out, turning a few heads, despite the loud mariachi music pouring from one of the other six tents they’d set up to accommodate the thousand-plus guests. Many were here to attend the group wedding being held for Ms. Luci’s successful matches. Apparently, they did this every year. A goddamned nooky cookie cult.
“Ms. Luci.” He dipped his head, getting the distinct feeling she was about to…
She grabbed his arm—Ow! She has a grip—and dragged him to the edge of the tent. Her manservant or lover or whoever that Sebastian fellow was stood behind her, his one large eye poking out like it might bite someone. “Bennett, this is your last warning,” she said, “or I will send you to the kitchen. Stop terrorizing my guests.”
Bennett had a very, very deep respect for his mother—a strong woman and the only person he’d ever known to love him unconditionally besides Taylor—and Luci reminded him exactly of her.
Your mother or Taylor?
Both.
“My apologies, Ms. Luci. It will not happen again. However,” he glanced at his watch. “I’m afraid I’ll need to depart in a moment. I’ll be out of the country for a few weeks, traveling on business, and must stop to see my mother before I go.” Ms. Luci would understand why. His mother confessed that the two had been corresponding for months now, growing quite a friendship, so she’d be aware of his mother’s cancer.
Luci’s face lit up with panic. “Leave? You can’t leave.”
He raised a brow. “You’re saying I should not go and visit my sick mother?”
“Uh-uh,” she stammered. “Can you at least wait a few more minutes? Until the ceremonies begin? They are…” she searched for words. “Touching!”
Why did he feel like she was up to something?
Because she probably is.
“Ms. Luci, I know you are hailed as some great matchmaking expert, which I’m sure is the reason my mother contacted you initially, but I’m sorry. I’m not interested in dating.” Ever again.
She had a guilty look on her face, which she hid rather poorly. “Dating? Now, who said anything about dating, mijo? I’m simply asking you to stay for a few…” Her dark eyes flashed to the other end of the tent, and then a look of relief washed over her face. “Ay dios. Thank goodness.” She smiled up at Bennett. “I think someone is looking for you.”
He turned and spotted Taylor in a sexy little white strapless dress that hugged her soft curves and accentuated her breasts, making them look plumper and so…
In need of my hands.
He gulped. Goddammit. She looks fucking amazing. Her dark, silky brown hair cascaded down her bare shoulders, her pouty lips—the ones he dreamed of kissing almost every single goddamned night—looked downright sinful. His dick instantly began hardening. You are not a goddamned compass. And Taylor isn’t your goddamned polar north, you sonofabitch.
Taylor’s pleading eyes locked onto his from across the crowded tent of happy, formally dressed guests. He knew she felt sorry. But what was the goddamned point when he couldn’t forgive her? He’d shared his darkest secrets, he’d opened up to her when the act of doing so felt like taking a knife to his own goddamned chest. But, he’d done it. For her. Taking a risk that she’d love him anyway. Did she have any idea how difficult that had been after Kate?
He’d put his faith in Taylor. His goddamned faith. And then she ran. No note. No message. She just…ran. Straight to Mary, a stranger, in order to share his dark past. Yes, Taylor probably thought she was helping, but it wasn’t her story to share. And why had she done it? To hide the final nail in her coffin: that she’d only come with him on that trip to ruin him. Taylor. The one woman he’d hoped, with his entire soul, he could trust. I can’t be wrong about this one. Not her. Not this time, he’d thought over and over again. But he had been.
With their eyes still locked across the crowded tent, he slowly shook his head at her, warning her not to come closer. It was over. He didn’t want to see her again.
Taylor’s face then flushed with determination, and she began making her way toward him.
Stubborn woman. Why couldn’t she simply leave him be? She’d already done enough damage. He made his way across the grass toward the parking lot and was almost to the security check point when he heard his name over the loudspeakers.
“Bennett. Bennett Wade. Don’t you dare walk away from me!”
He stopped