“Did something happen?” I asked softly. “Did he do something to make you doubt him?”
“No.” She exhaled deeply through her nostrils and then tossed her hands out to her sides. “He’s perfect, and he’s so excited, but I’m just…”
“Not?” I suggested when she trailed off.
She dipped her head into a single nod, her eyes going misty all over again. “I was super excited, but then I woke up on Monday morning and it dawned on me that it was my last week of not being a married woman. It freaked me out and now I can’t stop freaking out.”
“That’s understandable,” I said cautiously. “People get cold feet all the time. It doesn’t mean they don’t end up going through with the wedding.”
“That’s just the thing. I want to go through with the wedding, or at least I think I do, but the thought of it also terrifies me.”
I’d never seen Hailey like this. Not ever.
She wasn’t wearing any makeup and it didn’t even look like she’d brushed her hair before coming out. Instead of her fancy clothes, she was wearing a sweatshirt that I knew she’d had since high school and a pair of old yoga pants she wouldn’t normally be caught dead in outside of her own bedroom.
My perfectly put-together sister seemed to be falling apart before my very eyes, and I didn’t have the first clue how to help her. I wasn’t even annoyed about her reaction to me telling her about my promotion anymore.
There would always be time later to tell her how much it had hurt me that she couldn’t even be excited for me when something that big had happened, but if she’d been in this frame of mind when I’d called her, then I really did understand why she was the only thing she could focus on at the moment.
“I think it’s normal to be terrified of getting married,” I said finally, hoping like hell I wasn’t just making everything worse. “It’s a big deal. I mean, you’re talking about committing to one person for the rest of your life. You should be terrified for at least a little while, but ultimately, if you love him, you love him.”
“I do love him,” she said softly, her gaze darting around as if she was checking that no one was listening to us. Her choice of restaurant also made more sense now. She hadn’t wanted to go anywhere she might run into anyone she knew.
Burying her head in her hands, her shoulders rose on a deep breath before she looked at me again. “I know you’ve been worried that I’m only marrying him for his money, but I told you before that I really love him and I really do. It’s just… forever is a long time.”
“Yeah, it is,” I agreed, trying to gauge what the best approach would be from there. “Why do you love him?”
“Excuse me?” She pulled her head back and frowned at me. “Did you just ask me why I love him?”
“Yep.” I smiled at the waiter when he delivered our pitcher and two fresh glasses. Then I filled both of them to the brim before pushing one over to her and picking up the other myself. “He’s loaded, but he’s older. He’s good looking, but it’s more distinguished than it is hot. He can be nice, but so are plenty of other people. So why him? When he asked you out on your first date, why did you say yes?”
A faraway look came into her eyes and a hint of a smile appeared on her lips. “Why him, huh? Okay, I’ll bite.”
She took a much smaller sip of her drink this time, swallowing it slowly as a spark of life came back into her eyes. When she was done, she leaned forward again and put her palms flat on the table.
“I said yes to our first date because I thought he was the most charming, charismatic man I’d ever met,” she started. “He was like this force of nature to me, you know? I couldn’t help but be drawn to him.”
“What was it about him that drew you in?” I asked.
My primary objective really was helping her, but it would be interesting to hear the answer either way. I’d always wondered why she’d gone gaga over the guy from the get-go. Maybe I would finally be able to understand and, with it, really be happy when she walked down that aisle because I would know without a doubt that she was happy.
“What was it about him that drew me in?” she mused, speaking more to herself than to me until she looked up again. “It was everything really. Have you ever noticed how blue his eyes are? They’re so blue it’s like they come alive sometimes. Like I can see the waves and swells of the Adriatic Sea in them.”
“Uh, nope. I can’t say I have, but then again, I’ve never stared that deeply into your fiancé’s eyes.”
A soft giggle came out of her as she shrugged. “Fair enough. His eyes were one of the first things I noticed about him, and then I realized there was so much more. I know you’re worried because he’s older, but I actually really like that about him. He calms my crazy, you know? He just looks at the world in such a different way that it makes me realize when I’m being petty or silly.”
I didn’t respond because it didn’t seem like she was done yet. She paused for less than thirty seconds before the faraway look was back in her eyes and her smile had widened.
“When I say that he calms my crazy, I don’t mean that he tries to change me or that he points out when I’m being childish or silly. He just balances me out. Sometimes when I look at him, I still can’t believe that he chose me when there are droves of more mature, worldly women out there throwing themselves at him on a daily basis.”
She was really getting into it now, becoming more animated while she spoke and sipping her drink in between. “I know what people see when they look at him, but once I got to know him, I realized that he’s also funny and that he has such a playful streak. He’s attentive to my needs in every way, so he does take care of me, but he’s also my best friend.”
“Your best friend?”
“Absolutely,” she said without any hesitation whatsoever. “I can talk to him about anything and know that he’ll never judge me. If I had to choose one person to go out and have fun with for the rest of my life, it would be him. At the same time, he’s also my rock and my anchor. He encourages me to try new things but he also makes me feel safe and like it’s okay if I don’t want to.”
