Love Against Odds Volume One (Love Agaist Odds Book 10)

by Harbin, Mandy

  “Now, I’m going to give you some advice.”

  She groaned as she put her glass back on the table. “Can’t we focus on you tonight?”

  “Just hear me out. You’re hiding from men. I can see it. I’ve known you too long not to notice the difference since you broke up with Dwight. I know he hurt you, but you’re punishing yourself and every other man on the planet for his behavior. I don’t know how to say this without sounding insensitive, but I love you, so I’m going to say it anyway. You’ve had enough time to lick your wounds. I get that you may never fully heal after what happened. Some women don’t after being abused, but you will never know until you try.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “It never is, Sasha. But I’m not asking you to go mountain biking in the Grand Canyon, just dust off the princess bicycle with the shiny streamers and handy training wheels. Just get out there and ride.”

  Sasha snorted. “You know that’s full of innuendo.”

  Cassie smiled. “Pun intended.” She winked.

  Sasha wasn’t ready to agree to anything with men, but she also knew her friend wouldn’t let it go. Maybe a compromise would work. Or a stalling tactic. Cassie was leaving for her honeymoon after the wedding, so if Sasha could just distract her for the night, she could buy some time.

  “Let me get my own place first, get unpacked, feel like I belong here, then I can tackle the men avoidance issues.”

  Cassie narrowed her eyes. “I told you there was no rush, and I mean that. You can stay with us as long as you want.”

  “I know. But you’re starting your new married life. You’re bullying me into dating again— ”

  “I’m not bullying you.”

  “And,” she said slowly, “it’ll be easier for me to get out and try the single life if I can scarf down dating-woes ice cream in the privacy of my own home.”

  “Why do I get the feeling you’re just pacifying me with excuses.”

  “Because you are a paranoid bridezilla who has to control everything?” Sasha said with a cheesy grin.

  “Ha! You haven’t seen bridezilla.” The both laughed. Then Cassie slowly nodded. “Okay. If you’re serious about finding a new place, I can set something up with the real estate agent Ian used. He swears it’s the best company in town.” Sasha started to say that’d work for her, anything to get her off the subject of men and dating, when Cassie said, “But that doesn’t mean you have to rush into anything. I’m serious. I don’t want you signing on any dotted lines unless you find the perfect place.”

  “Deal. No rushing into anything.” Cassie just didn’t realize how true that statement was.

  Or, by the narrowing of her friend’s eyes, maybe she did.

  Chapter 4

  “You still have time to run,” Aaron teased his tense brother. The two were camped out in a room off the chapel’s main sanctuary dressed in their monkey suits and ready to get this wedding going. They still had ten minutes until it was time for Aaron to meet up with the maid of honor for the ceremony to begin. Which was unfortunate because Aaron wasn’t sure if Ian would last that long before storming out and dragging his future wife to the altar before she was ready to make her grand entrance.

  “Fuck you, man,” he muttered and paced to the window to peek out. “Sheesh, there’s a ton of people out there.”

  “Not a ton. If I had to guess, I’d say sixty or so. Not bad considering you both have family and friends here. Could’ve been much bigger.” Aaron rocked on his heels and shoved his hands in his pockets to refrain from glancing at his watch again. Ian’s nerves were rubbing off on him.

  “Don’t I know it. The first list was upwards of two hundred. Thank god she wanted a small wedding.”

  Aaron chuckled. “Well, I’m glad I made the cut.”

  Ian smirked. “It came down to you or Great Aunt Mildred, but her doctor wouldn’t release her from the nursing home. Said something about flying across the country not being good for her.”

  “Uh-huh. I see how you are.” Aaron punched him lightly in the shoulder.

  Ian twisted his hands together and glanced out the window again. The momentary diversion hadn’t lasted long enough. Aaron yanked his other arm from his pocket and looked at his watch anyway. Still seven minutes.

  The door opened and their mom and dad popped in. “Oh, my baby,” their mom said as she pulled Ian into a hug. Their dad stepped over to Aaron.

  “How’s he holding up?” he muttered.

