Chapter 8
Lorelai
It was the morning of the wedding and I’d just finished having my makeup done. I slipped out of the chair and headed into the room where Candace and the other bridesmaids were busy laughing and getting dressed. I walked over to where my dress hung and pulled it off the hanger, my mind a million miles away from what was going on today.
“I have not steamed that dress yet,” Aurora said. “Hang it back up.”
“What?” I questioned, barely able to make sense of what she’d said.
“I said I haven’t steamed it yet. I’m getting to that one next,” Aurora repeated, looking at me with questions in her eyes.
I knew I’d been acting off since yesterday when I woke up after the night I’d shared with Knox only to find he’d left without so much as a murmured good-morning. It only made me more upset when he’d not come to see me after golf, he hadn’t shown up for dinner, and when he finally returned to the room, it was well after I’d been asleep. He was gone before I woke this morning as well. Not even a note left. I didn’t even know if I had a right to be angry or bothered. It was nothing but drunk sex.
“Sorry,” I murmured and took a seat down on the couch. I watched as she finished the dress she was working on and moved over to mine.
“That fucking Hugo,” Candace said, coming into the room in a rush, an angry look on her face.
Immediately, I looked up from my phone where I was checking to see if maybe Knox had messaged me, to see Candace standing there looking as angry as a wasp.
“What did he do now?” Aurora questioned.
“What hasn’t he done?” she said, flopping down into one chair.
I frowned as Candace made eye contact with me, but quickly looked away.
“What did he do?” I asked, swallowing hard.
The room was quiet as we all waited for Candace to speak.
“I will not ruin my day by telling you. All I’m going to say is that you are lucky you got out of that relationship when you did. I never thought I’d say it, but I am glad you are with Knox. He may have a cocky exterior, but underneath that is a man with a heart of gold,” Candace said, doing her best to calm herself.
“That he does,” Aurora quickly agreed as she looked over at me, waiting for me to agree.
I swallowed hard. “That he does, and I’m lucky to be trying to make it work with the man,” I said, wanting to slap myself silly for leading my soon-to-be sister-in-law to believe that I was together with Knox.
“I just can’t believe Hugo would actually have the balls to behave the way he is,” Candace said, shaking her head. That was when the worried look fell onto her face and her eyes filled with stress.
All the girls turned and looked my way, except Aurora. She kept on steaming my dress, which made me wonder if she knew something I didn’t.
“If he ruins my wedding, I swear…” she muttered.
“He won’t,” Aurora assured her.
“What did he do?” I questioned, catching Candace’s eyes.
Aurora and Candace exchanged a look with each other before Candace murmured, “You should tell her.”
I frowned and looked at Aurora. “Tell me what?”
Aurora cleared her throat and then let out a deep breath, still not saying anything.
“I don’t think now is the time,” Aurora said to Candace, completely ignoring me.
“No, she should know,” Candace said.
“Would one of you please tell me what is going on?”
Aurora and Candace exchanged looks again, and then Aurora turned and looked at me. “Did Knox mention anything to you about yesterday?”
I shook my head, completely worried about what could have possibly happened on the golf course.
“Hugo was all up in Knox’s face, egging him on. Dylan said it was quite the morning and afternoon. He was just being his usual asshole self.”
“Great,” I muttered, feeling slightly confused why Knox wouldn’t have at least taken two minutes, pulled me aside to let me know what had happened.
“Don’t dwell on it. Here is your dress. Go get in it,” Aurora said, smiling at me as she handed me the dress.
I was about to go into the washroom to change when I stopped. I looked over my shoulder to see the two of them whispering to one another.
“Did they get into a fight?” I questioned.
Aurora once again glanced at Candace before turning to me. “Do you think Dylan would let that happen?”
“I guess not. I just don’t want someone showing up with two black eyes.”
“He may have wanted to hit him, but Dylan and the guys stopped him. Nothing to worry about.” Aurora said, once again glancing at Candace.
