Page 30 of Forbidden Flame

When she was settled, she looked down at me.

“Tell me you feel the same.” My jaw tightened. I didn’t know what I’d do if she didn’t.

Her lips pursed. “I feel it. But it’s not a good idea.”

I raised a brow. “If you could have what Sarah and Knox have, would you want it?”

She shook her head. “You know I would.”

I shut the door, knowing that was the best I was going to get for now.

In the cab, I turned up the heat. It was sunny for a February day but still cool. Most of the ceremony locations had heaters set up for the guests’ comfort, but Daphne had to be chilled in her dress.

Daphne turned slightly in her seat so that she was facing me. “There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

I rested a hand on the steering wheel, waiting for the others to back out and head to the barn where the reception was being held. “What about?”

“The girls were talking before the ceremony about something you said—”

I let out a breath, knowing what was coming.

“They said you didn’t want Sarah to serve my pies at her wedding.” Her tone was filled with pain.

I winced. “I love your pies. I want everyone to know about them.”

“Then why would you say something like that?”

“They were asking about our date, and I was worried they’d think something was going on between us. I know you didn’t want that. I thought it would help if I didn’t support you in that situation. If it means anything, Aunt Lori wasn’t having it, and Sarah was pissed.”

Daphne just stared out the windshield.

“I’m sorry. It was a dick move, and my intentions—”

She held up a hand. “I understand why you did that.”

“From now on, I won’t say anything. I’ll let my cousins figure it out.”

She gestured between us. “There’s nothing going on between us, and I don’t want you to have to pretend in front of you family.”

“I wanted to keep what we shared private.”

“I want that too,” she said softly.

“It was special to me.” I didn’t want her to think it was a one-night stand.

She let out a breath. “You know it can’t go anywhere.”

I sighed heavily. “I don’t know where we go from here. Let’s just enjoy the day, okay?”

She nodded as I backed up. “I can do that.”

“Izzy with your family?”

She relaxed into the seat. “My brothers are supposed to be watching her. They keep sending me pictures of what they’re doing.”

I parked as close to the barn as I could get. We didn’t have a parking lot nearby, so the cars and trucks were lined up on the side of the lane. I unhooked my seatbelt and leaned closer. “Can I see?”

She smiled as she settled on an image and handed the phone to me.

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