Chase battled the heaviness in his chest and managed to hand his brother the beautiful diamond wedding band right on cue. Michael slid it solemnly onto Pia’s small finger.
“Let this ring be a symbol of the value, purity and constancy of true wedded love and a seal of the vows you have made.” When the minister pronounced the couple man and wife, Harper wiped tears from her cheeks.
“Whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” The minister smiled. “Michael, you may kiss your bride.”
Michael pulled Pia into his arms and very thoroughly kissed her, not stopping until Brandon finally whistled and everyone applauded. The wedding party filed out of the chapel, followed by family and friends.
Chase caught a glimpse of Harper as Michael rounded everyone up for photos, including his sister and newly acquired brothers.
When the photographer was finally satisfied and they walked outside, it took all Chase’s willpower to keep his distance from Harper, but he had bigger plans for his angel tonight.
Still, he couldn’t resist stopping her, speaking to her just to hear her voice. “You look beautiful, angel. I’ve missed you.”
She glanced up at him, but stayed a few feet away. “It’s good to see you, Chase.”
“We need to talk.”
“I know,” she softly agreed. “When we get back to Dallas—”
“Harper! Wasn’t it a beautiful ceremony?” Christy gushed over the vows, and Chase didn’t miss the relief that swept over Harper’s lovely face. She wanted to escape him. She had said her goodbyes in the letter.
His chest clamped down. Did she really think he would let her go that easily?
All of them moved out of the foyer onto the sidewalk in front of the church, where a string of white limousines waited to transport the wedding party to the hotel.
Delayed by more photos, the reception was underway when they arrived. In a private room at the elegant St. Regis, a lacy three-tier wedding cake rested on a pedestal next to the linen-draped table where the bride and groom sat beside the best man and maid of honor.
Harper sat at a table of eight that included Reese, Brandon and Pia’s mother and father. As a wedding gift, the Garrett jet had flown to Florida to pick up Pia’s parents, along with some of her cousins and several of her closest friends.
Nerves churned in Chase’s stomach. He could handle the embarrassment of being rejected in front of a roomful of people. Living without Harper for the rest of his life was something different altogether.
The evening progressed: a gourmet dinner, champagne toasts, cutting the cake, the bride and groom laughing as they fed each other. It was amazing how quickly a wedding could be arranged if the motivation was strong enough and the couple had friends willing to help.
Though there were only forty guests, a three-piece orchestra played in the corner. Michael had his first dance with Pia, then the bride danced with her father. Reese and Brandon danced with guests, including Harper. Chase ignored a twinge of jealousy, and reminded himself if things went well she’d been dancing with him for the rest of his life.
An hour slipped past. Chase glanced over at Michael, and a look passed between them. Michael smiled. It was time.
Chase rose from his place at the table just as Harper walked up to speak to her brother. She extended her best wishes to the newlyweds and gave them some lame excuse for leaving early.
Chase wasn’t having it. He flicked a glance at the orchestra, signaling them to begin the special song he had chosen. Repeating a silent prayer that his plan would succeed, he strode forward, blocking Harper’s escape.
Harper looked up as Chase appeared at her side. “You can’t be leaving yet,” he said. “Not before you dance with me.”
Her stomach churned. All evening she had carefully avoided any interaction with Chase. She had forced herself not to glance in his direction, not to notice how gorgeous he looked in his white dinner jacket, to ignore the heat that slipped through her whenever she remembered how good they were together. To ignore the women who did their best to capture his attention.
She had no choice but to look at him now, battled down the yearning that surged through her. “I’m sorry, Chase. I’m not really feeling all that well.” She swallowed. “Maybe another time.”
“I chose this song especially for you. One dance. I asked them to play it just for us. If you still want to leave when it’s over, I won’t ask you to stay.”
The music softly swelled. She knew the song, recognized the beautiful Beatles melody sung by John Lennon, “Something in the Way She Moves,” knew that the man in the song was attracted to the woman like no other lover. For him she was the only one.
Her heart hurt. She told herself it didn’t mean anything. It was just a pretty song. She told herself she had to walk away. She didn’t want to cry in front of Chase.
Instead, she looked into his handsome, beloved face and stepped into his arms.
Chase swept her into the music, and her throat closed up. She remembered the solid strength of his body, the way they fit so perfectly together. She remembered the way he had protected her, saved her, always been there for her. She loved him so much. Ached for him every day that he had been gone.
Chase drew her closer, pressed his cheek to hers. She could feel the roughness of the dark gold beard along his jaw.