I wanted to smile; I wanted to be happy, but I couldn’t. If what they were saying was true, and Dylan had to stop Knox from hitting Hugo, then I feared Knox was taking this fake relationship a few steps too far and it needed to end now, before someone got hurt.
* * *
Once I’d dressed, I stepped out of the bathroom and did a twirl while faking a smile.
“Ah, you look amazing!” Candace cried.
“No, you look amazing!” I said, stepping forward and circling around the bride-to-be. “You are already glowing. What are you going to be like after the wedding night?” I asked.
“Oh god, stop,” Candace said, blushing. “Oh, before I forget, could you do me a favor?”
“Absolutely,” I said, ready for my assignment.
“I forgot the jewellery back in our room.”
“No problem. I’ll run back and get it,” I said, almost to the door.
“Nope, Phil said he was sending one groomsman over with it. I was hoping you could meet them downstairs?”
“Sure thing.” I smiled, silently praying he wouldn’t send Hugo.
I left the chatter and giggles of the girls and made my way downstairs. I stepped out of the building into the tropical sun and immediately began looking for some shade. I was about to make my way over to a tree when I heard a whistle behind me.
I whipped around to see Knox heading my way. Even the way he walked was annoying. In fact, everything about him annoyed me.
“Hey, princess.”
There it was, the nails on the chalkboard, I thought as his eyes travelled the length of my body.
“Candace called for this,” he said, stepping closer to hand me the bag that contained the jewellery.
“Yep, she did,” I said, taking it from him and going to head inside. “Thanks for bringing it over.”
“Figured I’d lend a hand. That way, you wouldn’t have to see Hugo.” He winked. “He was halfway out the door when I volunteered.
I turned away and went to pull the door open without another word, only I felt his hand on my upper arm. “Everything alright?” he questioned.
I stopped. No, everything was not alright. Did he not know how he’d made me feel, leaving me the morning after we’d…
“What is it?” he questioned.
I tried hard to bite my tongue, but it was useless. I whipped around and glared at Knox.
“The girls told me what happened yesterday during golf, since you didn’t.”
Knox nodded. “I didn’t think it was something I really needed to tell you. However, if you want to know, he was in my face, and I didn’t like what he was saying about you.”
I blinked hard, he didn’t like what he was saying about me, but it was okay that he’d said nothing to me the next day at all after giving me one of the best nights of my life.
“Thanks, but believe it or not, I have a mouth,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Not when you aren’t present, you don’t.”
“I don’t need you to defend my honor, Knox.”
“Hey, I’m not defending your honor. I was simply putting him in his place.”
I stared at him, at those blue eyes I had gotten so lost in just two nights ago, believing there might be a little something more between us than there clearly was.
“Don’t bother,” I muttered.
“Hey, wait a second. You were the one who cried on my shoulder when he wouldn’t leave you alone, remember?”
“Consider it a moment of weakness,” I bit back.
Knox stared at me with confusion lining his face. “What is the matter with you?”
I stared back, studying the look on his face, not backing down for a moment. Did he truly not understand why I was upset?
“Nothing,” I said, my jaw clenched.
“No, it’s something.”
“Let’s just stop the charade, okay?
“What charade?” he questioned, studying me.
“Knox, don’t be stupid. There really isn’t any need to keep pretending we are something when people aren’t around us. We are just Knox and Lorelai.”
“Pretending what? I was at a golf game with people who think we are together. Was I supposed to just stand there, let the guy talk smack about you and not say anything? It’s not the way I roll, princess.”
“This isn’t the way I roll, either. I don’t go for the hot-headed men,” I said, getting into his face.
He gave me that shit-eating, ego-driven smirk. The one I hated. “No, you go after guys who treat you like shit, and I hate to break it to you, princess, but I’m not that type. If you are with me, then you are mine, and I’ll defend you until the earth stops spinning, hotheaded or not. So, if we are doing this, then get prepared. Hugo will go down.”
“Says you,” I bit back, clenching my jaw.
