Page 20 of Fake Fiancé, Real Wedding
“Of course,” Beryl interrupts, flapping a hand at me, “we could put this all behind us, Lachlan, if only your fiancée were here. But she seemed far more interested in her phone and the text she received than talking to us, didn’t she, dear?” She casts another one of those arched looks at her husband, lips pursed like she’s reveling in a sordid secret. “What with the way she scurried away.”
I stiffen. “Text?”
Angus clears his throat. “She seemed distracted after reading it, that’s for sure. Some would say nervous.”
I barge past the Staffords, ignoring their indignant gasps, and scan the horizon. There’s no sign of Del.
Fuck.
Who was the text from? Her stalker? Had they spooked her? Scared her? Whoever they are, they’re trouble.
And when I get my hands on them, they’reintrouble. A whole fucking world of it.
Chapter Fourteen
Del
“Okay, so you’re in love with him.” Stevie gives Jared—a koala-rescuing, shark-attack-surviving, firefighting hero,andthe man she’s going to marry tomorrow—a grin that screamsHa! Told you so!and then beams at me. “That’s awesome, Little Miss Love Is Stupid.”
“I’ve never said love is stupid,” I protest.
Stevie raises her eyebrows at me.
Okay, Imayhave said love is stupid. Once. Or maybe three or four times. “Low blow, cousin,” I grumble, slumping into my seat.
We’re sitting in a secluded little corner of one of the resort’s gardens, under a pergola laced with flower-dripping vines. Jared mentioned getting us all coffee, but all I’ve done since plonking into my seat is vent about Lachlan.
Damn it, I didn’t mean to go and fall in love with him. What do I do?
“Are you sure you haven’t jumped to conclusions?” Jared asks. “About this Lachlan guy’s motives?”
“Oh, babe,” Stevie chuckles, patting him on the cheek. “You’re dicing with a painful death with that line of questioning.”
He snorts. “No, this isnotme automatically defending the man in the equation.” He looks at me. “I know from personal experience what being smacked in the face by unexpected love can do for a person’s rational thought.” He slides Stevie a smile that’s both secretive and downright filthy before turning back to me. “When the emotions arethatpowerful, that fast, sometimes your brain can’t process everything that’s happening.” He shrugs. “At least, my brain couldn’t.”
Gnawing on my bottom lip, I turn away from their questioning eyes and stare out over the valley.
The view is stunning, and despite being a surly lump of grump, I one hundred percent can see why Lachlan wants to buy this place. It’s gorgeous. I could spend the rest of my life here, with the clean, crisp air that smells of eucalyptus and moss, the birdsong a calming soundtrack in the background, the complete lack of car horns and sirens and traffic.
You could spend the rest of your life here with Lachlan, don’t you mean?
I huff out a grunt, slump farther back into my seat, and turn back to Stevie and Jared. “So what you’re both saying is I was too impulsive and precious and maybe even fragile, which I know iscompletelyout of character for me—stop sniggering, Jared—and I should go back to Lachlan and at leastseeif he’s on a similar wavelength to me?”
“Boom!” Stevie makes an explosion gesture with her hands, grinning. “I always said you were smart.”
I hiccup out a laugh disguised as a sigh. “Is that what you’ve always said?”
She reaches across the wrought-iron bistro table and squeezes my hand. “Youaresmart, Del. And you never run froma challenge. How many people told you being a professional cosplayer was a bad idea, and look at you. One of the best—and highest paid—in the world.”
I squeeze her hand back. God, I love her.
She smiles and then frowns as her phone vibrates with an incoming text. “Crap,” she says, reading it. “I’ll be right back. A parcel for the wedding has been delivered to reception, and I need to sign for it.”
Jared jolts to his feet. “I can do it.”
She pulls him back down into his chair by the wrist as she stands, smiling at him. “No way. It’s a surprise for you for tomorrow. Now talk Del here off the running-away-from-her-feelings ledge. I’ll be right back.”
She plants a kiss on his grinning lips and hurries away.
