He, Cat and Myles arrived at lunchtime today. Myles is really nice, and exactly the kind of guy I imagined Cat to be with: medium height, chestnut hair and scruff, a tattoo snaking up his right arm into a dress shirt with rolled back sleeves. He’s smitten with her; he hasn’t left her side since they arrived. Cat strikes me as being tough and fierce, but there’s something about the way Myles makes her soften that tells me he’s a good guy.
It’s been great having these three here. They came early to see how Alex was getting on and to check if we needed help with anything. Geoff has been on parent patrol since he arrived—making sure they’re happy and not letting Mum bother Alex. I have it on good authority he’s been talking Michael up so much that even Mum is starting to come around.
My eyes meander around the room and land on Luke. He’s standing dutifully beside Dena, but she’s enthralled by another conversation with William. I can see what Luke means about those two getting on well. No wonder he’s afraid to tell his dad.
He sends me a tiny smile, bouncing his eyebrows ever so slightly and tipping his champagne glass in my direction. He doesn’t do anything more, but the sparkle in his eye—the one that’s reserved only for me—sends pleasure melting right through me. I know he’d much rather be over here on my arm, and the thought makes a satisfied little smile nudge my lips.
And boy, does he look good today. He’s wearing a tux, which highlights everything that’s gorgeous about him: his tall frame, his broad shoulders, his dark hair. Okay, I can’t see his forearms, but the rest of it is divine enough that I can live without them for a few hours. He groomed his short beard for the day, so the dark edge of the bristles emphasize his Adam’s apple and the lines of his jaw. I never thought I’d be the type of woman to like a beard on a man but it’s so incredibly masculine and sexy. Every time I look at him there’s a rush of heat between my legs that makes my thighs squeeze together. I’m desperate to drag him into a broom closet somewhere, to hike up my dress and have him press me against a wall from behind. God.
He was pretty forthcoming with compliments for my dress, too. We had a brief moment alone in the hallway this morning while Alex and Michael were getting ready in their separate rooms, and he pulled me to one side.
“Harriet, you look so beautiful,” he’d murmured, checking the hallway for others. “Seriously, that dress, your hair…” His gaze swept over me and his fists flexed at his side, like he was fighting the urge to touch me. When his eyes met mine, they speared me with a look that was pure lust. “I wish we could be alone.”
I wanted to tell him how orgasmic his tux was, but Mum appeared in the hallway asking if she could see Alex, and I knew I couldn’t let her go into Alex’s room alone. I had no choice but to give Luke a faint smile and walk away. It nearly bloody killed me.
And now, as he basically eye-fucks me from across the room, I have to force myself to turn my attention back to the others in case the raw, primal need on my face gives everything away.
“Ugh,” Cat says as she takes a glass of champagne from Myles and casts her gaze across the room. It’s teeming with guests, only a handful of whom I actually know, but they all seem very friendly. Except Mel, of course. I follow Cat’s gaze and see she’s staring right at Mel, who’s wearing a floor-length, off-white gown that plunges low. It’s the most inappropriate thing I’ve ever seen anyone wear to a wedding, but thankfully Alex has been too busy making heart eyes at Michael to care.
Mel is even more terrifying than I remember. And, I’ve noticed, she seems to be quite close with Dena. I didn’t see that coming but I guess it makes sense. They were, after all, married to brothers. They probably spent summers at the lake and had Christmas and holidays together. In fact, I wonder if Mel knows they’ve divorced?
So much for Mel coming to support Henry, though; she’s barely spent two seconds with her son, who has been sitting with Michael and Luke’s Nana—Henry’s great grandmother—the whole time in the corner. I checked in with him to make sure he was okay, but he seemed happier away from the commotion. I don’t blame the poor guy.
“I can’t believe Mel is here,” Geoff murmurs. “And shehadto bring Mark.”
“Who’s Mark?” I ask, passing my eyes over the guy she’s with. He’s tall and lean, with short brown hair and a silver chain glinting around his neck from under his dress shirt. Mel has one hand protectively on his bicep, her nails blood-red against his white shirt.
“Cat’s ex-husband.” Myles’s gaze narrows in their direction as he tucks Cat into his side and presses a kiss to her pink hair.
“Wait,” I say, slowly playing catch-up. “Michael’s ex-wife is dating your ex-husband, Cat? How do they know each other?”
Cat twirls her champagne glass, releasing a sigh. “Mel and I used to be friends. Good friends, or at least I thought we were. We were neighbors when she lived upstairs with Michael, before their divorce. Then I found out she was hooking up with my ex not long ago, so”—she shrugs—“that was the end of our friendship.”
I glance back at Mel and Mark, shaking my head in disbelief. “Wow.”
“You have no idea.” Geoff pushes his glasses up his nose with a humorless laugh. “Not only did she screw Cat over with Mark, she also tried to run her out of business. And she tried to get Alex fired.”
“Really?” Alex never mentioned any of this.
Geoff nods.
“What iswrongwith this woman?” I mutter. “Someone needs to put her in her place.”
“Yes,” Myles says fiercely, and we share a frown.
Cat snorts. “It’s not worth it.”
I’m about to say something more when a hush falls over the room. We collectively turn to the doorway, where Alex and Michael enter. The room explodes into applause and I join in with whoops and cheers. Emotion wells up inside me as I watch them, glowing with love and happiness.
Before I can stop myself, my eyes veer over to Luke. He’s gazing right at me, his eyes shining, and I have to glance away in case I start blubbering like a fool. I don’t know where all this sudden mushiness has come from. I must have had too much champagne.
Alex and Michael do the rounds, greeting everyone and being congratulated, before we all sit down to dinner. I’m thrilled to find Luke is sitting right beside me—he must have switched the seating arrangements, and given we’re maid of honor and best man it’s not exactly suspicious—but it makes it hard to focus on eating. Well, that and the fact that I can feel Dena watching us from two tables away.
After dinner, there’s the clinking of a glass and we turn our attention as the toasts begin. I know I’m Alex’s sister and the maid of honor, but I’m not making a toast and neither is Luke. Alex told us that after all the work we’d done, we didn’t need to give toasts. I think, actually, she knew I would be uncomfortable getting up and speaking to a room full of people. Either way, I’m more than happy to not be the center of attention.
Michael stands with his glass and we all settle down to listen. “I just want to say a few words. First of all, Alex and I have to thank my brother, Luke, and her sister, Harriet, for taking care of a lot of the last-minute wedding details. Both Alex and I have been really busy with work and these two stepped up, without a word of complaint, and made sure everything was perfect.”
Pride bubbles up inside me. I glance at Luke with a grin, so pleased that after everything, they got to have the wedding they wanted and nothing got in the way. It’s all been worth it.