Without another word, I turned around and marched inside. He seriously was the most infuriating man I’d ever been around, and I could not wait for this wedding, this facade to be over with and for my life to get back to normal.
* * *
I watched as my brother and Candace shared their first kiss as a married couple. The crowd cheered, and as they made their way down the sandy aisle, I smiled and then turned, meeting Hugo’s eyes. He’d been staring at me the entire wedding, and I’d had to do everything in my power not to let him know I knew it. How the hell I ever saw anything in him I’d never know, because looking at him now made my stomach turn.
Once Phil and Candace made their way down the aisle, the entire wedding party was to follow. I glanced up to see Hugo standing there waiting for me. He held out his arm out for me to take, a smile on his face. Reluctantly, I slid my arm through his, my stomach turning at the thought of him touching me again.
We stepped out into the aisle and began making our way toward Candace and Phil when Hugo leaned over to me. The cologne he wore was the same as when we dated, and I seriously had to swallow hard to stop being sick. I couldn’t believe that at one time I’d thought it smelled good. His lips skimmed my ear as he whispered to me.
“Best tell your boy to rein it in.” He then smiled at the crowd.
“What?” I questioned, looking up, only to see Knox watching us. His eyes were dark as he studied the two of us.
“I said, you best tell your boy to rein it in. He has a temper,” Hugo repeated.
I didn’t falter. I tore my eyes from Knox and smiled at Hugo, pretending to laugh at what he said, then I rested my head on his shoulder. When we got to the aisle Knox was sitting in, I glanced up at him to see his reaction. His eyes met mine. They were filled with confusion and something I’d never seen before, jealousy. I didn’t care; I wanted to prove a point. What that point was now, I didn’t know.
His eyes were glued to me as we continued past him and down the sandy aisle. When we were at the end, I slipped my arm from his and went to walk away, but before I could get away, he grabbed my hand.
“Just one more chance. That’s all I want.”
“Let me go,” I whispered and pulled my hand away, making my way over to the girls.
When I got over to them, I turned and looked back toward the crowd of guests, and that was when I saw Knox still looking my way, a questioning look on his face. He knew Hugo had said something. He also had seen me rip my hand away and the glare on my face at what he’d said. I was no longer fooling him like I thought I was. I knew he could tell, and I knew I was going to have to answer his questions about it this afternoon, but right now, I had to look happy for the photos.
* * *
After the speeches and toasts had been given, we’d eaten and soon after people began dancing, I moved over to where Dylan, Aurora, and Knox sat.
“Everything okay?” Aurora asked, glancing between Knox and me.
I’d avoided Knox after the wedding, and we still hadn’t spoken to one another. He’d tried to get me to talk with him after we were finished with the pictures, but I marched right past him, following the girls. I knew I was being childish. If I had a problem, I should have just owned up to it like an adult.
“Yep,” we both said in unison, neither of us looking at the other.
I could feel the tension between us, like usual, only this time the energy felt different.
“Am I sensing a lovers’ quarrel?” Dylan said, grinning at Knox, then Aurora.
Knox let out a breath, muttered something under his breath, and stood up. “I’m gonna get a drink.”
He walked away without even so much as looking my way or offering to get me a drink.
“I’d like one,” I said, loud enough that I knew he heard me.
“Fine,” he barked back at me.
I glanced at Dylan and Aurora just in time to see Dylan take her hand in his and place a kiss on it.
“We are going to go dance,” Aurora said, smiling as she allowed Dylan to lead her to the dance floor for the first slow song of the evening.
I watched them as they moved to the dance floor where he wrapped his arms around her and placed a kiss on her forehead.
God, they really were in love, I thought to myself, then I looked over at Knox.
Regret boiled inside of me as I sat there, watching him over at the bar. I’d been a complete bitch to him all day because I’d been angry. No matter how angry I was, all I needed to do was talk to him. Instead, I’d watched him all evening, wishing I could have taken back my words from this afternoon.
He glanced over his shoulder at me. He looked sexy as hell in the white linen pants and light-blue linen shirt he’d decided to wear today. They both hugged him in all the right places.
