Page 356 of Kentrell

“Honeyyyy…” I cooed, unable to help the way my voice dipped low, full of admiration and craving.

“You so fine.” I purred the words, watching the slow, lazy way they spread across his face… pulling those dimples out of hiding. Wani had them too… but seeing them on Kentrell?

Rare. Golden. Because my man didn’t smile for everybody.

“Whatchu… like this?” He grinned, lifting both sides of his jacket lapels, giving me a little spin like he was showing off just for me.

And he was.

Same chocolate tux—velvet jacket, cotton pants—just like the rest of his groomsmen… but with a few extra touches to match my fly and make sure he stood out like the king he was.

Every stitch, every seam… all elegantly crafted by the hands of his baby brother, Kensei… who’d been quietly making waves with his designs and was set to launch his luxury men’s line this fall.

That cream satin tie and pocket square? Flawless.

His boutonnière? A single winter white rose with soft, muted foliage to match my bouquet—cream and champagne roses, brown-tinted leaves, dried wheat… all tied together with a smooth chocolate satin ribbon.

We were a whole damn mood standing here like this.

Like love… money… legacy… and Black excellence all rolled up in one frame.

And in less than thirty minutes?

I was about to be his wife.

“Zoe, it’s time…”

Markeisha Goodwin, the head coordinator, burst into my suite like she was on a mission.

Her eyes landed on Kentrell first.

“Uh-uh.” She snapped her fingers at him like he was a little boy caught somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be.

Kentrell just laughed, deep and unbothered, like the overgrown kid he was when he got like this.

“You told me you was going to find Kensei… now how did I know you was lying?”

Markeisha scolded him as she marched across the room, grabbing him by the forearm like she’d been raising him her whole life and dragging him toward the door.

“I ain’t lie, Markeisha,” he said between laughs, resisting just enough to make it dramatic. “I did go looking for my lil’ brotha… and I found him.”

He stood right there in the doorjamb like he had no plans on moving.

“That’s because he was where he was supposed to be… in the grooms’ lounge.” Markeisha snapped, waving him off like she was shooing a fly. “Whereyousupposed to be—bye, Kentrell.”

She swung the door just as he stepped back, still chuckling under his breath.

“I’ma getchu, Zoe.”

Markeisha spun on me next, hands on her hips like I’d started all this. Shaniece cracked up laughing in the corner, thoroughly enjoying the show.

“Y’all already pregnant… you can wait a few more hours to get back to it,” Markeisha fussed, but I could hear the smile buried somewhere in her voice.

She came over, fixing my dress and smoothing my train like she hadn’t just dragged my future husband out of the room. Then she walked to the showcase mirror to unpin my royal-length, fingertip veil with the lace edging we’d picked out three months ago.

I stayed quiet… partly because I didn’t want her to really whoop me… and partly because if I laughed too hard, I’d end up smearing my makeup… again.

Taking a slow breath, I turned back toward the mirror… staring at my reflection… knowing I was about to shed the last piece of my old life—my last name.

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