Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“Breathe,” Matt said again. “In less than an hour the hard part will be over, and you’ll get a drink, probably some sort of bacon-wrapped scallop deal, and you’ll get to kiss your girl every time someone clinks on a glass, which will be a lot.”
“I want to kiss her now.”
“Yeah, well, then you should have eloped instead of having a big fancy wedding in the Hamptons,” Kennedy countered.
Though, truth be told, it was shaping up to be a damn good wedding. The house they’d rented as their “bridal-party headquarters” was spacious and air-conditioned. The hotel where the guests were staying was walking distance from the beach where the ceremony would take place. And though Kate had insisted they rent a tent in case of rain, there was nothing but blue skies and sunshine.
Kennedy was happy for his friends. Elated. And if he were a tad jealous, he’d deal with that later.
There was a quick knock at the door, and the wedding planner, a pretty, smiley blonde named Brooke, stuck her head in. “You guys ready?”
Ian stepped toward her, his gaze slightly manic. “Is Lara ready? Have you seen her? How is she?”
Brooke smiled, unperturbed by his rapid-fire interrogation. “She’s ready and eager to become Mrs. Bradley.”
Just like that, Ian’s shoulders relaxed, and his face broke into its usual easy smile. “All right, then. Let’s do this.”
Kennedy wouldn’t admit it to a soul, but he liked weddings. Liked them even more when he was able to stand beside his best friend, offering his support on the most important day of Ian’s life thus far.
Liked them best of all when the woman who had completely consumed his every thought for the past few months was coming down the aisle toward him.
It wasn’t his wedding. Kennedy knew that, obviously. But for one heart-stopping moment when Kate appeared and began her walk down the aisle, he imagined an entirely different situation—her walking toward him, not as a bridesmaid walking in the general direction of where the groomsmen stood but Kate walking toward Kennedy, bride to groom.
She looked beautiful. The dress was a shimmering light-bronze color, strapless and fitted up top, full and flowing down to her knees. Her hair was back in a simple knot that suited her small features perfectly, and when her eyes lifted to his just for a moment, Kennedy’s breath caught.
Mine. She was his.
Kate took her place on the opposite side of the pastor, turning toward the aisle and smiling at Sabrina, who was following behind her in a matching dress. Kennedy shifted just slightly back so he could keep Kate in his line of sight.
It was only the change in music announcing Lara’s arrival that dragged Kennedy’s gaze away from Kate. He smiled, not only at the radiant bride in a simple white gown but at the dopey grin on Ian’s face.
“My eyes are definitely not watering,” Matt whispered for Kennedy’s ears only.
“Ditto,” Kennedy said out of the corner of his mouth, relieved that his weren’t the only eyes stinging with the threat of happy tears.
Lara reached the end of the aisle, pausing to hug her father, a tough-as-shit FBI agent whose usual scowl was nowhere in sight as he kissed his daughter’s cheek and handed her off to Ian.
Kennedy’s gaze caught on Kate once more as Lara stepped into place beside Ian, and he felt his heart crack at the expression on her face. Her eyes were wide and full of tears, but she wasn’t looking at Lara and Ian. Her eyes were on Lara’s father as he took his place in the front row beside Lara’s mother.
He knew that it was hitting her then, and hitting her hard, that her father would never be there for this moment in her life.
Oh, Kate.
Her bottom lip wobbled, and it took all of his self-control not to step toward her. Hang in there, love.
Kennedy was endlessly grateful for Sabrina in that moment. The other woman had noticed Kate’s distress and set a hand on her upper arm. Kate touched Sabrina’s hand with a grateful smile, then inhaled and turned her attention back to the bride and groom.
He didn’t. He kept his gaze on Kate, willing her to look at him. To lean on him, just a little.
She didn’t look his way the entire ceremony.
And even as one part of his heart soared for these two friends who’d just exchanged vows, another part of his heart broke.
Because he knew what he’d just witnessed: Kate Henley had shut down entirely, shutting him out in the process. For good.
29
Saturday, June 8
“Okay, if you’re not going to do something, I will.”
Kennedy didn’t look up from where he stared at his untouched champagne on the table. “Sabrina. You look stunning.”
“Save it,” she said, dropping into the chair beside him. “What are you doing over here?”