Chapter 23
I opened my mouth to correct the boutique owner, but Kane stepped forward before I could speak. His eyes never left mine as he
moved closer.
“Beautiful doesn’t begin to cover it,” he said, his voice a low rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.
lll
The shop owner clasped her hands in delight. “I’ll give you two a moment,” she said, slipping away with a knowing smile.
“Kane,” I hissed once she was gone, “what are you doing?”
He circled me slowly, taking in every detail of the wedding gown. His usual mockery was absent, replaced by something more
intense.
“Playing the role everyone’s assigned me,” he replied, stopping directly in front of me. “Best man, remember?”
I shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny. “Well, now you’ve seen it. You can go.”
Instead of leaving, he stepped onto the pedestal, bringing us eye to eye. I was suddenly aware of how close we stood, the mirrors
around us reflecting our image from every angle–me in pristine white, him in his dark suit, a perfect contrast.
“Are you really going through with this?” he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Marrying a man who can’t even show up for your final fitting? Living like a widow while your husband openly loves another woman?”
His words cut deep because they held the truth I’d been trying to ignore. I looked away, blinking back tears.
“You don’t understand,” I whispered.
Kane surprised me by gently tilting my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Maybe I understand better than you think.”
The unexpected tenderness in his touch disarmed me. This wasn’t the Kane I knew–the careless playboy who treated relationships like disposable entertainment. This was someone else, someone whose eyes held a warmth I’d never noticed before.
“There are other options, Aurora,” he murmured, leaning closer until I could feel his breath against my lips. “Other paths than the one you’ve been forced onto.”
My heart hammered against my ribs, conflicting emotions warring within me. Part of me wanted to push him away, to remember all the reasons Kane was dangerous. But another part–a part I’d been denying–wanted to lean into his touch, to lose myself in the promise of his lips.
Our faces were inches apart, the tension between us electric, when the boutique door chimed. We froze, still locked in our almost- embrace.
“Aurora?” Raymond’s voice shattered the moment. “The shop owner said you were back here-”
Kane and I sprang apart as Raymond appeared at the fitting room entrance, Giana hovering behind him. Raymond’s expression darkened as he took in the scene–me in my wedding dress, Kane standing too close on the same pedestal.
+15 Bonus
“What’s going on?” Raymond demanded, his voice tight.
Giana peered around him, eyes widening with malicious delight. “Oh my,” she said with exaggerated surprise. “Are we interrupting something?”
I stepped hastily down from the pedestal, nearly tripping on my train. “It’s not what it looks like,” I stammered.
Giana’s smile was knife–sharp. “It looks like you two make a perfect match. Almost like a real couple.”
Raymond’s jaw clenched, possessiveness flashing in his eyes despite having no right to it. “Kane,” he said coldly, “what are you doing here?”
Kane descended from the pedestal with casual grace. “Just checking on the wedding preparations,” he replied with a shrug. “Since the groom couldn’t be bothered to show up for his bride’s final fitting. Isn’t that why you asked me to be your best man?
To stand in when you’re… unavailable?”
Raymond had the grace to look slightly ashamed. “I had an unavoidable situation,” he muttered, glancing at Glana.
“Clearly,” Kane drawled.
I stepped between them. “Kane and I just ran into each other by chance,” I explained. “He was walking past the boutique when I was trying on the dress.”
Raymond nodded stiffly. “I came as soon as I could. Giana’s…. emergency wasn’t as serious as we feared.”
na moved to Raymond’s side, linking her arm through his, but her eyes remained fixed on Kane and me with new speculation.
