by Jamie Knight
As we made contact, I steeled myself, and a collision that could well have put me on my ass was reduced to a bump.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, his Irish lilt elevating the statement from embarrassment to almost sexy.
I assumed he was a groomsman, mostly because he was dressed like one. Even if the term did put me in mind of the people who took care of horses at a stable.
“No harm done,” I said, doing my best not to blush or swoon.
He was so damn handsome.
“Are you sure? I really am sorry.”
“I promise.”
I narrowed my eyes a little and peered at him a little closer. While his hair was as dark as the night sky, his eyes were as blue as the ocean.
“Let me guess, you’re one of the six brothers.”
“One of many. Sean, at your service.”
He bowed so deep I thought he might break, or at least I thought the cummerbund on his emerald-green suit might put up some resistance.
“I just flew in and haven’t really had time to talk to Gavin or Maggie about the exact goings-on,” he explained. “Believe it or not, I’ve never actually been to a wedding before. I was under the impression I was supposed to escort a bridesmaid down the aisle. I thought that meant I should meet her where the bridesmaids start walking.”
I did know, and his confusion only added to his attraction. Self-awareness was worth a lot in my book, as was being able to admit when you didn’t know something. Despite his looks, he clearly wasn’t arrogant.
“I can understand the confusion,” I told him. “But the time that you’re supposed to escort her is after the ceremony ends. So, a better way to say it might be ‘escorting her back up the aisle, rather than down it?”
His eyebrows scrunched together in confusion, and even that was an adorable look. I began to fear I was making the issue even more complicated in my attempts to simplify it.
“Anyway, um, before the ceremony, you usher guests to their seats and then stand next to the other groomsmen, up at the altar, beside the groom. After the ceremony is over is when you link arms with a bridesmaid— or, in my case, maid of honor— and walk with her back up the aisle on the way out.”
“Gotcha,” he said, jotting notes in a small Moleskine notebook he’d conjured from the pocket of his jacket.
His earnest sincerity was so cute. As was everything else about him.
I gave him a small smile.
“You can walk with me if you want. I don’t know if it’s strictly protocol, but I don’t mind. It might help us both.”
He looked both grateful and relieved as well as a bit excited. I honestly was, too. I knew Gavin had a lot of brothers, even though I couldn’t keep all the names straight.
I had heard a lot about them during all this time that Maggie had been dating Gavin. No one had mentioned, though, that Sean was even more attractive than Gavin. At least in my humble opinion, of course.
Sure, Gavin had movie star good looks that undoubtedly helped him launch his now-successful acting career, but Sean had a devil-may-care attitude and a natural, carefree look to match it, as if being handsome came as effortlessly to him as the falling rain came down in the spring.
“You sure?” Sean asked. “From what my brother has said, Maggie is very particular about practicing this just the way it’s supposed to go.”
“I’m sure,” I said, putting a gentle hand on his arm. “She’ll understand. I’m her best friend as well as the maid of honor.”
One of his eyebrows lifted, and my heart all but stopped.
“Lucky for me.”
From the way he looked at me, I could tell he’d meant what he’d said. Honestly, though, I felt like I was the lucky one, and it was all I could do to focus on the task at hand and not focus on how damp my panties were. Instantly orgasming in a church wouldn’t do, but, damn, I was turned on.
The bridesmaids and I went back to our places and tried again. Sean stood where he was supposed to be with the other groomsmen— more brothers, I presumed— who were positioned in order of height. All of them looked dashing in their matching outfits, which were black suits with green handkerchiefs.
We went through our paces. Sean had been right— the choreography was similar to an old-fashioned dance.
Unable to stop, I found myself glancing in his direction more often than what would be considered appropriate, particularly given the context that I wasn’t there to hook up. That wasn’t my primary function, anyway.
I had a duty to do, and I couldn’t let my silly emotions get in the way of Maggie’s big day. Even if they didn’t feel the least bit silly and something told me Sean could be much more than a simple hook up. He’d struck a chord, deep and resonant, and it would be a long while before the reverberation ceased.
He was almost as bad as me. His eyes met mine nearly every time I stole a glance. Every time our stares locked, a crackle of electricity echoed through my ears. One that only got stronger as he approached after the practice vows had been exchanged.
Our arms linked, my heart stopped, and my breath caught in my throat. I never wanted him to let go, and I never wanted him to stop touching me.
It was as if strange forces were pushing us together, feeling like magnetic fields. I didn’t know if Sean felt the same or if I was just more sensitive to such things.
My dad would absolutely deny it if asked, but there was a history of intuition on my mother’s side. One that could, and had, been taken as witchcraft when discovered in the wrong context.
She said her great-grandmother used to tell stories about their ancestors and the Salem Witch trials, but those tales had been lost to time and hadn’t been written down. I had often thought— to myself, of course, since it would be such a crazy thing to voice out loud— that such innate powers could have possibly been passed down to me, though.
I bit my tongue in case I said something inappropriate to Sean about my newfound feelings for him. The last thing I needed was to confess my crush and have to watch him run for the hills.
