Chapter 7
PAIGE
On Saturday, I was certain I was going to be late.
I hadn’t heard the alarm, so I’d slept in.
I’d been back from Paris for a while now, so I couldn’t blame the jet lag anymore, just my lazy bones.
I’d barely made it to the hairdresser appointment, but no way was I attending a wedding without a professional hairstyle.
I’d never been handy with that stuff, and following YouTube tutorials usually ended in disaster.
I was doing my own makeup, though, because I preferred a natural look, and most professionals applied so much foundation that I felt like I was wearing a mask.
I practically flew back home after my hair appointment, blowing two red lights and driving way over the speed limit. I wondered if Will could retroactively fine me for this. I’d ask him tonight. The thought made me smile. I had no idea why I liked pushing his buttons.
I put on one of my favorite dresses. The light green chiffon was tight above my waist, with a crisscrossing pattern of black lace up to the shoulders.
It flowed in a wide A-line to the floor, with a generous split up the right leg.
Still, I knew it was a bit too much fabric for this weather.
The heat in the second part of July was no less forgiving than it had been in the first part.
I’d bought it from a French designer in a tiny shop two streets away from the Eiffel Tower.
He’d been up-and-coming and a total gem of a person.
On the plus side, his prices were a bargain because he wanted to get his name out there.
If there was one thing I missed from Paris, aside from the croissants, it was the fashion.
There were plenty of choices in LA, but I missed what Paris had to offer.
Luna called while I was applying makeup, so I put my phone on loudspeaker, placing it on the shelf under the bathroom mirror while I leaned in as close as possible.
I was trying not to poke myself in the eye with the eyeliner.
I had no idea what had possessed me to try a smoky eye, but I bore a striking resemblance to a panda, so I wiped it all off and started from scratch.
Just mascara, and a smidge of color on my eyelids, cheeks, and lips.
Meanwhile, Luna was grilling me. “A friend? You did not just say that. So let me get this straight. You turned down the Lackeroy guy, and you’re going with the hot detective to the wedding as friends?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re basically dateless and sexless?”
“Jeez, way to make a girl feel better.” But my friend had a point. I’d said I wanted to date more. So why had I told Will he could be a good friend?
“Do you want me to set you up with someone?” Luna asked.
“Umm… no thanks.”
I still had scars from the last time Luna had tried that. My friend meant well, but… “good intentioned” was the best I could come up with to describe that fiasco.
“Well, have fun at the wedding.”
“I will.”
After disconnecting the call, I assessed my work.
Makeup was decent. My hair was up in an elegant bun.
The dress was perfect. I paired it with black flats and a small black clutch bag.
I wanted to knock Will’s socks off. Because I was too nervous to wait inside, I headed outside, waiting for Will in the shade of a large tree in the inner courtyard.
A black car pulled in a few minutes later, and Will climbed out from the passenger seat.
My mouth watered as I took him in. Today he was dressed to the nines. Charcoal suit and tie, white shirt.
“How long have you been waiting? I would have picked you up from your door.”
“Not long. I just wanted some fresh air. How come you’re not driving?”
“Lori insisted on arranging transportation for everyone so we wouldn’t have to worry about drinking and driving.”
He opened the car door for me. I was surprised at the pang of disappointment when Will didn’t check me out. He kept his gaze firmly on my face.
“Great day for a wedding,” I said once we were in the back of the car. It was sunny, even if a little too hot for my liking.
“It’s gonna be great. We’re going directly to the church. We’re meeting everyone there.”
“Sounds good. Do you like the guy? Does he have the family’s stamp of approval? Come on, give me some dirt.”
“We like the guy. He’s great to my sister and her son.”
“But?”
“I didn’t say but.”
“It’s in your tone.”
“You’re very curious.”
I leaned in closer, whispering, “And you’re hiding something.”
“Not hiding anything. Just adjusting to the new dynamics. I used to do a lot of activities with my nephew before, even attended school events.”
Whatever I had expected him to say, it wasn’t this.
“How come?”
“His biological dad was a scumbag. Took off before he was born, so he didn’t have a father figure. I tried to fill in that role, so to speak. I spent a lot of time with him.”
Will Connor had many layers, and I wanted to discover every single one of them. We made small talk until we entered Pasadena, and the car dropped us off right in front of the church.
There was a crowd gathered already, and someone was handing out corsages. Will and I each took one, and he pulled me a little away from the entrance.
He took care of me first, pinning it on my left side, just under my shoulder.
Was it just me, or was his hand lingering longer than needed?
His thumb feathered just above my clavicle, where it had no business being.
Despite the burning sun, a shiver slithered down my spine.
I was dying to know… was I here just as a friend?
Or perhaps a date? Sure, I’d been the one to bring up the word friend first, but Will hadn’t corrected me.
