Fated Hearts (Southern Bride 8)

I quickly found myself scanning the room for Roger again. When I couldn’t find him, I let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding.

Would he really show up with a date? He probably didn’t think I would be here, so it was possible.

Just as I was beginning to relax, I saw Roger walk up to his parents. He was alone, or at least, for a split second, I thought he was alone. Then a woman suddenly appeared at his side as if out of thin air.

She was beautiful, with dark auburn hair. She almost seemed to have a glow surrounding her whole body. It was as if she was there but wasn’t there.

I blinked a few times to make sure I wasn’t imagining it.

She gently put her hand on Roger’s shoulder, but he seemed unmoved by her touch as his mother spoke to him. When her eyes turned and found mine, I stood motionless, her gaze holding me captive.

She was too far away for me to hear her speak, but I caught her words anyway.

“Don’t give up on him…he loves you.”

A breeze blew in from the open balcony doors—and she floated off with it.

I squeezed my eyes shut and quickly opened them, but she was gone.

Was I losing my damn mind now? Had she even really been there?

Suddenly I felt dizzy, and I swayed slightly.

Truitt reached out for me, and so did Rick.

Saryn was by my side in an instant. “Are you okay, Annalise?”

I tried to speak around the lump in my throat. When nothing came out, I simply shook my head.

“I’m going to take her outside for some fresh air,” Saryn said, guiding me away from the two men toward the open terrace.

The moment I stepped outside, I dragged in a deep breath and quickly walked all the way to the end of the terrace. It overlooked the Texas Hill countryside, and the views were breathtaking, but that wasn’t what still stole my breath away.

“Who was she?” I whispered, looking out at the oak and cedar trees swaying in the wind. The deep blue sky seemed so dark and expansive with the remaining clouds of pink and orange stretching across the horizon.

“I didn’t think he’d told you about her.”

Saryn’s words caused me to spin and look at her. “So, there is someone else?”

A look of confusion crossed her face. “Wait, who are you talking about?”

“Who are you talking about?”

Her brows drew in tight as she walked up next to me and placed her hands on the railing. “Kerri.”

My heart pounded so hard in my chest, I had to place my hand over it. I drew in a long, deep breath and steeled myself for her answer to my next question. “Who is Kerri? Is that who was standing with Roger just now?”

“What do you mean?”

I glanced back to the open doors that led into the ballroom. Echoes of laughter drifted through, along with mumbled conversations. I stared into the room, willing the woman to appear again. “The woman who was standing next to Roger in there only moments before we walked out. I swore she spoke to me.”

Saryn followed my gaze, then looked back at me like I was crazy. “Are you taking any pain medications or muscle relaxers, by any chance?”

I scrunched up my face. “What? No! Why would you ask me that?”

She rubbed at her temples. “Sorry, the nurse in me comes out sometimes.” She reached down and took my hands in hers. “Kerri was Roger’s fiancée.”

My mouth dropped open as I stared at her, dumbfounded.

“By your reaction, I’m going to guess that he hasn’t told you about her.”

“Was?” I managed to ask.

Saryn looked down and pressed her lips into a tight line before staring back up at me. “He’ll probably never forgive me for telling you this. He doesn’t talk about her—ever.”

I suddenly no longer wanted to know about this Kerri. If Roger was still in love with her, his commitment issues would make total sense.

“Kerri died in a car accident when Roger was twenty-three.”

I gasped and jerked one hand free from Saryn’s grip to cover my mouth. “Wh-what?”

“Let’s sit down,” Saryn said, taking me by my elbow and gently leading us over to a bench. “Roger wasn’t with her, but he saw the accident happen. He ran to her and got her out of the car, but she…she…”

I felt a tear slip free and trail down my face. “No,” I whispered softly as Saryn nodded.

“She died in his arms. Truitt said Roger changed that day. Locked up his heart and tossed away the key. Vowed he would never allow himself to fall in love again. He started to drink a lot, spent a lot of time with women. At one point, they were afraid he’d drop out of law school. I guess Truitt sat down with him one day and told him Kerri wouldn’t want to see him throw his life away. So, he got his act together, finished law school with honors, and joined a firm in Boerne before he went off on his own.”