The groom—he refused to think of him as anything more than a prop—said something and Rowan looked back at him. She took a step closer, then the guy kissed her on the cheek, turned and walked away.
What the fuck? Luke was equal parts elated and pissed the hell off. Who the hell walks away from the woman they were getting ready to marry thirty seconds ago.
Rowan spun and rushed down the side aisle, her maid of honor close on her heels.
“Rowan!” He tried to follow her, but her dad stopped him in his tracks, her mom close behind him.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” she shouted.
“Sharon. I will handle this.” Rowan’s dad turned to him. “Luke. I’d like to say it’s good to see you, but I’m just gonna ask what it is you think you’re doing.”
“Sir, I need to talk to Rowan.”
Her mom leaned around her dad and pointed a finger at him. “Don’t you think you should have thought about that before now?”
“Sharon.”
Well aware of the audience around them, many of them filming the spectacle he’d created, he lowered his voice, hoping it wouldn’t carry past the small group. “I was an idiot before. I’m man enough to admit that. I’m also man enough to make a fool of myself for the woman I love.”
Adalynn chimed in. “Kind of inconvenient to figure that out right now, don’t you think? What? You didn’t want her until you couldn’t have her?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what’s it like, Lucas Stone? What’s it like that you come barging into her wedding?” her mom asked.
The wedding planner rushed up to them. “The police are on the way. I’ve never had to call the cops on a wedding before. The reception—sure, but never the actual wedding.”
Luke looked at Rowan’s dad as the most reasonable person. “Mr. Mitchell?”
Before he could get a response, the planner raised her clipboard in the air and yelled, “Here! Here!”
Luke looked over his shoulder as two police officers approached from the back of the church.
“Sir, we’re going to need you to come outside. Now,” the first cop said.
The second cop cocked his head. “Hey. Aren’t you Luke Stone?”
Luke sighed. “Yeah.”
“I saw your show the other night. Great concert.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” Mrs. Mitchell asked. “He interrupted my daughter’s wedding! Do you know how much money we’re out because of his little publicity stunt? Thousands!”
“Mrs. Mitchell, if you’ll let me talk to Rowan, I’ll pay you for whatever it cost.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Damn right you will. And you’re still not seeing her.”
The second cop gripped Luke’s elbow. “Mr. Stone, you really need to come outside so we can figure this out.”
“Yeah. Fine.” He gripped the neck of his guitar and sent a frustrated look in the direction Rowan had escaped. This wasn’t how he’d envisioned it when he’d thought up his crazy plan. It had more of a romantic comedy feel to it in his head. She’d slap him, they’d share a passionate if not angry kiss, she’d slap him again for good measure, and then they’d run down the aisle with huge grins on their faces while the bridal party broke into an appropriately happy song.
Maybe that was going a little overboard, but it sure hadn’t ended with him getting hauled off by the cops.
