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Then I remembered Morgan, and how she looked at me after I’d offered to stand in for Ben. I hadn’t been the center of the universe, but there was something that suggested she saw me as me.
2
Morgan — Thursday
Holy smokes. Kade Raven was spectacularly handsome. The way his green eyes looked at me when we first met stole my breath. When he offered to step in for Ben, my heart rolled in my chest at the sweetness of it. I hadn’t expected that from him, mostly because Ash always suggested Kade was spoiled, immature, and bit self-centered. But I’d seen the concern and desire to rectify Ben’s absence in his eyes.
When our arms were entwined as we walked down the aisle, I thought for sure I was going to swoon. The man smelled like only a sexy man should. Clean. Strong. Powerful. It was intoxicating. The heat from his body made my blood heat and thicken. Being a virgin didn’t mean I didn’t understand or ever feel arousal, but holy cow, next to him, I thought I might spontaneously orgasm. I took a moment to savor it, as it was probably the closest I’d ever get to walking up the aisle at all, much less with the sexiest bachelor in New York.
As the wedding planner talked us through the ceremony, I was constantly distracted by Kade. He had the most amazing shade of green eyes. He was the only one in his family that had that color, as his older brother, Chase, had gray eyes, and his other brothers’ were more hazel. His hair was nearly as dark as mine, and while short, had some waves to its thickness. I’d have to be careful not to get drunk around him, or I might start running my fingers through it. Or kiss those full sublime lips that I knew had kissed a lot of women. Or put those large, long-fingered hands on my breasts. My nipples puckered at the thought. God, I hoped that wasn’t noticeable under my dress.
“Morgan.”
I snapped my attention to Beth, who was handing me fake flowers to hold during the rehearsal ceremony.
“Oh, yes. Sorry.” Cripes. I wondered if I was gawking at Kade and everyone was noticing. Did he notice? I glanced at him and saw those piercing green eyes on me. My insides went liquid hot. He finally turned his attention to Ash and Beth, and I let out a breath I hadn’t even realized I’d sucked in. The bad news was that I was completely overwhelmed by my response to Kade. The good news was, I’d have a spectacular fantasy during my lonely nights.
When the walkthrough of the ceremony was done, I slipped my arm through Kade’s again. This was as close as I’d get to his touching me, so I’d savor it. I’d remember his scent and the heat of him. Boy did I wish he could find me interesting, too. What I’d do find out once and for all what it was like to have a man touch me. But I was being ridiculous. Kade Raven was a billionaire who could have any woman in the world. He’d probably already had, if his reputation was anywhere near accurate.
It made sense that Beth would land a gorgeous man like Ash. She’d grown up in his affluent world. Plus, she was beautiful. They fit together like two perfect puzzle pieces. Together, they had made a wonderful little girl, Hannah.
Me, I was the fun friend of both girls and guys. I was the one that people said had a good personality because they couldn’t say I was pretty. I didn’t think I was ugly, but women of a certain size weren’t ever called beautiful. I wasn’t regal or graceful like Beth. I was awkward and frumpy. No amount of makeup or height of a heel could cover up that fact.
When Kade released my arm as we returned to the foyer, I resisted the urge to latch on to him again and beg him to take my V-card. Instead, I reached out and took Hannah’s hand to keep her near me while Beth talked with Ash and the wedding planner.
“My mommy and daddy are like a prince and princess,” Hannah said.
“They sure are. And so are you,” I said, giving her hand a squeeze. Since my virginity was well-intact with no prospects of changing, Hannah would be the closest I’d have to a child of my own. As much as I wanted to meet a wonderful man to build a family with, it didn’t seem like it would be in the cards for me. My mother said I was too young to be worrying about spinsterhood. Theoretically, she was right. I was only twenty-two. But the demands of life made it such that it seemed unlikely I’d have the time or opportunity to develop a relationship with a man.
