“I know nothing more will come out of this,” she said, standing before the full-length mirror. “Darian and I won’t work. I’m worth more than he’s offering and I’m not going to let myself slip back into any old habits.”
“Right. So if Darian tries to woo you back you’re really going to turn him down?”
She met her own gaze in the reflection. Her nights had been filled with fantasies of Darian begging her forgiveness and pleading with her to come back to him. But those were childish wishes made in the dead of night. It was time to face reality and the truth was they were two very different people.
“I’m not going back to him,” she said, more to herself than to Gillian. “I don’t want casual anymore. I want something real and lasting. Darian just isn’t that man.”
He might never be. And even if he decided he was ready to settle down one day she doubted it would be with a woman like her.
No, she’d read about his engagement to some gorgeous supermodel in the paper one day. When that time came, she hoped she’d be able to wish him well.
Because right now the idea of him making a life with someone else caused her nothing but pain.
“I’ll call you when I leave the wedding,” she said as she slipped into her heels. “Give you all the juicy details.”
“You’d better,” Gillian said, sliding off the bed. “I can’t wait to hear how this unfolds. Weddings are synonymous with drama, you know.”
“Not this one.”
Gillian laughed as she followed her out the door. “Sure, Allison. Not this one.”
The setting was every bit as beautiful as she’d thought it would be.
Allison took her seat in the back row, glancing around at the manicured gardens. The aisle was lined with dahlia bouquets and she’d noticed several displays of them in the halls of the venue as well. Sam had worked wonders getting everything ready for the big day. She’d thought she’d stepped into a fairytale when she’d walked into the vineyards.
Jenny must be thrilled.
Settling into her seat, she decided she was glad she made the trip. It was gratifying to see all her hard work paying off.
But one thing she hadn’t seen since her arrival was Darian.
He’s probably with the bride, she reasoned. The ceremony would be starting any minute. Jenny’s fiancé was already at the gazebo, speaking softly to the minister.
On cue, music filled the air and the guests rose to their feet.
Standing, she turned to see the bride appear at the top of the aisle.
With Darian at her side.
Her heart rate increased as she gazed at her former lover. Of course he would look utterly elegant and dashing as he walked Jenny forward. Just once she wished she could see him and not dream about everything she couldn’t have.
But today wouldn’t be that day. Instead she drank in the sight of him, barely noticing his sister.
He smiled at the guests, nodding to a few here and there. As the pair moved forward, his eyes swept the crowd.
And landed on her.
Electricity shot through her body as their gazes collided. Her fingers curled around her clutch, wishing she could look away.
He held her gaze until the pair passed her, moving toward the gazebo. Her breath left her as she watched him walk away. Maybe talking to him wasn’t such a good idea. If he could incapacitate her with a look, how much worse would this go being alone with him?
They reached the gazebo and Darian gave his sister a hug before handing her off to her fiancé. He took his place beside Matt, folding his hands before him.
The crowd sat, settling in for the exchange of vows.
But she was helpless to look at anyone by Darian.
As the vows progressed, he looked back into the crowd, his eyes finding hers.
Turn away, she ordered. An impossible task. Instead she watched him as the air filled with familiar words.
“Do you take this man…for richer or poorer…to love and cherish…”
Though the crowd might be focused on the couple, for Allison it was as if the world fell away. In this one brief moment, Darian was all she could see.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
A cheer swept over the crowd as people rose to their feet, breaking her eye contact with her former boss.
She pressed her hands to her cheeks as her neighbors jumped up around her. This wedding had been a bad idea. It made her want more than she could have.
Matt and Jenny walked down the aisle, their joy palpable to everyone. Following their lead, the crowd stepped away from their chairs and began herding into the reception hall. She had no doubt Sam was more than ready for them.
As the pack of people thinned, she saw Darian still standing near the gazebo.