Chapter 40
CLEO
Imade it downstairs with approximately thirty seconds to spare.
The living room had been transformed into a spa.
Manicure stations had been set up by the windows, pedicure chairs sat in a row, and the table was covered with mimosas, coffee, and a huge assortment of pastries, fresh fruit, and little treats.
The bridesmaids were already there, mimosas in hand despite the early hour, chattering excitedly.
Melody spotted me. “There you are! I was about to send a search party.”
“Sorry, I overslept. I was up late.”
“With my fiancé’s brother?” Melody raised an eyebrow, her voice low enough that only I could hear.
My face went hot. “What? No! I—”
“Relax.” She squeezed my arm, grinning. “I’m just messing with you. Though you might want to fix your hair before anyone else notices.”
I patted my hair self-consciously. Great. Sex hair at a bridal spa morning.
“Come on.” Melody put her hand gently on my shoulder. “The manicurists are waiting.”
I settled into a chair next to her, grateful for the cool cucumber water that appeared almost immediately. My head was pounding slightly from lack of sleep, and a tiny hangover.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Melody as the manicurist started working on my cuticles. “Nervous? Excited? Ready to run?”
“Strangely calm,” she said, examining the polish colors. “I thought I’d be a mess, but I just feel right. Like everything is exactly as it should be.” She selected a soft pink that would complement her bouquet. “Is that weird?”
“Not weird at all,” I assured her. “That’s how you’re supposed to feel when you’re marrying the right person.”
The morning flew by in a blur of nail polish, hair styling, and makeup.
The bridesmaids were in rare form—laughing, sharing stories, making sure Melody had everything she needed.
I was in full maid of honor mode, keeping track of time, ensuring everyone’s dresses were steamed, and that the photographer captured all the important moments.
But through it all, my mind kept drifting back to Cash. To his hands on my skin. His mouth on mine. The way he laughed. Kissed. Everything.
The hairdresser worked on my hair while another worked on Melody. “So what was all that noise coming from Cash’s room last night?” Melody asked quietly.
But not quietly enough.
The makeup artist’s hand froze halfway to my face. Every head in the room swiveled toward us.
“What?” I choked.
Melody shrugged innocently. “I get up to pee like six times a night now. Baby on bladder problems. Around two in the morning, I heard noises. From Cash’s room.” She took a sip of her water. “Sounded like furniture moving. Or falling. Or something.”
My face went from warm to nuclear. Every eye in the room was on me.
“I, um—”
“Oh my god,” Sylvie gasped. “You and Cash?”
“No way,” another said. “Cash Bancroft? The robot?”
I closed my eyes briefly. This was not how I’d planned to start my day.
“He’s not a robot,” I said finally, looking directly at Melody. “And yes, I was with Cash last night.”
The room erupted. Someone actually squealed. Melody was grinning from ear to ear.
“I knew it!” She clapped her hands. “I told Austin you two would figure it out. He owes me twenty bucks.”
“You bet on us?”
“Of course we did. The sexual tension was suffocating everyone at the rehearsal dinner.” She leaned forward. “So? Details. How was it? Is he as uptight in bed as he is in real life?”
“Melody!” I was laughing now, despite my embarrassment. “I am not giving you details about your future brother-in-law’s bedroom skills on your wedding day.”
“That good, huh?” She pumped her eyebrows.
“The best,” I admitted, feeling my blush deepen. “But it’s complicated.”
“How is it complicated? You like him, he likes you. Seems pretty straightforward to me.”
I sighed, letting the makeup artist get back to work on my face. “We’re very different people. He’s… well, he’s Cash. Structured. Disciplined. Focused on his career. And I’m—”
“Amazing,” she finished for me. “Smart. Talented. Exactly what he needs.”
The other bridesmaids murmured their agreement.
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “What if Rome was just Rome? What if last night was just last night?”
“Did it feel like ‘just last night’?” Melody asked softly.
I thought about how it felt to fall asleep in his arms. How we’d talked for hours about everything and nothing. How he’d listened to my plans and dreams.
“No,” I admitted. “It didn’t.”
“Then stop overthinking it,” she said. “Take it from someone who wasted way too much time doubting. When you know, you know.”
“I do know,” I said quietly. “I’m in love with him.”
Saying it out loud felt both terrifying and liberating. I was in love with Cash Bancroft. Had been since Rome, maybe before. And I was tired of pretending otherwise.
“Oh honey,” Melody reached over and squeezed my hand. “We all knew that.”
Her future sisters laughed but not unkindly.
“It was pretty obvious,” one of them said.
“The way you two look at each other when you think no one’s watching?” another added. “Dead giveaway.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” Melody asked.
I thought about it as the stylist finished pinning my hair. “I don’t know yet.”
Melody was in the center of it all, glowing and calm in a way that seemed impossible for a bride on her wedding day. We broke for lunch. Finger foods and more mimosas, though Melody stuck to sparkling water with increasing complaints about missing alcohol.
