The chapel was quiet, all those present ready to see the happy couple wed. At the front, holding tightly onto Roman's hands, Rebekah turned her face slightly, her worried eyes meeting mine.
So she had seen me.
She expected me to cause a scene.
She expected me to fight for Roman.
She expected me to give a shit.
I didn't.
I didn't move. I didn't breathe.
When she convinced herself I wasn't going to sabotage her wedding, she turned back to her soon-to-be husband and exhaled heavily.
So, she had a brief moment of fear about losing the one she loved. Of being humiliated.
And I felt a perverse sense of satisfaction.
Hawk squeezed my hand and placed it high on his thigh as the I-dos took place.
Ignoring the minister, I turned to Hawk. While his eyes were focused ahead, he was smirking.
"Yes?" he asked.
"You confuse me, you know that?"
Hawk focused his gaze on me, the five-day growth on his face making him irresistible. "As long as it's in a good way, I'll take it." He turned back to watch the wedding.
I shook my head, stifling a laugh. "You're so cocky."
"Your cocky fiancé, to be precise."
"Fake cocky fiancé," I corrected.
This time, Hawk turned his intensity toward me, leaning down so our lips sat only an inch apart.
"Should we make it official?"
His words stunned me into silence. All I could do was blink. Hawk followed his proposition with his sexy as fuck wink and a quick peck on my lips.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the minister announced jubilantly.
The congregation clapped for the newlyweds as Roman lifted his wife's veil and kissed her deeply. A few wolf whistles followed from some of Roman's college friends, but all I could do was stare, too caught up in Hawk's loose words.
Perhaps he was only joking.
Perhaps he said those things to lighten the mood, to take my mind off everything.
Everyone stood, and the happy cheating couple worked their way down the aisle, stopping to kiss and hug those closest to them. I prayed they didn't stop at the last row where everyone in the chapel would turn and stare, watching the interaction. Fortunately, after they made it about halfway down the aisle, they hot-footed it the rest of the way, bypassing without so much as a glance.
Hawk had been holding my hand the whole time, and as the flower girls threw pale pink petals over the couple, all I could think about was the man next to me.
"Shall we, fiancée," he teased me as we fell into step behind the last few guests making their way out into the bright sunshine.
As I took to the last step, Roman's father spotted me and offered a wave and a smile over the heads of the other guests. I waved back, genuinely always having liked the man. Janice noticed with a double take, and placed her hand on his forearm and led him in the opposite direction. She still was a damn dragon. Seemed not much had changed.
She suddenly became the least of my worries.
"Hawk..." I started, gripping his arm. "People are staring."
Looking around, I noticed it wasn't me they were focused on. It was Hawk. The women seemed to maul him with their eyes. The men looked on with envy. Turning to gaze at him, I could see why. Dressed in all black with his tie the only splash of color, he looked like he just stepped out of a photoshoot. His chiseled jaw, broad shoulders and brooding eyes all could make the most stoic of people wet between the legs. That included Ms. Redhead, who while holding Rebekah's bouquet, was all eyes for Hawk. Something about her expression unnerved me.
How was she suddenly appearing everywhere we went?
"Let them stare," he said, breaking my thoughts. Proudly taking my hand, he led me out of the church and across the lawn to the reception and to our assigned seats, where I soon forgot about the mystery woman. I had to admit, they'd chosen well. Eight round tables coated in fine linen and adorned with glistening cutlery and sparkling wine glasses, sat perched on the lush green lawn overlooking the vineyard. It was a glorious day with the sun burning bright, but nothing compared to the burning intensity of Hawk's stare.
I met his gaze, and I felt the overwhelming urge to straddle and taste him once more.
Perhaps there was at least one good thing that came out of attending the cheaters' wedding.
"Please welcome to the floor for their first dance as husband and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Hopheart," the MC announced as everyone finished their meals. A gentle applause sounded as Roman and Rebekah walked hand in hand to the center dance floor.
"They're such a beautiful couple, aren't they?" Bethal, the eighty-year-old woman next to me asked. She was sweet, just like my grandmother.
"Yes," I nodded, maintaining my manners.
