Page 39 of Always a Bridesmaid

Jane’s heart went from NASCAR to Formula 1 speeds. Did Henry tell Sarah? Had she figured it out? Was she here to fire her? God, she was such an idiot—so much was resting on this gig and Jane had risked it all for one night with a guy who didn’t even trust her to keep her word.

“Okay,” Jane said with her chin up, ready to take whatever Sarah had to dish out. She deserved it after all.

“I wanted to apologize for last night. I shouldn’t have left you to clean up the mess between my dad and Henry.”

Jane had to blink twice to make sure she’d heard correctly. Then she stuttered with guilt before getting out an answer. “You needed to get to your mom, I get it.”

“No, I should have handled it myself as soon as my dad said he was coming. I hate confrontation, but I need to get over it or I’ll be a doormat for the rest of my life.”

“You’re not a doormat,” Jane reassured her, feeling guilty since she was the one who should be doing the apologizing. She’d broken her main rule, getting personally involved with the family.

“I just want everyone to get along.”

“And there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Sarah smiled. “Then you’ll say yes when I ask you to come today to Henry’s shoot.”

Panic settled like a boulder in Jane’s throat. “It’s a family thing. I don’t want to intrude.”

“You wouldn’t be. Henry wants you to come. He asked me himself to bring you. Even put your name on his account at the team shop to get you clothes so you’ll have something to wear to the event. It’s very casual. I’m wearing designer jeans and my new red Jimmy Choos, to match his driver’s team T-shirt.”

“I don’t need him to buy me anything. I can buy my own shirt.” And she knew exactly what shirt she’d get.

Sarah lifted a brow. “Most people would take the money and run with it.”

“I’m not most people.” And she didn’t want to take a penny from him. But to play things cool she added, “It would be a conflict of interest to take something from him. You already gave me a budget for clothing for the event. It would be like double-dipping.”

“I thought it was because of how I talked to you last night,” Sarah said, and Jane felt like a traitor.

“What? No, of course not.”

“Thanks again for playing referee. I know my brother can be an ass and if he took out his anger with my dad on you, I’m sorry.”

“He didn’t. I was just a distraction to take his mind off things.” Sadly, the more she thought about it, that’s what it had been. But going into that dance, she’d known that, right? It was why she’d approached him. So then why was she so bummed that things had ended the way they had?

“So does this mean you’ll come?”

“I’ll go.”

Sarah squealed and pulled Jane into her arms. “We’re going to have so much fun. And I can’t wait to see the look on his face when we show up.”

“I thought you said he asked me to go.”

“He did, but I don’t think he expected you to agree.”

Well, that changed things. Maybe she should renege on the offer. Then again, she’d come here to make Sarah happy and be the best bridesmaid she possibly could, and this seemed to fall under that category. So she’d suck it up and maybe pull off a favor for a friend at the same time.

“Can I bring a plus-one?” she asked, thinking of Georgia’s Wish Foundation recipient.

Henry was goingto knock out his lights. A bloody plus-one! What kind of game was she playing at? Sure, he’d made a mistake of epic proportions last night, which was why he’d asked her here, but bringing another guy to his event was complete bollocks.

He’d spent the entire night trying to figure out how to make things right between them, because he’d be damned if this was a one-time thing. He’d barely had a taste of her and he was desperate for more.

At least Sarah had given him fair warning to prepare. But instead of gathering his bearings, he was getting angrier by the second. And more nervous. The nerves came from seeing her, wondering if his mistake was too big to come back from. He hadn’t just cockblocked himself, he’d hurt her deeply. For that he’d never forgive himself.

The look on her face when she’d realized just what she was holding would forever be tattooed on the insides of his eyelids, so that every time he closed his eyes, he would relive it. And that gutted him.

“I’m guessing by the murderous look on your face, you went with the NDA last night?” Enzo asked, standing next to him in nearly identical race suits.

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