A Very Exclusive Engagement(47)

He hoped that was all she was up to. He knew for a fact that Hayden and his fiancée, Lucy Royall, were already inside. Lucy was Graham Boyle’s stepdaughter and there was some bad blood between her and Angelica. With any luck, they would sit far apart and not cross paths the whole evening. But he wasn’t feeling very lucky today.

That’s when he saw her. “Angelica,” he said with a smile, accepting the hug she offered. “So good to see you.” He wanted to keep this evening together, so he wasn’t about to let on that she was an unwelcome party crasher.

Angelica seemed very pleased by the warm welcome. She’d certainly dressed up for the occasion, looking radiant even, if not a touch heavier than she had been a few weeks ago. Her face was rounder and her purple dress was a bit snug. The stress of Hayden’s investigation must have been catching up with her.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I just love weddings. And my boss’s wedding is an especially important event. I wish you both great happiness together.”

Liam smiled and thanked her, turning to the next guests approaching. It was his rival network’s former star, Max Gray and his new bride, Cara. They’d been married in March and had just come back from their extended honeymoon in Australia. The two of them were practically beaming with love for each other, and Cara’s dress showed the gentle swell of her pregnancy. She had started doing public relations for D.C. Affairs since leaving the White House, but he could tell that motherhood was her true calling. She was just glowing.

As they approached the door, they both stopped to watch Angelica go inside. Max’s jaw dropped, his eyes widening. His field research had helped uncover the hacking scandal back in January. “What is she doing here?” he asked.

Liam shrugged. “Trying to make friends, I suppose. Did you two have a nice trip?”

“Amazing,” Cara said. “We slept in late, ate great food, did some sightseeing. It was wonderful. Where are you and Francesca going on your honeymoon?”

That was a good question. “We don’t have anything planned yet. Things moved so fast and work has been so busy, we haven’t had a chance. We’re hoping things will slow down soon and we’ll have the opportunity to get away. Sounds like a trip to Australia is a great choice. I’ll have to talk to you two about it more later.”

Max and Cara went to their seats and the last few arriving guests followed them. Liam straightened his tie and took a deep breath as he saw Scarlet and another man in a suit heading toward him with determination and purpose.

“Okay, showtime. This is your officiant, Reverend Templeton. He will go down the aisle first, then you. We’ll seat the parents, and then the bride will come down the aisle with her father. Are you ready, Liam?”

That was another good question. He was ready as he was ever going to be for a corporate, shotgun marriage of convenience. The only thing that made him feel better was that he’d get to spend the next year with a sexy spitfire who made his blood boil with passion and excitement.

“I am.”

*

Francesca sat still as stone at her dressing table, letting her mother pin the large, white gardenia in her hair. Looking at herself in the mirror, she was the perfect image of a beautiful bride on her big day. Her shiny, black hair was twisted up into an intricate updo, the gardenia pinned just to the side. Her makeup was airbrushed and flawless. She’d found the perfect gown in her size without much trouble. Even with such a time crunch, everything had worked out just as it should. It was as though this wedding was meant to be.

Only it wasn’t.

Her persistent stomachache had kept her from eating too much at breakfast or lunch. She had a plate of fruit and crackers beside her that she would pick at from time to time, but it just made the feeling worse.

Not even a saltine cracker could cure the ache of impending doom. This wedding was a mistake. She knew it. But the part of her that loved Liam and cared for ANS and its employees was overpowering her common sense.

She took one last look at herself in the mirror and inhaled a deep breath to pull herself together. Now was not the time to fall apart. Not while her parents’ concerned eyes were watching her.

Since her father had come in, he’d been sitting in the corner, scowling in his tuxedo. Honestly, he’d had the same look on his face since she had met them at the hotel the day before. There had been a moment when he first saw her in her gown that his expression had softened and tears came to his eyes, but it hadn’t lasted long.