Page 56 of Under His Touch

I’m in a complete daze as my best friend and cousin practically drag me outside. I stand there looking at Alec through my veil as I try to catch my breath. Looking amazing in his tux, his brother, Will, beside him, he’s rocking back and forth on his heels, the guests sitting in lavender colored chairs all stand when the wedding march begins. It’s a beautiful wedding, a wedding of the century, and what’s about to happen next will either make or break my business. But I can’t think about that right now. I’m about to give Alec the shock of a lifetime.

Am I really going to do this?

Uncle Dave steps up to me. He grins, like he’s in on all this, too. Has everyone been matchmaking? Sara shoves me from behind, to set me into motion, and I can barely make my legs move as I walk toward the man I love. From the corner of my eye I spot James, and he’s grinning. He knows it’s me!

Does Alec?

God, what will he do when my veil is lifted? I hesitate. I can’t do this, it’s insane. I’m about to bolt, but Uncle Dave holds my arm, to prevent me from fleeing. My heart pounds so hard, I can’t think, can’t hear, can’t breathe.

When I finally reach Alec, I step up to him. His jaw is clenched tight, and the muscles are rippling. He reaches out, and I tense when he lifts my veil.

A gasp sounds in the crowd, and he goes perfectly still. Too still. His expression darkens, and deep blue eyes—angry eyes—narrow.

“Alec,” I whisper.

“No,” he says, and shakes his head as he backs away. “Not you, Megan. Never you.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Alec

“IF YOU’RE GOING to get married, you should at least marry the woman you love,” Granddad says as he swirls his brandy in his glass and relaxes into his recliner.

I pace around his den, so goddamn mad I can barely see straight. “I can’t believe you set this all up. Just to get Megan and me together.”

“You’ve been in love with her since high school and I’m not the only one who knows you two belong together,” he says. “Look at what Sara did.” He chuckles, but I find no humor in the situation.

I close my eyes, and my heart aches when the vision of Megan dressed in that w

edding gown fills the darkness. The horrified look on her face, one I put there, rips a hole in my gut. It’s been three days since she bolted from the country club, and I holed myself up in my penthouse until Granddad insisted on seeing me. Megan is the last person in the world I ever meant to hurt, which is why I can’t marry her.

“You don’t understand,” I say through gritted teeth.

Granddad pushes from his chair, saunters across the room and refills his brandy. He pours a splash into another glass and hands it to me. “Then make me understand,” he says.

I swirl the brandy, swallow it in one gulp and welcome the burn as it goes down my throat. I set the glass down, run my hand through my hair and walk to the window to glance out.

“I love her, Granddad,” I finally admit out loud.

“I know.”

“And that’s exactly why I can’t be with her,” I say quietly.

“Now that makes no sense.”

I spin, frustrated with this whole situation. “The Carson men have a hard time with commitment, you of all people know that. Even Mom warned me to stay away from her. If my own mother doesn’t believe in me, how can I possibly believe in myself.”

“Ah, I see,” he says, and nods his head, like he just solved all the problems in the world.

I smooth my hand over my tie and pace back to the sofa across from Granddad. I drop into it, and brace my elbows on my knees. “What do you see?”

“You don’t think you have it in you to be loyal.”

A noise crawls out of my throat. “Name a man in our family who’s been loyal,” I say. “Christ, Will was in love and even he couldn’t stay loyal. We just don’t have it in us and I can’t—won’t—hurt Megan like that. She deserves someone better.”

“You’re wrong you know.”

“What am I wrong about?” Restless and edgy, I shake my foot.

---