“Are you sniffing me?” His amused voice sounded close to my ear, and I took a step back, dropping my hand from his arm, my cheeks heating.
“Umm. Maaaybe?”
“Okay then.” One finger reached up under my chin, gently tilting my head upwards so that our eyes could meet.
“Hi,” I whispered.
“Hi. You look beautiful, Avery.” He smiled down at me.
“You look…um…good. Great. Nice suit.”
“Thanks.” The amusement was back in his voice, and his eyes sparkled at me. On impulse, I reached up and brushed my mouth against his, another featherlight kiss that barely counted but still sent shivers racing through me. Well, since he was my pretend boyfriend, I had to make the most of it. Any woman would, with the way he looked at that moment in time. So gorgeous, so powerful, so imposing. He was impossible for me to resist, even if I’d wanted to.
“Oops. You have a bit of my lipstick just here.” I touched my finger to his lower lip, the rest of my hand grasping his chin lightly. His lips were so soft. His rough jaw flexed under my hand, and his eyes darkened even further. I deliberately trailed my finger across his lip, and his breath hitched. He swallowed hard, his grip on my arm tightening almost imperceptibly.
I dropped my hand and moved back to give him some space. He stared at me for a moment, the air crackling between us. The silence stretched, and I bit my lip, worried that I’d gone too far.
“Ethan? I’m sorry if I overstepped the mark.” My voice came out as a hesitant whisper.
“You have no idea, do you,” he murmured, almost to himself. “Fuck.” He pinched his brow, a pained expression on his face. “I need a minute. Wait there.” He strode off, disappearing around the corner.
Maybe I shouldn’t have done that. I just couldn’t seem to help myself. I crossed the foyer and sank onto the chaise longue, waiting and watching as wedding guests began to file in through the doors and descend the stairs. Five minutes passed as I sat, watching the guests milling around, talking and laughing. Five long, uncomfortable minutes. I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Ethan reappear, glancing around the foyer. I stood up and gave him a small wave, and he strode over to me, back to his usual cool, composed self.
“Let’s head into the wedding ceremony and I’ll find your seat, then I’ll need to leave you to walk Victoria down the aisle.” I nodded, and he held out his arm. Tucking my arm into his
, I tottered a bit on my heels, trying to keep up with his brisk pace.
“Sorry.” His steps slowed. “I’m so used to striding everywhere, I forget that not everyone can keep up with me.”
“It’s fine. It’s these heels. I’d be able to walk much faster if I was wearing flats.” We smiled at one another, and I felt that pull between us again.
The moment was gone as quickly as it had appeared with the sound of Ethan’s mother, Georgina, calling to him.
“Hurry, Ethan darling. Victoria mustn’t be kept waiting.”
“Yes, Mother. I know. We have plenty of time; stop worrying.”
“I can’t help it. My baby girl is getting married to the man of her dreams, and I want everything to be perfect.”
“Hardly the man of her dreams,” Ethan muttered under his breath. I couldn’t help smirking, turning my head so Georgina wouldn’t see my face.
We reached the front of the drawing room where the wedding ceremony was taking place. Rows of chairs covered in flowing ivory fabric were placed either side of the room, with a wide aisle between them. White flowers filled the space, the overpowering scent making me want to sneeze.
Ethan directed me to a seat in the front row. “I’m going to find Victoria now. Once the ceremony has begun and I’ve walked her down the aisle, I’ll sit with you. Are you going to be alright?”
“I’ll be fine, but why am I in the front row?” My panicked gaze flew to his.
His gaze darted between his mother and me. “Because I need to sit in the front, and I want my girlfriend next to me.” He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
I melted. At that moment in time, I would have given anything for his words to have been real.
I watched him walk away, knowing that I was in way over my head.
“Things seem serious between the two of you.” Georgina’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Sorry, what was that?”
“Things seem serious between the two of you,” she repeated, a little impatiently. “I wanted him to make a go of things with Clarissa.” She sighed wistfully. “They were together when they were younger, and I always imagined they’d get married. I thought that when he saw her again, he’d want her back, but I hadn’t anticipated that he would already be in love with someone else.” Her eyes, pale blue and so different to Ethan’s, met mine. “I suppose I owe you an apology.”