Page 29 of Fighting Mr. Knight

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I make it through dinner and speeches ina dignified manner worthy of a bridesmaid, with a permanent regal smile and a very patient bladder.

The crowd has hit the after-dinner lull where cheeks are sore from obligatory laughter at Kate’s dad’s long, mumbled speech, followed by Max’s best man speech—confident, precise, every pause premeditated and measured.

When Sean pays homage to Jack’s dad, missing from the wedding, I can’t help but dart a glance at Jack. His smile does nothing to hide the storm raging in those dark eyes. Maybe time doesn’t heal everything.

I grab Nisha’s arm as she walks past. “Hey, can you take a pic of me to send to Dad?”

“Sure.” She takes my phone from me. “I thought he was invited?”

“Weddings and big gatherings aren’t his thing.” And secretly I’m glad. At things like these where he’s out of his comfort zone, he ends up drinking too much. “Did you hear that in the middle of the ceremony?”

“Your wolves? Yup. Heard it.”

Oh my God.

She holds the phone up and takes a picture. “I think it’s the only part of the ceremony I listened to,” she says cheerily. “Catholic masses are so damn long. Don’t tell Kate.”

I polish off the last of my champagne and grab a flute from a passing waiter. “This is not good. You could actually identify it as werewolves fucking?”

“Only because I’ve listened to your dirty audio books before. Don’t worry, most people wouldn’t have caught on that it was werewolves fucking. That’s not the first thing that springs to mind. I mean, most people don’t even know that’s a thing.” She smirks. “It could have been worse.”

“How?” I ask, exasperated. “How on earth could it have been worse?”

“Could have been your vibrator.”

“Why would I take avibratorto the church?”

She shrugs. “Kate and I think you’re addicted. At least you didn’t go arse over tit down the aisle. That rates higher on thebridesmaids from hellscale.”

“Are you saying I’m on that scale?” I hiss.

Father Donaghy walks past and gives me a curt nod as I curse under my breath. That priest is going to get me sent to hell in flames.

“How bad is my eye?”

She examines me. “It’s a little swollen. It probably feels worse than it looks.”

“It feels like I’ve been hit in the face by a heavyweight boxing world champion, so that’s good. I guess.”

She looks between both my eyes, frowning. “But there’s something else not quite right. I can’t put my finger on it.” Leaning over, she breathes right in my face. “You have no false eyelashes left on your right eye. It’s like you’re making a weird fashion statement. Why don’t we go into the toilets and see what we can do?”

I feel thoroughly depressed now.

“I can’t.” I groan. “The first dance is finishing soon. I have to join for the second. Then I think my duties are finished. Which is good because I’ve barely had time to pee today.”

“Looks like your sexy dance partner is raring to go.”

I follow Nisha’s line of sight. I’d almost forgotten I’m dancing with Jack.

That’s an unconvincing lie.

He licks his lips like a predator at the top of the food chain.

A predator who has spotted dessert.

9

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