‘How is she?’
‘Gloating,’ Laurel said, with bitterness in the word. ‘Did you hear about Noah and Eloise?’
Dan nodded. ‘It was all everyone was talking about at breakfast.’
‘Poor Eloise.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m going back out to the gatehouse now, to try to protect her from Melissa’s gleeful barbs.’
‘I can’t believe she’s going through with being maid of honour. I’m assuming the whole photo thing was a Melissa set-up?’
‘Of course.’ She looked up at him, her expression serious. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to try to talk your brother out of marrying her?’
Dan pulled a face. ‘I’ve been trying to get him alone all week, but somehow I keep getting distracted... Not to talk him out of it, exactly, but to check he’s sure about this. That he knows what he’s letting himself in for.’
‘If he knew that I can’t believe he’d really marry her,’ Laurel said bluntly. ‘I always thought...I knew she wasn’t always a nice person to me, but I always figured that she had her reasons. That our relationship would always have to bear that strain. But to do this to Eloise...’ She shook her head, as if the magnitude of Melissa’s cruelty rendered her speechless.
‘I might be able to manage a quiet word with Riley this morning,’ he said. ‘Won’t that ruin all your hard work, though? If he decides not to go through with it?’
‘At this point I’m not sure I even care.’ She checked her watch and gave him an apologetic smile. ‘I’ve got to get back out there. Sorry.’
‘I’ll walk you,’ Dan said easily.
They were into their last hours now. He couldn’t waste a moment of them.
‘Great.’ Her phone started to ring. ‘Sorry—I just need to take this...’
Her call—something to do with the exact placement of various table centrepieces, as far as he could tell—lasted long enough for them to leave the hotel and walk across the gravel drive to the honeymoon suite in the former gatehouse. They were almost at the front door of the suite before Dan had a chance to talk to Laurel alone again. But somehow, he found himself just enjoying the sensation of being near her.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said, one hand on the door handle as the winter wind ruffled her hair. ‘I wasn’t much company for that walk, was I?’
‘Never mind. We’ll still have tonight. Once this is all over.’
‘Before your flight tomorrow.’ Laurel’s smile faded as she spoke. ‘Unless...I could always look at changing your flight. Put it back a couple of days. If you don’t have anything to rush back for...? We could maybe enjoy ourselves a little longer—without the whole wedding party thing going on.’
He could hear the nerves in her voice as she suggested it, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and tell her it was a great idea.
Except it wasn’t. He’d already made his decision. He couldn’t go back on that now. Couldn’t give her expectations that he couldn’t live up to.
His silence made her smile wobble even more as she chatted on, obviously trying to fill the gap where he hadn’t responded.
‘I know we said that this was just for the week. But I wondered if maybe that might change? I mean, it’s been kind of wonderful, these last couple of days. It seems a shame to limit it, don’t you think? Perhaps we could just...see where things go?’
She was trying to keep it casual, he could tell. Trying not to spook him. But she didn’t get it—how could she? He’d thought she might understand—she of all people. But apparently even Laurel couldn’t see that it was always better to get out before things went bad.
‘That’s not...’ Letting his arms drop, he stepped back from her, trying to harden himself against the disappointment in her eyes. ‘I don’t think it would be a good idea.’
‘But why?’ Frustration leaked out of Laurel’s voice. ‘Why not try? We’ve got a good thing going on here.’
The worst thing was, she was right. And it still didn’t change anything.
Because a good thing could go bad in a heartbeat, the moment her prince came riding by. He couldn’t take that. Not from her.
‘We have a fake thing going on here. A pretend relationship, Laurel—that was the deal. And, yes, it’s been fun. And, sure, I’d like a couple more nights in your bed before I go. But that’s all. This isn’t love, it isn’t for ever, and it isn’t happy-ever-after. That’s not what we agreed. You’re waiting for your prince, remember? All I said was that I’d pretend to be your boyfriend for the week to give you some sort of moral support against your ex. That’s it. The rest was just...fringe benefits.’
