Page 51 of Beauty
Sienna’s not going to disappear. This is her brother’s wedding.
“Yeah, I’m just going to run to the bathroom.” I thumb over my shoulder. “I’ll meet up with you out there.”
War mentions something about finding his wife, but I’m too focused on getting out of here to listen. As I step into the quiet restroom, I can’t help but consider that this could turn into a complete disaster. When Aiden and Brooks find out about us, will it mess with our chemistry on the ice? Will they be pissed? No, I can’t imagine they’ll be that angry. I’m a good guy. I’ll be good to Sienna.
It may take some convincing, I guess, for them to see that this is the real deal. Gavin and Beckett need to see that too. They hold all the power when it comes to my career. And I need to keep my spot on this team. I need to stay in Boston. With Ollie.
Shit, I wonder what Ollie will think of his old man finally having a woman. I bet he’ll love her.
Does she like kids? Does she want her own?
My dick thickens at just the thought. I need to talk to her. It’s time to get out of my head. There’s no sense in worrying and planning and spiraling until I do. I’ve waited almost five years for this moment. I won’t waste another second.
I’m coming for you, Sienna Langfield, just like I promised.
As I step out into the hall, it’s as if fate has delivered her right to me.
Sienna sashays my way, looking like a fucking siren in that dress. She hasn’t seen me yet. But as I inhale, ready to call out to her, a man in a tuxedo appears out of nowhere. He’s older than she is, maybe in his early forties, with blond hair and a beard. With a lascivious look, he grasps her wrist and pulls her into a corner. The same kind of dark corner I was just fantasizing about. I can still see them, but they’re positioned in a way that hides them from the crowd gathered for cocktail hour.
My blood pressure spikes. Concerned for her, I stalk their way, ready to intervene, ready to rail into him about the way he manhandled her like that. But when I’m still several steps away, she laughs, and my legs lock up.
“You’re going to get us caught,” she breathes.
“Maybe I want to get us caught,” the man says with a distinct British accent. “Maybe you look so bloody beautiful that I can’t help myself. I need you.”
He leans down, and to my horror, Sienna loops her arms around his neck and kisses him.
It’s effortless, as if this isn’t the first time they’ve done it. It’s clear from the way they cling to each other that they’re comfortable with one another’s bodies.
My stomach roils when his hand settles on her ass and squeezes, like he has every right to touch her.
Fuck. I never imagined fate could be so cruel. I finally found my Sienna, only to immediately be slapped in the face with the truth that she’s no longer mine.
Maybe she never was.
My vision blurs and my heart hammers in my chest.
I have to get out of this corridor. Away from her and this man. I can’t stay here. I shouldn’t be here anyway. I should be at home with my son.
He’s all that matters.
By some miracle, I make it down to the street without being stopped. Outside, I stop and shoot a text to War, telling him my stomach is off and that I’ll see him later. I ask him to please give my love to the happy couple, then I pull out my valet ticket and collect my car.
When he holds out my keys, I take out a twenty and push it toward him.
“Do you want any change?” the kid asks, pulling out a wad of ones.
A shudder works its way through me. I’ve spent the last few years of my life checking every single dollar bill I found searching for a girl who probably forgot me as soon as she landed in Paris. What a wicked fool I am. “No. No more change.”
No more chasing fate. No more chasing Sienna.
She looked happy. Let her be happy.
It’s time to move on.
SEVENTEEN
SIENNA
