Page 172 of Brutal Vows
He shrugs and slides his hands into his pockets. “If you say so.” He turns and strolls back toward the house, whistling “Here Comes the Bride.”
My hands start to shake. I break out in a cold sweat. My heart decides now would be a good time to test its limits to see how fast it can beat in a ten-second span.
Don’t do it. Don’t even think it. Don’t get your hopes up, you bloody wanker.
This is just another setup for fate to laugh its arse off at you.
I stand rooted to the same spot for five minutes, arguing with myself, until Reyna appears in a window.
Dark hair, red lips, olive skin.
A low-cut dress.
Acres of cleavage.
And eyes that glitter silver in the morning sun like the flash of coins at the bottom of a wishing well.
My pounding heart lets out a primal scream.
The first time I saw her in a window, the day I went to meet Lili in New York and sign the contract, Reyna looked at me with those mermaid eyes like she wanted to slit my throat.
Now she’s looking at me like I’m the answer to every question she’s ever asked herself.
She smiles and crooks a finger. Then she turns away, disappearing from sight.
I almost faint.
Instead, I bolt toward the house, pumping my legs as fast as they’ll take me.
FORTY
REY
I’m sipping from my champagne flute when Quinn crashes through the front door, hollering my name.
Standing in the kitchen with Sloane and me, Declan smiles. “Ah. The groom has arrived.”
Eyes wild, his color high, Quinn skids around the corner and makes a beeline for me.
Sloane says, “Man, he’s intense.”
“You have no idea. Oh, hi, honey.”
Sloane removes the champagne flute from my hand an instant before Quinn grabs me in a bear hug and crushes me against his chest.
His heart pounds against mine. His big arms tighten around my ribs until I can barely breathe.
I laugh, hugging him back. “Long time no see, Dr. Jekyll. Or is it Mr. Hyde? I can never remember.”
Against my neck, he says gruffly, “Viper.”
I whisper, “It’s Antonia Octavia Flavius to you, gladiator.”
A shudder runs through his chest. He hugs me tighter.
Declan clears his throat. “We’ll give you two a minute.”
When Quinn finally releases me from the bear hug, we’re alone in the kitchen. Leaning against him, I smile at the expression of adoration, hope, and dread on his face.
