He nodded. “It makes sense. Although, I’m thinking you just want people to think you’re worthy of applause. Bravo!”
She shook her head. “There’s my partner.”
He gave her a half shrug.
“Hey,” she turned back to face the mirror as the makeup artist reframed her face with loose wisps of hair, “is Harmony here with you?”
Crois couldn’t help the smile that warmed up his whole face. “I ordered her a car to pick her up at the apartment. I didn’t want her to sit out in front of the church until we start seating.”
Pilar’s smile widened. “Damn, you’ve got this, don’t you?”
Crois sat back against the chair. “I’m trying. I’m really trying.”
“You put your efforts in the right place. She’ll see it, Crois.” She blinked and he worried that she might tear up. “She’llfeelit.”
A knock at the bridal suite door turned their heads.
Pilar’s mother smiled. “That’s the photographer.”
The makeup artist leaned in to check her makeup. “You’re beautiful.”
Crois nodded as he gazed as his partner. “Perfect, Pilar. You’re incandescent.”
“Sweet talker.”
“Only the truth, partner. Only the truth.”
HARMONY
It was something, she realized.
The man who looked ah-mazing in a tux a few hours before looked like he’d walked straight out of a bridal magazine as he stood up at the front of the church with his CCPD Partner.
Now, Doctor Ashley, Pilar’s soon-to-be husband, looked handsome in his tux, but the man who she was staring at, the man who she couldn’t wait to touch and hold, was standing there holding the bride’s bouquet as she exchanged her vows and rings with the handsome trauma surgeon from Cole Medical’s Emergency Room.
Crois’ hair was wavy normally, but whatever he’d done to his hair for the wedding make it look like the ends were curled and slick.
It was an image she never wanted to forget.
When the couple was reciting their vows, the groom told his bride, “I know that this world guarantees us nothing. We both see some of the best and worst of humanity every day, but I do know one thing. I love you. I will always stand by you. Always.”
His words touched Harmony and a subtle movement turned her head.
She saw Crois turn his head to look at her and he met her gaze with his own.
He looked at her and mouthed the word, ‘Always.’
Harmony pressed her lips together in a smile wondering if anyone the had seen that, but she knew that everyone was watching the bride and groom.
She felt her whole body warm from the intimate exchange.
Even in a packed cathedral, she felt like they were the only two in the room, in that moment.
Wow.
Could life really be like this?
CROIS
