Page 123 of Shadow Sabotage
Then Vance’s absence hit hard.
I sat dejected at a table underneath the stars while everyone else danced the night away on a temporary dance floor set up by Rhett and Cheyenne’s pasture. They’d known from the beginning that they wanted to get married on the land that belonged to them. The land where they’d fallen back in love again.
The wedding was beautiful. Cheyenne looked stunning in her white long-sleeved dress, her new sparkly blue cowboy boots poking out underneath the bottom. They were a gift from me—her something blue for the day she promised forever to my brother.
I wore a matching pair. A grownup substitute for friendship bracelets, something practical but fun that would always remind us of this day. Cheyenne had told me to wear anything I wanted for my role as her maid of honor. I’d found a shimmery dress that faded from emerald green to navy blue. The skirt hugged my hips, then flared out at the bottom—a mermaid dress, the saleslady had told me.
I’d bought it before Vance had forever linked that word to him, picking it primarily because it came with a matching sweater I could wear to the reception to keep me warm when the sun went down.
But now, the mermaid dress did nothing but remind me of him.
I picked up my champagne glass and downed it, then snagged two more from the tray the caterer carried past my table.
“Sorry I’m late.”
My entire body went tight at the sound of that warm, sexy voice. His hand dropped, resting lightly on my shoulder, as his thumb gently stroked the nape of my neck.
I whirled around, nearly dropping my champagne at the sight of Vance.
He was here.Here.And he looked like James freaking Bond in a gray tuxedo.
“What are you doing here?” My face lit up with a smile. “I thought you flew to New York yesterday.”
He grinned. “I did. And as soon as I got there, I realized there was somewhere else I’d rather be.”
I couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m so glad you’re here. So, so glad.” I threw my arms around his neck, trying not to think about the future. About how he’d leave again.
He was here now, and that was all that mattered.
His arms wrapped tightly around my waist. “Can I have this dance?” His voice, low and sensual in my ear, sent shivers down my spine.
“Yes,” I said breathlessly. “God, yes.”
He led me to the dance floor, then took me back into his arms. I closed my eyes, sinking into the feeling of being held by him.
Home.The word vibrated through my very being, shocking me so that I opened my eyes.
Cheyenne was staring at us, her face lit up in a dazzling smile. She gave me a questioning look and I just shrugged.
I didn’t know and didn’t care. Didn’t know how long he would be here, or when he was going back, or how we would make this work. I wouldn’t let thoughts of the future ruin this moment with him.
“Don’t you want to know why I came back?” he asked, like he could read my thoughts.
“Doesn’t seem to matter much right now,” I answered, half drunk on the feeling of being back with him.
He chuckled. “Odd for you to not be nosy. I figured you would start peppering me with questions the minute you saw me.”
I pulled back so he could see my smirk. “Bold of you to think you have me figured out.”
His head tilted, giving me the point, as his lips twitched into a smile. “Nosy or not, I’m going to tell you anyway.”
I sighed dramatically. “Fine, then, since you obviously want attention. Why did you come back?”
His gaze turned serious. “Because I want more.”
My heart railed against my ribs. “Define more.”
“More everything,” he said simply, before twirling me, bringing me even tighter against him when I spun back. “Ithought I needed to take the job in New York to prove that I was as good as my dad. And I thought I needed to be like him—to live by his mantra. No distractions. That’s what made him good.”
