My girl’s eyes misted, and she hugged Hugh, who looked like he needed it. Luckily, he didn’t hold on too long or our just-found peace would have been at an end. I was a jealous bastard.
“A wedding, huh?” he asked again. We both nodded. “I’ll be there. And Chloe, I expect to see you at work tomorrow. We have a lot to do.”
She grinned and I clasped his hands. “I hope you find someone. It’s the best thing that’s happened to me.”
He gazed at me wistfully. “About that, I have a favor to ask.”
Wedding Day – Chloe
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Molly said.
No matter what went wrong between us, I couldn’t imagine this day without my best friend.
“Me either. I know it’s fast, but Ryan didn’t want to wait,” I said. “I’m just so glad you agreed to be my maid of honor.”
She fanned her face. “You are so going to make me cry. I’m glad you forgave me for what happened.”
I waved the matter away. “It’s water under the bridge. I get it now. You found love in the most unexpected place and he’s not that bad.”
She turned away and wiped at her eyes.
“What is it?” I asked. “You haven’t talked to him yet, have you?”
She shook her head. “This is your day. We can talk about my problems another time.”
We would. Hugh had a plan and if she didn’t talk to him soon, I would help put it in action. I smoothed the dress I’d chosen before walking to her. The brand-new custom gown had a vintage style. I’d thought I’d want the full bridal gown, but the ivory floral lace form-fitting dress with an extended sweeping train had had me in love as soon as I’d seen it. I felt like a princess in it and that was all that mattered.
“You’re going to make me cry and mess up my makeup if you don’t tell me what’s going on,” I said.
She sat in the simple blush-pink V-neck dress she’d picked out. “I don’t want to see Hugh today, but I have no choice. He’s Ryan’s cousin. My only solace is I’ll be walking with Ian down the aisle.”
I arched a brow. The two had hit it off at our small pre-wedding dinner. I’d been so focused on playing hostess, I hadn’t noticed that she and Hugh hadn’t gotten along.
I sat beside her. “I’m sorry. What happened?”
She shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll tell you the sordid details when you get back from your honeymoon. Hugh’s not the man I thought he was.”
Hugh was trying to be better, but whatever was going on between them had to wait as there was a knock at the door. My mom opened it. “Honey, it’s time.”
I nodded, but before getting up, I hugged Molly. “Are you sure you don’t want to give him a chance?”
She shook her head. “I know you two are partners now and that’s great. But if I saw the man a million days from now, it would be too soon.”
I wanted to ask more, but Mom hovered waiting.
“We will talk about this tomorrow. Our plane doesn’t leave until the afternoon. There is no way I can wait two weeks to hear what happened.”
She gave me a small smile. “Sure.” Her grin widened. “Now let’s go get you married.”
We stood and got in our places at the grand church. It was packed with friends, family, and business associates, something I’d have to get used to. Marrying a powerful man came with a few drawbacks. The small wedding I’d dreamed of had grown large.
But when the doors opened and I caught the gaze of my one true love, my worries about the wedding and Molly’s future disappeared.
He was glorious in a classic tux. The man was GQ-worthy, but he only had eyes for me. I brushed a hand over my belly, thinking of our child growing inside me. Quickly I two-handed the bouquet as the crowd turned. Everything had happened so quickly, but it felt right. Ryan had ignored his lawyers and hadn’t made me sign a prenuptial agreement, which only made me trust his love that much more.
Sometimes it didn’t take years to know the man in front of you was the one. Because Ryan was it for me, for better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness or in health. No matter what we had, I was still the luckiest woman alive.