Page 100 of Storm in a Teacup
“That’s okay. You were busy. I’m pulling into the car park now. Where are you?”
My hand covers my heart as I force myself to take in a few deep breaths. “We’re in the back of the church. Cut through the church and go through the door on the back left.”
“Got it. I’ll see you in a sec.”
I pace while we wait for Ben. Moments later, he comes through the door. He bows before me, extending his arm to hold out the ring box. “Your rings, my lady.”
I take them and immediately hand them over to Paul, who pivots to make sure the ring bearer has them. When Ben stands up straight, I wrap my arms around his neck to pull him into a tight hug. “Thank you,” I say, squeezing with all my might. “Thank you. Thank you.”
He squeezes me back. “Of course, love.”
I finally release him and smooth down my dress.
“You look beautiful,” he says.
“You too,” I say, because he does. He’s wearing the pin I gave him yesterday on the lapel of his suit jacket. I can’t help but ask, “No kilt?”
He grins. “Naw, didn’t want to outshine Mel. Though I saw a fair few on my strut up the aisle, so I’m a tad jealous.”
“Next wedding,” I say, toying with the amethyst ring on my right hand, mind once again straying to him in a kilt. Damn, it only took me five years of living in Scotland to realize I had a thing for kilts. Maybe I just have a thing for the idea of Ben in a kilt. I have a thing for Ben, period. I shake myself back to reality. “I’ve got to get back to Mel.”
“Right. I’ll go find my seat.”
We head in our separate directions, but I can’t help but look back at him before I turn the corner. I catch him looking back at me as well. He smiles, then disappears through the door.
I go tell Mel that we’re ready to start. She’s getting married today.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Ben
I head into the church and choose a seat on the bride’s side.
I couldn’t sleep last night. For a while, at least. I held Linny until she fell asleep, then, when I realized my brain was not turning off, I slipped out of the bed quietly, going to her kitchen for water. Oscar Wilde met me at the sink, weaving around my legs. I had picked him up with a grunt and admitted, “I’m falling in love with your mother, Oscar.”
He stared back at me with big, black eyes that said, “Duh.”
I stare at my phone while I wait, not having anyone to talk to since I don’t know anyone here. Except that doesn’t last for long. A hand grabs me on the shoulder, so I turn quickly to see Linny’s father. I shoot to my feet.
“Sir,” I say, but don’t attempt a handshake this time.
He sticks out his hand, which I gratefully meet. “Ben, I thought that was you. I told you, you could call me Harry.”
“Right,” I say, the thought of it making me a tad uncomfortable. “Harry.”
He gestures to the two women behind him, whom I am just now seeing, one with ginger hair the same color as Linny’s andthe other with deep brunette hair. “These are my other daughters, Chelsea and Sarah. Girls, this is Linny’s boyfriend, Ben.”
The way he saysboyfriend,I wonder if her sisters don’t know about the whole fake dating thing—it came out naturally. Maybe he’s just a good liar. I say hellos to them as well, and both take their time scanning me up and down, studying me with full suspicion.
I squirm under their prying eyes and say, “Well, I’ll let you guys find your seats.”
Harry shakes his head. “No, no. Come sit up front with us. You’re honorary family.”
I shake my head back at him. “Harry, you know…” I trail off, hoping he will understand the end of that sentence.
He winks at me and says, “Today, I don’t know a thing.”
Harry puts a hand on my shoulder and guides me out of my row. He keeps that hand on my shoulder and has me lead the way to the front, where I find a woman who can only be Linny’s mother. They have the same face, albeit thirty years apart, only her eyes are brown. I turn around in an attempt to let Linny’s sisters in first so they can sit next to their mum, but Harry ushers me in so I end up sitting between him and Linny’s mum. Right. I would end up here.