There were tears in her eyes again, but they didn’t seem to be from freaking out, sadness, or fear this time. She swiped her fingers across her cheeks and shook her head.
“All that is only the start of why I love him, but I think one of the biggest things for me with him is that it feels like he really sees me,” she said, then surprised the crap out of me. “I like looking good. I like wearing nice clothes and doing my makeup in the morning, but because of all that, it’s like most people look at me and only see the exterior. Sometimes, they look at me like I’m a doll instead of a person. Nick has never looked at me like that.”
Unexpected guilt tightened my gut. I knew that I was one of those people she was talking about, and I felt like absolute shit for it now.
“I’m sorry for making you feel that way,” I said quietly, my heart squeezing deep inside my chest. “I think that maybe I’ve been blinded by my jealousy at times.”
It was the first time I’d straight out admitted to her that I was jealous of her, and by the way her eyes grew as big as they could go, she knew what a monumental step it was for me.
“I haven’t been the best sister to you either,” she said, reaching for my hands and interlinking our fingers together. “I know we’re not going to get past our differences in just one conversation, but I’d like to try to get past them from now on.”
“So would I,” I admitted, and it was like a giant, fat rhinoceros I hadn’t even realized was there climbed off my heart with the words. “On the bright side, I think you’ve convinced not only me but also yourself about whether you should go through with the wedding.”
“Yeah.” She smiled through the tears running down her cheeks. “I think you’re right. God, I just got so swept up in all the wedding and marriage stuff that I completely forgot who it was I was saying yes to and why.”
Before I could reply, she got up from her sid
e of the booth and came over to mine. Pulling me into one of those amazing, comforting hugs of hers, she held me close and whispered into my ear. “I’m lucky to have you as a sister, Keira. I know it’s going to take more than one night to make things right between us, but do you think I could stay over with you tonight?”
“Of course.” When she finally let go of me, tears of my own had started leaking out of my eyes. “I think it’s about time we have a good sister night. What do you say we finish this, pick up some wine, and go back to my place?”
“I say that it’s a good thing I brought my pajamas.” She laughed and hugged me again. “Thank you, Kiki. I really needed you today. Thank you for coming through for me.”
“Always,” I promised, but it wasn’t only her I was making the promise to. It was myself as well. I’d seen a different side of her already tonight, but it was one I should’ve known was there.
I was looking forward to learning more about who she’d become when I hadn’t been paying attention. For the first time, I was also looking forward to standing up with her at her wedding.
Later that night, when we were more than a couple of glasses of wine in and lounging on my couch in our pajamas, I finally mustered up the courage to let her in on my situation with Harrison.
After telling her that we’d spent last weekend together as well, I told her about his proposition for the wedding. She gaped at me when I was done.
“So, he’s going to be your fake fiancé just to keep Mom off your back?” she asked incredulously.
I nodded. “Do you think it’s a crazy idea?”
She gave me a long look before shaking her head. “Nah, I think it’s just crazy enough. I’ll keep your secret, but you tell him that if he hurts you, he’s going to be dealing with me.”
There had been a lot of hugging tonight, but I leaned over and gave her another one. “Thanks, I’ll make sure he knows not to mess with me.”
It felt damn good to know Hailey had my back. I didn’t know when the last time had been that I’d felt like she was really there for me, but I felt it now, and it felt even better than I ever could’ve imagined.
25
HARRISON
Ashton insisted on being at my place while I was getting dressed for the wedding. He sat on the porch and sipped from a canteen of water when I walked out, then got up to cast a critical eye over me.
When he grinned and a satisfied gleam came into his eyes, I knew he wasn’t about to give me shit for being in a monkey suit. I’d been wondering if he would, even if he’d been the one to pick it out.
“You look great, son,” he said gruffly. “Keira is a lucky girl for having you on her arm today.”
“You remembered her name,” I said. “I’m suitably impressed.”
He chuckled. “She’s a good girl. I’m still halfway convinced she’s going to become Mrs. Hynes one of these days, so I figured it was best to learn her name.”
“We’ll see about that,” I said. “I still have to tell her that I fucked up, remember?”
“I remember,” he replied, then sighed before focusing on me again. “You already know how tough it’s been for me since I lost my wife, but I thought you should know that I fucked up time and time again as well. Just remember what I told you the other day about apologizing and everything will turn up roses.”
“I hope you’re right.” I really did, but I wasn’t so sure. “It’s almost time for me to go. Do you want me to give you a ride to your place?”
“No.” He pressed his lips together but didn’t scowl. Maybe we really were making progress. My thoughts were halted in their tracks when he stuck his hand into his pocket and came back with a watch. “This has been passed down for generations to the men in my family. I was never lucky enough to have a son, but if I’d had one, I would’ve wanted him to be like you.”
He held the watch out to me in an open, callused palm. “Take it, Harrison. I want you to have it.”
