Seducing the Bride

She shrugs. “I haven’t been yet. Derek says it’s amazing…”

So he doesn’t care if she likes where they’ll live?

“What will you do there?”

“I’m sure she’ll find a job,” Derek answers for her. “She’s so smart and charming. There are lots of great start-ups and little women-owned businesses where she could make a difference.”

Maybe he doesn’t mean it, but the douche sounds condescending. Perrie will make a splash wherever she’s employed, not just in “little” corners of the workplace. Besides, none of that sounds like they’ll fulfill the dreams Perrie expressed before she left for school. “Princess?”

She shrugs. “I’ll figure it out. It’s a big city with a healthy economy…”

And a lot of rain. She’s always loved the desert’s heat, sun, and stark beauty. To her, storms ruin a gorgeous blue sky. And Derek wants to take her to one of the rainiest cities in the country.

Does he know her at all?

Sure, she might be willing to make that sacrifice if she really loves him. But the way she seems reluctant to look at the guy, much less touch him, leads me to wonder if she does.

“Well, that all sounds wonderful,” Dan says when Derek finally shuts up. “Are you excited, Perrie?”

“Thrilled.”

She doesn’t sound like it. I’m calling bullshit.

“So was your engagement your big announcement, princess?” I ask her directly because I don’t want Asshole thinking I’m talking to him.

“Part of it.” She swallows nervously, then finally cuts me a sidelong stare. The flare of awareness when our eyes meet shows all over her face. Then she turns to Dan and squeezes his hand. “We’d actually like to get married here, with your permission.”

“I’d love that.” Dan looks like a pleased, proud father.

I want to throw up. “When?”

She hesitates. “Saturday.”

In six fucking days? That’s how long I have to see if tying herself to Derek would be the biggest mistake of her life and stop her?

“Oh, wow. Well…” Dan rubs his hands together. “We have a lot of planning to do, then. How about we sit down to dinner, and you can tell me what you’re envisioning.”

While Perrie’s father wastes his time with that, I’ll figure out how to get her alone so I can hear her side of this clusterfuck—without her fiancé butting in.

Perrie

Hayden can see right through me; I’m sure of it.

I escaped the tension of the dinner table to do the dishes, but I’m still a nervous wreck. Hayden glared at Derek throughout the entire meal. I know the million and one reasons my fiancé doesn’t like my childhood crush. And my father seems oblivious to the undercurrents.

Could this get any more awkward?

Unfortunately, yes. If Hayden discovers my secret, it will be a hundred times worse.

As I tuck the last of the silverware into the dishwasher and slam the door shut, I wonder if I’ve made the right choice. Maybe I should explain everything. But I run the risk of shocking and disappointing my father. Ugh, I can’t deal with that now. After eight hours of travel and one of the most stressful evenings in memory, I’m beat.

Thank goodness my father and Derek were gung ho to scout out the backyard for the perfect ceremony site—and that Hayden seems completely focused on dissecting my fiancé. I don’t expect that to last. He’ll soon turn his attention on me, and then…I’m almost afraid to ask.

I’d been hoping I wouldn’t feel any of this crazy lovesickness when I set eyes on him. But now it’s painfully clear that I’ll have to deal with these nagging feelings until Saturday—just like I’ve done for the past four years.

“Perrie.”

Speak of the devil.

“Hayden.” I don’t look at him as he saunters into the kitchen, his stare glued to me. Unfortunately, I can’t shake the certainty that I’m transparent. Please don’t let him see my heart shivering and naked in front of him. “What’s up?”

He takes hold of my left hand—jolting me with his touch—and stares at my engagement ring. It’s huge and not at all what I would have picked. Even under the kitchen lights, it both sparkles and screams that I’m someone’s woman—which is exactly what Derek wanted.

Without a word, Hayden releases my hand and pins me with the sort of stare that makes me squirm. “Tell me what you’re doing.”

“What does it look like? I’m doing the dishes.”

“Don’t play dumb. Three months, princess? What’s your rush? And don’t give me that one-thing-led-to-another bullshit. You’re not usually impulsive.”

“I appreciate your concern, but Derek is great. Don’t worry.”

He scowls. “Did you think that script would work with me? It makes Dan and his daddy-guilt feel better to believe you, but I’m going to be a tougher sell. Do you love him?”

God, he’s more direct than I remember.

I reach for the dirty pans. “Pass me the dish soap, please.”

Heaving a frustrated sigh, Hayden grabs my shoulders. “The fucking dishes will wait until we’ve talked.”