“And I didn’t know you were a Botanist,” I shot back, wishing he’d shut up and stop being smart. Did he need to be both attractive and a walking encyclopedia?

His chuckle gave me a shiver, and it wasn’t the bad kind. I wish he had a terrible personality flaw that I could find. Something awful that would make me hate him. He’d be safer that way. Although, knowing he would soon fall under Leanne’s spell should make me hate him. It would make it easier to fight off my attraction to him but I wouldn’t hate him for it. He was human. It was to be expected.

“The flowers are beautiful. Your aunt did a great job,” Heath said, as if he needed to assure me. He was probably confused by our conversation. I smiled at his natural kindness. I often wondered if the spell I’d cast when we had been eleven to protect Heath from my sisters’ charm actually worked or if he was simply not drawn in by them because he knew how awful they had been to me over the years.

Duely passed us one aisle over as he walked back out to greet another guest. His eyes scanned my friends and Rathe then he winked. Rolling my eyes at him, I continued until we found the row of seats I was instructed my friends were to sit. It was closer to the back on the far left. Margo went in first then Heath and finally Rathe.

“I’ll meet y’all after this fiasco is over,” I said in a whisper, leaning forward and looking around Rathe at Margo then Heath. I didn’t glance at Rathe when I turned to leave, but I heard him. His whisper was so low if I didn’t have impeccable hearing I might have missed it.

“Seems a bit unfair to outshine the bride.”

I paused. Goosebumps covered my arms and I inhaled deeply while trying to decide if I should respond. He’d complimented me. It had been a very long time since a man complimented me or noticed me for longer than a few moments. I didn’t seek or welcome the attention, but I wouldn’t lie to myself: I enjoyed the way his words made me feel. I’d missed feeling noticed.

“You’ve not seen Geneva. I assure you I won’t outshine her,” I said, as quietly as I could, but I didn’t look him in the eyes. I bolted as elegantly as one could flee.

EIGHT: THE PROSECCO

eight

The Prosecco