Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Iwanted to cry, but instead I looked up ferry crossings on my phone. Of course, there were none until the next morning. How was I supposed to stay there? It wasn’t only infuriating; it was humiliating.
I KNEW it. I just knew it was too good to be true. A guy like Colin? Into me?
I considered calling Angie or my mom to vent, but they’d worry since I was still on the island, out of their reach. I’d call them tomorrow and divulge the whole thing. But right now, I was stuck there.
Should I hole up in the room all night?
Another crack of thunder outside had me wondering if the wedding might even move forward. Sure, there was the large tent, but there was at least a five-minute walk to that tent. And with the sky looking like it did, it didn’t look good.
Colin stepped out of the bathroom, glanced at me, and stood in front of the full-length mirror—the same one he’d made me stand in front of the night before when he told me I looked beautiful.
Ugh.
There was a knock on the door. It was Stephen, dressed for his wedding but with a grave face.
“They’re moving everything indoors. There’s a severe weather warning with projected gale-force winds. Come on, let’s get these pictures over with. See you later, Kate,” Stephen said, already out the door.
Colin didn’t even look at me. He followed his brother out the door and closed it behind him.
I lay down on the bed and screamed into the pillow until I had no more breath. I languished there for the longest time, a few tears slipping down my cheek and into my hair.
The day grew darker and darker, and when I’d finally had my fill of wallowing, I stood up.
I wouldn’t let this moment dictate the rest of my weekend. I’d been invited to a wedding, and I would go to that wedding. I’d eat, drink, and be merry if it killed me.
A bright flash and the following ominous crash read like a warning.
But I didn’t heed it.
Instead, I tore through my things, selected the red dress with the long slit I’d brought as an option in case these Brightwater babes liked to show skin. Well, I didn’t care about anyone else right at that moment. My red dress would carry my broken heart through the evening.
An hour later, I was walking down the steps into a completely transformed floral garden.
Every surface that could have flowers on it did.
Though I had heard the wind picking up outside in Colin’s room as I got ready, downstairs in the main areas there was only the sound of violins, which came from a trio of violinists tucked in a corner under the stairs.
All the original furniture seemed to have vanished, and I wondered where the workers had stashed it. The sunroom had been selected for the ceremony, with elegant wooden chairs lined up facing the windows.
I appreciated the size of the living room now that I saw it was filled with half of the tables and chairs that should have been under the tent.
The other half were in the main hall, which was usually a wide-open space.
They’d fashioned a dance floor between the two table areas, and the result was spectacular.
It was as if they’d planned it all this way from the start.
I meandered, partly to take everything in, but also because I didn’t recognize anyone among the guests who had arrived. The family must have been out taking photos somewhere, and with the wind the way it was now, they would come back any minute.
I ordered a glass of wine from the bartender and walked to the back French doors that were open wide. Many guests were outside with their drinks, but it was obvious everyone was talking about the weather. Women held their dresses or their hair, bracing themselves for a potential sudden gust.
“Are you with the bride?” a male voice asked. Standing next to me with a drink in his hand was a man who looked like he could have shared the cover of GQ with Colin.
“The groom,” I replied.
“Oh? I thought I’d met all the Gordon family and friends,” he said with a curious smile.
“I’m, um, an employee at the Gordon Agency,” I said.
“Ah, yes, it’s been years since I visited their building. Nice to meet you. I’m Blake. Friend of the family, you might say.”
“I’m Katelynn.” I shook his extended hand, which was awkward since he was standing so close to me. He also didn’t let go of my hand when I released my grip.
“Nice hands, Katelynn. Soft skin.”
“Thanks, I guess,” I said, retrieving my hand. I took a sip.
“What is your take on all of this?” he asked, waving his hand around.
“It’s a magnificent house. Beautiful wedding, considering it should have been down by the ocean.”
“It is a shame Steve and the little woman won’t get the wedding of their dreams,” he said sarcastically.
“It’s a dreamy wedding, regardless.” I couldn’t tell if this guy was happy to be there or not.
“Tell me, Katelynn, did you come with a date?”
“Not anymore,” I said.
“Couldn’t make it? That bodes well for me. Listen, I have to make the rounds. There are a few people here who would lose it if I didn’t at least flatter them for a few minutes. I’ll find you.”
Before I had a chance to tell him I had no interest in being found, he was off, his arm around an older woman who was blushing from whatever he told her.
“Stay away from him.”
Now it was Colin beside me, and he startled me.
“I’m glad I can count on you to warn me off attractive strangers, but at this point, I don’t need your help, thank you very much.”
“Trust me, Blake is the last person you’d want to give any attention to.” His tone of voice hadn’t softened since the last time we’d spoken.
I tried not to look at Colin. He was too handsome, and I was too wounded.
“Trust you?” I sneered.
He walked away from me and greeted some guests.
I watched as a group of young women turned their eyes his way and giggled among themselves.
When he approached them, one woman leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek.
I wanted to turn around and go inside, but I was transfixed by how the women laughed at something he said.
He’s not all that funny.
The only relief I had was that his own demeanor hadn’t changed. He was still unsmiling.
I bet he’s charming all the same, I considered dejectedly. After that, I walked inside, not wanting to be a further witness to such a revolting scene.
No sooner had I gone through the door than Pam grabbed me by the arm.
She greeted me with all the gusto she might have greeted an old friend.
Since she was the only woman I was acquainted with, I grabbed hold and didn’t let go.
We chatted, and she introduced me to other wives of board directors.
I was the youngest one in this little conversational group, but they asked me questions about my job and talked about their weekend at Brightwater.
Pam recounted our fishing trip that morning, and one of the other women sympathized with us having to go fishing with our men.
