Page 50 of All You Need Is Love

Chapter 11

The wedding day was supposed to be all about the bride, but Marshall couldn’t keep his eyes off the third bridesmaid.

From the moment that Shannon had walked down the sand-strewn aisle in a strappy light purple dress that swished around her sandaled feet, his gaze had been glued to her. He’d forced himself to turn his attention to Bella as she walked down the aisle arm in arm with her mother.

The bride had stayed laser-focused on her groom. Marshall had sneaked a peek at Ben, who’d wiped at the corners of his eyes a few times before Bella reached him.

And now, while the evening sun cast shadows along the beach and a redheaded woman off to the side of the arch strummed a guitar and crooned about not being able to help falling in love, Ben and Bella lit their unity candle then joined hands. Ben said something and Bella laughed softly.

Marshall’s gaze tiptoed to the right once more, past Bella’s maid of honor—Jessica, if he remembered right—and Ashley, and finally settled on Shannon. She clutched a bouquet of white flowers and watched the wedding with tears in her eyes. Man, she took his breath away, and it wasn’t just the way the silver necklace she wore draped across her delicate collarbone, or how the tiny purple flowers woven in her hair enhanced the softness of her curls.

It was everything about her—her aura, the love she demonstrated for her family and friends, the way she could so completely take the focus off of herself and what she might be feeling and put it on others. He hadn’t had a spare minute to talk with her since their trip to the lighthouse yesterday morning, but he was sure that Shannon had put every effort into giving Bella whatever she needed to make this day a success. As he’d walked through the courtyard on his way down to the beach, he’d seen the evidence right there in front of him—it all looked so professionally decorated, so beautiful.

Just like Shannon. Just like her soul.

Quinn squeezed Marshall’s hand. He glanced at her and had to look away from her accusing glare before he said something he’d regret. Thankfully, he hadn’t been with her much this morning. She’d been off helping before the wedding, and he’d been drinking beer and watching a baseball game with Thomas and some of the other men.

It had been … really nice, if he were honest. To be one of the guys. To not be striving just to get people to like him or his projects. It had been easy, shooting the breeze, yelling at the foul balls, clinking their glasses together during one of the Dodgers’ home runs.

If things worked out with him and Shannon, this could eventually be his family.

How would they feel about him if they knew he was lying, though? If they knew that he was really thinking of Shannon even though he was sitting here holding Quinn’s hand?

Marshall couldn’t take it anymore.

But what could he do? He and Shannon had both agreed not to expose Quinn. Marshall’s fingers tugged at the collar of his shirt then paused.

“The only other option that I see is for Quinn to tell the truth herself.”

What if he could convince her to do just that? Maybe she’d have compassion for him and Shannon. Not that she was known for it, but she couldn’t be that selfish, right? Shannon was her sister, after all. If Marshall had any siblings, he’d do anything for them.

The music faded and the Bakers’ cousin Spencer, the pastor at Piedras Blancas Church, stepped under the arch once more. “Well, guys, it’s that time.”

Ben squeezed Bella’s hands, and they grinned at each other.

“By the power vested in me by God and the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Ben, kiss your bride!”

“Yes, sir.” Ben tucked Bella into his arms as if handling precious china then kissed her. And kissed her. Whoops and cheers broke out in the crowd, and Ben waved them off with one hand. Finally, Bella playfully pushed him away, adjusted her veil, and shook her head, laughing.

“It’s my pleasure to introduce to you for the very first time, Ben and Bella Baker.”

Recessional music flooded the outdoor speakers, and the bride and groom joined hands and strolled down the aisle, Bella holding her bouquet aloft like a trophy. The rest of the bridal party followed—Jessica on the arm of Ben’s friend Evan, Ashley on her husband Derek’s, and finally Shannon with her brother Tyler.

Marshall winked at her as she passed. A small smile creased her lips and she averted her eyes.

“Could you be any more obvious?” Quinn’s voice hissed in his ear.

He sighed. Something had to change. Tonight.

Pastor Spencer dismissed the crowd back up to the reception area. As Quinn began to turn, Marshall caught her elbow. “Can we talk?”

She studied him for a moment before nodding. “Of course.” Grabbing his hand, she tugged him toward the south part of the beach, where a bluff covered in flowers and sand extended over the water. “Just make sure you smile and don’t look upset, or people will think we’re fighting.”

“Fine.” For the first time today, he looked at Quinn—really looked at her. She had the straightest posture of anyone he’d ever known, and her sleek brown hair glistened in the waning sunlight. With her black sheath dress, smooth makeup, and super high heels—how did she walk on the beach in those things, anyway?—she was every bit as stylish here as she always had struck him in New York.

Was she really as shallow and arrogant as she seemed? Or was there more beneath the surface, some depth or vulnerability he could appeal to?

“Quinn, we need to end this charade.”

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