Graham

Amber and Matt radiated happiness. They'd arrived at the same time, because she'd decided she wasn't going to do the whole “groom must not see bride before” nonsense, much to the chagrin of her mother.

"How are you holding up?" she asked while we were waiting for the music to start.

"Me? It's your wedding."

"Yeah, but this must bring some unhappy memories for you."

What could I tell her? That I wasn't looking forward to hearing the vows, because every time I heard "I do" I saw my divorce papers flash before my eyes? I wasn't going to dim her happiness with my negativity.

"Don't worry about me."

"I can't believe we didn't manage to convince Nana to come for the wedding."

"She's stubborn." She was also terrified of flying. I'd offered to take a few days off and drive her myself, but she wouldn't budge.

“You don't make road trips across the country in my old age.”

The woman was sharper than ever, but she didn't like to travel. She'd instructed me to send her pictures as things happened.

Once the ceremony started, it took a lot of effort to keep my focus on Matt and the wedding party instead of searching for Lori in the crowd. I lost the battle quickly. One sweep around the perimeter revealed that Lori was standing next to the piano. She was wearing the dress I bought her, and she was magnificent. A friend of mine owned a shop on Rodeo Drive and she'd helped me choose the dress. It fit Lori perfectly, highlighting the curve of her hips, her full breasts. I knew I should have paid attention to the minister, but I couldn't. Her green eyes were cast downward. Only when Amber and Matt started reciting their vows did she look up. Something clenched in my chest when I realized she'd teared up. When she caught me watching her, she shrugged one shoulder, as if saying, "What can you do?" and smiled through her tears.

She had to be attending at least a wedding a month, and yet the vows still moved her to tears. Despite the rejection she'd suffered, she was a believer through and through. For one split second, Lori made me a believer too. I was confident that Matt and Amber would make it to their sixtieth anniversary and surround me with nephews. I planned to claim the role of uncle, even if we weren't related by blood. But this was the first time since my divorce that I dared to believe that maybe they weren't a unique case. Maybe Elizabeth and I just hadn't been a good fit. Still, we'd once exchanged vows too, and it all ended with shouting, accusations, and Elizabeth repeating every chance she got how disappointed she was in how our marriage turned out.

After the ceremony, Lori ushered the wedding party to the photo session and the rest of the guests inside the tent.

While the photographer was splitting us into groups, I engaged others in conversation, but I couldn't help looking away every time I caught sight of turquoise. Lori was the only one wearing that color today. She moved around the tent constantly, talking to servers and the rest of the personnel. In the hour it took us to finish the photo session, she hadn't sat once.

She bossed around anyone who wasn't giving one hundred percent to their job. Crazy as it sounded, watching her all fierce and in charge turned me on. Lori was a strong woman. I liked that a lot. I went straight to her after the photographer announced we were free.

"Lori, are you going to be on your feet all day?"

"Of course."

"No breaks?"

"I'll call Milo at nine before he goes to sleep, but otherwise no." Her devotion to him got to me every time. Every single time. "I have to make sure everything runs smoothly."

"Everything is running smoothly."

"Yeah, but that's because everyone knows I'll be busting their balls otherwise."

Her words went straight below my belt. A dirty vision flashed in my mind. 

"Nice dress," I said on a wink.

"Thank you. A well-meaning gentleman bought it for me."

"Is that so? How about toasting with him?" I pointed to one of the servers circulating with glasses of champagne on trays. 

"I don't drink while working."

I saw my opportunity right then and there. She could have a drink with me after work.

"Can you believe it's the wedding day already? Sometimes I get so caught up in preparations that I'm surprised when the day finally arrives."

"You've done a great job."

And her job ended today, but I was nowhere near ready to stop seeing her. She smelled sweet and citrusy, like last night. And like last night, I wanted to pull her closer. Only I wouldn't let go of her now.

"Damn earrings," she muttered. One of her curls had entangled with her earring again, but I didn't trust myself to touch her with so many people around us.

"I'm going to the bathroom. I need a mirror to untangle this without pulling my hair out. See you around. I'll keep an eye on you during the speeches." Her warning was laced with humor. I took the bait.

"Or what, you'll bust my balls?" I challenged. On pure instinct, I moved a step closer, and Lori tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth. 

She sounded breathless when she said, "You bet I will."

She turned around, and I watched her until she disappeared from view. I couldn't wait to be alone with her, to have her all to myself.