The way he was still looking at me let me know that might not be what would actually happen. But I couldn’t take any chances— I had to stay focused on making sure my best friend’s big day went as smoothly as possible.
Time truly became a relative concept because the trip between the ceremony location and the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner ceased to exist in my perception. One minute I was at the church, doing up my coat against the sudden biting wind, and the next, I was at a table covered with a green linen cloth, and a nicely dressed man was pushing my chair in for me.
“You look deep in thought,” Sean said pleasantly, sitting down beside me.
“Trying to figure out which fork to use,” I fibbed, observing the plethora of silverware lined up around me at this five-star restaurant.
He smiled sheepishly.
“Afraid I can’t help you there. Pity, I could have repaid the kindness and patience you displayed to me back at the church. Are you sure you’re okay?”
I nodded.
“Yep, no injuries but my pride.”
It was a lie, really, all of it. I’d been going to five-star restaurants since I was big enough to see over the table. It was unavoidable due to my father’s business. He was damn near royalty in L.A., where he plied his considerable legal skills for some of Hollywood’s top talent.
I could use an oyster fork with the best of them. I’d also sustained no injuries from my little run-in with Sean, even to my pride.
“Glad to hear it,” Sean said. “That you’re not hurt, I mean. I’m an eejit sometimes, which can be a hazard with my job. Luckily, I’m mostly standing still for that. I seem to be able to manage myself while I’m stationary.”
“What business are you in?”
“I co-own a chain of butcheries back home in Ireland.”
The latent vegetarian in me screamed, but I tamped down my surprise. I wasn’t militant or anything. I just tried to keep my creature intake to fish on occasi
on.
“Interesting,” was as diplomatically as I could think to put it.
Even his “interesting” industry wasn’t enough to put me off him. Our connection, quick as it had been, was stronger than I could have imagined. I’d never really gone in for the whole insta-love thing, thinking it only existed in fairytales.
This didn’t feel like that exactly. I couldn’t even say what it felt like. I just knew it was powerful, and we would be fools to even try and resist.
I wanted to suggest that we go somewhere else after the rehearsal dinner, just the two of us. Or even that we go back to the hotel where I was staying. I knew what would happen if he said yes to either. We would end up falling into bed with all other concerns falling away.
I could see the entire scene in my head, and it made me smile. I nearly asked him if he was interested. Only my sense of propriety shouting from the dark distance in the back of my head stopped me.
I was never one to hold with conventions, but I didn’t want to be too forward. I really liked Sean. Probably more than I should have but also enough that I didn’t want him to think of me as someone who would jump the bones, or, ummm, boner, of any guy who passed by.
He was a special case, and I wanted to make sure he knew it, even if it meant denying myself pleasure in the short-term.
For the rest of the evening, I managed to keep my panties on and my libido in check enough to actually enjoy the meal and company.
Things were a lot more relaxed than they were when I dined with my father and, while it was far from my first time at such a fancy restaurant, it was the first time I’d really had the chance to enjoy it. Not having to worry about anything I might say or do or what I ate was a nice change.
Suddenly an alarm sound came from Sean’s jacket pocket and it was one of the more dramatic ringtones I’d ever heard. It made me jump a little, but I tried to not let it show.
He pushed away from the table and stood up.
“Excuse me. I’ve got to take this.”
I figured it was a business call, going by the dramatic tone of the ring and the hastiness of his exit, although he still maintained a baseline level of politeness. It hurt to see him go. Like he’d taken a part of me with him.
I couldn’t really explain it. I was usually so independent, not really feeling like I needed anyone, aside from Maggie and my other close girlfriends. But it wasn’t the same need I was feeling for Sean MacBride.
I had to know if he felt the same way. It wasn’t clear what I would say to him, but I had to say something. I couldn’t come right out and make everything explicit, but I could further indicate my interest.
“Hey, stranger,” Maggie said, as she came up and hugged me from behind.
“Hey, babe.”
She lay her chin on my shoulder.
“I’ve hardly gotten to see you.”
“You’ve been busy,” I pointed out. “And I’m the least of your concerns. A lot of people want your attention.”
“Still, that’s no reason for me to neglect my best friend,” Maggie said, taking Sean’s empty seat.
I wasn’t sure she was supposed to do that with the assigned seating and all, but she could really do anything she wanted. It was almost her big day, after all.
“Listen,” she said, “I’ve been thinking. I haven’t really had time for a bachelorette party and would like to have one last single girl’s night out while I have the chance.”
It was nice to hear her say that. I could only assume she meant to include Nicole and Amy as well.
Maggie and I had only met less than a couple years ago after she and her ex, an asshole named Kenny, had broken up. We’d both been looking for an apartment and ended up renting one together.
She explained she hadn’t had many friends growing up. I was never sure if she was shy or had self-esteem issues.
Her dad died when she was young and, when her mom remarried, she’d grown close to her stepsister, who then stabbed her in the back. The bitch had been sleeping with Kenny, which is why I now referred to him as “the asshole” in my head.
