“You, my dear, know how to wear a dress. Perhaps you could give Abby some tips in that department? She always tends to wear the wrong colour, or the wrong cut, don’t you think?”

Jordan did not think. Any time she’d seen Abby, she’d looked nothing short of stunning. “I think she does just fine,” she replied.

But Marjorie wasn’t to be deterred. “It’s her pale Scottish skin, you see. It doesn’t suit much. I did offer her the use of my tanning lady, but she fobbed me off. I was just trying to help, particularly as she’ll be wearing white on the big day, which isn’t going to be her natural bliss point.”

Jordan smiled. Ah, the mother-in-law rant. It was good to know that Marjorie was converting to type. It set Jordan back on track and gave her more of a gauge on where she was in the wedding.

It wasn’t until she looked over Marjorie’s shoulder and spotted Abby and Marcus walking towards her that her muscles locked.

Because Jordan’s gauge of Abby was far more accurate than Marjorie’s had been.

When their eyes met, something passed between them. Something that made Jordan ache.

Nobody she’d met had impacted her like this in a long time. She had something with Abby. She made her laugh, which went a long way. Plus, they shared a similar life view. If only Abby would let herself believe her first instincts.

But she hadn’t. And now she was marrying Marcus.

Jordan had to let it go.

“Here they are, the couple of the moment!” Marjorie greeted the pair with air kisses and not-quite hugs, the way rich people did. “Ready to do your practice wedding?”

Abby nodded, focusing on her future mother-in-law. “The ceremony went well. Now let’s do the dinner and speeches.”

“Not too much wine, that’s the key,” Marjorie replied.

Marcus shook his head. “Nonsense. You can never have too much wine. Isn’t that right, Jordan?” He gave her a smile. “By the way, you look stunning. Hot pink is definitely your colour.” He put an arm around his mother and they walked away, leaving Abby staring at Jordan.

“He’s right,” she said, as she drew level with Jordan, her gaze dropping to Jordan’s lips. “You do look stunning.”

Jordan stared right back. “So do you.”

Abby touched her arm, before walking after Marcus. But she turned back, and the look she gave Jordan was scorched with want.

Jordan closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Two more days and this would all be over.

Two hours later, and they were onto their main course of the rehearsal dinner.