Page 4 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"Not yet. I'm trying to pace myself."

"Why on earth would you want to do that? It's your wedding weekend. Have fun, go wild. It's your last chance."

"I don't care about going wild."

"Well, that's true. I sometimes wonder if Andrew knows you're not into partying as much as he is."

Andrew probably did like parties more than I did, but he was happy to leave when I was ready to go. And he always told me that being alone with me was all he really wanted or needed.

As Harper left to go to the bar, Ethan Stark appeared in front of me, carrying two glasses of champagne.

"Congratulations," he said, handing me a glass.

"Thank you," I said, avoiding his penetrating green gaze. There was something unnervingly perceptive about the way he watched people, as if he could see right through to their soul.

"I'm probably the last person you wanted to see at your rehearsal dinner," he said, a hint of a smile softening his hard jaw.

"You are," I admitted. "What are you doing on the island?"

"I'm overseeing the security for Victor's art collection, which is being delivered to his villa this week."

"That has nothing to do with my wedding or this rehearsal dinner."

"Victor told me the wedding events are open to everyone on staff."

"That's true," I said tightly. "I hope you enjoy yourself."

"No, you don't," he said with a wry smile. "But I get it. I'm not very popular with people I have to investigate."

"Well, clearly your investigation came up with nothing, or I would have heard from you before now."

"The insurance company paid off on the paintings that were allegedly destroyed," he said. "I'm still not convinced they weren't stolen and that the fire wasn't cover for the theft. Unfortunately, I can't prove that."

I was relieved to hear that the investigation was over. I didn't want anything to mar our wedding weekend.

"It's interesting how quickly you and Andrew went from a rescue to a wedding," Ethan continued. "It's only been six months since you met."

"When you know something is right, you know."

"Or you're not looking closely enough. Perfection is often an illusion."

"Andrew and I aren't perfect, but we are in love. And that is not an illusion," I said. "Do you come by your cynicism because of your job or because you haven't been lucky enough to find love?"

He gave me a small smile. "Both. Working fraud for the last decade has definitely made me unwilling to take anything at face value. But I was also married for a short time until I found out my wife wanted the big fancy wedding far more than the marriage."

I couldn't say I was surprised he'd been married. He was very attractive in an intense, I'm going to know everything about you kind of way. Maybe that's why his wife had left him. But I kept that thought to myself, muttering, "I'm sorry."

"Love can be blinding."

Another not-so-subtle insinuation I was moving too fast. "I'm not blinded by love. I have my eyes wide open. Please don't judge my relationship by your own."

"Fine. How well do you know Allison McGuire?" he asked, changing the subject.

The random question startled me. "Who's Allison McGuire?"

"You don't know her? She's the redhead talking to Andrew."

I turned to see Andrew's trio had expanded to include a beautiful woman with dark red hair, wearing a form-fitting strapless dress, her shoulders bare, and a beautiful diamond necklace hanging around her neck. I had never seen her before, but Andrew was giving her a warm smile that suggested he knew her well.

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