It was all the truth—every word of it. They’d never promised anything more—never expected it either.
So why did it hurt so much to say it out loud? Why did the pain in Laurel’s eyes burn through him?
‘I know what we agreed,’ Laurel said slowly, her face pale and determined. ‘But I thought... I hoped that things might have changed.’
Dan shook his head sadly. ‘I’m not your leading man, Laurel. And I definitely can’t be the prince you’re waiting for. I’m only here until your ex isn’t. I’m just a stand-in. The pretend boyfriend. That’s it.’
He was so focussed on her face, on making her understand why he couldn’t risk this, that he barely noticed the door behind her opening.
Until Melissa’s incredulous laugh echoed through the air.
‘Oh, my God! I was just coming to find out what all the shouting was about, but really! This is like the best wedding present ever!’
Laurel spun round to face her, and Dan took a step closer before he realised he shouldn’t. Melissa stood there, dressed from head to toe in white lace, her silk gloved hands on her hips.
‘This is none of your business, Melissa,’ Laurel said, more calmly than Dan though he could have managed. ‘Now, if you’ll just give me a moment—’
But Melissa shook her head. ‘Oh, no. This is far too good. So let me get this straight. You were so scared about being at this wedding dateless—especially since your ex was bringing the new fiancée he cheated on you with, right?—that you persuaded poor Dan, here, to pretend to be your boyfriend!’
She laughed again.
‘Well, that is just precious, honey. I mean, I can see why you’d be a tiny little bit intimidated, surrounded by all these wildly successful people, when all you’ve ever really done is arrange a few flowers and some cake. But, really, Laurel—lying to everybody? Trying to steal my thunder?’
‘That’s not what this is—’ Dan started to say, but Melissa just gave a low chuckle.
‘Oh, but it is. I heard the truth from your own mouth, Dan. There’s no point trying to protect her any more, you know.’
Melissa turned her attention back to her half-sister, and Dan braced himself for whatever vitriol she came out with next.
‘I should have known you couldn’t score a real date for the wedding. I mean, even for a fake boyfriend you could only manage to snare the lesser brother—the stand-in stunt man. Really, Laurel. You’re an embarrassment.’
Fury flooded through him at Melissa’s words, hot and all-encompassing, burning through his self-control. ‘You don’t speak to her like that—’
‘Dan.’ Laurel’s sharp tone pulled him up short. ‘This has nothing to do with you any more—you’ve made that perfectly clear. I’ll arrange for you to have Riley’s room tonight, once he moves down here to the honeymoon suite, and the hotel staff will move your stuff. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a wedding to prepare for.’
With that she walked past Melissa, into the honeymoon suite, not looking back at him for a moment.
Melissa flashed him a satisfied grin and slammed the door in his face.
And Dan felt his whole world crumbling around him as he tried to tell himself it was for the
best...tried to find his famous control again.
* * *
‘Honestly, Laurel, I can’t believe you!’
Melissa gave Laurel what she imagined was supposed to look like a friendly pat on the back, but actually made her shoulder blade ache.
‘You lot won’t believe what this one has been up to! It’s almost as outrageous as Eloise’s fling with Noah!’
Laurel glanced around the room, looking for Eloise, but her friend seemed to have escaped the wedding prep somehow. Laurel was almost grateful; Eloise was having a bad enough day without having to deal with Laurel’s disastrous love-life.
Given the choice, even Laurel would opt out of this one, thanks.
Iona and Caitlin, however—the other two bridesmaids—were listening to Melissa with rapt attention.
‘Ooh, tell us!’ Iona cried. ‘You know how we love a bit of wedding gossip!’
‘Can you believe Laurel actually guilt-tripped Dan into pretending to be her boyfriend for the week? I mean, how funny!’
‘How desperate,’ Caitlin said, giving Laurel a look.
