Page 44 of The Sins Of The Biker

“Um… sorry, what was that?”

“Your vows, dear,” the priest says, and I turn to face Luca, who’s smiling.

“Somewhere else, are we?”

“No, nowhere else but here.” Smiling, I place both my hands in his and repeat what the priest says, “I, Serena Gabriella Alejandro, take you, Luca Antonio Clemente, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward…”

Luca grips my hands and recites the same words—the rest is a blur. Father Harlow declares us man and wife, and then Luca suddenly lifts my veil over my face and kisses me deeply. We smile and separate as the sound of applause rises from the audience.

“I love you, Mrs. Clemente.”

My heart melts. “I love you too, Mr. Clemente.”

He briefly kisses me again, and then we turn to face the guests. Everyone claps again. Butterflies fill me, and I enjoy this moment of happiness.

My father is the first to congratulate us. He kisses me on both cheeks, then hugs Luca. A warmth fills me, and I can’t help but think that this is how everything is supposed to be.

Exiting the church, we are met with confetti, and then people queue to give kisses and congratulations to us.

I can’t quite explain it, but I find myself feeling watched. I glance up as Mrs. Fernandez comments on my dress, and an unexpected chill runs through me.

No, it can’t be—Harley?

A man stands back away from the crowd, shades over his eyes, wearing what looks like a waiter’s uniform and when he takes his shades off, my heart stops beating.

Harley is there, standing in front of me a few feet away. His anger is clear from where I’m standing. His body is trembling with fury. Is this real? After all this time, it’s hard to believe this is Harley. Why did he come here? Why now?

“Sweetheart, Mrs. Fernandez is asking you a question.”

My eyes reluctantly move from Harley to Luca, who’s observing me. His gaze is filled with worry. Finally, finding my voice, I say, “I’m okay. I’m sorry.”

Mrs. Fernandez smiles. She was Luca’s nanny when he was a child, and as Luca says, she was more like his mom than his birth mom.

He glances to where my eyes were only moments ago, and I follow, noticing Harley is no longer there.Did I imagine him?No, it couldn’t have been him. The man was taller, with big muscles and lean. The Harley I knew had muscles and was lean, but this man appeared to be bigger.So why was he looking at me like he knew me?

With the way my body responded, I could have sworn it was him, though. But why now, after all this time?

Rachel and Liv come over, congratulating Luca and me. I take this opportunity to excuse myself from Mrs. Fernandez and walk with Rachel and Live to a private area.

“I’ll be right back.”

“What is it, Serena? You look pale,” Liv asks.

“Liv, did Harley say he was coming here today? I know I made you promise never to talk about him with me again, but I’m sure I just saw him standing over there,” I say, pointing to where I last saw him. Liv follows my finger, and she covers her eyes with her hand, trying to conceal the sunshine from her line of sight.

Her eyes then move to mine. “Are you sure it was Harley? I can’t imagine why he would be here. I haven’t spoken to him in weeks. He’s been so damn busy with something he won’t talk to me about.”

“I’m sure,” I reply, my hands shaking, and I fidget with them, rubbing them together in front of me.

Rachel steps forward and takes my hands in hers.

“Serena, you’re shaking. Are you okay?”

I inhale to take a deep breath, then smile. “Yeah, I am. I think I’m imagining things. I’m probably just hungry because I didn’t eat this morning.”

“That would be it,” Liv says, smiling. “I know if I don’t eat, I feel lightheaded. We have got to get some food into you, girl.”

Giggling, I hear, “Everything all right?” I turn to find Luca standing there looking handsome as always.

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