She shuffled a bit closer, excited for conversation. "How do you know the lovely couple, dear?"
"Oh... well..." I started, failing to create a lie. I sucked at lying. "Roman's my ex-fiancé, and Rebekah was my best friend."
"Oh," she said, her brain working the words like a riddle. Bethal's beaming smile started to fade, her eyes flicking between the two dancing. "I'm sorry, dear."
"It's fine. It wasn't meant to be."
As if having an epiphany, Bethal cheered up. "That's right, dear. I'm on my fourth." She nodded to the elderly gentleman next to her who hadn't heard a word.
"Sorry to interrupt," Hawk said, leaning across so Bethal could hear. "Do you mind if I steal my beautiful fiancée for a dance."
This time, Bethal's eyes lit up like a disco ball, and she even managed a blush before turning to me. "Ohh... you are a lucky girl. If you don't want him, I could do with husband number five."
Both Hawk and I laughed as he took my hand. Other couples were starting to make their way to the floor but when we arrived, it was just Roman and Rebekah and me and Hawk. Roman turned, catching my eye before his gaze fell to my dance partner. He looked Hawk up and down, and I would have given anything to know his thoughts. Hawk pulled me against his body, one hand holding mine, the other around my waist. I was immediately lost in his world, his cologne intoxicating me. Being pressed against his hard body in such an intimate setting had me almost delirious. He moved with such elegance, yet he dominated the space.
"You're a good dancer," I said, loving the feel of his stubbly cheek against mine.
"I'm good at a lot of things, Britta."
There was an instant pang between my legs, and I wanted to know about all these other things. In detail.
"Excuse me," a feminine voice interrupted my naughty thoughts.
Reluctantly, I pulled my face away from Hawk to see Ms. Redhead, looking perfect in her elegant bridesmaid's gown and flawless makeup. Her round eyes were only for Hawk.
"Mind if I cut in?" she continued.
Hawk pulled me in tighter, a frown marring his face. "Yes, I do," was all he said to the surprised woman before turning us away. I managed to catch a glimpse of her jutted jaw, her eyes moving side to side to those who may have witnessed the rejection. Turning on her heel, her long loose hair flowed behind her as the redhead stormed off into the crowd.
"What... who is she?" I finally managed.
Hawk's eyes diverted to mine and narrowed in on something behind me. "If you want to run, you better do it fast."
"Huh?"
"Britta..." I heard my name from that familiar voice. Hawk stopped dancing and together we faced the wedded couple, him behind me, hands resting protectively on my hips.
"Hi," I barely managed, feeling the awkwardness. I looked between them, to their locked hands and to the smiles on their faces.
Rebekah observed Hawk and me exactly the same. Roman, however, studied Hawk and barely looked at me.
Rebekah's smile appeared genuine, and the fondness I had toward her growing up started to return. Until I remembered her betrayal.
The smiling assassin was an apt description.
"I didn't think you would come," she started in a cheery voice. "I mean, Roman told me you were, but I had doubts as to whether you would."
"Were you hoping I wouldn't?" I asked her, not that I expected her to be honest.
She shook her head.
"No, that's absolutely not the case." Her face softened. "I would have had you up front with me. I mean, that was our plan growing up."
The fact she said that startled me, but I didn't let it show.
Why on God's earth would I want to be a part of the bridal party after she rolled in the hay with my fiancé?
Had she been smoking some wacky-weed prior to getting married?
Realizing her error, she quickly changed tack. "But I see you're engaged."
"Yes." I managed a smile to look half-convincing.
"Well..." she practically squealed, "... show me." Rebekah reached for my hand and studied the ring. "Oh, Britta! It's gorgeous." Then she turned to Hawk. "You did well picking this out. This is exactly Britta's style."
"It's actually Hawk's grandmother's ring," I said, and he squeezed my hips affectionately.
"Well, good taste all around."
"Congratulations, man," Roman spoke up for the first time. He reached out and shook Hawk's hand. "When Britta told me, I didn't think it was true." He laughed, and I wanted to kick him in the shins until I remembered it's not actually true.
"Why wouldn't you think it true?" Hawk asked, playing dumb for the sake of the charade.