Page 2 of Shielded Hearts

The guests surged to their feet, twisting to watch the bride walk the short petal-strewn path to her groom. Aspen waited until she was certain she wouldn’t be spotted before quickly sliding into a seat in the back row.

Shehatedbeing late…but this had all worked out. Looking around, she noted just how small the wedding actually was. With such an extravagant honeymoon planned, Aspen had anticipated a wedding of around five hundred guests. But there couldn’t be more than fifty people here.

Much harder for her to blend in. At the first opportunity, she would hand over the portfolio to the best man for safekeeping and leave fast.

How was she getting back to the airport? Big Mike had dropped her off, leaving her no way of returning to her plane. She’d figure it out after the ceremony.

The notes of the wedding music faded away on a poignant wisp of the breeze, turning her attention to the special event taking place in front of her.

The ceremony was beautiful and touching. The groom totally choked up, which had the bride dabbing at her eyes with a small lace handkerchief one of the bridesmaids pushed into her hand.

Soon the happy couple was pronounced husband and wife. With a happy glow, they turned to the guests, the smiles on their faces unstoppable.

The groom let out a cowboy whoop that made the bride break into laughter and sent a ripple of amusement through the guests.

Quickly, the wedding party made their way down the aisle.

As the best man passed Aspen, he turned his head and gave her a hard stare.

Her stomach dipped. He didn’t look happy about her posing as one of the wedding guests, but she didn’t have much choice. She’d just have to get him alone and do what she’d come here to do.

Though she tried her hardest to stay at the back of the group of guests headed to the reception tent, she got pushed into the middle of the pack.

Before she knew it, she was moving through the receiving line.

The tall stunning bridesmaid with dark, gleaming hair offered her a welcoming smile as if Aspen belonged there. Next to her stunning beauty, Aspen stood about six inches shorter and felt like a schlump. But she smiled back and got ushered along.

Coming face-to-face with the man she’d been corresponding with over the past week to pull off the most romantic, amazing honeymoon ever, she gulped.

Colt Malone.

His stormy gray eyes landed on her face. “What are you doing? Why are you here?”

“Uh…I have your portfolio.”

Behind her, more people pushed close, urging her to keep moving. With no choice, she stepped up in front of the bride and groom.

Aspen slapped a smile back on her face. “Congratulations! What a beautiful ceremony.”

The bride shot a look at her groom, a question on her face. His broad shoulders rippled in a shrug as if to say that he didn’t have a clue who the hell Aspen was either.

“Thanks for coming.” The bride hugged her, followed by the groom.

Dazed, Aspen was shoved out of the receiving line into the group of people milling around the tent. The musicians hadset up in the corner and were playing some light music to accompany the happy hour before dinner was served

Someone tapped her on the shoulder, and Aspen spun.

“Time for photos!” The dark-haired bombshell bridesmaid twitched her head for Aspen to follow.

She held up a hand, shaking her head.

“You have to get in the photos. Come on!”

Inwardly, she groaned as she forced herself to follow the group returning to the white arch for photos.

Before she could figure a way out of this mess, she was shoved into the group wedding photos.

Catching sight of her from the corner of his eye, Colt turned his head and looked straight at her.

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