anything else, a tall, masculine body came to my side, pressing in too close.
“Amanda was looking for you,” a low voice murmured in my ear.
This time I managed to tamp down my body’s reaction to the low, rumbling timbre of Landen’s words and I took a good-sized swallow of the margarita. Anthony looked between Landen and I, his brows lifting as if to say, “Is this the guy?”
I nodded once before turning my head to look at Landen. “Why?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know.”
Wow, that sure was helpful. I didn’t voice the words because I didn’t want to get into a bickering contest with Landen at Lucy’s wedding. I glanced around but didn’t see Amanda in the throng of people. “I’ll find her after I finish my drink,” I responded, bringing the glass to my lips again.
A bit of salt clung to my mouth and without thinking I licked it free. Landen’s eyes dropped to where my tongue swept across my lip then he reached out and took the glass from me before I could react. I was too distracted by the expression on his face to realize what he’d done until a few seconds later.
By then he’d put three steps between us, draining the liquid from my glass as he walked away. Growling beneath my breath, I turned back toward Anthony.
“Think you can make me another one?” I asked.
His smile was no longer flirtatious as he pulled out another glass and went to work mixing up another margarita. “That the groomsman you don’t get along with?”
“Yeah, he’s a pain in my ass,” I sighed.
A smirk quirked Anthony’s mouth. “I’d say he feels the same.”
I frowned at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He glanced back up at me, stilling when he saw my face. “You’re not dating him?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No way. He’s one of my boss’s clients.”
The bartender finished mixing the drink and poured it into a salt-rimmed glass full of ice. He set it in front of me, releasing it immediately this time.
“Okay, I might be out of line here but I’m going to say something to you.”
I blinked at him. When he opened his mouth to speak, I lifted a hand, putting my palm toward him. “Hang on. I can already tell I need more liquor before I hear this.”
He chuckled as I took a large swallow of the truly perfect margarita he’d made me. It wasn’t quite as strong as the last one but it definitely had a kick.
“Okay, there,” I said. “I’m fortified.”
He shook his head, still smiling, but didn’t speak.
“Well?” I asked, gesturing with my hand for him to continue.
He leaned forward and put his elbows on the bar. That put his face closer to mine. I found myself leaning forward, wondering what in the heck he had to say.
“That groomsman has it bad for you,” he stated. I started to scoff, but he tapped the bar in front of me once, which shut me up. “As soon as he saw me flirting with you, I think he all but threw people out of his way to get over here. And you have no clue he feels that way. As someone who’s been in that position before, I can tell you it’s frustrating as hell.”
I studied him for a moment, took another sip of the cocktail, and then answered, “Then he, and you, have no one to blame but yourselves.”
It was hi
s turn to blink, which he did as he reared back to stare at me. “What?”
I mirrored his earlier move, putting my elbows on the bar and leaning forward. “If you’re attracted to someone, especially if you’re a man and you want a woman, you need to communicate that. Some of us,” I said, gesturing to myself with one hand. “Aren’t great at reading body language or visual cues. If you don’t say, ‘Hey, I like you. Wanna go for coffee?’ a lot of women would have no idea that you were attracted to them.”
I fished a five out of the bodice of my dress and dropped it in the tip jar. “Now you’ve gotten two tips for the day.” I winked at him, which brought a smile to his astonished face, and walked away.
I finished my margarita and started in on a glass of champagne before Amanda found me.
“Hey, Chelsea. We’re about to do the first dance then the bridal party will pair up for a dance as well.”
I nodded and she moved off toward Grier. As I sipped champagne, I noticed that Grier stood next to Marcus, Lucy’s first boss. He was a world-renowned photographer and actually very sexy. He and Grier were speaking in low tones and so intent upon one another that they both jumped when Amanda came up to them.
I watched, my eyes narrowing, as she gave them the same message she’d given me and moved away. I could see a flush in Grier’s cheeks and she looked vaguely uncomfortable, which wasn’t something I was accustomed to seeing. Grier was grace and poise personified. She was the youngest of us, but she gave great advice and I don’t think I’d ever seen her ruffled. She was what my mother would call an old soul. Despite her youth, I had a feeling Grier had experienced more hardship in her life than I ever would. Because of it, she had a depth of perspective that even I lacked.