CHAPTER ONE
Never in hisentire life had Reese’s heart felt like it’d completely stopped. Sure, he’d heard people describe the sensation when they were terrified. He’d heard people say that was what it felt like right before they realized their lives were about to change.
Reese hadn’t ever experienced the sensation.
Until now.
She was ethereal. The woman with curves in all the right places. The angel with golden brown hair that practically glowed beneath the afternoon sun.
Heaven incarnate, that’s what she was.
And when her blue eyes found his, not only did his heart stop, but the world stopped spinning, too.
It was brief, the amount of time she spent looking at him. Just a cursory look was all she offered him. There was something different about her. Even though she offered the people around her an easy smile, it was anything but.
He could tell. She was hiding something from the world that she didn’t want anyone else to see. But he’d seen it.
A heavy hand clapped down on his shoulder, and he jumped as he looked over at his cousin with a start. Mack chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t even go there, cuz.”
“You know her?”
“Know her? She’s Jane’s sister.”
As if against his will, Reese’s eyes drifted to the bride. She was radiant, but it wasn’t her dress or makeup that made her so. It was the way she looked at Noah. It was official. Mack and his two brothers were off the market. Today was the big day for the youngest son in their family, and Reese’s mother wasn’t going to let him forget it.
He’d lost track of how many times his mother had asked when he was going to settle down and give her some grandchildren. The problem was neither he nor his brother Leo had managed to find anyone worthy of their time.
Well, not until today.
Reese’s focus drifted back to the woman seated at a table with who he could only assume was the rest of Jane’s family. Her parents were seated with another couple. Evidently an additional sister with her husband.
“Why?” Reese murmured. “Is she taken?”
Mack offered a pained smile. “No. Well, not anymore.”
That caught Reese’s attention, and his head snapped back to Mack. “What does that mean?”
The way his cousin frowned as he himself glanced in the angel’s direction set off a wave of uncomfortable chills. Reese moved closer to Mack. “You grew up with them, right?”
Mack nodded. “Serenity married her high school sweetheart right after graduation. I don’t think she dated anyone but Finn her entire life. They were endgame.”
Something dropped into the pit of Reese’s stomach. “Endgame, huh?”
Mack turned back to Reese. “Even I knew they were soulmates when we were teenagers, and that’s saying something.”
“What happened?”
“There was a freak accident at his work. He passed away about eight months ago.”
That weight continued to settle on Reese’s chest. He couldn’t imagine losing someone like that. His focus shifted to the beauty, and he sighed. “Well, she seems to be doing pretty good.”
“Yeah, she is,” Mack agreed. “But I don’t think you’re going to get anywhere with her. You probably shouldn’t even try.”
A smile tugged at Reese’s lips. “Why? You don’t think I could persuade her to give me a chance?”
Mack arched a brow. “I’m all for lost causes and love conquering all, but that?” He jutted his chin toward the woman. “Not even you could charm her. She’s a mom, Reese. She’s got responsibilities. She’s not going to turn her life upside down just so she can have some fun.”
Reese scoffed, a hand flying to his chest. “Ouch,” he dramatized. “I’m hurt that you think I’m not interested in something deeper.”
