Page 33 of Seaside Cowboy's Marriage of Convenience

Dancing to a slow song, Kai with Marina and Dallas with Skylar seemed to have eyes only for each other as if they were the newlyweds here. Kennedy was glad for them. They’d done marriage the right way. Saylor danced with Darius, and for the first time, they seemed to switch personalities. Darius was smiling while Saylor looked like a storm cloud.

The rest of Austin’s brothers were engaged in some kind of conversation. Well, except for his sibling who’d become an executive. Tex had stayed glued to his phone since the moment he’d arrived. Several of Kennedy’s employees with their plus-ones conversed at their table, including Emma and Mason with his girlfriend, because they were like family to Kennedy.

The local band played another famous country song—not that she knew most of those songs. The group was new and unknown, but they’d been amazing and agreed to step in at the last moment when the previous band canceled.

“Thank you for letting me choose the music,” Austin said.

“Of course. You already let me have my choice of so many things.” She gestured to the flowers and food. “Besides, I suspect if I brought a classical orchestra here, some people might’ve fallen asleep.”

He chuckled. “And thank you for persuading your uncle.”

“Oh, all I had to do was remind him how he snored at a Beethoven concert.” She smiled. “And frankly, I’m starting to like country music.”

“Have I told you I’m the happiest man alive right now?” He beamed at her. “Not because you’re starting to like country music, but because you’re my wife.”

The wordwhynearly slipped from her tongue, but she stopped the question. But seriously, why was he so happy she was his wife? He didn’t love her. Didn’t care for the doors her wealth might open for him.

Or was he more materialistic than she’d realized?

Then the band started playing his favorite song, and her heart skipped a beat. She’d already danced the father-daughter dance with her uncle. This one was going to be her first dance with her husband.

Tenderness filled his eyes as he got up and extended his hand. “Ready?”

Surprisingly, she was. Her heart beating faster, she rose to her feet and placed her hand in his. “I am.”

The entire dance space cleared, and the dry-ice effect created a mysterious fog. Which was fitting because her mind was foggy right now. Her future, too.

A pleasant wave swept through her as he held her, and they moved in sync to the music while all eyes were focused on them, some supportive, some—like Saylor’s—not so much. And from time to time, Kennedy felt a weird itch as if she were being watched. But then, of course, she was watched. They were the center of attention now.

Then her concentration once again focused on the only person in the room or even in the universe. Her husband. If she didn’t know better, she’d think their hearts were beating in sync, too. But she did know better, and her heart thrummed with longing.

When the dance ended, she didn’t want to move away, didn’t want to break the physical connection, which was ridiculous because they were going to spend a lot of time together. She’d never lived her life based on emotions, so why was her entire being now clinging to him? He seemed just as reluctant to see her go as he held onto her as if she were his lifeline.

Shaky after their dance, she busied herself by talking to the wedding planner to ensure they had more than enough food and drinks and the guests were happy. These days, a lot of things ended up on social media. And if people saw her wedding was a disaster, they wouldn’t want to book the venue. Besides, reputation mattered and affected business.

Then the time for the bouquet toss arrived, and Kennedy hid a smile when Austin’s mom decided to join the lineup. Kennedy knew her uncle well, but even she couldn’t decipher whether worry or hope sheened his gray eyes. She only knew that his gaze stayed on Mrs. Lawrence as she walked.

Kennedy clutched the orchids. “Ready? One, two, three!” She threw the bouquet behind her.

Then the voice she didn’t expect to hear said, “I didn’t try to catch it. Honest.”

Kennedy whirled around.

Rachel, the lead of the security team, dressed as a waitress in a white shirt and a black knee-length skirt, stared at the flowers in her hands. “I don’t even date.”

Kennedy spread her arms in a silent apology. She couldn’t do the bouquet toss twice, could she?

Rachel wasn’t even in the lineup. But apparently, Kennedy tossed the flowers so far that they’d passed Saylor, Mrs. Lawrence, Emma, Mason’s girlfriend, and landed by Rachel. A puzzled expression pinched Rachel’s eyes together. Then the crinkle between them smoothed away, and she looked well put together again.

“Congratulations, honey.” Mrs. Lawrence patted the young woman on the back. “As for me, if I wanted to get married, I wouldn’t need to catch a bridal bouquet for it first.” She marched back to her seat.

Yup, now the expression in Uncle’s eyes was definitely worry as he pulled out Mrs. Lawrence’s chair for her.

The music resumed, and the waiters deftly brought new dishes and drinks and removed empty plates. Everything went smoothly.

Until Emma rushed into the room and bumped into one of the waiters. His tray and the glasses on it went into the air. The waiter-bodyguard managed to catch the tray and several glasses. But not all.

Her expression still neutral, Rachel strode to the guy. “Everyone, we’ll take care of this immediately. But please stay in your places until then because the floor is going to be slippery.”

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