No sooner had I gone through the door than Pam grabbed me by the arm. She greeted me with all the gusto she might have greeted an old friend. Since she was the only woman I was acquainted with, I grabbed hold and didn’t let go. We chatted, and she introduced me to other wives of board directors. I was the youngest one in this little conversational group, but they asked me questions about my job and talked about their weekend at Brightwater. Pam recounted our fishing trip that morning, and one of the other women sympathized with us having to go fishing with our men.
My man. Colin was nothing of mine. He never had been, and now he never would be.
“If you weren’t with Colin, I’d tell you to keep your eye on that one,” Pam whispered to me, motioning with her glass toward the far side of the room. Blake was talking to a group of people, but he made no secret of glancing at me at any chance he got.
“He said he’s a Gordon family friend?” If anyone was going to give me the gossip, it would be Pam.
“He used to play baseball with Landon until Landon got hurt. Then Blake’s contract wasn’t renewed, and he wasn’t picked up by another team. He’s gotten into real estate deals…something like that, he told my husband. He has to make his money somehow now that he’s in debt in the millions.”
They made an announcement that we were all to go into the sunroom for the ceremony. I joined the group that was filing in, but something made me turn around. I nearly tripped over theperson in front of me when I saw who was walking through the main hall on Landon’s arm.
Margaret Flame.
The royal blue dress that clung to her every curve was the least distinctive thing about her. She looked more glamorous than I’d ever seen her until I looked at her expression. She hadn’t seen me yet. Her eyes looked dull, but grew more alert when they landed on me.
A part of me ached for her. Another part burned with embarrassment. Grant and I had actually believed we were able to fix whatever mess she was in. Whatever she was tangled in, it was not something I could save her from. I could barely keep my own life straight.
And I wasn't even sure she wanted to be saved.
She was a few feet away from me, and there was no escaping the next awkward moment.
“Hello, Kate. I’m surprised to see you here,” she said. It was obvious that Landon hadn’t told her about Colin and me dating.
Well, weusedto date. More like he waspretendingto date me.
I decided Landon could inform her if he cared to. “I’m surprised to see you, too, Maggie. Though I did meet your father last night.”
Landon jumped in, “Kate came with Colin.”
There was no way Maggie’s eyes could have grown wider. “Well, that’s interesting. I had no idea.”
“And the two of you?” I asked, hoping I’d get confirmation of what their relationship status was. Seeing as Maggie was attending the wedding and was now being led by the arm by Landon, it wasn’t too far a leap for anyone to assume they might be together.
“Old family friends,” Maggie said quickly with a smile I’d seen on a business magazine cover before. The arm she’d looped through Landon’s suddenly dropped to her side.
“Nice,” I said.Lots of old family friends are here tonight.
“Nice,” Landon echoed. “We should get in there.”
I nodded and walked inside. There were a few seats left, and I was about to snag one in the back when a hand was on my back.
“Come sit beside me,” Colin commanded in a low voice. His breath tickled my ear, and I shivered.
Of course, I wasn’t going to make a scene at his brother’s wedding, and I followed him to the front where we sat in the first row. I suppose Colin didn’t want the world to guess we weren’t on speaking terms.
As I sat down, I noticed we were sitting directly in front of the handsome stranger, Blake. He gave me a self-assured smile and a wink.
I sat down fast.Was he hitting on me?
Colin was stiff as a board next to me during the entire ceremony. Like he’d shut down that last vulnerable part of himself. I jumped, as did almost everyone else, when a loud crack of thunder overpowered the officiant as he was asking Haley to repeat the vows. But Colin didn’t flinch.
When it was over, the newlywed couple walked out into the main hall. Everyone was clapping, and Blake came over to the front row straightaway.
“I was wondering, Kate, if you’d like to come have a drink with me,” Blake said. He looked from me to Colin and back at me. As far as I could tell, Colin hadn’t greeted or made eye contact with him. I wondered what was going on between them.
“I’d love to,” I said, linking my arm in Blake’s—not because I wanted to but because a petty, wounded part of me wanted Colin to feel even a fraction of how awful I felt.
Finally, Colin looked my way. His usual steadfastness broke at that moment, and his nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath, his chest and shoulders expanding. I didn’t have long to examine this new look for Colin because Blake ushered me toward the bar.
