Chapter Sixteen
“Honestly, how do I look?” Monique, Zaine’s bride, asked.
She stood in front of a full-length mirror, wearing a golden gown that complemented her curvy body. She’d chosen not to wear white, but the complete look still managed to emanate softness and bridal glow. Or pregnancy glow. Monique touched her belly. “I’m enormous.”
Emma shook her head. If only she had Monique’s generous rack and striking green eyes. She glanced at the mirror, and then, instead of fixing on Monique, she regarded herself. Nah, she was happy with how she looked. Maybe not model material, but she wanted to be herself more than ever. “You’re stunning, Monique.”
“Thanks, but as a best friend and bridesmaid, I can’t trust you.”
Emma nudged her elbow. “Hey, you still asked for it. Must be good for something.”
“I’m glad to see you more upbeat,” Monique said, turning away from the mirror and facing her. Unable to keep it all to herself, she’d told Monique about her affair with Nico a few days prior. Her sister-in-law-to-be knew her too well to be fooled. Besides, her puffy eyes and irritable mood had given her away when they’d met for coffee.
“Yes. Of course,” Emma said, slapping on a smile. Today wasn’t about her, so she couldn’t just show up in her sweatpants and devour a pint of Häagen-Dazs like she’d done daily since Nico broke her heart.
The other bridesmaids joined them—her sister Megan and a couple of Monique’s friends, and soon the chatter started. Emma slipped on her sleeveless golden dress and went through the motions. She forced herself to pretend to be part of the conversation with the occasional nods and a few hmmms, but she couldn’t wait to go back to the safety of her apartment and away from all this jealousy-inducing happiness.
Heartbreak made her extra petty. Who knew?
Maybe that’s why Nico’s ex had pursued a settlement from him. He had that effect on women. Bastard.
Later, the limo arrived at the posh Beverly Hills hotel where they’d been getting all kinds of spa treatments and took them to church. Emma had been a dutiful bridesmaid during the festivities all week, and now she had to stay the course. She’d gone to the rehearsal dinner and managed to leave early, telling people she didn’t feel well and wanted to make sure she rested for the big day. Thankfully, she’d told Monique up front that she wanted to leave before Nico arrived. Good soul that she was, Monique completely understood.
She’d made up for it by being the first one at the hotel the next morning and helping with pretty much everything. Not to mention, she’d spent time translating for Monique’s lovely mother and brothers who didn’t speak much English.
Now she joined the wedding party, each bridesmaid lining up with a groomsman to enter the church. She stood next to Zaine’s old college roommate, Craig. When Nico joined them, he stood behind her, next to Monique’s friend Erin.
Emma could feel his presence, hints of his manly scent making their way to her. Although she didn’t toss him a glance over her shoulder, she knew he gazed at her. Thankfully, the wedding planner decided to take pictures after the church ceremony. She’d have to deal with Nico a lot, but after tonight she wouldn’t need to see him ever again.
The idea broke sweat on her palms.
“Are you okay?” asked Craig, leaning in.
She nodded violently, desperate to portray a measure of self-control.
I’m a mess. As long as people didn’t notice, she’d be okay. She portrayed the best modern version of a Stepford wife during the ceremony, with a robotic, straight posture, slapping on a smile whenever the other bridesmaids did. A couple of times, the crowd cheered the couple and clapped.
She moved her head slightly to find her sweet mother wiping a little tear from the corner of her eye. Her chest filled with gratitude for a moment—Zaine had found someone to love. Damn it, he deserved it. Monique was the perfect match for him.
And Nico is for me. She snorted at the idea, a bit loudly, for the bridesmaid next to her nudged her elbow, and when she glanced at her, Erin tossed her a warning look.
Emma squared her shoulders and clasped the small floral arrangement in her hand. Keep it together. During the rest of the ceremony, she darted her gaze everywhere but in Nico’s direction. If she gawked at him, she’d lose the little control she had to show.
She sighed with relief when Zaine kissed Monique, and the crowd whistled and applauded. The time to gracefully leave the altar came, and she once again focused on the small bouquet she carried.
“Emma, do you need a ride?” Simon asked, striding up to her as people discussed driving to the reception venue.
Zaine had chosen the church because it’d meant a lot to their mother, since she and their father had gotten married in that church. The reception venue was in a gorgeous hilltop house they’d rented for the event.
Emma glanced at Simon. He gave her a shy smile, unsure maybe. A light tan still stained his nose and cheeks, a result of the wonderful work he’d done with needy children abroad. “Sure.”
She could have gone with the rest of the wedding party as planned—the wedding planner had rented luxurious vehicles to drive them. But she owed it to Simon. Besides an awkward phone call, where she’d declined attending the wedding as his date, they hadn’t really talked. Certainly not in person.
“I haven’t seen much of you, Emma,” he said, after he started the engine.
She secured her safety belt, her hand sliding up and down the belt. “Sorry. I’ve been busy.”
He nodded, eyes on the road.
