Without a Hitch(46)

Pulling on all my reserves, I flash him what I hope is a fetching smile and hold out my hand.

“Actually, I can’t commit until I’ve gone to the restroom and grabbed my purse from the bridal suite downstairs. I also need to check in with work to see where I’m heading tomorrow.”

He stands with a skeptical expression but places his hand in mine. My heart clenches, knowing this will be the last time we touch.

“What do you do for work, my sweet Pepper?”

“I’m an assistant.” With a parting glance around the room, we shut the door, he locks it, then he leads me down the stairs and back to the party. “I’m going to grab my stuff.”

“I’m not going to see you again, am I?” His voice is quiet. Almost strangled. Is he feeling this same sadness? The loss?

The plastic smile melts from my face, and the lump in my throat bobbles with the effort of words.

“No,” I say softly with a quiver I can’t hide. “But the memory will be magical.”

He swoops down and kisses me gently. Once, twice, three times before I pull away and run to the safety of the bridal suite.





C HAPTE R 1 6

LOCHLAN

“A ngie!” I bellow. My voice is scratchy with a hoarseness that comes from being pissed off at the world.

“Lochlan, I swear to the lord above that I'll quit, right here and now, if you yell for me like that again.” Angie’s voice cuts through the intercom. “What do you need? And if you’re going to complain about a certain blog post, you can forget it. You know The Firethorne is not even in the same league as Bryer-Blaine and that they deserved every word that was written.”

She’s right about the blog post, but I couldn’t give a flying fuck about it today.

It’s been three weeks since I walked away from Pepper, and every intelligent bit of my brain tells me it’s for the best. She lives in a fantasyland where weddings are magical and the key to all her happiness. Even if I am a bastard, I can’t ruin that for her. It doesn’t keep me from obsessing over her though. Every goddamn minute of the day.

It also doesn’t help that Ross refuses to meet with me without her by my side.

My office door crashes open, and Nova floats into the room. She smirks, and I cut her off before she can pull any of her little sister teasing bullshit.

“I’m not in the mood.”

Her grin grows wider. She often reminds me of the woodland fairies she used to adore as a young girl, and if ever there were a time I thought she’d throw pixie dust at me, it’s now. The mischievous gleam in her eyes is unsettling, but I rise from my chair and greet her properly.

“What can I do for you, Nova?” She’s the only one I always keep my temper in check for, even when she’s trying to push me out of my comfort zone. Shove me kicking and screaming is probably more accurate. So, when I lean in to kiss her cheek, I’m not even all that surprised when she attempts to give me a titty twister.

“Jesus, Nova. What the bloody hell?”

“Angie, your temporary assistant, just told me you’ve gone through six replacement assistants in three weeks. Seven, by the look of the girl sitting beside her out there.”

“What can I do for you, Nova?” I repeat, though my tone is growing icy against my will.

She burrows into my chest, wrapping me in an embrace that makes me go stiff with worry. “Are you okay?” I ask, attempting to pull her from my body.

“Geez, Lochness, I’m fine. I just thought you could use a hug.” Sometimes I swear she should have been born into my friend Colton’s family. I’m confident that he is the only one on the planet who hugs more than my sister.

I pat her head uncomfortably. “Why would I need a hug, Nono?” Her childhood nickname always slips when she appears vulnerable.

“Because you’re sad, and you’re taking it out on everyone like an asshole.”

Now I do push her away. “I’m not sad,” I mutter, putting some space between us by returning to my desk. She flops sideways into the chair opposite me, her legs swinging over the armrest.

“You are sad. What’s going on with Abby?” Her eyebrows raise, and her dimples cause her entire face to light up.

“Nothing.”

I shake the mouse on my desk to wake up my computer and am glad the screen faces away from her. I quickly close out of one wedding website after another.

“You know what’s funny about dreary days in New York?”

I don’t like that tone.

“What?” I almost shout, but because she’s Nova, my pain in the ass little sister, it only comes out slightly irritated.

“It causes the windows behind you to become reflective.” She laughs. She giggles so hard she snorts, then laughs harder. “How’s The Knot treating you these days? Lots of research for weddings you don’t allow in your hotels?”

“Our hotels,” I grumble as I click out of The Wedding Wire website with lightning speed.

“Your hotels,” she counters. “Tell me again why nothing is going on between you and Abby?”

“It was a one-or two-night thing. That’s it.”

“So, you wouldn’t want to get in touch with her then?” She messes with her nails like she’s bored, and my jaw clicks with the effort to remain calm.