  “About ready to climb the walls.”

  His dad nodded, looking as if he were fighting a smile. “I remember that feeling.” After a few more seconds of them both watching his mom fuss over Ian’s tie and boutonniere, his dad turned back to Aaron. “How are you holding up?”

  He put his hand over his heart and batted his lashes, “I’m all broken up over how fast he’s grown. He’s not a little boy anymore.”

  “Very funny, son,” he said dryly. “I’m serious. Has to be odd seeing your brother pledge his life to someone. I know you two are close. Things will be different now.”

  Aaron sighed, dropping the humor. “I’m happy for him, Pop, and Cassie is a hell of a woman.”

  “That she is.” That would’ve sounded less threatening if his dad didn’t cross his arms and narrow his gaze at Aaron. “Nothing wrong with settling down.” He left no confusion as to which son he was now talking about.

  “Oh, no. This is not about me.” Aaron lifted his hands to stall any further discussions of him settling down. He had no desire to go running down the aisle. He was happy for Ian, thrilled even, but getting married was the last thing Aaron wanted right now.

  So why did the image of one pixie-cut beauty flash in his mind right then? He couldn’t not think about her. Sasha was … well, she was intriguing. He’d only seen her once since bringing home a drunken Ian, and that was last night for the quick rehearsal before the ladies had gone out for their own night of partying. She’d been skittish again, but she’d tried hiding it from him, from everybody. Honing his ability to read subs during scenes made it easy for Aaron to see through female facades. Sasha’s protective armor didn’t stop her from being outgoing. From what he’d witnessed, she was comfortable in crowds and one-on-one with women. Situations where she was singled out with a man were borderline tortuous for her though. It was then the cracks in her shield were displayed. That he’d noticed those things about her didn’t bother him.

  It was knowing he’d immediately thought of her when his dad had mentioned settling down that had his hands going slick. Fuck, why was he acting as if he were some green teenager?

  He glanced at his brother and saw him shaking his hands and bouncing on the balls of his feet. It was the nerves. Ian was putting out that vibe in heavy waves, and Aaron had picked up on it. It had nothing to do with Sasha. He was a victim of the energy in the room.

  His dad clapped him on the shoulder, startling him out of his thoughts. “I think I like whatever—or whoever—brought you to distraction. Gives me hope.”

  “Dad,” Aaron started to protest, but the man shook his head with a chuckle and moved toward Ian.

  “Let me hug him before we have to go sit down.” He gently extracted Ian from their mother’s clutches and embraced him briefly before patting his back a few times and stepping away. “You’ve done real well, son. I’m proud of you.” He gave Ian another slap on the back and pulled his wife into his arms. “Let’s go, sweetheart. Time to welcome a daughter into the family.”

  Aaron checked his watch again. “I need to head out, too. Want me to walk with you up to the podium first?”

  “Nah. I’m good.”

  “Liar. You look like you’re about to have a heart attack.”

  Ian laughed nervously. “No, really. I’m going to wait here a couple more minutes.”

  Aaron nodded and gave his brother a quick hug. “I’m not going to get all mushy.” He pulled back, keeping his hands on Ian’s shoulders. “But if you need to ask me some questions about
the birds and the bees, we can sneak away from the reception, and I’ll give you the talk.”

  Ian’s chuckle this time was more sincere. “I got it under control, but thanks for the offer.”

  Aaron released him and headed to the back of the hall where Sasha would be waiting. He stopped a few times to shake hands and hug some relatives, but he didn’t linger. He wanted to get to her quickly.

  Because it was time to start. Not for any personal reasons.

  When he rounded the corner, the air locked in his lungs. Jesus Christ, she was a vision. She stood as if she were posing just for his viewing pleasure. Head tilted slightly to the side, light green dress with a slit up one thigh, short hair pinned and curled with sparkly stuff in it. But when she turned and their gazes locked, he knew right then that he’d remember this moment for the rest of his life. He didn’t know why that was or if it’d ever matter. He just knew.