Her stomach curled. Whoa. A month ago, being with Simon was all she could think about. All she’d needed. Now she glanced at him and didn’t feel anything.
“You know, I understand you need time. I made a huge mistake when I let you go,” he said, and she noticed he clutched the steering wheel.
She looked out the window and considered throwing herself from the moving car. How awkward. She sucked in some air and faced him again. No running, Emma. “You were right, Simon, to break up with me because we didn’t have strong sexual chemistry.”
Simon shook his head. “No. I should have insisted on working things out with you. Time apart made me realize I’m at fault, too.”
Crap. If he had been a complete asshole, this’d be so much easier.
She rested her hands on her lap, threading her fingers together. “I met someone,” she blurted out.
She peered at him, ready for whatever might come her way. A ball of apprehension formed in her throat, rolling down her body until it turned into an acidy sensation in her core. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I actually went to him for help to get you back, but somehow I fell for him.”
Simon shuddered, color disappearing from his face. “Wow. I had no idea.”
Emma tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, nervous. “I…”
He opened his mouth, then hesitated and focused on driving.
She shifted in her seat, crossing and uncrossing her legs. Should she apologize again? She didn’t mean to hurt Simon, but she wasn’t sorry for having been with Nico. When they entered the lavish place, he ignored the valet service at the front and parked the car.
He turned off the engine and stared at her. A flicker of pain hit his baby blues, and she clamped her lips. She removed her seat belt, but didn’t move or reach for the door. If he had something else to say, he had to take the first step.
He touched her face. “I’m sorry. I love you, Emma. You’re amazing, and if I had done a good job I wouldn’t have lost you.”
She bit back a smile. “Thanks, Simon. We’re probably better off as friends, but I appreciate you.”
He withdrew his hand and nodded at her. “This guy. Does he know what kind of awesome woman you are?”
She folded her arms. “We aren’t together right now,” she said, opting to leave out the details. She doubted Simon needed them anyway.
“Then he’s a loser.”
She chuckled at the irony. Wasn’t it the same thing Nico had said about Simon in the beginning?
…
Nico knocked on the door of the hotel suite again. And again.
Adrenaline bubbled in his bloodstream. Shit, his rational side warned him he should wait until later to talk about this with Zaine, but his father—still sounded funny to think about Desmorais that way—lit a fire under his ass, and he couldn’t extinguish it. Not until he’d asked for Emma’s hand in marriage. But first he needed to talk things out with her brother and hope Zaine didn’t throw him out the window.
“Hey, man,” Zaine said, opening the door. “Everything okay?”
Nico rubbed the area between his eyebrows, searching for the right words not to piss off his buddy on his wedding day. “I’ll tell you something you may not agree with right away, but you’re my best friend. You’re like a brother to me, and it doesn’t feel right to be your best man while I’m keeping something from you.”
Zaine adjusted his cufflinks, then turned to Nico. “What is it?”
Nico sucked in a breath. “I’m in love with Emma.”
Zaine perched his hands on his waist, his crisp white shirt still not tucked into his pants. “Emma who?” he asked casually.
Tension hung in the air like cheap perfume. Shit. Did his friend think he met some wannabe actress or top model and wanted to bring her to the wedding? His jaw clenched.
Physically, he and Zaine were in phenomenal shape. He could take on his friend, but did he want to? Guilt filled his chest. He’d had an affair with Zaine’s little sister. He’d screwed her in all kinds of dirty ways then discarded her. He deserved every freaking punch coming his way.
Zaine stopped fumbling with his tie and stretched to his full height. “You mean my sister?”
“Yes, I know you’re probably pissed at me, but—”
Anger flickered in Zaine’s eyes. “No wonder Emma has been miserable. I thought it was because she broke up with Simon, but now everything makes sense. You seduced her, and she broke up with her fiancé.”
“That’s not how it happened. I love her. I love Emma.”
Zaine tilted his head to the side, like he hadn’t heard him correctly. “What? You never said you loved any woman. What makes you think I’ll believe you?”
“Because I’m here, asking you for your blessing. You may not give it to me today, but one day. I love her and want to marry her.”
Zaine prowled the room, rubbing his temples, probably trying to make sense of Nico’s words. “You? And my sister?”
“I know I’m not perfect husband material, but I want to be with her.”
“Does she want to be with you?”
“I hope so. I didn’t want to propose before talking to you first. I understand you may hate me, but I wanted to start this new chapter by doing the right thing.”
“So you jeopardize our long friendship when you could just ignore the whole affair? And you want my approval?”
“I’ll be with her even if you don’t approve. But asking you shows my intentions are good.”
The contours of Zaine’s face softened, and hope expanded in Nico’s chest. “That’s something I never heard from you. Good intentions, Nico.”
Nico bit back a smile. “What can I say? Emma brings it out in me.”
“All right. What do you have in mind? You know Emma’s big on weddings, so—”
“Oh, I have something planned. Are you ready?”