Page 12 of Closer

Silence meets my question. Then, “Open the door.”

I turn the handle without a second thought, and there he is again.

Sebastian.

Here, when I least expect him, but need him most.

I blink hard. But he remains, leaning against the doorframe with a cocky tilt of his head. Not my imagination then. Fantastic. “What are you doing here?”

“You invited me, remember?”

“I didn’t.”

He pulls a dark brown envelope from his jacket and holds it up.

My wedding invitation.

He slides a finger under the flap and extracts a card. “To the asshole who broke my heart.” He lifts his gaze to mine, eyes glinting. “I couldn’t resist such a heartfelt invitation.”

Mortification washes over me, fragments of that drunken night flooding back. I scribbled that message, fueled by bitterness, regret, and way too much tequila. And maybe the hope that he would show up. But I never sent it… I thought I threw it away.

“I didn’t mean for you to see that,” I mumble.

“I never got a nicer one.” He steps into the room, his presence filling the space, and the familiar scent of his cologne assaults me. Intoxicating.

I back up toward the wall, and the door closes. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I could say the same thing about you. Shouldn’t you be at your wedding dancing with your husband, Mrs. Campbell?”

I bristle at the name. “Don’t call me that.”

“Why not? It’s who you are now, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t marry him.”

“Is that so?” He moves closer, his presence both thrilling and unnerving. “And why is that,princess?”

The old nickname sparks a flood of memories. Happy, painful, and everything in between. I lift my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. “Because I realized I was making a mistake.”

“A mistake, huh?” He reaches for a lock of my hair, winding it in slow circles. “And what made you realize that?”

You.

All I could think about was him. I was ready to walk down the aisle. But I can’t give him that satisfaction. “It doesn’t matter.”

“Doesn’t it?” His fingers trail down my neck, along my collarbone, tracing the low neckline. “You’re standing here in a wedding dress. One you were supposed to wear for another man. I think it matters a great deal.”

I inhale sharply at his touch, my skin tingling beneath the fabric. “Why are you here?”

“You know why.” His gaze burns into mine, the intensity stealing my breath.

“I don’t.”

“Yes, you do.” His hand slides to the small of my back, pulling me closer and sending my pulse into overdrive.

“You need to leave.”

“Do I?” His lips nuzzle over the sensitive skin of my neck, and I bite back a moan. “Because it seems to me like this is exactly where I’m meant to be.”

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