My man. Colin was nothing of mine. He never had been, and now he never would be.
“If you weren’t with Colin, I’d tell you to keep your eye on that one,” Pam whispered to me, motioning with her glass toward the far side of the room. Blake was talking to a group of people, but he made no secret of glancing at me at any chance he got.
“He said he’s a Gordon family friend?” If anyone was going to give me the gossip, it would be Pam.
“He used to play baseball with Landon until Landon got hurt. Then Blake’s contract wasn’t renewed, and he wasn’t picked up by another team. He’s gotten into real estate deals…something like that, he told my husband. He has to make his money somehow now that he’s in debt in the millions.”
They made an announcement that we were all to go into the sunroom for the ceremony. I joined the group that was filing in, but something made me turn around. I nearly tripped over the person in front of me when I saw who was walking through the main hall on Landon’s arm.
Margaret Flame.
The royal blue dress that clung to her every curve was the least distinctive thing about her. She looked more glamorous than I’d ever seen her until I looked at her expression. She hadn’t seen me yet. Her eyes looked dull, but grew more alert when they landed on me.
A part of me ached for her. Another part burned with embarrassment. Grant and I had actually believed we were able to fix whatever mess she was in. Whatever she was tangled in, it was not something I could save her from. I could barely keep my own life straight.
And I wasn't even sure she wanted to be saved.
She was a few feet away from me, and there was no escaping the next awkward moment.
“Hello, Kate. I’m surprised to see you here,” she said. It was obvious that Landon hadn’t told her about Colin and me dating.
Well, we used to date. More like he was pretending to date me.
I decided Landon could inform her if he cared to. “I’m surprised to see you, too, Maggie. Though I did meet your father last night.”
Landon jumped in, “Kate came with Colin.”
There was no way Maggie’s eyes could have grown wider. “Well, that’s interesting. I had no idea.”
“And the two of you?” I asked, hoping I’d get confirmation of what their relationship status was. Seeing as Maggie was attending the wedding and was now being led by the arm by Landon, it wasn’t too far a leap for anyone to assume they might be together.
“Old family friends,” Maggie said quickly with a smile I’d seen on a business magazine cover before. The arm she’d looped through Landon’s suddenly dropped to her side.
“Nice,” I said. Lots of old family friends are here tonight.
“Nice,” Landon echoed. “We should get in there.”
I nodded and walked inside. There were a few seats left, and I was about to snag one in the back when a hand was on my back.
“Come sit beside me,” Colin commanded in a low voice. His breath tickled my ear, and I shivered.
Of course, I wasn’t going to make a scene at his brother’s wedding, and I followed him to the front where we sat in the first row. I suppose Colin didn’t want the world to guess we weren’t on speaking terms.
As I sat down, I noticed we were sitting directly in front of the handsome stranger, Blake. He gave me a self-assured smile and a wink.
I sat down fast. Was he hitting on me?
Colin was stiff as a board next to me during the entire ceremony. Like he’d shut down that last vulnerable part of himself. I jumped, as did almost everyone else, when a loud crack of thunder overpowered the officiant as he was asking Haley to repeat the vows. But Colin didn’t flinch.
When it was over, the newlywed couple walked out into the main hall. Everyone was clapping, and Blake came over to the front row straightaway.
“I was wondering, Kate, if you’d like to come have a drink with me,” Blake said. He looked from me to Colin and back at me. As far as I could tell, Colin hadn’t greeted or made eye contact with him. I wondered what was going on between them.
“I’d love to,” I said, linking my arm in Blake’s—not because I wanted to but because a petty, wounded part of me wanted Colin to feel even a fraction of how awful I felt.
Finally, Colin looked my way. His usual steadfastness broke at that moment, and his nostrils flared as he took in a deep breath, his chest and shoulders expanding. I didn’t have long to examine this new look for Colin because Blake ushered me toward the bar.
As we waited for our drinks, Blake tried repeatedly to hook me.
And by that I mean he was being blatantly obvious now with what he wanted, which apparently was me.
I tried to dissuade him by laughing it off, as I often did with Grant, but this was a whole other species of man.
He was not understanding my subtle refusal.
When we finished our drinks, I made up an excuse to get out of there.
I walked off, thanking Blake for the drink, and made my way to Colin’s bathroom upstairs where I wouldn’t have to wait in the long line that had formed by the downstairs bathroom.
Walking into the bedroom was a relief in a lot of ways, and I considered not returning downstairs.
No sooner had I sat down on the bed for a bit of a break than the door opened.
Blake came in hurriedly, closing the door behind him with a smug grin on his face. I stood up in surprise as the door clicked shut.
“What are you doing here?” I asked. My back straightened, and a jolt of adrenaline ran through me.
“You told me to follow you,” he said and inched toward me.
“I did no such thing!” I countered as his slow, deliberate steps continued. “Please, you have to get out. No one can find us here together,” I said with a hint of panic.
“You absolutely did. All the flirting. And the very pointed, ‘I’m going to the bathroom.’”
His forward movement and the ambitious gleam in his eye reminded me of how I’d imagined a hunter might appear as he spotted his prey in the distance.
“But I just had to go to the bathroom.” I moved to the side of the bed now, by the window. “That wasn’t an invitation to my room!”
Blake stopped and cocked his head to the side.
“Come on, are you kidding me? You’ve been eyeing me. The banter. And it’s obvious you and Colin are in a quarrel. I definitely won’t tell him anything.”
“Get out!” I raised my voice.
“It’s pretty loud out there. I’m not sure I heard you,” he said, lowering the tone and volume of his voice as the right side of his lip crept ever so slowly toward his ear.