Without a Hitch(17)

“Why did the lineup change?” Olivia whines as she steps in front of me.

I lean in so only she can hear me. “So I can keep an eye on you.” I pull my phone from my bouquet and wave it in front of her. “It’s on silent, but it’s set to live-stream at a click of a button. I sure hope no one ends up as a blooper or a meme.”

Olivia’s eyes rage as she tosses her hair over her shoulder. The fear of strangers judging her works to keep her from making any snarky remarks.

The doors open, and Jess starts the processional, followed by Amy, Audra, and then Olivia, who stops after only a few steps. I keep walking until I’m beside her and flash my phone as I hook arms with her.

“Move your ass,” I hiss through a plastic smile. Shrugging to the guests on either side, I say, “Nerves. Gets the best of us sometimes.” Sensing Melinda behind me, I drag Oliva the rest of the way.

When we get into place at the end of the aisle, I scan the room, frantically searching for Jacob. My shoulders relax when I don’t spot him, but my body heats uncomfortably when I make eye contact with a sexy stranger near the back.

His piercing blue gaze stays locked on mine and doesn’t even flinch when I catch him staring.

Ever so slightly, I raise my brow in challenge just as the string quartet starts the bridal march. I watch in amusement as he rises from his chair but doesn’t turn to see the bride like everyone else. No, this guy openly examines every inch of me with the faintest hint of a smirk on his very kissable lips.

It’s like he can only see me. The thought makes my palms sweaty, but I tear my gaze away when I feel Olivia sway beside me. As inconspicuously as possible, I place my flowers on the floor behind me and take her arm.

When I’m sure she’s steady, I hiss through gritted teeth and a picture-perfect smile, “Don’t even think about pulling a fainting act right now. I will use every muscle in my body to keep you upright.”

She yanks her arm away from me. “Whatever. Don’t touch me,” she seethes loud enough for the people in the front row to hear. Jenna falters in the aisle, but I give her my broadest smile and flash a big, cheesy thumbs-up. “I’ve got this,” I mouth silently and am grateful that Jenna relaxes and continues on her way.

And I do have this. So help me, this wedding will go off without a hitch if it’s the last thing I do.

When Jenna stands at the altar with Tyler, my skin prickles with the uncomfortable sensation of being watched. My gaze involuntarily snaps to the audience. To him. He is studying me like a final exam, and I’m pretty sure I want to pass his test.





C HAPTE R 6

LOCHLAN

“T ell me again why I must go to this thing?” I bark at Angie, my sixty-two-year-old assistant.

She started out working for my mother, but I brought her to my team after my last four hires flirted with, alluded to, or flat-out propositioned me.

I’m still not recovered from Tom, the assistant who chained himself to my bed and live-streamed for over an hour before I was alerted. Unlike everyone else, Angie doesn’t take my shit, but she’s also made it clear that she’s a temp.

“Because, Mr. Blaine.” I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand to hide the grin her teasing causes but she continues without missing a beat. “You’ve been friends with Tyler since grade school.

You declined to be in the wedding party. The least you can do is attend with a smile on your face and a big fat check in your pocket.”

“Fine. Hold my calls for one hour only. I’ll be out of there before they cut the cake.”

Angie sighs but agrees. “Fine, Lochlan. You know, it wouldn’t hurt you to have a little fun.”

“I do have fun, Miss Angie. A bloody ton of fun.” I scoff. “Weddings are the exact opposite of fun.”

“Weddings are the perfect place to meet the love of your life.”

“Not happening. Love is a myth. An illusion. A fairy tale for disillusioned people searching for happiness in someone else. It isn’t real. Happiness doesn’t come from anyone but yourself or your bank account.” The very last thing I need is love. I’ve seen how it ends.

My parents divorced when I was eight. A few years later my father married Lila and adopted my stepsister, Nova. Lila was the love of his life, and he has never recovered from her death. My mother has chased love, evidenced by her seven failed marriages.

Seven! And she kept my father’s last name through each of them. She must have known they wouldn’t last, but she married them anyway. At least she saved herself some paperwork by remaining a Blaine.

Her last marriage set me on my current path though. Her marriage and mine. The connection between the two still makes acid rise high in my throat if I think about it too long.

Nova thinks I should be thankful that my parents have remained friends all this time. She wants me to be grateful that they’ve had dinner together nearly every Friday night since their divorce. Before Lila passed away, she would join them. My mother’s husbands were less involved, but whichever man she happened to be married to at the time would often tag along too.

It’s bloody strange as fuck.

“Someone’s going to kiss that bitter toad right out of you. In the meantime, Brittney will be starting on Monday.” I swear Angie’s taunting me.

“Brittney? Really?” I know I’m being a judgmental prick, but Brittney?