Melissa tutted, and wrapped an arm around Laurel’s shoulder. ‘Now, Caitlin, don’t be catty. Not everyone is as lucky as me, you know, to find such a perfect true love so easily.’
Laurel’s shoulders stiffened under her half-sister’s touch. Why was she doing this? Why bother pretending she was still sweetness and light? Surely everyone had to have at least glimpsed the real Melissa by now.
But from the way Iona was smiling at Melissa she knew they hadn’t. They still believed that Melissa was on everyone else’s side. That she wasn’t a stone-cold witch who’d do whatever it took to take down anyone she perceived as a rival for her attention.
Of course, they were very, very wrong.
‘Really, Laurel, what were you thinking?’ Iona asked. ‘Everyone knows that fake relationship plot device never works out well in the movies.’
Except it hadn’t been a plot device, or a movie. It had been her life. Her heart on the line in the end.
She’d offered him a chance at a future, a shot at a happy-ever-after when the credits had rolled on Melissa’s wedding. Their own story—together—without worrying about anyone else.
And he’d turned her down. He’d made it abundantly clear that all he was interested in was a few days of fun before he got back to his real life.
Which either meant he was an idiot, or he really didn’t feel the same connection she did. Or possibly both.
Melissa and Caitlin had turned to look at her now, waiting for her to answer Iona’s question.
Laurel took a breath and realised that her next words were in some way her first line. The first sentence of her new story—after Melissa, after Dan, after everything. Just her.
‘Honestly?’ she said. ‘I was thinking that this was going to be the week from hell, and it would be nice to have some friendly company while I endured it. Now, if you two don’t mind, I need to speak to my sister. In private.’
Iona and Caitlin both looked to Melissa, whose expression had turned flinty.
‘Why don’t you two head up to the hotel and wait for us in the lobby with the ushers? See if you can find my maid of honour, too,’ she said. ‘Dad will be here to walk me down the aisle at any moment, anyway.’
The bridesmaids didn’t look happy about it, but they gathered up their bouquets and headed out to find their opposite numbers amongst the groomsmen. As the door shut behind them Melissa smoothed down her wedding dress once more and turned to Laurel.
‘Well? What on earth do you have to say to me?’
‘First off, you made a mistake inviting my ex-boyfriend to your wedding.’
Melissa rolled her eyes. ‘That’s what all this is about? Really, Laurel, when are you going to grow up and understand that it can’t be all about you all the time?’
The hypocrisy was almost enough to make her choke, but Laurel managed to go on. ‘Not because of me—although, actually, any sister with a hint of empathy wouldn’t do that to a person—but because he’s engaged to a gossip columnist. One whose magazine has offered anyone who can get a shot of your wedding dress in advance a really hefty fee.’
Melissa sniffed. ‘No one here would do that to me. They love me too much. Besides, they’ve all signed non-disclosure agreements. I’d sue them.’
Laurel restrained herself from pointing out that if she was so sure they all loved her that much then surely they wouldn’t have needed the non-disclosure agreements.
‘Not everyone signed one.’
‘Well, they should have done!’ Melissa sprang to her feet. ‘That was your job. If you let a guest RSVP without signing, or a member of the hotel staff—’
‘Not a guest,’ Laurel said calmly. ‘And not the hotel staff. Me. You never asked me to sign a non-disclosure agreement.’
‘Well, of course not! You’re my sister. You wouldn’t...’ Uncertainty blossomed in Melissa’s eyes. ‘What have you done?’
‘Nothing. Yet.’
Laurel moved to sit in the armchair at the centre of the room and motioned for Melissa to take the sofa opposite.
‘Sit. I have a number of things I want to say to you.’
Frowning, Melissa did as she was told, and a brief surge of satisfaction bloomed in Laurel’s chest.
‘I am getting married in ten minutes. In case you’ve forgotten.’
‘This won’t take long,’ Laurel promised. ‘Besides, it’s the bride’s prerogative to be late.’
