I straightened my shoulders.
For the first time, I understood the brilliance of having an actor beside me.
Julian never looked uncertain.
He leaned toward me when I spoke.
His hand rested lightly against my back.
Whenever someone stared too long, he smiled at me like I was the only person in the room.
It was convincing.
Almost dangerously convincing.
Then I saw Mason.
He was standing near the bar with two men from his firm.
His face brightened when he noticed me.Study Anatomy
For half a second, he looked pleased.
He had gotten what he wanted.
His lonely ex-wife had arrived.
Then his eyes moved to Julian.
And Mason stopped smiling.
I had imagined that moment dozens of times.
I expected irritation.
Jealousy.
Maybe surprise.
What I saw was something entirely different.
Fear.
Mason’s champagne glass froze halfway to his mouth.
His face drained of color.
Beside me, Julian stopped walking.
I felt the muscles in his arm tighten.
“Julian?”
He didn’t answer.
He was looking past Mason.
Toward the bride.Book Venues
Vanessa stood near the center of the room wearing a fitted satin gown, speaking with an older couple.
She turned.
Her gaze landed on me.
Then on Julian.
The smile vanished from her face.
She dropped her champagne glass.
It hit the floor and shattered.
Several people turned.Study Anatomy
I stared at Julian.
“What the hell is happening?”
His jaw tightened.
Then, without looking at me, he whispered,
“Keep smiling.”
“Why?”
“Because I know the bride.”
My stomach twisted.
“How?”
He finally looked at me.
“Claire…”
He took a breath.
“Vanessa was my fiancée.”Get Marriage Tips
For one second, every sound in the room disappeared.
I stared at him.
“Your what?”
“We were engaged.”
“You knew she was marrying Mason?”
“No.”
“Julian—”
“I swear to you, I had no idea.”
Across the room, Mason was already coming toward us.
Fast.
Julian lowered his voice.
“I’ll explain everything. But not here.”
I should have left.
Any rational person would have.
Instead, I looked at Mason approaching with panic written all over his face.Study Anatomy
Then at Vanessa, who looked like she’d seen a dead man walk into her wedding reception.
And something inside me said:
Not yet.
I slipped my hand into Julian’s.
“Then smile.”
He looked at me.
“You sure?”
“No.”Book Venues
I smiled anyway.
“Let’s go ruin a wedding.”
Mason reached us halfway across the ballroom.
“Claire.”
“Mason.”
His eyes darted toward Julian.
“You came.”
“You invited me.”
“Yes, but…”
