From the corner of my eye I see the blonde pause, hovering beside us, questioning herself and my identity. Frankie and Pierce insert themselves behind Sasha so there are three people blocking the bride-to-be’s path to me.
Seconds pass. Sasha’s eyes remain focused intently on mine – huge, burning pools of longing. An intensity she can’t deny. We’re caught in limbo waiting for the car.
‘Excuse me…’ the blonde calls hopefully.
Sasha’s lips crash against mine, her head blocking the view of my face. Everything else melts away. She can fake that she’s doing it to hide me, but she can’t fake the way her tongue hungrily seeks out mine. Tiny teasing strokes scorching my insides, igniting an inferno in my chest and stomach.
I need to get out of here, and it has nothing to do with the mob of women desperate to make my acquaintance and everything to do with the woman I’m desperate to get reacquainted with.
Her palms reach for my neck. Fingers rake exploratively beneath my beanie grabbing a fistful of hair. There’s no way this is a simple distraction technique.
Sasha Sexton is as hot for me as she ever was. And I’m going to make sure she stays that way.
Pierce’s elbow rudely interrupts the hottest kiss of my life. ‘They’re here.’
Reluctantly, I tear my mouth from Sasha but not my eyes.
Cameras flash from phones in every direction. The bride stands with her mouth open as Pierce and Frankie rapidly usher us out. The back door of a black SUV opens and I push Sasha in before hopping in behind her.
‘Victoria…’ Sasha’s eyes widen as the door closes.
‘Don’t worry.’ Pierce glances round from the front passenger seat. ‘Frankie’s gone to find her and Archie. They’ll meet us back at the helipad.’
She slumps back in the car with apparent relief and I chance taking her hand again.
‘Welcome to my world.’ I wink at her. ‘Turns out, you fit in fucking perfectly. Just like I knew you would.’
When we’re safely back inside the castle reception area, Sasha turns to me thoughtfully. She nods towards her sister who’s laughing at something Archie says as he escorts her up the grand staircase, the fudge tucked under his right arm. ‘Thank you so much for today, Ryan. It meant the world to Victoria.’
Now we’re back, the ice queen’s trying to make a reappearance. Given half the chance, I’m going to crank the heat so high she’ll melt for good.
‘To Victoria, huh?’ She’s not making this easy on me. Even if she did save me from getting mobbed by a crowd of starstruck groupies.
A blush creeps into her cheeks as her eyes meet mine. ‘And me.’
‘Have dinner with me.’ It’s out of my mouth before I’ve even thought about it.
She bites her lower lip while she thinks about it. ‘But what will people say?’
My laughter echoes all the way around the huge atrium. ‘That’s your only concern? Sweetheart, there were more phones flashing in the Fire Pit today than camera flashes at a wedding. I’m pretty sure your face, or the back of your head at least, will be all over the nine o’clock news.’
‘Well, I never said it was myonlyconcern, but it’s up there with – What will my staff think of me? What will Victoria think? What will Conor think?’
She ticks them off each finger, but I interrupt her before she finishes.
‘You’re worried about Conor?’
‘I don’t want to hurt his feelings.’
‘But what about my feelings? Saying no might hurt them…’ I pout and she snorts.
‘You’d get over it, Mr Eligible.’
‘I wouldn’t, trust me. Conor might though.’ I scratch my head. ‘Over time. A very long time…’
I’m lying. He’ll never get over Sasha Sexton. Trust me, I know from experience. I’ve had ten fucking years and I’m no closer to getting over her than I am to getting under her.
‘Besides, I hadn’t finished…’ She holds her hand up again and checks off a final question. ‘Last but not least. Will Ryan-Runaway-Cooper make a fool out of me for a second time?’
