Page 80 of Denim & Diamonds

The half-dozen wrinkles in his forehead deepened. “What are you talking about? You don’t have that kind of money.”

“Not today. But I’ll get it.”

“From where?”

“None of your damn business. Though I’ll tell you one thing, not a single cent will come from Tobias Lucchi.”

Arthur’s eyes widened.

I smirked, enjoying catching him off guard. “Meeting adjourned.”

***

Two-and-a-half hours later, I polished off my second glass of wine as I got ready for the wedding from hell. I looked in the mirror at my outfit. Oliver was right. This dress was fashion forward—almost art—but it wasn’t very sexy. And after a day like today,coupled with the night I was about to have, I needed more. So I quickly changed into the near-scandalous green dress and finished getting ready. A town car was picking me up in less than ten minutes, yet I poured another half glass of liquid courage and chugged it.

Just as I slipped on my stilettos, the doorbell buzzed. The driver was early, and I still had to put my jewelry on. I walked to the door to let him know he’d have to wait, but when I opened it, my jaw nearly hit the floor.

“Brock? What are you doing here?”

CHAPTER 17

February

“Hey, beautiful.” He smiled.

Oh my God.

Standing before me was the most incredible sight my eyes had ever had the pleasure of seeing: Brock in a tux.

Brock with his hair slicked back in a way I’d never seen before.

The black tuxedo fit him like an absolute glove, and he smelled like pure heaven.

Before saying another word, he lifted me into the air and kissed me so hard I thought my lips might fall off. I felt light as a feather in his arms. With every second that passed, it felt like I was coming alive again. The depression I’d experienced since returning from Meadowbrook disappeared as I melted into him.

When he finally put me down, leaving me painfully aroused, I took a moment to catch my breath. “Well, hello to you, too, sir,” I panted.

“Surprised?”He beamed.

“Beyond.”

“I told you I’d come.” His eyes lowered to my body. “You look freaking amazing, Red. God.” Brock shook his head. “I thought red was the color of the devil, but apparently, it’s green. That dress makes me want to cover you with my body all night.”

“You have my permission to do that,” I said, disregarding all of the progress I’d made in trying to distance myself. Brock was so much harder to resist in the flesh.

“Be careful what else you tell me I can do tonight. I might just take you up on it.”

“Brock, what’s happening here? I can’t believe you came. I just assumed when we said goodbye—”

“A promise is a promise, Red. Did I not tell you I would accompany you to this wedding?”

“Yes, but you never mentioned it again. I assumed with the way we left things that you’d decided better of it.”

“Gonna be honest. Ireallywanted to be here, but I didn’t think I was gonna make it. Got fitted for a tux a while ago while you were still in town, but then my brother went and scheduled a surgery for today. I’d promised to help him recover at my place. But I was able to get my other brothers and a couple of locals to look after him in shifts for the weekend.”

I shook my head. “I can’t believe you went through all those hoops just to come to a wedding with me.”

“Then you’re underestimating how much you mean to me, Red.” He rubbed the back of his hand against my cheek. “It’s not about the wedding for me, though.”

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