Page 75 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

“Ah, the talk of the town.” Preacher Sanger pats me on the back with an extra wide, bright smile lining his face.

The urge to strangle it off him is strong.

“This the lucky lady?”

I clear my throat. “It is. This is Sarah Whitson, my fiancée.”

Becca’s shoulders stiffen, and it takes everything in me not to give her my attention.

Sarah scoots in close, her arm linking mine, her other reaching out to shake Preacher Sanger’s hand. “Soon to be Sarah Carson. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Pleasure’s all mine, Miss Whitson. I hear you’re havin’ your ceremony here. No better place to do it.”

My eyes bounce to Mrs. Sanger. It’s just like him to not even introduce her. It’s even more like her to stand silently like the dutiful, obedient wife she is. My stomach rolls when my eyes gloss over Becca and realize she’s doing the exact same thing.

Pathetic.

Sarah smiles. “Yes! We can’t wait to meet with you on Tuesday.”

Preacher Sanger chuckles. “You’ll be meetin’ with my daughter, Rebecca. She’ll be the one handlin’ anything you need.”

An invisible fist slams into my gut, my breath racing out from the blow.

“Oh!” Sarah gasps. “You’re Becca! We talked on the phone the other day, I’m so pleased to meet you. Thank you for setting all this up.”

My heart pounds so hard it makes me dizzy. Becca’s eyes glance at me before locking on to my fiancée, a beautiful smile gracing her perfect, freckled face.

“We’ve actually met. But it was a long time ago, back when I was at FCU... and only for a second.”

Like a magnet, her eyes slide to meet mine again, only now, she doesn’t look away. And just like every other time, neither do I.

She twists a curl through her fingers. “Anyway, I’ll do my best to make sure your day is perfect. You deserve the best, and I’m happy to help you get it.”

My nostrils flare against the sudden burn in my chest.

Becca dips her head, breaking our connection. “If you’ll excuse me.”

My stomach flips, hoping no one noticed the tension in the air.

Still, when I watch as she walks out the front door and down the steps, every fiber of my being wants to follow. Less than five minutes in her presence and my body craves her.

My mangled soul reminds me of the price.

So, I turn my attention from the woman who stole away my first chance at love, and to the man who will marry me to my second.

It’s what Ma would have wanted.

36

Becca

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Jax has been back from California a little over a week. I haven’t had an opportunity to pick his brain on everything Chase and Lee, so when he asked to meet for lunch, I jumped on the chance. Besides, I’ve been in a funk ever since Eli came back to town, and Jax is the perfect person to have around when you need to feel lighter.

I dip a fry in my ketchup and pop it in my mouth, smirking when I see the group of women peeking glances from the corner booth. “Your fan club is gettin’ antsy.”

Jax turns toward them and winks, dazzling them with his perfect smile.

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