CHAPTER THIRTY
MASON
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I’ve drunk way too much every night this week since watching Lexi walk inside her apartment building, and my head is pounding.
I stayed away from On The Rocks as she asked but have spent that time searching the internet for answers.
What happened at Harrow?
Next week I’m going to hire a private detective. I’m in love with her and need to know what the fuck is going on.
Every day I disbelieve Harrow more.
There is no way Lexi stole.
Con artists are clever, you never know.
This is why I’ve drunk so much.
One half of me wants to trust her and go get my girl, the other half —the one who learned from Sandy that there are women in the world who will go to great lengths for money—plays like a record in my head, warning me away.
I know Lexi plans to leave, but if I can learn what happened and then talk to her...perhaps...fuck, she could be the woman I spend my life with.
Head throbbing, I stand beside Sebastian waiting for Emily and her bridesmaids to arrive.
Today is Emily and Sebastian’s day; everything else can wait until next week.
One day a woman will come along who fits into your world, and you’ll know she’s the one.
Lexi’s words from a few weeks ago have been playing over and over in my head like a stuck record.
What if it’s her?
I have an image of the perfect woman I’d marry. That I’d be standing in a similar situation to this, waiting for her to walk down the aisle. Prenup all signed and sealed in our solicitor’s office. My fears packed away nicely, all of them abated.
Except it’s changed.
Now I want a woman who has a questionable professional record, who makes my cock pulse the moment she walks into a room.
Who I can’t stop thinking about.
Who’s made me do irrational things.
Focus on the wedding.
“You good?” I ask Sebastian.
“Yup.” He tugs on his jacket for the hundredth time.
He’s nervous, but his eyes are shining with emotion and excitement.
“Ready for the honeymoon, aren’t you, buddy?” Colt slaps him on the shoulder.
Sebastian's parents sit in the front row and chuckle. Emily’s family sits opposite. Her side is smaller, as not everyone could fly over from England for the wedding.
The venue is decorated with pink and white roses, with a lot of greenery, giving things a garden vibe.
I have a feeling it’s Emily’s way of getting her spring wedding when Sebastian pushed for an earlier date.
He wanted her to take his name and their baby to have them legally married.
Old-fashioned, I guess, but Emily didn’t seem to fight him on it.
“Where the hell are these women?” Sebastian shuffles on his feet.
“It’s what they do, son.” His father smirks. “Get used to it.”
His mom glares at her now ex-husband.
Sebastian never gets involved in their bickering. He turns to me. “Everything okay now with Lexi?”
“Yeah, why?” I ask, my heart thumping.
Why is he asking me that?
“I must have misunderstood a conversation.” He shakes me off. “Guess it doesn’t matter, she’s leaving anyway.”
It does fucking matter.
He makes it sound like she’s leaving today.
I’m about to ask when the music starts up, and Emily appears in the doorway, standing on the pink-lined aisle.
“Fuck me,” Sebastian almost gasps, his eyes begin to glisten.
Oh, man.
Even I’m emotional.
Emily takes slow steps in time with the music as she approaches in a beautiful white princess gown covered in sparkles. It’s an off the shoulder number, and a wide, long train flows behind her.
Along with two bridesmaids.
Catherine steps forward first, then Lexi, who I can’t take my eyes off.
She’s fucking beautiful. With her hair up and a pale pink gown hugging her supple body softly, I’m almost speechless.
The three of them take their places, Sebastian and Emily moving in to stand before the celebrant, smiling like idiots at each other.
I struggle to focus on them as an invisible energy called Lexi pulls at me. My gaze stays on her, and she fights it for a minute, then meets it.
We remain that way for the entire ceremony, as if the words are for us.
I’ve never seen her look so vulnerable and open, and it’s only now that I realize she feels the same.
We both want this.
I’m going to work this out. I need those answers.
Either from her or a private detective.
Then I’m going to make her mine.
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LEXI
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“I NOW PRONOUNCE you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Tearing my eyes away from Mason, they fill with tears.
I can’t believe Emily is married.
I can’t believe that in two days I will never see Mason again.
The bride and groom kiss for an inappropriately long time, then I hand her back her bouquet. Catherine moves closer as the huge crowd cheers and starts throwing rose petals as the happy couple walks down the aisle as the newly announced Mr. and Mrs. Remington.
Cole takes Catherine’s arm, and they follow.
Mason steps up beside me.
He inferred that I was a thief, but it’s he who has stolen my heart.
“You look beautiful,” Mason says roughly.
“This old thing.” I brush my hand down the blush fitted midi-length Vivienne Westwood gown.
She made Emily’s gown and had her team create both mine and Catherine’s. It’s the single most beautiful thing I’ve ever worn. Which is not too hard, given nothing in my wardrobe is designer or couture.
His lips lift at the corners, his eyes far too intense for a friend, and he guides me down the aisle following the rest of the bridal party.
My stupid brain immediately starts to think thoughts it has no place thinking.
This could be us.
Mason could be the man I marry.
A gust of warmth rushes through me, and I tighten my grip on his arm. He returns the squeeze.
My eyes cast around the wedding guests at all the beautiful, wealthy people. These are the women he will end up with. Those dressed in Karen Walker and Prada, dripping in gems I’ll never be able to afford.
Mason squeezes me again, and I glance up.
“I’m looking at you, not them.”
My heart.
I want to cry. I want to throw my arms around him and tell him I think I’m in love with him. That I never stole anything and would never.
Never!
That I don’t care if he lost all his money, I just want to curl up with him every night, make love to him and wake up to his gorgeous blue eyes.
“You should.” I smile sadly.
I hear him sigh.
Then we step outside, where we’re dragged away for photos and the rest of the wedding festivities.