Twice as Hot (Tales of an Extraordinary Girl #2)(97)
Author: Gena Showalter

She waved me over to hurry me along. The crowd chuckled.

My gaze shifted, and I spotted Tanner as one of Rome’s groomsmen. He blew me a kiss. Lexis, I saw next, was in the front pew. She offered me a tentative smile. I couldn’t help myself. I returned it. This was my day, a dream come true. I was feeling generous.

The crowd suddenly let out a gasp. Before I could glance around to see what evil scrim had managed to crash my wedding – and kill the bastard – Jean-Luc brushed past me, turned and stopped directly in front of me. My dad glanced between us as the crowd fell silent, watching.

I patted his arm. "It’s okay," I said.

"Sorry I’m late. I couldn’t stay away," Jean-Luc said. He was wearing a wrinkled and stained T-shirt, a holey pair of jeans and flip-flops. His hair was in disarray and he smelled like beer. "You look amazing."

"You look like shit." They were the only words I could think of at the moment, but deep down I was glad to see him – bad timing or not. His absence these past few weeks had been the only dark spot in my life.

He didn’t react. He just leaned into me and pressed a lingering kiss on my cheek. "I still love you, but I wish you all the best. I wanted you to know that," he said, then spun on his heel, strode forward and plopped into a seat behind Lexis.

Her vision, I thought, looking up. Rome smiled at me to let me know he understood what had just happened.

Lexis gaped at Jean-Luc, but I saw the longing in her gaze. I hoped her vision about him came true. He deserved a happily-ever-after.

"Come on, my girl. Rome’s waiting," my dad said, and I laced my arm through his.

My head held high, we kicked into gear again. The closer we came to the altar, the faster my steps grew. Eagerness rushed through me. Finally my dad handed me over, and Rome held tight. Love glowed on his face, and damn, his body was fine, encased in the black tux as it was.

"Belle," he said. "You take my breath away."

"So you like the dress?"

"Actually, I can’t wait to strip you."

The pastor heard, and cleared his throat. We laughed.

"Let’s get to the kissing part," Rome told him.

And we did.