“Thalia, you look gorgeous,” Mia told me coming back into the room. I was wearing the dress we’d picked out when I thought she was marrying Jack. My hair had been curled by the hairdresser, and had jeweled pins keeping it on top of my head, with some loose locks around my face and neck.
It was the first time I’d seen Mia in her wedding dress, and she was totally stunning. She’d admitted to Liam that the dress she’d chosen had been for him, and that it was the only way she could get through the ordeal. I think we’d all had tears in our eyes when she’d admitted that to him, Liam included.
Mia’s dress was white lace with a fitted bodice that flared out from her hips. It was off the shoulders with short sleeves. She looked like a princess, and I couldn’t wait to see Liam’s face when he saw her. I just hoped I wasn’t distracted with the best man.
“You are seriously going to have the groom’s tongue on the floor. You look amazing. Is Donovan still giving you away?”
She grinned at me while shaking her head. “No. Not anymore. Daddy came to the house this morning and apologized. He said he just lost it when Liam abandoned me three years ago. He said he’d been thinking about little else these past few days and realized how crazy it all seemed. It was the first time I’d ever seen him embarrassed. He plans on apologizing to you, just so you’re warned.”
“Wow. What a hell of a week.”
“Come on. I have a groom downstairs who might be starting to get a bit nervous if he doesn’t see me soon.” She grinned pulling me towards the door.
I laughed. “There is no way he’d ever think you’d changed your mind. Just no way.”
As we walked down the hallway towards the stairs all that could be heard was the swish of our dresses as we walked, and the violin music coming from outside near the specially built gazebo where the wedding was taking place.
Butterflies were flying around in my stomach as we walked downstairs towards Mia’s father, who was waiting at the bottom for his daughter. He saw me and looked nervous.
As he took hold of Mia’s hand, he turned to look at me. “Thalia, I owe you a huge apology.” He paused, gulped, looked out through the window then met my gaze again. “I wasn’t myself, although there isn’t really any excuse for the trouble I caused between you and Jack. I’m sorry, and I hope that we can put it behind us, especially today for my daughter’s wedding.”
He certainly sounded like he meant the apology. “Apology accepted.” I held my hand out to him, which he took and shook gently.
“Thanks Dad. Now I have an appointment with my groom.” Mia took her dad’s elbow and dragged him towards the patio doors, then looked over her shoulder at me, winked, then asked, “You staying there?”
“Guess not,” I mumbled.
Mia and her father walked out into the garden in front of me, so after they came to a stop, I slipped in front of them and waited for the music to start. My stomach quivered with nerves and excitement, and then hearing the music my legs carried me up the aisle.
Halfway up the aisle I worked the courage up to look at Jack, and when I did, I met his eyes that were so full of love for me. He was so handsome in his formal wedding suit; my knees felt weak and my panties were wet. I couldn’t look away.
I took my place to the side, turned to wait for Mia, but still couldn’t look away from Jack. I took Mia’s flowers from her, and then turned towards the front, while I tried to get my emotions under control, because I was seconds away from blubbering.
Chapter 63
Jack
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Standing next to my brother, my eyes were only for Thalia as she walked down the aisle towards us. She nearly brought me to my knees. She made eye contact and then stayed focused on me. I’d let her see everything I felt for her in my gaze, and I’m pretty damn sure she let me see what she felt for me, which filled my heart with hope that not all was lost. God, I loved her.
Liam nudged me, which had me turning to face the front with him.
My brother was getting married in front of me, and all I could think about was the woman standing on the opposite side of the bride to me.
She was stunning, and I’d missed her like crazy these past couple of days. I know I’d spent time away from her before, when I’d been trying to do right and not get involved with her. But after sharing our beds, I couldn’t sleep without her. She was there under my skin and in my heart. She was there to stay and I planned on telling her that after my brother finished saying his vows.
Yesterday I‘d gone to the bank and retrieved my grandmother’s engagement ring, which I planned on sliding on to Thalia’s finger before the day was over.
Mia also had an engagement ring from my other grandmother, my father’s mother, to wear so both ladies should be happy.
“Jack, where the fuck are you? Ring,” Liam whispered under his breath.
Shit. I quickly reached into my jacket’s inner pocket and retrieved both wedding bands. “No sweat.” I handed them over and caught Thalia, looking at me with eyes full of mirth.
I winked at her, and watched her whole face light up.
“Will you get a grip,” Liam whispered again.