Sebastian (The Billionaire Boyfriend #1) - Christina Benjamin Page 0,20

and the ushers direct us out the doors and onto the veranda to take our seats for the ceremony. Holly and I walk together, side-by-side. Something about having her beside me feels oddly right, like I'd been missing a leg my entire life and hadn’t noticed I was limping until she came along. The way she and my mother had that instant connection, how she seems perfectly keen to go with the flow and soak up everything here at the wedding, it amazes me.

I've been dreading another evening making idle chatter with people who I couldn’t care less about, but with Holly it all seems so much more enjoyable. What was it about her that made my heart feel so heavy in the best way possible—like it was suddenly full for the very first time?

“And just who do we have here?” asks a sudden, booming voice, as a curious man approaches. “Hey, Bash. Nice to see you and this is . . . ?”

I tense when I recognize the womanizing lawyer from my firm. “Rex, this is Holly. Holly, this is Rex. Holly’s my date tonight.”

“Well you’re a lucky, lucky man,” Rex purrs, inching closer to Holly as we continue to our seats.

Jealousy prickles along the back of my neck, rising along with the hairs. A primal instinct to keep Holly shielded from my sleazy friend’s lingering gaze wells in my core. I don’t even have a reason to be jealous, do I? It’s not like this date means anything. She’s only here because I begged her.

Holly smiles at Rex, wrapping one arm around my own. I hold my breath, fireworks dancing along my skin at her touch. “Bash is certainly lucky to have me here and he knows it,” she laughs, sneaking me a knowing wink.

Rex pouts, sensing Holly’s disinterest. He shrugs, easing his hands into his pockets as he turns his attention back to me. “Can you believe it? Little Clara getting married. I swear she just graduated from high school.”

“I know,” I murmur, glancing toward the closed doors of the bridal suite.

Any minute she’ll come strolling out those doors to Graham, who is standing at the end of the aisle while the rest of us settle into white chairs.

Graham shifts nervously from foot-to-foot, his eyes scanning the crowd. His gaze is vacant, searching out only one face amongst the sea of people here to celebrate his love. He’s waiting for Clara.

Have I ever once looked at someone the way he’s about to look at my sister? Have I ever felt even a sliver of what he must be feeling in his heart right now?

“Bash,” Holly whispers in my ear, her voice gentle, “look.”

Unbeknownst to me, the bridal march has started. Played by a string quartet nearby, the music drifts over the breeze and plucks at my ears. Every note touches my heart in a way that it certainly wouldn’t had it not been for Holly beside me.

The doors swing open, my mother and Clara’s bridesmaids stepping out first. One-by-one they pass. Each person makes my heart thud harder and harder against my ribs. My baby sister, all grown up and so in love . . .

When Clara finally appears, she looks like an angel. My chest is bursting with pride and joy for her. I watch her for a moment before my eyes turn back up the aisle. Graham stares at her, jaw hanging open, eyes round and teary. On both of their expressions, pure love shines like beacons through a still night.

Holly abruptly steps closer to me, her small body pressed to my side. One of her hands lifts, pressing to her heart. She tips her head up, gaze meeting mine as she swallows hard.

The apples of her cheeks glow pink in the fading light. Soon, stars will twinkle overhead, reflecting in her eyes. “It’s lovely,” she whispers throatily. “So lovely.”

You’re lovely, I almost utter back. So lovely.

Chapter 12

Holly

“I am definitely not a dancer!” I say with an embarrassed laugh, apologizing for what feels like the tenth time of stepping on Bash’s toes. “Can you even still feel your poor feet?”

“They’re hanging in there,” the billionaire teases, his warm palms sliding down my back.

His fingertips brush along the plunging back of the dress, making my skin prickle. Was I ever going to get used to him touching me like this?

It lit a fire in my core, reminding me what it felt like to be wrapped up in his arms and pinned against a wall while his