Page 5 of Jilted

“It’s… special.” I smiled.

Claire, the bridal attendant, knocked on the open door. Her eyes widened when she saw me.

“I was somehow persuaded into filling in for one of the bridesmaids,” I offered.

“Yes,” Piper said. “It wasn’t a hard sell after I mentioned my daddy is best friends with the owner of the magazine she works for.”

I was not a violent person, but I felt like punching this woman. Claire looked at me sympathetically before turning to the bride. “All of the ladies are done with their spray tans. We have about thirty minutes until the ceremony starts, if you want to begin with pictures. The photographer is waiting.”

I’d almost forgotten about the spray tans—thankfully my brothers and I had inherited a bar from my Irish father but gotten our ability to tan easily from my Italian mother, so I’d been excused from the mandatory skin painting.

Piper’s eyes dropped to my boobs and she sighed. “We’ll have to reorder the girls so you’re at the end, farthest from me. I don’t want to look flat.”

“Claire, you are my new best friend.”

I didn’t normally drink much at work events, but when Claire passed me a shot of tequila—my second in an hour—there was no way in hell I could refuse it. The clear liquid knocked back smooth, sliding gracefully down my esophagus and igniting a warm sensation in mybelly. The pre-wedding bridesmaid photoshoot had been painful. Piper had barked orders, but luckily, Bridezilla had needed a bathroom break. When she left, I made sure Elijah snapped a bunch of candids of the ladies standing around and laughing without me, because one ofthosewould be what we used in the magazine.

I couldn’t wait to get out of this costume. Not only was it hideous, it was hot as hell, and the fascinator had been secured with a mound of bobby pins that were pulling my hair. At least it wouldn’t be too long now. Once the ceremony was over, we’d move on to full bridal-party pictures, and then I could get changed. Maybe I’d get drunk tonight. Lord knows I’d already put in my pound of flesh for the magazine today.

The maître d’ walked out to the lawn where we’d been taking pictures and told everyone it was time for the ceremony to start. I followed at the rear of the group as we shuffled down another long hallway, feeling even more uncomfortable without Elijah. But he’d had to go set up to take pictures of the bride coming down the aisle.

When we arrived outside the chapel, a gaggle of groomsmen was already lined up and waiting. It was one thing to look ridiculous when everyone around you also looked that way, but entirely another when you had to go out in public. My eyes jumped from one tuxedo-clad man to the next. A few were nice looking, and most seemed about my age. But when I got to the last man in line, I nearly gasped. It was the gorgeous, azure-eyed guy from earlier. I stood a little taller, momentarily forgetting what the heck I was wearing. Kelly, the friendliest of the bridesmaids, turned to me. “Let me introduce you to everyone.”

“Okay.”

She steered me down the line of groomsmen. The first guy was Matthew, the second was Harding. The third she introduced as Ted, so I made a little more effort for him. Maybe if the opportunity presented itself, I’d chat him up a little. It never hurt to be friendly to the big boss’s family. Eventually, we got to the end of the line and stopped in front of the azure eyes. My enthusiasm for the event perked up a whole lot more.

“And this is Wilder. Your partner for the ceremony.” She wagged a finger at him.“Be nice.”

He smirked. “I’m always nice, love.”

Ooh…Those eyes came with a British accent.

Bridezilla beckoned for Kelly, so she excused herself, leaving me and the azure eyes alone.

The groomsman, whose name was apparently Wilder, gave me the once-over. His eyes dropped down to take in my dress, then raised to the top of my head, where the fascinator that looked more like mangled horns sat protruding from my skull.

“You had on a different dress earlier. So the accident must’ve happened recently then?”

“Accident?”

He smirked and motioned to the fascinator. “I’m assuming there’s a giant wound under there, since you thought it was a good idea to putthatdress on instead.”

3SLOANE

“Are you joking?” My hands flew to my hips. “Who insults someone they just met like that?”

“Actually I was.” He grinned. “Joking, I mean.”

“Well, it wasn’t very funny. Do you think I want to be wearing this… this…” My arms flailed around.“Costume?”

The maître d’ walked over. His eyes flashed down the hall and back. I suspected he was looking for the bride. “Is everything alright over here?” he whispered.

“Fine.”

He gestured to the door. “People are waiting for the ceremony to start. The walls are thin.”

I took a deep breath and nodded. “Of course. Sorry.”

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