I wasn’t even sure what I wanted this to be.
Well, I knew what I wanted, I just wasn’t sure if it was wise.
When my turn came to pin the corsage to his lapel, I took an inordinate amount of time.
I was using the opportunity to study him up close.
He must have shaved this morning because I smelled the clean scent of aftershave on him.
His cheek looked so smooth that I barely refrained from touching it.
As I finished securing the corsage, I had no reason to linger… but I didn’t want to step away either.
“Just in time,” a gorgeous brunette interrupted, approaching us. She was wearing a floor-length dark blue silk dress, but I still spotted her shoes. If I wasn’t mistaken, those were Louboutins.
“My sister, Hailey. Hailey, this is Paige,” Will said.
Hailey kissed my cheek. “Pleasure to meet you. Will’s announcement caused quite a stir. We’ll have to wait until he’s not around before I start dishing dirt about him, or he’ll fight me on every word.”
I didn’t think I’d ever liked anyone instantly the way I liked Hailey. I loved everything from her impeccable shoe choice to her humor.
“I’ll make sure to take notes,” I replied. Will glared at his sister.
“Can you at least wait until after the ceremony to give me shit?”
Hailey chuckled. “Absolutely not. Wait until the rest—oh, look, here’s Jace.”
I jerked my head back when Jace climbed the stairs.
“Jace Connor, the soccer god, is your brother?” I whispered.
Will nodded, watching me intently.
“And this must be the lovely Paige,” Jace said when he reached us. He flashed a smile that bore a little resemblance to Will’s, then shook my hand.
“Dad used to take us kids to the Lords’ games. Obviously you weren’t on the team then, but I’m a Lords fan through and through.”
Jace grinned, looking between me and Will. “Brother, if she’s a Lords fan, you’ve hit the jackpot.”
“Oh, he selected me based on that criteria.” I was fighting to keep a straight face.
Another woman joined us. She was a little taller than Hailey.
Her dark brown hair was tied up in an elegant bun, and her deep green dress matched her eyes.
“Okay, Lori is in the car. Will, you should wait at the foot of the staircase. Graham is already inside. And you must be Paige. I’m Valentina, but everyone calls me Val. We should all go inside, except Will.”
Will was giving his sister away? He hadn’t mentioned that.
I said goodbye to Will, then walked inside with Val and Hailey, sitting with them.
I saved the seat next to me for Will. When he stepped inside the church with the bride, I saw yet another side of him.
Pure emotion was reflected on his features, and he kissed his sister’s forehead before stepping away from her and the groom.
He sat next to me, and on pure impulse, I wrapped an arm around his.
He stiffened at first, as if he hadn’t been expecting it, but then he squeezed it lightly.
After the ceremony, a photographer took group pictures in front of the church.
While we waited for the cars that would take us to the restaurant, I was introduced to Landon, the oldest brother, and his wife, Maddie.
Landon was carrying a toddler who seemed intent on performing gymnastics in her father’s arms. Jace rode with Landon and Maddie.
Will and I slid into the next available car with Val and Hailey.
Because Will was a mountain of a man, we asked him to sit in the front while we girls crammed in the back, careful not to sit on each other’s dresses.
“I think Landon’s a bit jealous that Lori wanted you to give her away,” Val said as the car lurched forward.
“Well, Landon can walk Val and me,” Hailey said.
Val waved her hand. “Speak for yourself, sis. My chances at spinsterhood are looking better and better.”
“Ah, this is the second wedding in the family, right?” I asked.
Val nodded. “If you don’t count our extended family, yes.”
I patted her shoulder, then held up three fingers. “Three in mine already. One brother, two sisters. Just putting it out there, but by the third one, you’ll be wondering if it’s time for life-altering choices.”
The girls laughed, then Val took out a mirror, and each of us checked our makeup. When the car came to a stop, Will opened the door, and all three of us filtered out.
“What’s that smile about?” he asked me.
“I’m glad I’m here. This is a fun day.”
The restaurant was in a renovated Victorian house, on the ground level.
The space outside had also been decorated for the wedding, with tall white bar tables where one could relax with a drink.
I was happy the reception was taking place inside though, where there was air-conditioning.
Two hostesses were directing the guests around.
I became acutely aware that Will’s hand was on my lower back.
I looked up. Will’s gaze was on my lips.
Heat coiled low in my belly, at the tips of my breasts. Holy shit.
“Paige, you look incredible.” He was so close. And he sounded… delicious.
Somehow, I found my voice. “Thank you.”
One of the hostesses came to lead us inside.
Will offered me his arm, and I took it. I felt more aware of him than before.
The point where our arms interlaced pulsed.
The occasional brush of our thighs as we moved sent tingles up my leg.
I was relieved when he went to bring us both drinks.
I needed a break from all that squirming.