“I love you. Thanks for coming.”

“You didn’t think I’d let you marry my brother and not make it, did you?” She stepped back, flicked her hand down the length of her silky champagne colored dress. It had to be new. “Besides, you need a maid of honor.”

“And that’s you?” I laughed. “You’re the one who put me in this mess.”

“I know. And you love me for it. Or you will. Trust me.” She winked. “And besides, the best part about tonight is getting to stick it to the douchebag of a loser who won’t be named.”

At the mention of Lincoln—not by name, of course—reality slammed right back into me.

Right. This whole wedding had a purpose. “Have you heard from him this week?”

“He hasn’t stopped by the house again.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

She tucked her glossy brunette hair, almost as dark as her brother’s, behind her ear. “We’ll talk tomorrow. But essentially, it’s no different. But he has gone from pissed off to pleading, begging you to come home, so whatever.” Heather gave my hand a squeeze and then reached for a small bouquet of flowers. “Forget about him. At least enjoy the fun party tonight.” She smelled the flowers and smiled. “Everyone did such an incredible job of putting this together.” She grinned up at me. “He’s going to lose his total fucking shit.”

Something that didn’t exactly thrill me. Mostly because now he’d know where I was—and how to find me.

“Hey,” a deep, masculine voice rumbled in the doorway.

“Hey! Get out, you idiot!” Heather shouted as Kane stood in the entryway to the tent, flaps closing behind him. He stole my breath. Dressed in a well-tailored black tuxedo and vest, he looked like a man who wore suits for a living and not pads and skates and a helmet. The white backdrop behind him also gave him an ethereal glow even as Heather hurried to him and pressed her palm over his eyes.

“You can’t see the bride before the wedding. It’s bad luck.”

Of course Heather would be concerned about superstitions.

He reached up and took his sister’s hand, pulling it off his face, and flashed her an amused grin. “You need therapy.” That amused smile turned to me and changed.

Darkened.

My ankles wobbled in my heels as I took in his expression, the way he filled out that tuxedo. “I need to talk to Emmersyn.” He glared at Heather. “Alone.”

She shrugged, smiled at both of us. “No probs. I’ll go find Mom and Dad. Tell them we’re about ready?”

“Five minutes,” Kane confirmed and nerves lit up like fireworks in my belly.

Five minutes.

“Your parents are here?”

“Of course they are.” Heather smiled. “They never miss one of Kane’s weddings.”

I bit back a laugh. As rude as it was, it was also kind of funny.

Kane gave her a little shove and rolled his eyes. “Not nice.”

“See you in five!”

She danced around her brother and disappeared out of the tent.