Page 54 of Without a Hitch
Matrimonial-Harmonicscauses the tears I’ve been holding back to fall free. It appears to be the same couple, but there’s no happiness to be found anywhere. It’s sad and tragic. And how Blaine views marriage.
“You think this is what marriage does to people?” I ask, turning to face him because the image before me hurts my heart in a way I’ve never felt before.
“No, I think forcing love to last forever does this to people.”
“That’s so sad,” I rasp.
“It’s not your magical fairy tale anyway.” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I showed you these. I didn’t mean to ruin your night. Our time together.”
“They obviously haunt you for some reason.”
He stares at me thoughtfully. “Maybe.” He nods, then drops his gaze to his watch. “The party is probably just wrapping up, but this is the city that never sleeps. Can I take you out somewhere?”
He’s trying so hard to get that glimmer back in his eyes, but I know there will be no hiding my emotions now, which seems silly considering he can only ever be a fling. I don’t even know his last name, and as I focus my attention back at the screen, I realize that’s for the best. This man has the power to destroy my heart.
He already has.
My sisters and I didn’t have an easy upbringing. We didn’t have shining examples of love—but the idea of it? Of everlasting love? That’s what got me through all those hard times. I can’t give up the one wish I’ve ever had for myself for a man who, at his very core, doesn’t believe in the one thing that has gotten me through life.
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.
CHAPTER16
LOCHLAN
“Angie!” 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?”
