“Purple?” Sin murmured, his gaze floating over the five women dressed in off-the-shoulder gowns.
“It’s eggplant,” Carly said. She introduced Sin to Kat, a close friend of Brigit’s who he’d be escorting down the aisle.
“Sorry I couldn’t make the dress rehearsal last night,” Sin said to Kat.
“All you have to do is make sure I don’t trip over myself walking down the aisle.”
He laughed. “I can do that, no problem.”
The head planner entered the salon clapping her hands. “Okay, everyone. Time to line up. Where’s my groom and best man?”
After attaching a mic to Colton, the wedding planner escorted him and Crockett to a set of side doors. Before Colton left, he grinned at the wedding party. “See you all in there.”
The planner who met the guys at the elevator knelt beside Sammy. “You have a very important job, young lady.”
“I drop petals on the carpet the whole way.” She grinned up at her dad.
“That’s perfect,” said the planner. “As soon as the matron of honor—”
“Aunt Alexandra,” Dakota reminded her.
“As soon as your Aunt Alexandra starts walking down the aisle, you follow her. Walk slowly, just like last night, okay?”
“Okay,” the child replied.
Sin offered Kat his arm.
“I’m nervous,” she whispered. “I’m not good in front of crowds.”
“You’ll do great. Just smile, and don’t lock your knees while you’re standing there.”
As soon as the wedding party was in place, two staff opened the double doors to the grand ballroom. The planner nodded. Maverick and Carly led the processional. One by one, the couples walked slowly down the aisle.
Before taking off, Sin nodded at Kat. “We’ve got this.”
She shot him a tentative smile. “Uh-huh.”
The ballroom was packed to capacity. In one corner, a quartet played classical music. Four videographers were strategically positioned along with the three still photographers.
This isn’t a wedding, it’s the event of the decade. Normally, Sin would sit back and see which eager ladies wanted to spend a few hours with him. But tonight, he had a target and an agenda. Tonight, he’d go on the offense.
Evan was back. Evangeline Worthington. The one with the gorgeous face and killer body. He remembered her sweet taste and how she devoured him, like a fiery man-eater. Back then, he lived for the weekend, when he could sink inside her beautiful, hot flesh…when she would relinquish control and trust him to give her all the pleasure.
Kat tugged on his arm, plucking him from his fantasy.
Jagger and Taylor were a quarter of the way down the aisle. “Let’s do this,” he murmured.
They made it down the aisle without incident. He kissed Kat’s cheek and took his place beside Jagger, shooting him a cool smile.
When Sammy walked down the aisle, she stole the show. She did exactly as instructed, dropping flower petals and grinning with glee. Adorable didn’t begin to describe his niece and her proud papa was beaming like an idiot. Sin couldn’t help but chuckle at his twin.
With the wedding party in place, the ballroom doors opened once more and Brigit entered, escorted by an older woman.
“Is that her mom?” Sin whispered to Jagger.
“Her godmother, Marjorie McAllister.”
Sin glanced over at Colton. To his surprise, his stoic friend had tears in his eyes. How would it be to love someone that much? He had no idea.
Despite the rows and rows of guests, Brigit didn’t take her eyes off Colton and, as she walked closer, the love they shared was evident in their eyes. After Marjorie escorted Brigit over to Colton, she whispered, “Take good care of my girl.”
“Always,” Colton replied, the mic catching their private exchange.
A chorus of sighs floated from the audience.
When the minister began, Sin surveyed the crowd. The ballroom was filled with Washington power players. From high-ranking politicos to CEO’s, Sin recognized dozens of clients he’d helped over the years. People who’d come to him in their most desperate hour. He also spotted several women he’d gotten to know in a more intimate way.
Tonight should be interesting.
And then, his gaze fell on the first row. His niece was sitting between Tucker and Evan, holding Evan’s hand. And Evan was waiting for him, her fiery gaze pinned on his. The intensity in her eyes reminded him of the way she’d look at him during a scene, or as the months progressed, when they’d been intimate. Sated, with dilated pupils and a simple smile lifting the corners of her luscious mouth.
Her sensuous stare turned the heat up—way, way up—and her beauty made his heart pound hard in his chest.
When the minister finished speaking, a couple rose and began singing a love ballad. Sin could not tear his attention from Evan. She was breathtaking in that sexy black gown that clung to her every curve. She broke eye contact to watch the duo, but the fire in her eyes didn’t die, nor did the subtle curve of her lips.
At the song’s end, the minister invited a guest to recite a poem. The ceremony was orchestrated like a Broadway show, but Sin was more engaged with Evan than with the entertainment. That is, until the wedding vows. Those captured his full attention.
“My Brigit.” Colton smiled at his bride. “You are absolutely stunning.” He paused to kiss her hand. “I started falling in love with you when I interviewed you to be my wealth manager. Not very romantic, I know, but you wowed me with your smarts and I knew I couldn’t let you go. What I didn’t anticipate is how much I would need you. You complete me.”
Brigit placed her hand over her heart.
“You are my better half in all the best ways,” Colton continued. “You make me laugh. You love me fiercely. You are the best part of my day, and I will treasure all the years we have together as husband and wife. I love you, Brigit. Today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.”
Crockett handed him the wedding band and Colton slipped it onto Brigit’s ring finger. “Better together and together forever.”
In the sixteen years that Sin had known Colton, he’d never once heard him openly express his feelings when it came to love. Lust, sure, but never love and never this heartfelt. He had every confidence Colton and Brigit were a forever kind of couple. Like Maverick and Carly. Like Crockett and Alexandra, and Jagger and Taylor. Not one to be envious, he admired what these men had found…what they’d worked hard to achieve. And what they’d fight to keep for the rest of their lives.
Brigit beamed up at Colton. “I love you with everything I am, Colton. I didn’t want to fall in love with you, but I couldn’t stop my heart from wanting who it wanted. I love so many things about you. Your long, wild hair.” She paused while a burst of laughter rippled across the room. “I appreciate that you treat me as your equal and how you trust me completely. I love your quiet strength and how you make me feel safe. You make me believe that together, we can do anything, conquer any goal, and overcome any challenge. You are my home, and being in your arms is the best place on earth.”
A collective sigh filled the room as guests dabbed tears from their eyes.
She took the wedding band from Crockett and slid it onto Colton’s ring finger. With a smile that made him smile, she said, “Married forever, in love always. Best friends for all eternity.”