July…a year and a half later

Adele Kilpatrick—formerly Adele James—was without a doubt the most beautiful bride that had ever been. At least that was Felicity Carter’s opinion and as she was the only one having this particular discussion, her opinion was the only one that mattered.

The dress had been designed and crafted by the bride herself, obviously. Vintage lace, crystal beading, mermaid silhouette. It was beyond gorgeous, fit like a glove and showcased the beautiful woman who wore it. Jace hadn’t looked too bad himself in his black tux complete with fancy little bow tie.

Adele had tried to keep a decent hold on her nerves throughout the day, but they’d all disappeared the moment the doors had opened in the church and she’d seen Jace at the end of the aisle. Seeing him had been the only thing she’d needed to find her calm. Or, at least that was what she’d told Felicity right before the bouquet toss.

Felicity reached across the hotel bar to where the bunch of flowers lay, tracing the edges of the petals of one of the ivory roses. She’d caught the bouquet, or more accurately, it had hit her square in the head. It was the first wedding she’d ever gone to where she hadn’t actively gone for it—she’d been known to throw some elbows in her day—but it had clearly been going for her.

She’d always been a hopeless romantic, or had been.

Funny what a horrible breakup, a few months of the constant stream of lies reported to the press by her ex, and a little incident of vandalism—on her end…and very much publicized—could do to a girl’s motivation for love.

Make it pretty much non-existent, that was what.

Now that the send off of the bride and groom had happened, and Adele and Jace were off starting their honeymoon, Felicity could let herself sink into the funk she’d been putting off for days. The funk she’d been fighting since her agent had told her about the press tour schedule that would be starting shortly…the tour that would include her lying ex.

It was her first major motion picture, and she was going to have to promote it right alongside the person who’d been making her life miserable.

Moving her hand from the bouquet of flowers, she grabbed the fresh shot the bartender had just poured and tipped her head back. It was her second since she sat down and wouldn’t be the last. Just as she set the empty glass down on the counter, the barstool next to her became occupied.

Felicity looked over to find none other than Sean Grady, her partner in crime for the last few weeks in the bridal party. Sean was the goalie for the Jacksonville Stampede and as everyone else had been married to each other, the two of them had been paired up.

Made sense. And she hadn’t complained as he had a decent sense of humor and wasn’t bad to look at. Six-foot-two, light brown hair, green eyes, and biceps that should win awards. It really was ridiculous how the man filled out a suit.

“Whatcha’ drinking?” He asked as he swiveled in her direction.

“Tequila.”

“Care if I join?”

“Why aren’t you picking up some single hottie from the wedding?”

“How do you know that’s not what I’m doing?” He grinned at her.

Felicity spun the seat of the barstool to face him better, her knees bumping his as she pointed a finger very close to his face. “Don’t flirt with me, Grady. I don’t have time for that. Especially as I’m not sleeping with you. Tonight, or ever.”

His grin widened and he did that sexy thing where his bottom teeth bit his top lip. But then he let it go before he shook his head laughing. “I wouldn’t dream of flirting with you, Carter.”

“In that case you can join me.”

Sean turned to the bartender and pointed to the empty shot glass on the counter before holding two fingers in the air.

“I know why I’m getting drunk,” she held her hand to her chest, “what’s your reason?”

“Weddings.” He shook his head as reached up and undid his bowtie. “I enjoyed this one. But I have two more in the coming months, and they aren’t going to be nearly as fun.”

“Who’s getting married?”

“My mom to her fourth husband,” he held four fingers in the air for emphasis before he put his hand down. “And my best friend from college.”

“I get the first one, what’s wrong with the second?”

It was then that the bartender set two shot glasses of tequila on the counter before moving away.

“I had two best friends in college,” Sean said as he grabbed the glass in front of him. “The other one is engaged to my ex-girlfriend. They’re going to be there too.”

“Damn,” she whispered shaking her head as she reached for her own shot.

“What are we drinking to?” Sean asked as he held his glass in the air.

“To figuring out how to deal with our pasts and moving on.”

“Cheers.” He clinked his glass to hers before they both tipped their heads back and downed the tequila.

They both set the empty glasses down, echoing each other with small thuds against the wooden bar top. Felicity let the alcohol slide down her throat and to her stomach, breathing in the burn.

It was right there in that moment that the half-drunken plan formulated in her brain. She turned to look at the man next to her, a smile turning up her lips. “Sean, I have an idea…”