‘So? What do you need to say to me so desperately?’
Laurel thought about it for a moment. She’d never expected even to get this far. Now that she had Melissa there...listening to her...she didn’t think there was enough time in the world to make her understand everything she needed to.
So she decided to focus on what mattered most.
‘I want you to know that I could have sent this photo to Coral’s magazine and made a fortune—but I didn’t.’ She flashed the screen of her phone at her, showing the shot of the wedding dress hanging from the staircase. ‘Not because you’re my sister, or because you’d sue me, or anything like that. But because that’s not the sort of person I want to be. Okay? But there was a part of me...not a small part of me, either...that thought you’d deserve it. For not paying me a decent wage for organising this wedding. For being so awful to people when the people who matter to you aren’t looking. For what you did to Eloise. And for what you just did to me.’
‘What did I do to you?’ Melissa cried, indignant. ‘You’re the one who lied to us all.’
‘I did—to start with,’ Laurel admitted. ‘But after that it was more than the lie, even if Dan can’t admit that. But you know what? I was putting my heart out there. I was having a moment with the man I...’
Laurel swallowed, feeling as if there was a Christmas tree bauble stuck in her throat. But it wasn’t a decoration—it was the truth, bubbling up inconveniently when she couldn’t do a thing about it.
‘The man I love. And you made it all about you. About your wedding, and your thunder.’
‘You’re in love with him?’ Melissa looked incredulous. ‘Why? He’s just a stand-in. A stuntman.’
‘He’s more than you’ll ever see,’ Laurel said. ‘He’s real in a way you’ll never be. In a way that I want to be.’
Dan wasn’t a prince, wasn’t a fairy tale. This wasn’t the right time, or the right place. But he was the right man. And she knew in an instant, even after he’d turned her down, that she’d rather have him here, now, always, than some mythical prince who might never arrive.
It was just a shame she wasn’t enough for him to take the chance.
She got to her feet, almost done. It was time to walk out there, watch Melissa get married, and get on with her life—with or without Dan. A
nd apparently it was to be without.
‘So, here’s what I want you to know most of all,’ she said. ‘It’s not all about you. Life isn’t the Melissa Sommers show. We all get our own starring roles, and we don’t just have to play supporting actress to you. You can’t treat people like they don’t matter just because they can’t give you something, or do something for you. And that means that I don’t have to pay for your childhood any longer. I’m not responsible for what our father did, and it’s not up to me to make you feel better about that. From now on I’m only taking responsibility for my own actions. And the only things I’ve done this week are try to give you a perfect wedding and fall in love. Okay?’
Melissa’s eyes were wide, astonishment clear in them. But she nodded.
‘Great. Then let’s go get you married.’ She held out a hand to her sister and helped her up.
At least then she’d be officially Riley’s problem and not Laurel’s.
CHAPTER TEN
DAN MADE HIS way along the frosted drive, back to the main hotel. His head was still spinning from everything Laurel had said, and that was all tied up with Melissa’s laughter, echoing through his brain. A chance. A future. Everything she’d offered him he’d wanted to take. But he’d known he couldn’t.
He wasn’t good enough. He couldn’t live up to the sort of expectations Laurel had for her future. She wanted everything—love, forever, happiness. And for the first time since Cassie had left he wanted to give that to someone. He wanted to be what someone else needed him to be.
But he couldn’t. How could he promise Laurel everything she wanted when he already knew he wouldn’t be able to deliver? He’d never been enough for anyone before—and he had no faith that he’d suddenly be able to be now.
Dan fought the urge to go and get lost in the woods—to escape, to run. His little brother was getting married. So he couldn’t.
He couldn’t do anything, it seemed, except what he’d always done. Rebel against expectations. Go the opposite way to the one people wanted him to. Carry on being who he was, with the little he knew he was allowed. Financial success, business success, friends, an estranged family and a series of women for whom he would never be ‘the one’.
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