The wedding started on time.Dallas and I had barely made it before the processional. As a result, we had to sit toward the back of the church. Which was good, because I was too far away for my mother to send me death glares for being late. I glanced toward the front of the sanctuary at Aiden, standing with his head held high and a wide grin on his face. He looked good, happy.
The bridesmaids were escorted down the aisle to music I didn’t recognize. Then, the bride appeared. Dressed in all white, with no skin showing whatsoever, she slowly walked toward her groom.
“She’s pretty,” Dallas whispered.
“Yeah,” I murmured.
“That dress, though.”
I snickered. “Tell me about it. I wonder why they pushed the wedding back?” The original wedding had been scheduled for last June, but they’d moved it to January. “It’s cold as hell outside.”Oops. I’d just cursed in church.
“Mom said it had something to do with honoring his grandmother by having the wedding on her birthday.”
“Oh,” I grumbled. My mood hadn’t improved at all, even after the pancakes and bacon I’d scarfed down on the way to the church.
Dallas gave me sidelong glance. “What’s wrong with you?”
Staring at Aiden, I sighed. “He looks so handsome.”
“You’re surprised?”
Shrugging, I said, “Yeah, actually. I molded him. I dressed him.Itaught him how to be fine. None of that worked while I was with him, but I can see it’s paying off nicely. Now that he’s a rock star, he’s giving all my hard work to some other chick.”Some other nice chick. “This could’ve been my wedding.” Dallas snorted, and I elbowed her. “Shut up.”
“You broke up withhim, Blake—for good reasons. You did the thing you tell so many women to do on a daily basis. You recognized something wasn’t right, and no matter how you felt about him, you knew it was best to walk away.”
I hated when Dallas was right, because she never let anyone live it down. “I know, but still…” I didn’t even want Aiden anymore. I had no idea why I was feeling this way, why everything in my life seemed so out of place that I was ogling the groom I could’ve had but didn’t want. “He’s going to be a good husband, that’s all,” I added lamely.
Dallas pressed the back of her hand to my forehead. “What have you done with my sister? What is with this life ennui?”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I should probably drink all the cognac tonight,” I mused, ignoring her question. “It’s been long enough.” Some church mother shushed me, and I smiled at her. Once she turned around, I rolled my eyes. “Let’s get out of here.”
“We can’t leave,” Dallas said.
I scanned the crowd. I recognized a few faces, several I hadn’t seen in years, some I didn’t care to see again ever. On the left side of the church—the bride’s side—I checked out several of the guests. Some of them looked familiar as well, but… “Oh, shit.”
Dallas pinched my knee, and the three older women in front of me turned around and glared at me.
Sinking in my seat, I murmured, “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“Forgive her, Lord,” Dallas whispered. “She’s not herself today. And forgiveme, Lord, for not sitting with my good sister, Bliss.”
Embarrassed, I tried to focus on the ceremony. But I couldn’t help but look over at the other side of the church again, locking eyes with a smirking Lennox. I swallowed, letting out a slow breath. Talk about fine as hell. Raven was right when she’d told me his professor pic didn’t do him justice. Because that smile…Damn. If I hadn’t been handcuffed when I saw him, I might’ve been tempted to do something about it. Like invite him over and end my drought. Oh, yes, I was definitely attracted to Mr. Cole. But there was something else too. The way he talked to me, the way he looked at me, the way he was. Fine, but notjustfine. Smart, but notjustsmart. Sexy, but notjustsexy. The whole package.Or I could just be horny.
I met his waiting gaze again and forced a smile. What was he doing here?Please don’t let him be related to Aiden in any way. That would be tragic. He was sitting on the bride’s side, though, so…
Dallas raised a brow. “Are you okay?”
“That’s him.”
“Who?” She searched the sanctuary. “I don’t see anyone.”
“Lennox.”
Frowning, she said, “Lennox?”
“Professor Cole,” I whisper-yelled, once again drawing the ire of the women in front of me.Sorry,I mouthed. “Third row from the back, seated on the aisle,” I told Dallas.
It took a few seconds, but I knew the exact moment my sister spotted Lennox, because she whispered, “Oh, damn.” She cleared her throat. “Um… Fine danamug, Sissy. I might have to introduce myself.”
