“I’m notfreaking!”
“She’s freaking,” Gemmamurmurs.
“Totally,” Chrissyconfirms.
“My bad.” Shelbyshrugs.
My heart is starting to pound. “Listen, I don’t know what Phoebetoldyou—”
“Nothing!” she exclaims. “I told themnothing.”
“—but I’m not dating anyone. Certainly not exclusively.” I suck down a fortifying sip ofchampagne.
“So you and Blaze aren’t banging each other’s brains out yet?” Shelby asks pointblank.
I choke on my champagne. Coughing to clear my throat, I wipe tears from my eyes and glareather.
“What? Don’t look at me like that.” Shelby glances around at the others. “Oh, come on, it’s not like I canpossiblybe the only one who’s noticed those two staring longingly at each other over the past fewmonths.”
“Shelby, I don’t know where you ever got such a crazy idea, but I can confirm that I have never and will neverbang Luca Buchanan’s brains out! Ever! Is that clear enoughforyou?”
In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have said a thing. Or simply chosen to say what I said in a softer decibel. Or turned around to check who was coming up the spiral walkway directly behind me, at the exact moment I made myproclamation.
Because, it’s not Shelby’s voice that rings out to answer myquestion.
It’sLuca’s.
“Loud and clear, babe. Thanks for the publicbulletin.”
Crap on a corntortilla.
* * *
Phoebe wasn’t tryingto make things worse. I know that, deep down. Still, I’m having a hard time forgiving her for concealing the fact that Nate’s fourth groomsman was not, in fact, adistant cousin from out of townbutactuallyLuca.
“How could you not tell me?” I hiss at her under mybreath.
“Maybe because I knew you’d react like this!” she hisses back. “Can you be mad at me later? I’m about to get fake-married, and if I fall into the tank in my favorite Louboutins I’m going to be really pissed at you fordistractingme.”
Realizing she has a valid point —um, hello, we’re talking about Louboutins, here— I bite down on my cheek and turn to greet the boys as they approach. First in line is the groom, Nate, with his dark hair and even darker eyes that scan our group, taking in every detail with professional-grade scrutiny from his years working private security. Then Chase, his best man, sandy haired and smiling as his bright green eyes cut straight to Gemma and her baby bump. The Knox Investigations groomsmen bring up the rear — Theo, whose dark good looks, deep emerald eyes, and caramel colored skin are so attractive they should make him wear a hood to prevent traffic accidents, and Owen, a well-built blond with a buzz cut and crystalblueeyes.
Luca is the last to reach us, looking stunningly handsome in dress slacks and a button down. It’s the most formal outfit I’ve ever seen him wearing — much more along the lines of my standardcorporate dreamboat’sdaily attire — and I’m bewildered to discover I don’t like it on him half so much as hisregularlook.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s absolutely gorgeous… he just doesn’t look like the Luca I’ve come to knowandlo—
Danger!
I cut that train of thought off before it can gain any traction and turn my attention to Theo and Owen, waggling my fingers in a playful wave. They both grin backatme.
My heart seizes inside my chest as I watch Chase kissing Gemma hello, his hand resting softly on her rounded stomach. The sensation intensifies when I see Nate leaning down to whisper something in Phoebe’s ear that summons a laugh from her throat. The love between these two couples shines so brightly, I feel like an intruder even standing this close to them. As though I’m infringing on something so pure, just my presence willtaintit.
When I glance away, I make the mistake of looking a fraction too far to the left… and am instantly trapped by two light blue irises, glaring out at me from a chiseled face. Luca looks just as furious as the last time I saw him, less than twenty-four hours ago on my doorstep after the best kiss of my entire life. Maybemoreso.
I squirm, wishing I were invisible as he watches me in total silence. I can’t move, can’t breathe, can’t look away from him, even as I hear the conversations around us falling off one by one as everyone turns to watch our silent showdown. The tension between us is so thick, the air practically sizzleswithit.
“Oh, yeah, this isn’t going to be awkward atall,” Shelby murmursdryly.
Embarrassed, I blink and drop my eyes to my feet, in a vain attempt to hide my flushed cheeks. Phoebe saves me by changing thesubject.