I’m expecting the car ride out to the wedding to be awkward, but we end up riding with Luke and Sloane and Ally, and we spend most of the time drinking champagne and laughing our asses off about things that aren’t even really that funny. Everyone has that nervous energy, that buzz you get before something big is about to happen.

I realize that Jace is right, that Trent and Hannah clearly didn’t tell anyone else about our lies, because Luke and the girls don’t act any differently around us.

Jace sits next to me in the back of the limo, but I can’t help but notice how he keeps his distance. His thigh presses against mine in the backseat, but only because Luke is on the other side of him, keeping him from moving over too much. His hands stay planted firmly in his lap, not coming anywhere near me, and I do the same with my own, even though I desperately want to reach out and find his hand with mine.

I still have no idea what’s going on with us. He said he wanted me at the wedding with him, but we haven’t really talked about anything beyond that. And even though we danced around the subject of our feelings, neither of us has quite come out and said anything yet.

I’m sure, though, that the connection I feel with him isn’t just in my head. I guess the question is what we’re going to decide to do about it. What happens when we get back to New York City? Do we just start dating? Go back to the trivial stuff, pretend this whole week never happened?

I realize with a start, part way through the drive, that I’m not wearing my engagement ring. I took it off last night, when I was upset, and it must still be sitting on the nightstand beside the bed in the hotel room. I hope no one at the wedding will ask any questions, but I have to admit I feel better not wearing it. Martin’s ring is just bad juju, and I don’t need any more bad juju in my life.

When we get to Luke’s place, it’s go go go. I’m the only one not in the wedding party, so I wave them all off as I go to find a seat.

Before I can get very far, though, someone grabs my hand. I spin around and find Jace standing there. He reaches out and takes my hand and I hold my breath, but he just leans in and kisses my cheek.

“I’ll see you after the ceremony,” he says, and then he’s off. I press my fingers to my cheek, to the place his lips had been. My skin tingles as I hurry to my seat.

The wedding is beautiful. Hannah and Trent make an adorable couple, and their love for each other shines as they make their vows to love and cherish one another. Hannah looks beautiful in a halter-neck ivory satin gown, and her bridesmaids are sunny and cheerful in yellow tea-length dresses. Her sister Ally beams with pride.

But through the entire ceremony, my eyes are glued to Jace. He stands up at the front, next to Luke, bearing witness to the biggest moment in his brother’s life. He looks handsome and stoic and strong.

The ceremony passes in a blur, and then suddenly the minister is proclaiming them husband and wife, and Hannah and Trent are giggling back down the aisle amidst a chorus of cheers.

Luke and Ally make their way behind Hannah and Trent, and then Jace and Sloane follow. Slowly everyone in the audience begins to trickle out, milling around and chatting happily.

Everyone, that is, except me. All I can think about is finding Jace.

I wait for the crowd to thin out, and then finally spot him, cutting across the grass towards me, holding out a glass of champagne.

“I thought you might be thirsty,” he says, handing me the glass.

“Thank you. That was a beautiful ceremony.”

“It really was, wasn’t it?”

“They’re clearly very much in love.”

“Yeah. I think Trent found something pretty special.”

I squirm under his gaze, my high heels digging into the grass. The June day is warm, warmer than it’s been all year, and even in my light lavender chiffon dress, I’m starting to sweat. Then again, that might just be the man in front of me. He seems to have that effect on me.

Over Jace’s shoulder, I see Hannah and Trent emerging from the house, where they’d gone to presumably get a moment alone together. They’re greeting guests as they make their way through the crowd, and they both look over the moon. When Trent catches my eye, he winks, and I flush.

“What’s wrong?” Jace asks, frowning at the way I shift awkwardly.

“Nothing. Thank you for bringing me here today. It was nice to get to see the actual wedding, after all the build-up this week.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you were here.”

Hope lights in my heart, like a tiny tea light candle. I want to say something more but then Luke is there, clapping Jace on the back.

“Trent needs us for photos,” he says. He turns to me. “Mind if I steal him for a few minutes?”

“Of course,” I smile, and then they’re off, disappearing around the side of the house with the photographer.

I find the snack table and occupy myself with a shrimp cocktail while I wait. By the time he returns, though, it’s almost dinner time, and we’re escorted to the reception area out back, where huge long tables have been set up under dramatic white tents.

