I somehow manage to float my eyes toward it, my stomach churning at the idea of his skin touching mine.
Sensing Wes’ curious stare on me, I put on the same act I have the past five years and extend my hand, allowing him to take it.
“Nice to meet you… Nick,” I emphasize.
I struggle to breathe as he doesn’t simply shake my hand, but brings it to his lips and brushes a soft kiss on my knuckles. I do everything to keep myself still, not wanting to raise any questions from Wes or Julia. When I can’t stand it any longer, I tear my hand from his, settling deeper into the crook of Wes’ arm. I’ve never been more happy to feel his protective grip on my hip than I do now.
Looking at Julia, I force a smile. “You two don’t have the same last name?”
She parts her lips to respond, but before she can, Nick drapes an arm along her shoulders, pulling her against him. I notice her wince slightly.
“I married a bit of a feminist. She insisted on keeping her birth mother’s last name. Hopefully she’ll reconsider one of these days so she’ll finally have the same last name as her own daughter.”
If I didn’t know him, I wouldn’t have picked up on it, but he appears emasculated at the notion of Julia not taking his last name. Good. I wouldn’t want that attached to me, either.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Bradford,” a petite brunette in a smart skirt suit says, tapping Wes on the shoulder. He drops his hold on me, facing the woman. “It’s time for your and Ms. Prescott’s speech.”
“Of course. We’ll be right up.” He dismisses her, then turns back to me. “Duty calls. You okay?”
It’s a question he’s asked repeatedly tonight. And repeatedly, I’d assured him I was. But that was before… Before my world was turned upside down. Now I’m so far from okay, it’s laughable.
“I’ll take good care of her in your absence,” Nick says from behind me.
I keep my gaze even, doing my best not to react, although the idea of being alone with him has me wanting to scream, to run away and hide. But I refuse to do that. I didn’t spend the past several years reinventing myself just to become the scared little girl I was back then.
Wes turns his attention to Nick, scrutinizing him for a moment. Hope builds inside me that he’ll notice something’s amiss. But he doesn’t, offering Nick an appreciate smile before leaning toward me and feathering a kiss on my cheek.
“I’ll only be a few minutes. Then I’m coming for my midnight kiss.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I force my lips to curve up into something resembling a smile, but I have a feeling I fail horribly.
With a nod, Wes turns, placing his hand on Julia’s back, steering her toward the stage. But after only a few steps, he spins around, tacking several determined strides back toward me.
“Wes. What are you—”
Hooking an arm around my waist, he pulls me against him. “How about a sneak preview before I go?”
This isn’t the first time Wes has kissed me in front of hundreds of people. He’s stolen kisses all night. Most appropriate, some not so appropriate. But this time, when his lips descend toward mine, all I can feel is the heat of Jay’s…Nick’s possessive stare scalding my skin.
“I love you, honeybee,” Wes murmurs.
I sigh, basking in his affection. It’s exactly what I need right now. A reminder of how deep his devotion goes.
“I love you, too. Now go. Make your speech. Then come back and kiss me in a way that is utterly indecent.”
“Indecent?” He waggles his brows.
“Shockingly so.”
That’s all the motivation he needs. Leaving me with one more kiss, he spins, following Julia onto the stage. I don’t move. Simply keep my eyes focused solely on him. In my mind, if I keep him in my sights, nothing else matters. Only him. Only us. Only this love neither one of us thought we’d ever find, but that we somehow managed to experience.
“I must say, your mask is quite stunning,” Nick whispers from behind me as the music fades and the woman in the suit strolls to the center of the stage. “The detailing is exceptional.”
“You would think that, wouldn’t you?” Facing him, I plaster on my best fake smile. “I’m sure you get off on the story of Poseidon and Medusa. Hell, it’s probably why you love Greek