Page 41 of One Night in My Rival's Bed

I smiled against the sensual texture of his lips. ‘Prove it.’

And so he did.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THEDAYOFNiamh and Ethan’s wedding arrived and, miracle of miracles, it was a sunny day. As I was Niamh’s bridesmaid and Grayson was Ethan’s best man, he was standing at the altar with his brother in his chair beside him as I preceded Niamh up the aisle. The music was emotionally evocative, and I had to blink to keep the tears back.

I locked gazes with Grayson and my heart skipped a beat. He was looking at me with such glittering intensity, as if he was committing the vision of me in my silk shell-pink bridesmaid dress to memory. I could feel his eyes on every curve of my body—curves he had caressed with his hands and his lips and tongue only the night before.

Niamh had chosen to walk herself up the aisle, which was another sign of how she was growing more and more independent of me. I was proud of her and yet a little sad too. I was so accustomed to being included in every part of her life but now she had Ethan and he would be her mainstay, not me.

The church was awash with flowers and the fragrance was intoxicating. Niamh looked exactly as a bride should look—beautiful and happy beyond description. And Ethan looked exactly as a groom should look—proud and desperately in love. The ceremony was traditional, and I didn’t bother disguising my tears at one point. The exchange of vows was so meaningful, and I had no doubt that this couple, in spite of all the obstacles they had faced in life to this point, would be happy and stay happy. For ever.

If only I could have the same with Grayson.

The church bells rang as the couple left the church. Grayson and I followed in their wake, and I was conscious of my shoulder brushing against his arm as we walked back down the aisle.

‘You look very beautiful,’ he said.

‘Thank you. I wasn’t sure about the colour on me, but Niamh insisted on it.’

Grayson smiled and my heart did a somersault. ‘Are you wearing underwear under it?’

‘No.’

His eyes smouldered and he gave a low and deep groan. ‘You shouldn’t have told me that.’

‘But you asked.’

‘I’m not going to be able to think of anything else now.’

‘Careful. Some people can lipread, you know.’ I smiled at the people in the congregation as we walked past them to the bright sunlight outside the church.

‘Just wait until I get you alone.’

‘Promises, promises,’ I said in a sing-song voice.

The sunlight was blinding, so too were Ethan and Niamh’s smiles as they greeted their guests.

Grayson’s mother, Julie, came up to me, beaming with happiness. ‘Wasn’t it the most beautiful ceremony? I was crying buckets as soon as I saw Niamh. I’m so glad you supported her and Ethan in their relationship. And I’m so grateful you talked Grayson round.’

‘I didn’t really talk him round.’

‘Don’t be so modest. Of course you did,’ she said, glancing at Grayson, who was a few feet away. ‘He can be so very stubborn, but somehow you got him to change his mind.’ She swung her gaze back to me. ‘Anyway, it’s lovely to have a daughter-in-law at last. And I’m so excited about the baby.’

‘Yes, so am I.’

I did my level best not to look at Grayson. I was trying so hard to appear indifferent to him, but every time I happened to glance in his direction I found his gaze on me.

‘So, you and Grayson will have to be friends now,’ Julie said. ‘We can’t have the baby’s uncle and auntie not liking each other, now, can we?’

‘I’m sure we’ll manage to be civil to one another when required,’ I said with an on-off smile.

Julie studied Grayson for a moment, then turned back to me. ‘I can’t help thinking he’s changed lately.’

‘How so?’

‘He’s happier, more at ease. Or maybe that’s because Ethan is finally settled with the love of his life.’ She gave a sad little smile and continued, ‘Grayson has always blamed himself for the accident.’

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