The photographer documented every minute. It made me a little self-conscious. I didn’t want her album filled with pictures of me stuffing my face. But the little finger foods were so good. And I was still trying to feed my hangover.
An hour later, we were getting into our dresses. The bridesmaids helped each other with zippers and buttons. I slipped into my maid of honor dress.
I felt good. I felt confident. After the amazing night in Cash’s arms, I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world. And I couldn’t wait to see him in his tux.
Then it was time to help Melody into her dress.
I helped her step into it, carefully zipping up the back while she held her breath. The seamstress had made the alterations in record time. The ivory silk gown fit her like a glove.
“Perfect,” the photographer said, snapping pictures. “Don’t move.”
But Melody turned to face me anyway. Her eyes were bright with tears.
“You look incredible,” I whispered.
“So do you.” She grabbed my hands. “Thank you. For everything. For being here. For being my person.”
“Always.”
“I mean it, Cleo. I couldn’t have done any of this without you. The business, the wedding, learning to love myself. You’ve been there for all of it.”
“Melody, I love you. I feel so blessed that I get to be on this journey with you.”
She squeezed my hands. “You gave me the courage to be myself. To go after what I wanted. I hope I can convince you to do the same.” She pulled me into a careful hug, mindful of our dresses. “You and Cash are going to figure it out. I know you are.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you’re both too stubborn to give up on something you want this badly.” She pulled back, grinning. “Plus, I need you to be my sister-in-law. The family gatherings will be so much better with you there permanently.”
I laughed through my tears. “That’s a terrible reason to make a relationship work.”
“Is it though?” She turned so I could adjust her veil. “Just think. We may not be coworkers next year, but we could be sisters.”
The words hit me square in the chest.
Sisters.
I would love to be a part of this big, chaotic, overwhelming Bancroft family. They were rich, but they weren’t anything like what I expected rich people to be. They were kind. Welcoming. And so accepting.
“One step at a time,” I managed.
“Says the woman who slept with my brother-in-law last night.”
“Melody!”
She laughed. “Too soon?”
“Way too soon.”
A knock at the door. Melody’s father appeared, looking distinguished in his tuxedo. His eyes immediately filled with tears when he saw his daughter.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he said. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Dad, don’t cry. You’ll make me cry and my makeup will be ruined.”
“Too late.” He was already crying. So was Melody. So was I.
The photographer was having a field day.
The makeup artist came back in to fix us back up.
“It’s time,” I said. “Are you ready?”
She took a deep breath. “So ready.”
We lined up. Bridesmaids in order, me last as maid of honor. The wedding coordinator gave us our cues. Music started floating up from the beach.
“This is it,” Melody whispered, grabbing my hand one more time. “I’m getting married.”
“You’re getting married,” I confirmed. “To the man who absolutely adores you. Who would move mountains for you.”
“Stop. I’m going to cry again.”
“Let’s go get your happily ever after.”
The bridesmaids started walking. One by one, they disappeared down the path toward the beach. Then it was my turn.
I took a breath. Straightened my shoulders. Started walking.
The beach came into view and it was perfect. Every chair filled with guests. The archway draped in those beautiful peonies. The ocean sparkling behind it all. I saw Austin, but I didn’t really see him. I only had eyes for Cash.
He was in a tuxedo, looking devastating, and the second I stepped onto the beach his eyes locked on mine. He watched me walk down the aisle like I was the only person there. Like this was our wedding, not his brother’s.
I took my place at the altar, standing across from him. He smiled. Just a small one. Just for me.
The music changed. Melody appeared. The whole beach gasped. She was radiant, floating down the aisle on her father’s arm, beaming at Austin who looked like he was on the verge of tears.
I watched him take her hands in his. His gaze was locked on her. The man was absolutely crazy in love with my friend. There was no denying his feelings for her. I wanted that kind of love.
The officiant spoke about love and partnership and building a life together. Melody and Austin exchanged vows they’d written themselves, funny and sweet and so perfectly them that half the guests were in tears.
I watched Cash watching his brother. Saw the pride on his face. The joy. Then his eyes found mine again.
I heard the officiant saying the famous words, but I got distracted.
“You may kiss the bride,” the officiant announced, bringing me back to the moment I was supposed to be paying attention to.
Austin dipped Melody dramatically and kissed her. The beach erupted in applause. I wiped my tears and cheered.
Melody and Austin walked back down the aisle as husband and wife. The wedding party followed. Cash offered me his arm. I took it and let him lead me back down the beach while cameras flashed and guests threw flower petals.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured.
“You clean up pretty well yourself, Lurch.”
He laughed. “Later. We need to talk.”
“Is it a good talk or a bad talk?”
“The best talk.”
My heart stuttered. “Okay.”
We reached the end of the aisle and I released his arm to go congratulate Melody. But Cash caught my hand, pulled me back for just a second. He stared at me. I waited. I could see he wanted to say something, but he simply looked at me. Then he let me go.
I watched him walk away to congratulate his brother. I felt the words he didn’t say. This was real. We were really doing this.
And I’d never been more terrified or more sure of anything in my life.