Between the toasts, the silly kissing games Sloane has organized, and the constant stream of fresh courses being delivered to our table, the entire dinner passes in a blur. Jace and I barely have any time to talk, and when we do it’s awkward chit chat, as if we’re just two wedding guests who happened to get seated at the same table.

I pick listlessly at my food. I’m happy to be here, but somehow I feel further away from Jace than ever.

* * *

Later, when I’m chatting with a Lebanese woman who tells me she runs the accounting department of Loft & Barn, Jace finally comes to find me. He’d been off doing more photos with the wedding party, leaving me to amuse myself again. I didn’t mind — years in Ivy league and corporate law had left me more than capable of surviving social functions like this on my own. All you really need to do is smile and be curious, and you can make small talk with anyone.

“Having fun?” Jace asks, slipping into the chair next to me.

“I am, actually.”

“Good. Would you like to dance?”

I hesitate, but then nod. “I would.”

I excuse myself from the table and let Jace lead me on to the dance floor. It’s a slow song — there’s been quite a mix of them tonight — and he slips my hand into his and puts his other hand on my waist. He draws me to him as we sway to the music.

The reception seems to melt away. The people, the DJ, the song, the tent, the night sky. It’s all nothing compared to Jace’s arms around me, his breath warm against my cheek. It’s somehow the happiest and the saddest I’ve ever felt.

I use the hand that’s resting on Jace’s shoulder to discreetly wipe away a tear, but I guess I’m not discreet enough, because he looks down at me in alarm.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I say, shaking my head. I force a grin. “I always cry at weddings.”

“Okay, the wedding was over four hours ago. Now you’re just crying at a Meatloaf song.”

I laugh, despite myself. “I can’t help it,” I tease. “It’s just a really emotional song.”

Jace shakes his head. “Come here,” he says, pulling me closer to him. His body is so solid and warm against me that I feel like I could spend the rest of my life right here.

We dance through that song and then two more, and then Jace is leaning into me.

“This feels right, doesn’t it?” He murmurs the words into my hair, and it takes me a moment to comprehend them. I pull my head back and gaze up at him. His blue eyes are dark, almost grey, in the twilight, but the way they burn into me is like a pure white light.

“Yeah. It does.” His hands move against the small of my back, somehow pulling me even closer to him. I can feel his cock starting to stiffen against me, and that tiny sign is enough to thrill me.

“You know what would be even better?” His voice is soft against the shell of my ear. “If we got out of here.”

My breath catches in my throat. “Are you sure? Can you do that?”

He shrugs. “It’s getting late. Trent said he and Hannah would be heading out around now anyway. We’ll just find them and say our goodbyes.” He pauses. “If you want to, I mean.”

I bite my lip. “Yeah. I want to.”

“Good.” Jace smiles, and then, still holding my hand, he leads me off the dance floor and back into the crowd.

We find Hannah and Trent and sure enough, they’re saying goodbye to another group of guests. We wait until they’re done and then let them know we’re leaving.

Trent wraps Jace in a hug. “Thanks for helping to make this such a great night,” he says.

I can see the grin on Jace’s face. “Wouldn’t have missed it,” he says.

I try to hang back — I still feel awkward knowing that they know all about our lie — but Hannah pushes past Trent and gives me a hug.

“I’m really glad you were here,” she says earnestly.

“Me too,” I admit. “It was a lovely wedding. And I enjoyed getting to know you.”

“You too. And I’ll see you tomorrow,” Hannah says.

My forehead wrinkles. “I thought you guys were leaving for the honeymoon first thing in the morning?”

Hannah and Trent exchange a look and then she smacks her forehead. “Right. Too much champagne,” she laughs. “Or maybe just a case of bride brain. I guess we won’t see you.”

Trent shakes his head, chuckling. “Come on, Mrs. Whittaker. Let’s say the rest of our goodbyes. We have a wedding night to get to, you know.”

Hannah seems to hum with pleasure as he takes her into his arms and whisks her back away through the crowd.

“They’re too cute,” I laugh, shaking my head.

“Yeah, they really are,” Jace agrees. “Shall we?”

He holds out his hand. This time I don’t hesitate. I slip my hand into his and follow him across the wide green lawn, now damp with evening dew.