Page 14 of Beyond Reach

The emphasis Marcella placed on the word ever got under Chanda’s skin. It was hard not to think Marcella was taking a dig at her.

“Go ahead, you two,” Marcella encouraged them. “Walk down the aisle together.”

Chanda’s stomach knotted as the coordinator rushed forward and propelled her and Garner toward the back of the church.

“Wait,” Chanda protested. “Why is Garner coming with me? I thought the groom waits at the front.”

She would give anything not to be in this situation. Garner smelled amazing with his natural scent and subtle cologne. He looked even better than he smelled, wearing shorts and a t-shirt. How in the world could a woman lust over a man’s calves? She had no idea, but she did.

“Marcella read that many people aren’t sticking to tradition when it comes to their wedding,” Garner explained. “She wants us both to walk in together—‘to show me off’ as she says.”

He reddened at the admission.

“I don’t prefer it. Traditional is my thing, but I learned it is more peaceful to give in to what she wants.”

Chanda made a noise of acknowledgement to what he said. She averted her face once they were in the back of the church. The coordinator left them just out of sight of the double doors leading into the sanctuary, calling over her shoulder, “Wait until I yell ‘now’ before you start down the aisle.”

“Hold on,” Chanda called, but the woman ignored her.

She raised a hand to brush over her hair, giving herself something to do. Garner stood close, and she felt his gaze boring into her.

Inside the sanctuary, voices reached her. Marcella argued with the coordinator about something as little as where her parents would sit and how fast the organist would play the wedding march. Chanda sighed, wondering how long she would have to endure being alone with Garner.

“So,” Garner began.

Her stomach knotted. She dared to look up at him. The beautiful silver eyes captured her, and she couldn’t look away. She felt his strength, his kindness, and all of a sudden, the healing and distance she thought she had gained over the years slid away.

Feelings of loss washed over her. She began to see that she might not have broken the relationship off with Garner. This time in the church might have been the two of them, tying the knot, saying their vows, promising to be together until death. Children—she hiccupped and spun away, drawing in a deep breath.

“Um, what did you say?” She pressed a hand to the wall to support her weight.

He moved behind her. Heat from his hands warmed her shoulders, but he stopped less than an inch before touching her. “You’re seeing someone.”

“No.”

“No?”

She battled over lying to him to follow her aunt’s orders in a sense. Selfish desire made her tell the truth, even though she couldn’t fathom it leading anywhere. “No, I’m not seeing anyone. My aunt was grilling me. I didn’t want to look pitiful, so I told her I had a man waiting back home. I’m between relationships at the moment.”

“Nothing wrong with being single.”

“Hm.” She licked her lips, keeping her back to him. She wasn’t ready to look into his eyes again. Why was this weakness even happening? So much stress and tension, she couldn’t turn off the attraction or the mounting regret at her decision to leave town.

As usual, Garner seemed able to read her mind. “Why did you leave me, Chanda?”

“Oh God.”

“You lost your parents, and I can’t imagine how it felt. I know I would have been gutted. But we were together. You let me visit you in the hospital, and when I came back after classes a week later, you were gone. Just gone.”

“I wrote you.”

“You wrote me?” A sharp note entered his tone, and he forced her to turn around. “Yeah, you wrote a cold and dismissive letter that you sent through the mail. I

guess I should be grateful it wasn’t a text.”

“This isn’t the time or the place, Garner.”

“I want you to tell me face-to-face.”

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