  The air finally whooshed out as he stepped toward her. “You look so beautiful,” he said, taking her hands into his and lifting one to kiss.

  “Thanks,” she breathed. “So do you.”

  He smiled at her, completely enthralled.

  “Er, I mean, handsome. You don’t look beautiful.”

  He had opened his mouth to say something, what he didn’t know, when Cassie walked out with her dad. “It’s time,” he said instead of whatever witty comment had been on the tip of his tongue.

  Aaron would’ve laughed at Cassie’s stricken expression if it wouldn’t have been completely bad form. He moved toward her and easily hugged her. “You and Ian are two peas in a pod.”

  “What? Huh? What does that mean?”

  “Relax,” Aaron said softly. “My brother is beyond ready to meet you at the end of that aisle. That’s all.”

  She took a deep breath and nodded. “How’s my hair?” she asked, turning toward Sasha.

  “The same as it was three minutes ago. With as many pins and products as the stylist used, it’s not going anywhere you don’t want it to.”

  The music changed.

  “Oh, god,” Cassie groaned and rubbed her stomach.

  Aaron chuckled and stuck out his elbow toward Sasha. “I think that’s our cue.”

  She didn’t look at him as she clasped her hand in the crook of his arm. “Step, pause, step,” she whispered behind her to Cassie. “No running.” When she faced forward, she still wouldn’t make eye contact.

  He leaned toward her. “Step, pause, step. No running for you either.”

  A quick giggle came and went, but she smiled and nodded. He smiled down at her for no reason other than he couldn’t stop it, not that she’d noticed. When the music changed again, he guided Sasha down the aisle.

  He felt her tremble and cupped his free hand on top of hers. She gripped him harder, so he rubbed soothingly on her soft skin. When it came time to separate, he immediately missed her touch, but at least his view of her wasn’t obstructed. The moment everybody rose and Cassie entered the room, he heard his brother clear his throat beside him. Aaron tore his gaze from Sasha to glance at his brother. His eyes were already red-rimmed, though no tears slipped out. A suspicious lump formed in Aaron’s throat at the sight of his brother’s emotions so clearly displayed, and he swallowed it down as he looked away.

  Throughout the ceremony, Aaron fulfilled his duties and did his best to focus on the couple of the day, but his gaze drifted to Sasha more times than he cared to count. She was stunningly beautiful, vibrant even, although the touch of sadness in her eyes couldn’t be ignored. Maybe by others, but not by him. He realized on some undefinable level it had nothing to do with Cassie getting married.

  No, that sadness went deeper, and Aaron’s need to know, to understand, was different, stronger than mere curiosity.

  Once the minister announced Ian and Cassie were now husband and wife, Aaron saw Sasha finally smile with true happiness. As the two kissed, she looked away from them, and her gaze crashed into his. The audience clapped at the newlyweds, so Aaron couldn’t hear the gasp that left her lips.

  He saw it though.

  She gave him a weak smile and blinked a few times before returning her attention to Ian and Cassie. He could see when Ian and Cassie began to walk away, though he refused to look away from Sasha. He stepped toward her because it was now their turn to walk. She stayed frozen in place, clapping and watching the couple leave, so Aaron didn’t stop at the practiced mark, instead he continued toward her without hesitation. If anybody in the audience was looking, it’d seem completely natural, but he doubted there was a soul in the room not staring after the blushing bride and her groom. Sasha started when Aaron stepped close.

  “It’s our turn,” he whispered as he offered her his arm. She took it, gathered her dress in her other hand, and allowed him to guide her away. He had to stifle a groan as he caught the subtle scent of her perfume when she looked to the side and nodded to someone in the back pew.

  The photographers were snapping away at the couple as they kissed and laughed.

  “They look so happy,” Sasha mumbled. He looked down at her, not missing the longing look before she blinked it away. She still held onto him, but her fingers were relaxed. It was the first time he’d been this close without her being on edge. He wondered if she even meant to say that out loud, so he chose not to reply, worried he’d spook her, destroying whatever calm she’d found.

