Connor cups my face, his expression suddenly serious. “I’ve been waiting to marry you since your parents insisted on marriage before we could live together, ma belle. These next two weeks might be the longest of my life.”
I rise on tiptoes to kiss him, careful not to smudge my freshly applied lipstick. “Then let’s not be late for this party. We need all the distractions we can get.”
The banquet hall of the Winter Bay Grand Hotel glitters with tiny lights and midnight blue decorations for Kamal’s birthday. Connor’s hand rests at the small of my back as we navigate through the crowd, fashionably late despite my best efforts.
“There’s Jessa,” I wave at my friend, who stands near the gift table in an emerald dress that complements her brown skin beautifully. She seems distracted, her eyes fixed on someone across the room.
I follow her gaze to spot Jaxon Jamison in a perfectly tailored charcoal suit, standing with a stunning woman in black. “Is that Jaxon with a date?” I whisper to Connor.
“Looks like it,” Connor murmurs, his breath warm against my ear. “He didn’t mention anything when we were doing our final fitting.”
We make our way to Kamal, who greets us with a wide smile. “The lovebirds finally arrive! Let me guess. Traffic was terrible?” His knowing smirk makes me blush.
“Something like that,” Connor replies smoothly, passing over our gift. “Happy birthday, mon ami.”
As Kamal unwraps our present—a rare single malt whiskey sourced from Quebec—I notice Jessa moving purposefully toward Jaxon only to be intercepted by the photographer. The frustration on Jessa’s face is visible even from across the room.
“I need to check on Jessa,” I tell Connor, squeezing his hand. “Meet you at the bar in ten?”
He nods, pressing a quick kiss to my temple before I weave through the crowd toward my friend. “Girl, you need better timing,” I say, noting how her eyes never leave Jaxon, who is now standing near the dessert table and adjusting his cufflinks.
Jessa is already moving in his direction with quick strides only to be intercepted by her cousin Gina. The party continues around us—champagne flowing, laughter rising above the music. I join Jasmine near the salad bar while he speaks with Kamal’s father.
“Have you noticed Jessa tonight?” Jasmine asks, nibbling on a chocolate-dipped strawberry. “She can’t keep her eyes off Jaxon.”
“And he keeps finding reasons to look her way,” I add. “I hope she tells him how she really feels instead of hiding behind her fears.”
As I say this, a hush falls over the room. I turn to see Jessa taking the microphone. When she begins to sing Dawn Sears’ “Don’t Take Your Hands Off My Heart,” I grab Jasmine’s arm in shock.
“What is happening?”
The answer comes moments later when Jessa’s voice carries across the stunned room: “I love you, Jaxon! I want to be your wife forever. I don’t care that we got married in Vegas while we were drunk!”
“Married?” My hand flies to my chest. “Lord, have mercy!”
Connor appears at my side, his expression equally shocked. “Mon Dieu! Did you know about this?”
I shake my head, watching the scene unfold with fascination.
“Look at them,” I whisper to Connor. “They look so happy.”
Connor’s arm wraps around my waist, pulling me against him. “Dans deux semaines,” he murmurs in my ear. “Two weeks, ma belle, until that’s us standing up there, making it official.”
I turn in his arms, seeing the love reflected in his eyes. “I can’t wait.”
As Jaxon and Jessa seal their love with a kiss, Connor’s lips find mine briefly. Surrounded by friends celebrating love in all its messy, complicated glory, I feel a renewed certainty about our own journey to the altar.
As the music shifts to a slower tempo, Connor pulls me onto the dance floor, his hand warm and secure against the small of my back. I let myself sink into the comfort of his embrace, pushing away the nagging thought that’s haunted me for weeks.
Last night, I’d sat on the edge of his bed watching Connor sleep, the confession burning on my tongue. I’d opened my mouth to wake him, to confess, but the fear had sealed mylips once again. Just like during our stargazing date when I’d rehearsed my confession only to give him head instead.
I swallow hard and focus instead on the way Connor’s body moves with mine, the security of his arms around me. Just like I’ve done every day since Vegas.
“You look happy,” he murmurs, his lips close to my ear.
“I am happy,” I reply, letting my fingers play with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Seeing Jessa and Jaxon finally admit their feelings... it makes me think about us.”
Connor draws me closer, his body moving perfectly in rhythm with mine. “About how much smarter we are? No Vegas wedding for us.”