“There’s no way I can accept that,” I said, staring at the brown leather band with the simple, gold-rimmed face. “It’s a real honor that you want to give it to me, but I can’t take it, Ashton.”
“Of course, you can.” He took my hand in a firm grip and placed the watch in it. “It has to go to someone, and it’s not like I’m going to father a child to pass it down to now that my wife’s gone. You’re the closest thing I’ve got.”
“Thank you,” I said, an unfamiliar wave of emotion washing over me as I fastened it around my wrist. “This means more than I can ever say.”
“Yeah. Yeah. Don’t get all weepy on me,” he said, but then pulled me into a hug and hung onto me for a minute before thumping me on the back. “Well, you’d better get going. I just wanted to give that to you before you went off.”
Without another word, he let go of me and then stomped off the porch. A part of me wanted to go after him, to thank him again and possibly find out what I could do to reciprocate, but the larger part of me recognized his need to be alone right then.
It was obvious that he was having a nostalgic week, and I didn’t think he liked being vulnerable—even in front of me.
All the way into the city, I kept glancing down at the watch on my wrist. I’d meant it when I said it was a huge honor that he’d chosen to give it to me. If I was being honest with myself, I could admit that Ashton had been more of a father to me these last few years than my own had ever been.
Being as stoic as he was, my dad had never tried getting close to me. Since I could be very much the same way, I’d accepted it and, after a few unsuccessful attempts as a child, had never tried again either.
I arrived at Keira’s apartment early, but I’d planned it that way. Waiting for her to get ready was better than risking her being late to her own sister’s wedding. Since traffic was always a nightmare, I’d had to factor not only time for unforeseen delays on the road, but also for getting to the venue and finding parking there.
“Who is it?” she called when I knocked.
“It’s me, Harrison,” I replied. “I know I’m early. I don’t mind waiting in the truck.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, and the door swung open.
I nearly swallowed my fucking tongue when I saw her. She was still in a silk robe that only hung to her mid-thigh. It was tied at her waist, but the material showed off every curve and was slightly parted at her chest.
Her hair had been swept up into an elaborate knot at the side of her head, with some tendrils loose and framing her face. She’d obviously started with her makeup, her eyes lined with dark coal and her lids shimmering with gold.
Since her lips were still bare, I figured it was safe to kiss her. I reached for her, one arm winding around her waist while the other went behind her shoulders to hold her to me.
“You look fucking amazing,” I said, my voice coming out rougher than usual.
She tipped her head back to look into my eyes, swiping her tongue across her lips before she offered me a smile. “So do you. Want to come in? We’ve got some time to kill before we have to leave.”
“Yeah. Sure, but you’d better go finish getting ready before I undo the work you’ve already done.”
The smile morphed into a teasing smirk as she curled her fingers into my jacket and pushed herself up on her toes to plant a trail of kisses along my jaw. “If we’re careful, none of it needs to be undone.”
I stared into the dark brown pools of her eyes for a second, but that was all it took for my brain to lose the internal debate raging between it and my body. She was so fucking soft against me. She smelled like a field of flowers in springtime and looked like a dirty dream in that robe.
There was no way I was going to resist her, even if I knew the smarter choice would be to take a step back, wait for her to get ready, and get the hell out of here. Instead of doing any of that, I walked forward with her still in my arms and kicked the door shut behind me, all without breaking eye contact, and then my mouth descended on hers.
Her
lips parted for me at the first press of mine to them, and her arms came up to loop around my neck. She flattened herself against me, tugging softly at the ends of my hair as she kissed me back just as hungrily as I was kissing her.
Mentally pulling up the layout of her apartment, I started moving again and managed to get to her sofa without any major incidents. She giggled when I pulled her down on top of me after sitting down, but the sound turned into a moan when my hands landed on her bare thighs and started moving up.
She rocked her hips into me, and I groaned when I felt the heat of her even through my pants. I was already painfully hard. Feeling that heat was like an invitation to sink right into her and stay there for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t how this was going to go. We only had a bit of time. I planned on using every minute wisely.
Keira’s hips jerked when my fingers reached the crease of her thigh, a soft moan escaping into our kiss. As my hand moved closer to its mark, I realized she wasn’t wearing any underwear.
“Fuck, Keira,” I murmured between kisses. “You’re not making this easy for me, do you know that?”
“So I’m making it hard?” she teased in a breathy voice as she wriggled in my lap.
Her movements made my fingers slide between her hot, slick folds, and she dropped her head back before I could respond. Taking her lower lip between her teeth, she screwed her eyes shut and her back arched until her nipple was only inches away from my mouth.
Using the hand not stroking from her entrance to her clit, I reached up and tugged on the knot holding the belt around her waist. It came loose easily, and it took no time at all to push it off both her shoulders and for the material to fall to the floor.
She was completely naked on top of me now, but I didn’t even know if she’d noticed. I was circling her hard clit with my thumb while my fingers teased at her entrance, my mouth closing around the nipple closest to me.
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