Her Accidental Husband(58)

She met his gaze, and he was confounded by the deep green depths, so alive and bright and luminous. Eyes that promised forever last night; he was near crazy enough right now to believe that she was looking at him in that same way now.

Like she was his.

Then she glanced away and passed Dominic to find her place in the line. Cruz’s heart was pounding so loud he thought his brother was going to look over at him in alarm but he didn’t. Cruz was relieved to see that everyone’s eyes were now trained at the start of the aisle, waiting for Kate.

Save for one.

Emily Vaughn’s gaze was on him, her eyes narrowed almost to slits, and he knew without any doubt that whatever emotions he felt for the woman’s daughter had been naked and exposed not just to Payton’s gaze—but to her mother’s. Heaven help him.

A bright and beaming Kate appeared next and the crowd came to their feet, eager for a better glimpse at the beautiful bride. He patted Dominic’s shoulder, but his brother barely noticed, his eyes only for one woman.

On notice from the glaring woman in the audience to keep his attention where it should be—on the bride and groom—Cruz turned to the justice of the peace who was officiating over the ceremony.

But it was hard. So hard. Because now on opposite sides of the row, both facing the couple in the center, he was hard-pressed not to stare into Payton’s pretty face. To take in his fill of the soft contours of her jawline, the curve of those deep red lips that he ached to taste again. Stare into those eyes that were staring back at him just as ferociously.

Damn. He should have kissed her in the elevator. Should have crushed her to him and finally been honest with her. Confessed to her that she aroused so many different needs and feelings in him that he was still trying to figure them all out. But that if she stayed by his side—in his arms…in his bed—they could figure things out together.

Dominic began to speak, to promise words of love to one woman, but it was Payton that Cruz was watching. His words from the previous night came flooding back to him. Promising to love her, honor her, stay true to her always and forever, promising himself only to her.

Dominic repeated those same words, and this time Cruz tore his gaze from Payton to stare at Kate, his almost sister-in-law. Kate stared in rapturous wonder at Dominic, her heart there for everyone to see.

What would it be like to have Payton standing before him again, sober, with that same look? To be standing where Dominic was, knowing this woman loved him so deeply and entirely, pushing away any doubts he might have that he was never going to be enough?

That she only wanted him, now and always?

Like the best thing that could ever happen to him.



Payton watched Dominic swear his love and devotion to her best friend, working hard the entire time to keep her gaze from meeting the man’s just behind him. The man who, when she’d come down the aisle just moments ago, had looked at her with those dark, haunting brown eyes, eyes that made her think for a minute he was waiting there for her.

Kate repeated the same vows and despite herself, Payton found tears slipping down her cheek. All too soon, the official proclaimed them husband and wife, and Dominic pulled Kate in for their first kiss, sending the audience into wild applause.#p#分页标题#e#

Payton dared a quick glance at Cruz. Yep, he was watching her, and she wiped the tears from her cheek and put on a bright smile just as Kate turned around and reached for her bouquet.

“Congrats, Kate,” she whispered, and her best friend hugged her tightly, then turned back to her new husband, as he took her hand and they walked down the aisle together.

At least one of them could have it all.



By the time pictures were taken and they were free to their own devices, the sun was tucked away and the sky above them dark save for the bright twinkling lights that crossed overhead, lighting the dance floor and dinner tables underneath.

Kate had foregone designating where anyone was going to sit for the reception and had left that to the guests—a wise decision since Payton wouldn’t put it past Cruz’s boisterous family to disregard name cards anyway. Most tables were full but one was left reserved for members of the wedding party. The sisters were already there, trying to get the kids to settle down. Kate and Dominic were held up speaking to Cruz’s parents, which left Cruz unaccounted for.

Payton’s eyes searched the tables again, in case she missed someone. An odd prickling at the back of her neck told her that she’d found her quarry when seconds later, his warm breath tickled her bare skin.

She didn’t dare to move, didn’t know if she could, as this man, this man who engendered the most bewildering conduct from her, reached her side. Neither of them seemed capable of speech, just enjoying the moment. She was almost afraid to speak for fear the magic of the moment would be broken.