It all ended up working out okay, since that was how Maggie had met Gavin, and now they were having their happily ever after. Still, it was a hard time for her to go through and I was glad I could help. I had been by her side ever since, first as her roommate, then as her co-worker, once I got my job to hire her on as an assistant, and now as her best friend and maid of honor.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“I can’t think of anything I’d want to do more than dance the night away with you.”
Well, that and this one other thing… I thought but didn’t add.
I looked to the door one last time, wishing I could see Sean again but also knowing my duty to my friend. Her asking to go out with the group was a big deal and it was one that I fully intended to support.
There will always be the actual wedding at which I can see Sean again, I reminded myself, despite wishing the timing of his phone call hadn’t been so bad.
Perhaps we might have exchanged numbers before he got pulled away.
Maybe I should have been more forward.
But it was time to stop second-guessing myself when Maggie stood up and grabbed ahold of my hand.
“Okay, great. Let’s go then?” she asked.
“Yes. Let’s go right now!” I told her. “After all, your perfect bachelorette party is waiting.”
“Albeit a very spontaneous and last minute one,” she said.
“Those are the best kinds!” I told her. “Just like all things in life.”
Just like literally running into the man of your dreams— or, rather, being run into by him— because he’s walking the wrong way during your best friend’s wedding rehearsal.
Chapter Two - Darcy
I thought about going home and changing before we went out, but everyone wanted to get started right away, formal wear notwithstanding.
I was definitely going to need my coat. Otherwise, my boobs would end up as the main attraction.
I didn’t like to show off, and I might distract attention away from Maggie, which just wouldn’t do. As it turned out, though, I didn’t need to worry. Ciara was enough of a showboat for all of us.
“Fuck me, I’m Irish!” she called alluringly to no one in particular from the car window.
“Ciara!” Maggie objected, blushing.
“What?” Ciara asked, dropping back onto her seat. “Is that not a tradition to yell out on St. Patrick’s Day here? I thought I’d heard that on American television.”
“Usually it’s ‘kiss me, I’m Irish,’” I explained.
“And is usually only said on St. Patrick’s Day proper, not the night before,” Nicole added.
“Oh, I see,” she said, but instead of looking embarrassed at her mistake, Ciara only looked disappointed. “How very boring.”
I smiled and was beginning to think I loved her.
“On the upside, it sounded more like ‘fok’ than ‘fuck,’ so most probably didn’t know quite what you said, except maybe by context,” Amy pointed out helpfully.
I could tell Ciara was going to be a handful, particularly after she’d had a few, but I was kind of looking forward to seeing what kind of shenanigans she would get up to. The night might actually be fun, despite the lack of Sean.
He’d done pretty well at keeping a lid on Ciara at the church and rehearsal dinner, like an older brother with an unruly little sister. I got the strong impression that she didn’t want to disappoint or embarrass the MacBride brothers despite her natural instincts toward mischief, which helped Sean be a calming influence.
He wasn’t with us anymore, though, and Ciara was really letting loose. I could only imagine where the night might end up.
“You gotta be taking the piss,” Ciara intoned gravely, gazing at the neon shamrock outside McGinty’s Authentic Irish pub.
“It’s authentic,” Amy said, trying to be positive.
“Aye, as a three-dollar bill.”<
br />
“The drinks are real,” Nicole tried.
Ciara made a face.
“We’ll see about that.”
The car pulled up to the curb, and we all got out. Ciara marched toward the pub like Queen Boudica going to meet the Roman legions, an aura of steely defiance radiating from her slight form.
The place was packed, and the line to get served was at least five people deep.
“Five shots of Glenfiddich,” Ciara was saying as we joined her at the bar.
“Thanks,” Maggie said.
“Those are for me,” Ciara said. “What are you all having?”
There was a moment of silent contemplation before we placed our orders, Ciara paying for all of us. She downed her five shots and ordering five more before the rest of our drinks even arrived. I had to admire her dedication but wondered how she’d feel in the morning.
“Wow,” Amy said, in true awe.
“Practice,” Ciara told her, with a wink.
I had no doubt practice was part of it, but there also must have been some element of natural aptitude for a girl Ciara’s size to knock back that much scotch and not even slur her speech.
“Courtesy of Gavin,” Ciara said, paying for another round.
“How did he know about this?” Maggie asked. “I just decided myself about half an hour ago.”
“Lucky guess, I suppose. He’s pretty cool that way. Plus, he knows his bride-to-be. He gave me the dough while we were still back at the church and said to pay for everything.”
Love filled Maggie’s eyes.
“Oh, I adore him so much!”
“Shall we celebrate with Jell-O shots?” I asked.
“I like how you think,” Nicole said.
Ciara slapped her hand against the counter.
“A tray of Jell-O shots, please, lime.”
As the jiggling green cups of goodness arrived, I got the feeling that the night might be fun despite Sean not being here. I was with my girls, and a new addition to our crew who I was starting to like more and more.
“The music here is lame,” Ciara announced. “It’s not what we need for a hen party.”