The one thing missing this time was that sexy grin of his. His glance didn’t linger either. Instead, he turned back toward the bartender and then struck up a conversation with the woman who stood beside him. Alarm bells started ringing immediately as they smiled at one another. I wanted to scream, to cry, to get up and go tell him I was sorry.
It was then a drink dangled in front of my face before it was placed down on the table, causing me to jump.
I whipped around to see Hugo standing there, a grin on his face.
“What do you want?” I bit out. He was looking to start shit. I already knew it.
“You looked thirsty, so I brought you a drink. I also wanted to come over and see how things were going. Looks like you and Loverboy are on the outs.” He nodded over to where Knox was now facing the woman he’d been smiling at.
“Why are you trying to cause shit, Hugo?” I questioned.
“Not causing shit. I just want to make sure you are happy in your newfound relationship, because that smile you gave me earlier told me otherwise.”
I studied his eyes for a moment and then glanced at the bar to see Knox watching us over his shoulder.
“No, you are trying to stir up shit, Hugo. Stop trying to start things with Knox at my brother’s wedding, for fuck’s sakes. It’s not the place.”
“Wow, such big dirty words for a pretty girl. Is your new man wearing off?” he questioned, placing his hand on my thigh.
“Get your hand off me,” I said, my voice elevating as I swatted at his hand.
He looked down at his hand and then into my eyes.
“Wow, you never used to push my hand off you before,” he said, this time gripping my thigh a little higher and tighter than before.
I clenched my jaw together as I tried to pry his hand off me while I scanned the room for Aurora and Dylan. Panic set in when I couldn’t see them, I needed help. I looked over toward the bar and it was then I saw Knox making his way across the room. If looks could kill.
In seconds, he arrived, holding two drinks, one in each hand, staring at Hugo. I felt Hugo release my thigh, as Knox continued to stare at him, but ignore him at the same time. He set the two glasses down on the table and then held out his large hand to me.
“Come with me,” he barked, his face serious.
When I didn’t immediately jump up, he met my eyes.
“I said, come with me.”
I placed my hand in his and followed him out to the dance floor, where the song that was playing ended and immediately a slow song played. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he pulled me right into his arms and held me close against his body like it was his job to protect me from Hugo.
“Everything okay?” he whispered as he placed his head against mine.
I nodded, not wanting to stir the pot. I knew Knox had a temper. I’d seen him fight once on the ice, because once was all it took. The other players didn’t mess with him again after that. I knew Hugo was only trying to provoke him, and I also knew that Hugo didn’t stand a chance if Knox got his hands on him.
“What did he want?” he questioned, holding me tight as we swayed to the music.
I swallowed hard. “To see how things were going between us,” I quietly answered.
“What was your answer?” his deep voice asked.
I swallowed hard as he pulled me tighter into him. The feel of my body against his was distracting and comforting all at the same time. When I didn’t answer him, he chuckled.
“So, he wants to see how it’s going, does he?” he said, glancing over my shoulder toward the table.
I knew immediately then that Hugo was probably sitting there watching us, or perhaps he started dancing near us with whatever her name was. Whichever it was, I soon forgot all about it when I caught the look on Knox’s face.
He looked down into my eyes and cupped my cheek. “He wants to know how it’s going. How about we show him?”
Before I could protest, his lips were on mine and he delivered another one of those passionate and breathtaking kisses, only this one was better than before. I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it, but when the kiss ended, I was certain I almost whimpered out loud when his lips left mine.
He looked down into my eyes and smiled.
“I’m sorry,” we both said in unison as we continued to dance.
* * *
“God, my feet are killing me,” I cried as I slipped my heeled shoes off and placed my feet on the cool night sand.
“Mine too,” Aurora said, doing the same thing as the four of us sat on lounge chairs across from the event room where the reception was still going on.
“Are you going to walk back to our room, or am I going to carry you?” Dylan questioned, looking over at me and winking. I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked over to Aurora, who smiled.
