That is, if she didn’t die from the idea of having to face Brett again, and act like nothing hurt…
When everything did.
Chapter Sixteen
Brett yanked on his bow tie and shifted on his feet. He hadn’t seen Anna since her brief visit to the dining room this morning—and she had looked less than happy with him. After badgering Wyatt to go speak with her, he hadn’t felt much better. Damn it all to hell, he never should have agreed to this stupid plan of her brothers’.
He could have sat next to her and kept his damn hands to himself.
And he certainly could have hidden his puppy-dog eyes from Chris.
He clenched his fists and looked at the stairs again. The wedding was taking place at sunset, outside in the backyard, and he would be the one to walk Anna down the aisle. At least he had managed to get his prison guards to agree to still let him escort her into the wedding, if nothing else. He eyed his watch again.
Still five thirty-two.
The wedding was supposed to start at five thirty.
They were late.
By the time she came down, there would be no chance to talk to her. He’d be lucky if he could get a word in before they were walking down the aisle. Chris came up to him and clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m going to go stand at the altar and wait for my bride. See you soon, man.”
Brett smiled. “After you’re tied down to the old ball and chain.”
“I already told you, I don’t need any chains to keep me by her side.” Christopher hesitated, watching him closely. “Are you okay? You look as nervous as the suspect I caught literally carrying a dead body out of his apartment. You’d think you were the one getting married.”
“Nah, I’m fine. Stop worrying about me.” Brett shooed him away. “It’s your day. Get outside before she comes down and you ruin everything.”
Chris looked at the empty stairs in a lovesick manner that Brett now recognized all too well. “Right. Off I go.”
As he walked out the door, Brett leaned against the banister and let out a sigh. Though he would have been questioning Chris’s sanity a few weeks ago, suddenly…getting married didn’t seem so bad of an idea. He could see himself standing in that backyard, waiting for Anna to come to his side.
Waiting to make her his in front of everyone he knew…
Yeah, that actually sounded pretty fucking fabulous.
“Dude, she’ll be down in a little while. You know how women are.” Cole came to Brett’s side, and cleared his throat. “How many more times are you going to glower up the stairs?”
Brett shrugged. “Until she comes down and smiles at me. Until I know that she’s not mad at me for not showing up last night.”
“Last I heard from Wyatt, she’s not happy with any of us. She practically bit Wyatt’s head off earlier.” Cole rubbed his jaw. “I don’t think any of us can expect a smile out of her. Not even you.”
Brett pressed a hand to his sore abs. He swore he could count exactly where each of their knuckles connected with his stomach last night. “I get why she’s pissed at you guys, but why would she be mad at me? You ambushed me and dragged me into a room. I have the bruises to prove it.”
“I’d rather not think of her looking at your bare abs, man. I’m still trying not to punch you some more out of mere principle.” Cole averted his eyes. “And besides, women don’t always make sense. Just tell her you love her and apologize. She’ll get over it soon enough.”
Brett raised a brow. “How do you know? Have you ever told a woman you loved her, or apologized to one?”
“That’s not any of your business.” Cole shuddered. “But even if I did, I’ll never make that mistake again.”
Brett shook his head and chuckled. “Your turn will come. Mark my words.”
“Not if I can help it, it won’t. Oh, look.” Cole elbowed Brett in the stomach, sending a new shaft of pain shooting through him. When Brett hissed, Cole flushed. “Oops. Sorry. Forgot. But here they come.”
Brett lifted his head…
And forgot all about the pain in his stomach.
Anna stood at the top of the stairs, and she looked absolutely stunning in her sparkly red dress. It clung to her curves. His mouth watered. Her hair was up, leaving her neck bare. Her makeup had been applied perfectly, and her red lips paired with the red heels on her feet. She was stunning. Breathtaking.
Perfect.
His heart skipped a beat, and he forced his attention to her eyes.
She watched him the whole way down the steps, her mouth set in a perfect smile…even if it looked false. “Wow.”