Page 28 of Fighting Mr. Knight

The service picks up speed, first reading . . . second reading . . . gospel acclamation. I try to pay attention, but Father Donaghy could have performed a satanic ritual; for all I know, I’m now in a cult.

When we get to the good part,I do, I can’t help but shed a tear. My best friend is married.

Will she still be my best friend after the werewolf fiasco?

Father Donaghy tells us to go in peace.

“Thanks be to God,” I agree loudly as everyone claps and snaps pictures. Now I need alcohol. All the alcohol.

Every last drop.

Father Donaghy is the first to walk down the aisle, followed by the newlyweds. Max and Becky link arms and follow.

I step out into the aisle. As dark, smouldering brown eyes level on mine, I suddenly feel a hundred times more nervous about my second trip down the aisle.

“You look beautiful,” Jack says gruffly as he extends his arm for me to loop mine through. His gaze brazenly rakes my curves. “A real head-turner.”

“Stop lying,” I say sullenly. “My eye is swollen. I look like Sloth fromThe Goonies.”

“Nonsense.” He laughs as we proceed slowly down the aisle. “You can hardly notice it.”

My skin feels hot against his arm. I glance up and see the lie clear as day on his face.

“How bad does the other guy look?”

“It was Becky’s elbow,” I say between my teeth with a smile plastered on my face for the guests waving. “Just as we got out of the wedding car.”

“Ouch. I’ll find some ice for you when we get to the marquee.”

I stiffen. “Don’t worry.” I don’t need him doing me any favours. “But thank you. Sorry I can’t walk any faster. I can’t feel anything from the knees up in this dress.”

His eyes flicker down my body. “It’s worth it.”

Okay.

“You don’t scrub up too badly yourself,” I grudgingly say.

Not too bad at all.

“Thank you.” He chuckles. “Glad you approve. I think.”

I glance at his hair in a topknot but more groomed than it has been these past few days. “They let you keep the hair.”

His smile widens into a grin as we reach the doors, and he takes my hand as I shuffle like a penguin down the steps. “The hair was non-negotiable.”

I trip on the last step and fall against the slab of unmovable muscle. “Sorry,” I splutter. “I’ve been waiting for that to happen. At least I waited until after mass.”

He wraps his arm around my lower back to steady me. “Good thing I’m close.”

“Jack! Bonnie! Get in line. Chop, chop,” Sergeant Wedding Planner shrills.

“Better do as we’re told,” Jack murmurs, his lips skimming my ear.

As the guests pile out of the chapel, congratulate Kate and tell us what beautiful people we all are, I steal a glance at the square-jawed face, feeling his grip around my waist.

He catches me staring and responds with a wink.

In that instant, I know I need to stay away from Mr. Big Dick before I do something I’ll severely regret.

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