”My veil,” she mouthed.
“Oh.” Feeling stupid I quickly pulled the veil back from her face and froze.
Pure joy met my gaze.
Stunned, I continued to stare, my hands trembling.
“You… uh, you can put it down now.” She winked.
I’d prepared myself for her smile.
But I hadn’t prepared myself for her eyes, for their inviting warmth, for the adoration I didn’t deserve.
She looked at me like I was her hero.
And for one brief moment I wanted more than anything to storm the castle, rescue the girl, and ride off into the sunset.
“Shit,” I muttered, releasing the veil and turning toward the minister.
“Romantic.” She elbowed me in the ribs.
I would not smile.
I would not fall.
I would not, could not allow it… I just couldn’t.
I told my body to stay straight; I told my head not to turn to the side; I told myself not to lean in and smell her.
But no matter what I told myself…
I didn’t listen.
She smelled like lilacs; her skin was perfection; her laugh was warmth.
And I was screwed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Andi
THE CEREMONY WASN’T MY DREAM COME true. I’d be lying if I said it was.
But it was… interesting. Especially during that brief half-second when Sergio had actually looked at me like I was pretty — like I was desirable — like he wanted to be there.
The moment quickly dissipated.
Replaced by the word shit and the sinking feeling he was referring to the fact he was about ready to commit his life to me.
I tried to keep the smile on my face during the reception. And to my utter delight, I had two different flavors of cake; meaning, I was going to kiss Mo on the mouth next time I saw her.
But now… everyone was gone.
And I was exhausted.
My body wasn’t what it once was, and I hated acknowledging the fact that I couldn’t just stay up all night and party with my new family.
I couldn’t even keep my eyes open.
One minute I’d been sipping champagne and leaning heavily on the table. The next I’d felt strong arms lift me up and carry me to bed.
I thought it had been Tex or one of the guys. I mean, all of them were basically muscular bad asses in their own right, so it would be easy for me to confuse which chest was which.
But the smell.
The smell of expensive cologne tipped me off.
Sergio, with all his anger issues, always had a tell. He wore Versace and he had a weakness for expensive everything.
I’d never been the type of girl to like cologne. It seemed overpowering and fake. It reminded me of stuffy overweight men in suits, smoking cigars and talking about crime.
But on Sergio?
Well, let’s just say I had a brief fantasy where we starred in our very own cologne commercial, jet-setting across the world in fast cars and yachts.
Oh, and my bathing suit was black and awesome.
And I wasn’t sick.
I was healthy and swimming in the ocean.
Damn. I missed the ocean.
I blinked against the darkness blanketing the room and held tight to Sergio as he slowly lowered me to the mattress.
My teeth chattered, not because I was cold, but because I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would he try anything with me? Or would the idea actually repulse him?
I tucked my knees up or at least tried to, but Sergio jerked my legs back down.
“What?” I tried to get up on my elbows but was too weak.
“Lie down, Andi. Sleep.”
“But you—”
“Sleep,” he said in a gruff voice as he removed my shoes then very slowly turned me on my side and began unzipping my dress.
“Are you—”
“Going to take advantage of a sick tired girl?” He finished. “No, Andi. I’m not that guy.”
“Bummer,” I joked.
I could have sworn I heard him laugh; then again, I was teetering on the edge of passing out from exhaustion. So, in my weakened state, I probably thought Ryan Gosling was taking his place.
The cool air bit at my skin as he slowly pulled it down over my feet. I shivered and reached for the blankets, but was once again lifted into the air.
“Warning, next time a warning,” I gasped as my cold skin met his heat.
For a second his eyes met mine. It felt important, that moment, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how.
I blinked. I had to. I mean, people blinked in real life. But, because I blinked, we broke eye contact. And the moment disappeared like it hadn’t happened in the first place.
He carefully set me in between the satin sheets and pulled the down comforter over me.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“Here.” He set a brand new cell phone on the nightstand. “Text me if you need anything…”
“Are you leaving?”
“I’m going to go… downstairs,” he said in a hard voice. “Don’t text me unless you’re dying.”
“Ha ha.” I yawned. “Not yet, Sergio. You’re not that lucky.”
“No…” he said in a low voice. “I’m really not.”
Something told me we weren’t talking about my death anymore, but I couldn’t stay awake any longer. I succumbed to sleep and dreamed of my faceless knight with dark hair.
At least in my dreams.
He was real.
CHAPTER NINE
Sergio
I SAT AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, tapping my fingers against the tumbler full of whiskey, irritated that my thoughts kept straying to the girl upstairs lying in my bed.