Page 84 of Theirs to Tempt: The Marriage Claim

“Your mother asked me to give you this.”

The small velvet box is familiar. I know what is inside before he opens it. My grandmother’s sapphire necklace. The one her father gave her on her wedding day.

“Oh.”

Emotion rushes into my throat. Dad removes it carefully. I turn, lifting my veil enough for him to reach the clasp. His fingers tremble slightly against the back of my neck.

“There,” he says when it is fastened.

I touch the sapphire resting against my skin. In the reflection of the darkened window, I see the two of us. Father and daughter. For one moment, that is all we are.

Then Mrs. Henderson knocks once before reentering. “It’s time.”

Dad swallows.

For a moment, neither of us moves. Then he offers me his arm, and I take a deep breath.

Once, I imagined this differently. My father walking me toward a man I loved, my mother watching from the front row, all while I believed the future was something beautiful and uncomplicated.

Instead, he is walking me toward the consequences of a choice he can never take back.

I slip my hand through his arm.

His shoulders rise with a shaky breath.

“I love you, Peanut.”

My eyes sting. “I love you too, Dad.”

This still isn’t forgiveness, and I think he knows that.

Piper comes back to me. She straightens something at my shoulder that does not need straightening. “I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”

Her hands close around mine, and she squeezes reassuringly.

Mrs. Henderson touches her earpiece and nods.

My steps are uncertain as Dad and I walk together toward the atrium.

At the final set of doors, the music changes, and our few guests rise.

The Sterling Rooftop Atrium spreads beyond them, softened by greenery and thousands of fairy lights glowing against the gathering dusk. Beyond the glass, Houston stretches in every direction.

I see my mother’s apparition near the front.

Then Caleb.

And beside him, Lucian.

My breath catches.

He is utterly still in his tailored black tuxedo, his midnight-blue eyes fixed on me.

Dad and I begin to walk.

One step. Then another.

Every moment, Lucian becomes more sharply defined while the rest of the room fades. My heart pounds so hard it drowns out the music.