“If I have to do the fireman carry to get you back to the room, you can guarantee I’m going to want to smack your ass. Knowing how much it turns you on, I doubt we’ll make it back to the room.”
“Whoa, way too much information, Dylan,” I said, covering my ears.
It was bad enough I shared a condo with Aurora and heard the goings on in the bedroom some nights. I didn’t need to see it.
“I’m a big girl. I’ll be fine.” She giggled, standing up and handing Dylan her shoes.
Dylan looked over at Knox and shook his head. “Damn, she’s a big girl, but here, you can carry my shoes.”
The four of us laughed as they turned toward the direction their room was in.
“Oh, good luck, man. See you guys in the morning,” Dylan said, before taking Aurora’s hand in his free one, shoes dangling from the other.
We watched as they walked down the beach. I sat there smiling to myself. I was happy for my best friend. She’d found her forever, something I doubted I’d ever find.
“You just about ready?” Knox questioned.
I nodded. “Maybe just a few more minutes,” I said, rubbing my foot.
Knox sat down across from me, reached over and took hold of my foot, carefully straightening my leg before he wrapped his large hands around my foot.
“What are you doing?” I questioned.
“Giving you the Evans special foot rub.” He grinned, digging his strong fingers into the sore part of my foot, immediately releasing some of the pain I’d felt.
I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes as he continued rubbing my foot in all the right spots, before massaging my calf muscle with his other hand.
“Oh god, that’s nice,” I muttered, closing my eyes and enjoying the feel of his hands on my legs.
“Give me your other foot,” he whispered as I opened my eyes.
I did not know how long he’d been staring at me, but this time I kept my eyes open as he worked my foot and leg with his hands, all the while keeping his eyes locked with mine. When he finished, he bent down and grabbed my shoes and held his hand out for me to take.
We walked down the beach hand-in-hand, passing some couples I’d recognized from the wedding. They all smiled and nodded at us, continuing on their way. As we continued, I spotted a very familiar figure coming our way and knew immediately it was Hugo and Molly.
“Great, can’t they go away already?” I muttered, more to myself than Knox.
“I thought you could handle him?” Knox questioned.
When I said nothing, Knox smiled. “Is that you, admitting defeat?”
“No,” I scoffed, swallowing hard the faster we approached them.
“Okay then, let’s see what you got,” he challenged.
My stomach twirled the closer they came when I finally squeezed his hand. “Fine, yes, this is me giving up. I can’t do it,” I cried.
Knox shook his head, that cocky smile of his returning. “Lorelai, Lorelai, I guess I am going to have to teach you.” He chuckled.
“Knox, please,” I begged.
“Okay, princess, just stick with it,” he reminded me, interlocking our fingers together.
Not a word was exchanged between the four of us as we passed. The moment we were out of earshot, Knox looked at me and grinned. “See what I did there?” he questioned.
Instead of answering him, I let out a huff and pulled my hand away from his and continued walking.
“What did you do that for?” Knox questioned.
“What did I do?”
“You let go of my hand.”
I swallowed hard. I knew this was only for show. I knew once we were back in Vancouver, this was gone. Hugo would be back, banging down my door, and Knox would be back out cruising for girls, and I’d have to hear all about it from Dylan and Aurora.
I’d already made one fatal mistake by letting my guard down and sleeping with him. In my defense, my walls had been knocked down. It was drunk sex, but still it was sex with someone I’d once had feelings for, obviously still did. Something I’d internally vowed would never happen between us. Amazing, mind-blowing sex that I knew I would want again and again but knew I couldn’t have. I’d never be able to have him the way I wanted him.
“Because…”
“Because why?”
I didn’t answer him. Instead, I kept walking ahead of him, not wanting to have this conversation because I’d had a few too many drinks in me. We both should know full well how that turned out the first time.
I knew how it would turn out this time, too.
One look from those blue eyes, one more kiss from those lips, and I’d end up in bed with him again, only to have him run off the following morning, leaving me feeling worse than ever.