Page 83 of HEA: Happily Ever After

Or months.

Or years.

Unfortunately for me, sweet Hyacinth stayed happily in love with Dirk, and their wedding day arrived right on schedule.

My hands shook with nerves as I dressed for the occasion in the primary bedroom of Oscar’s beautiful Vermont house. Out in the twilight, beyond the picture window, fairy lights already twinkled in the snow-covered winter garden. Further afield, I imagined the wedding planners were making final preparations in the barn where the ceremony would be. Elsewhere on the property, Oscar’s whole family was probably dressed and ready, eagerly anticipating the festivities. If there were ever a perfect setting for two people to commit themselves to one another, it was here and now.

“I think I might throw up,” I told my reflection in the mirror conversationally.

Oscar poked his head out of the bathroom. “Sorry, what?”

“I said we should get a move on, or we’ll be the last ones there.” I’d finished buttoning my tuxedo shirt and stuffed it into my pants, so I grabbed my cummerbund and wrapped it around my waist before turning to look at him.

His hair was still dark with water from his shower, and tiny droplets clung to his neck and shoulders. Tuxedo pants hung loose and unbuttoned from his waist. His chest was bare, and all those acres of hot, tempting skin and the small red marks where I’d gotten a little aggressive—a little possessive—earlier tonight gleamed in the lamplight. He fumbled with his wristwatch, scowling down at the golden band like it had defied him.

Mine, I thought. Every imperfection. Every obstinate inch. And how freaking lucky was I that unlike any of the other weddings we’d attended together, this time I got to arrive on the arm of Oscar Overton, perpetual best man… and leave with him too?

“O-oscar,” I began. I was breathing too fast, and I knew it.

He glanced up at me. “Yeah, gorgeous?”

I swallowed hard. I couldn’t do it. Not now. Not yet. But tomorrow… yeah. Tomorrow, I was going to I love you this man so hard he’d never doubt it for an instant.

I forced a smile. “I’m ready when you are.”

21

OSCAR

It was New Year’s Eve, and I was panicking.

“Well, good, but there’s no rush. And not to be a stickler, gorgeous, but you’re not really ready when you don’t even have your bow tie on,” I pointed out while surreptitiously sliding Hugh’s bow tie into a drawer and shoving it under several bundles of socks.

Hugh blinked like he’d momentarily forgotten what a bow tie was, then immediately launched into action and began looking around frantically. “Oh, god, you’re right. Shoot, I just had it. Where could it have gone?”

“It’s fine. The ceremony isn’t until six,” I reminded him lazily. “Plenty of time to find it.”

Hugh glanced up from the open suitcase he was pawing through. “Babe, your mom wants you there at four for family pictures.”

“Surely they don’t need two hours for pictures.”

Hugh let out a laugh and moved the bed pillows out of the way to look under them. “It’s pretty standard, actually.”

“Pfft. Says who?” I took my time buttoning my shirt. Not only were the plastic buttons tiny, but the parts that required studs were damned near impossible.

“Says the professional wedding photographer.” He turned to me and frowned. “Since when do you not know how to work a tux? You’ve probably put this shirt on a hundred times in the past year alone.” He stepped forward and took over from my procrastinating fingertips.

“We can be late,” I suggested.

Hugh met my eyes in challenge. “You’re family. Hyacinth specifically told me she wanted a picture with her big brother.”

I sighed and closed my eyes in defeat, then tried a new angle, leaning in to sniff his neck. “Mmm. Fuck, you smell good. I think we have time for a quickie.”

He pressed a kiss to my cheek, lingering there for a few long beats. I drank in the warmth and familiar scent of him.

When he pulled back, his expression was one of enamored patience. “C’mon. Only one more wedding and you’ll be done for the year. You won’t have to go to any more until next year.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed his hands to put them back on my button job. “Cornball New Year’s jokes? I think we should go ahead and break up now to spare me the humiliation of being seen with you tonight.”

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