  Ian swiped his thumbs under Cassie’s eyes and kissed her again before whispering something to her. Aaron wished he could freeze the moment, but guests were starting to come toward them, and he had a job to do. He rubbed Sasha’s hand to draw her attention so as not to startle her too much with what he really wanted to do. Her head snapped up, and she tried pulling her hand out from under his. He held on tight and leaned down to kiss her temple.

  “Save me a dance, beautiful.” He stepped away, not giving her a chance to react directly at him. “Okay you two,” he said, putting his hands on his hips. “There are children present. Break it up.”

  Ian groaned and pulled Cassie into his side. “You’re a killjoy.”

  “I’m the best man. And my duties stipulate that I am to push you back into the sanctuary for group photos while your guests make their way to the reception hall.”

  “You’re fired,” Ian grumbled and turned into his new wife’s embrace, ignoring the directive.

  “He’s right,” Sasha said, coming up beside Aaron. “Save the tongue action for later and get your tushes in there.”

  Cassie pouted.

  “You better tuck that lip back in. The sooner you make the photographers happy, the sooner you can hit the reception.”

  “And the sooner you can get out of here,” Aaron added.

  “All right, all right.” Ian clutched Cassie’s hand and pulled her around to the side entrance. Aaron pointed out the direction of the reception hall to a couple that looked confused. Then he placed his hand on Sasha’s back.

  “Ready for your close-up?” he asked with a chuckle as he again guided her between the ribbon-laden pews toward the front of the sanctuary.

  “Yeah, but if those two don’t come through those side doors in the next ten seconds, we’ll have to send a search party.”

  Aaron groaned. “Jesus, I didn’t think about them sneaking away.” He’d just started over to the other entrance when the couple came in.

  Ian raised his eyebrow as they passed him. “I said we were coming,” he muttered as they brushed past Aaron and made their way to the huge candelabras.

  Thankfully, pictures didn’t take more than an hour since the photographers shot several images of them separately before the wedding. Time sped by, and before Aaron could catch a break, they were already in the reception hall, eating and laughing. Cassie and Ian both glowed while they did their host thing, greeting guests, hugging necks, dancing … living in their moment. Even cutting the cake and giving toasts had gone off without a hitch. Their dad got choked up briefly during his speech, and Cassie’s mom cried while delivering h
ers.

  He’d stayed close beside Sasha throughout the evening because he was part of the wedding party and they both had roles to play, but he liked having that excuse. A few times she’d brushed up against him, but only once did she not immediately flinch away. It was progress. When it was her turn to stand and give her toast, nerves shot through him. Why he worried if she was comfortable with the attention, he didn’t understand, but denying his reaction to her would’ve been ridiculous. He never hid from his feelings. He just wasn’t used to having ones like this. It was something he had every intention of exploring. Maybe if he got her under him the fascination would die.

  Though he wasn’t sure he hoped that was the case.

  After he gave his speech and the real partying began, it was time to claim that dance he hadn’t actually given her a chance to reject. She’d stepped over and was drinking some champagne with Cassie. He smiled and made his way over to her.

  “May I have this dance, beautiful?” He slipped his hand on her back, ready to escort her onto the dance floor.

  She stiffened and opened her mouth, but whatever she was going to say got stalled by Cassie.

  “She’d love to,” Cassie said with a huge smile. “Sasha loves to shake her ass.”

  “Cassie!” Sasha swatted at her, but her friend dove out of the line of fire, giggling.

  “Go get your freak on.”

  If Aaron didn’t already love his new sister-in-law, he’d have fallen hard right at that moment. When Sasha gaped at Cassie, he took that as his cue to lead her away before she could verbally protest. She came willingly, but she glared daggers at Cassie most of the way.

  The song changed to something slower, so Aaron pulled her to him and started dancing, not giving her an opportunity to back out. After a few seconds of her stance rivaling that of lumber, she finally relaxed a little and began swaying to the music.

  “That’s it,” he mumbled into her hair. “I won’t hurt you.”

  He gripped her hand when she tried yanking it out of his. “I don’t know what you mean. Um, of course you won’t.”