Page 1 of Mr. Edwards
Prologue
Carlee won’t even look at me. Not a glimpse. I know because I haven’t been able to take my eyes off her all night. It’s been over two years since I’ve seen her, two fucking years, and I’m still not over her. I thought she was the one, the woman I’d spend the rest of my life with.
How could I have been so wrong?
I loved her with everything I had; I thought she loved me too. I even got down on one knee and professed my undying devotion to her in front of my entire family. That’s how much she meant to me. How sure I was of our union.
Not even twenty-four hours later, she handed back the ring and told me she was sorry. Fucking sorry. That’s all I got. No explanation, no reason, no glimmer of hope for a second chance, just a measly two words.
She ripped my damn heart out.
She crushed me in the worst possible way.
Yet, here I sit, still pining for the woman I can never have, still loving her even though she doesn’t love me back.
I’m pathetic.
The last time I saw Carlee was at Charlotte’s christening. We were asked by Ashton and Emma, our best friends, to be her godparents. I tried to talk to her that day, but she said it wasn’t the time or the place. I’m still waiting for that conversation.
After Carlee broke off our engagement, she disappeared. She quit her job, moved out of her apartment, and vanished into thin air. I even hired a private detective to track her down but to no avail.
I’m not letting her walk away from me tonight.
Not a chance in hell.
I want answers.
I need to know why.
That’s what kills me the most. I’ve gone over that day in my head umpteen times, including the weeks and months prior, and nothing stands out. There were no signs, no rhyme or reason. What we had was strong. We were tight. We were fucking happy. You can’t fake that shit. Can you?
“Could we have the bridal party join the happy couple on the dance floor?” the master of ceremonies announces over the microphone, pulling me back into the present. His request has adrenaline thundering through me.
Here’s my chance. It may be the only one I get.
I rise, and Carlee tentatively does the same. We both move around opposite ends of the bridal table, meeting in the middle of the dance floor. My heart is hammering in my chest. I’ve dreamed of the day I’d get to hold her again, I only hoped it would be a mutual amalgamation, not a forced one.
Carlee bows her head when I come to a stop in front of her, but I don’t hesitate, snaking my arms around her waist. This is the closest I’ve been to her in years. It’s bothterrifying and thrilling in equal measure. One wrong move on my part and I can fuck this all up.
She makes no attempt to pull away, so I close the small distance between us, tightening my embrace.
It feels like old times.
I never want to let go.
Our union has her body trembling under my touch; she can deny it all she wants, but she’s still affected by me.
I bring my face down, burying it in her hair and inhaling deeply. She smells amazing, just like I remember. Her scent has always been my drug; I’m like an addict craving the next hit. It’s been too long.
“You look stunning,” I whisper, moving my mouth close to her ear.
Stunning is an understatement. Spectacular, breathtakingly beautiful, a damn goddess—all those words and more come to mind, but none of them can do her justice.
“Please don’t,” she replies with a shaky breath.
“Please don’t what? Be honest. That’s rich coming from you.” It’s a low blow, but the hurt I hold inside is still as strong as ever. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get over what she did to me.
Tilting her head back, she makes eye contact with me for the first time in what feels like forever.
