“Kate, there you are.” Fallon approaches me, her forehead pinched. She’s in a gorgeous, floor-length pale yellow gown that must have been made especially for her.
“Oh, hi, Fallon. You look stunning.” I smile weakly, but she doesn’t return it.
“Thanks. Have you seen Luke?” She seems distracted, scanning the bodies around us.
She’s tall, but so are most of them. I’ve never felt like such a shrimp in my life.
“He said he was going to say hi to your mom. I was just in the restroom.”
She purses her lips, forcing out a sigh.
“She’s over by the ice sculptures. Ugh, aren’t they disgusting? Such a stupid idea. My wedding planner talked me into it.”
I look at the object in question, an elaborate sea-creature design, depicting dolphins, sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, and an enormous octopus joining them all together with its legs wrapped around an anchor.
“Oh, wow . . . it’s so . . . so unique.”
She laughs. “It’s repulsive. Like, the event is nautical-themed, but we don’t need every creature under the sea to be in attendance.”
I laugh with her, feeling a shred of tension leaving my body after what she caught me doing with her brother earlier.
Her mind must be on the same track because she raises a brow. “I’m glad he’s finally loosening up a bit, even though I’d prefer not to witness it with my own two eyes.”
My cheeks heat.How is he loosening up?
I open my mouth, trying to think of how to word an apology for such a thing, but she doesn’t give me a chance.
“Can you please help me find Luke? I’m terrified of what he could be doing.”
With a woman?!My mind immediately goes to the worst-possible scenario of finding him lip-locked with another woman.
“Yes, let’s look for him. Split up or stick together?”
“You go check down below, and I’ll search up here.”
I nod, wishing she’d let me stay above. I hope I don’t get lost. My nerves are on end as I find the open stairway, briefly noticing the ocean view as I descend.
The party seems to be going on over three levels total, so I start at the bottom. The extravagance is mind-blowing. On the lowest level, there’s a display of the diamond tiara, necklace, and earrings that Fallon will be wearing during the ceremony tomorrow, complete with armed security.
“Okay, focus on finding Luke,” I mumble to myself.
A girl with a shaved head gives me a strange look as I talk to myself. A tall, roguishly handsome man approaches me with a flute of champagne in each hand. He grins, a twinkle in his blue eyes. He hands me one of the flutes. Something about him is so familiar, but I can’t place how I know him.
“You must be Kate.”
I blink up at him, accepting the drink. My stomach flutters when I realize Luke might have told him about me.
“I am. And you are?”
He extends a hand. “Henrik Cavalry.”
My bloodstream freezes. He’s the fourth man in the photo.
“Are you a friend of the bride or the groom?” I force out, trying to act casual.
“Both, you could say. I was in the Navy with Garrison and Luke. I’ve known Fallon for years.”
I finally spot Luke’s broad shoulders at a corner bar, three glamorous women surrounding him. I swallow over a lump in my throat.
