Marriage: Impossible (Voretti Family Book 1) (12 page)

He jerked free. Keri was the only woman he wanted touching him like that.

“Hmm.” Goth Annabelle studied his face this time instead of his body. “A man who turns down no-strings-attached sex. I’m intrigued.”

Looking over her shoulder, he saw Keri throw her arms around Ty. “No offense, but I’m not exactly in the mood to chat.”

She followed his gaze over to Keri, and her dark purple lips lifted into a surprisingly sweet smile. “So
that’s
how it is.”

“Liv!” Annabelle threw herself between Sean and her sister. “She’s not bothering you, is she? I swear to God, Olivia, if you’re hitting on him—”

“Chill, Clam Jam. I was only helping Sean out with his little problem.” She snuck past Annabelle’s guard and gave him a buck-up-soldier pat on the shoulder. “What are you waiting for, stud? Go for it.”

Too late. Before Sean could get to Keri or Ty, an entire squad of Voretti men charged in. They whisked Ty, Annabelle, and Keri into the limo waiting to take them to the reception like a Secret Service detail moving the President through a room full of reporters.

By the time Sean arrived at the Italian restaurant, Ty was at the bar, drinking with a bunch of Vorettis. Maybe that was good. Maybe the residual endorphins from the wedding and the buzz from the alcohol would make Ty more receptive to Sean’s news.

He caught a glimpse of Keri at a table with Liv and said a silent prayer that the girl wasn’t adding any smutty details to their brief encounter. But either Liv was making up quite a story or he’d done enough damage himself this morning, because Keri refused to meet his gaze.

Shit
. This was
not
going to be easy.

But Sean had spent his career carrying out missions that would scare most people to death. The trick was to decide you didn’t have a choice. Then you simply performed the necessary tasks, one by one.

Task one: Talk to Ty.

Sean strode toward the far corner of the bar, where there was a temporary opening in Ty’s security detail.

Half way across the room, he caught a flash of long legs and rhinestones.

Shit
. How had Bri found out about the reception?

He changed directions, double-timing it back to the door. “What are you doing here?”

He wouldn’t let her ruin Ty’s wedding. He’d throw her over his shoulder and carry her out of the restaurant if he had to.

“Chill out, man. We were invited.”

Hardy.

Bri had come with Hardy, but Sean had been so deep in damage-control mode that he hadn’t even noticed his friend.

“Hey! You made it!” Sean turned at the sound of Ty’s voice, just in time to see his buddy approaching from behind. Ty embraced Hardy and Bri like they were all the best of friends.

Well, wasn’t that cozy.

“Sorry we missed the ceremony,” Bri said. “We ran into traffic. Though, maybe if we’d had a little more notice…”

“Hey, I can’t control the timing of true love.”

“So you’re happy?” Bri smiled. “I’m glad.”

Ty looked from her to Hardy and grinned. “Looks like you’re happy too.”

“So far so good. Not that we’re planning on getting married anytime soon.
We
want to give people more than eight-hours notice.”

Ty chuckled. “Grab some drinks and food. I’ll come catch up with you guys in a few.”

His hand clamped onto Sean’s shoulder. “Soon as I deal with this guy.” He marched Sean toward the bar—not exactly gently.

Yeah. Sean had really fucked things up last night.

“Look.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry about the other night. I was pushing my own issues onto you. I had no right to try to give you advice about your marriage, and I hope you and Annabelle will be very happy.”

“Thanks, man.”

“You, uh…” He forced himself to continue, though this part was even harder. “You were right about something else, too. Keri and me…it’s not over between the two of us. At least, I hope it’s not, because I love her. I know I don’t deserve her, but if she’ll let me, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make her happy. So I hope I have your blessing.”

“What if you didn’t? Would that make any difference?”

Sean broke into a cold sweat. It was like he was standing in front of an army of insurgents with no weapon, no armor, not even a ditch to take cover in. He couldn’t cut and run. All he could do was answer the question honestly. “No. I tried to stay away, but I can’t. I need her.”

For a second, Ty stared at him. Then his scowl relaxed into a wide, familiar smile. “It’s about time. I thought I was gonna have to kick your ass again to knock some sense into that thick skull.”

“I’d like to see you try.” Sean couldn’t stop the grin from kicking up the corners of his lips. Miracle of miracles, the insurgents had laid down their weapons without firing a single shot.

“This calls for a toast.” Ty signaled the bartender. A minute later, two shot glasses filled with clear liquid appeared in front of him. He handed one off to Sean. “To happily ever after.”

Something about Ty was different. The restlessness that had seethed under his relaxed, jokester front was gone. Ty was exactly where he was supposed to be—with Annabelle. Why had it taken Sean so long to see that?

“To happily ever after.” Sean drank the liquor. As the warmth hit his stomach, he realized it was actually possible. Not only for one of those picture-perfect couples who’d stepped off the screen of a Disney movie, but for him. Him and Keri.

Of course, that assumed he could convince her to talk to him.

He didn’t realize he’d spoken out loud until Ty responded. “Don’t worry. I’ll get her to talk. You’d just better figure out something good to say.”

K
ERI
M
AC
K
INNON
WAS
a colossal coward. There was no other explanation for the fact that she’d run out of the county building practically the second she’d seen Annabelle’s little sister hitting on Sean.

She’d wanted to grab Little Miss Goth by her dyed black hair and tell her he was taken. But Sean wasn’t hers. He had every right to flirt with the girl, even if Keri
did
have serious doubts whether she was even legal. So instead of confronting anyone, she’d jumped into the limo with Ty and Annabelle, fleeing to the reception.

Now she was hiding in one of the red, vinyl booths, afraid to look up from her lasagna because what if Sean was still talking to Annabelle’s sister? What if they were doing more than talking?

Ridiculous
. She was going to woman up right now and talk to Sean. It wasn’t over between them. She had to believe that.

She stood up—for about five seconds.

Then her legs gave out. She sank back onto the bench, and then Little Miss Goth herself was sliding into the booth.

“Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know he was yours.”

“Uh…”

“The hottie best man,” the girl clarified.

She was older than Keri had thought—probably not much younger than Keri herself, with an effortless beauty that couldn’t be hidden, even by the massive quantity of makeup she wore.

“So, no hard feelings?”

“No. I mean, he’s not exactly mine yet. I mean… It’s complicated.”

“He’s wearing a wedding band that matches yours.”

Keri gazed down at her ring, realizing she’d been twisting it back and forth. “How did you…”

“I’m a designer. I notice these things.”

“It’s not…we’re not married. I don’t even know why he’s wearing his ring.”
Shut up, Keri. Don’t tell strangers with questionable motives your personal business.

But she had to talk to
someone
or she was going to go crazy, and the words kept spilling out. “He’s kind of…upset with me right now.”

“Why? He catch you flirting with one of the other groomsmen?”

“No!”

“Did you crash his car?”

“It’s a truck. And I’ve never even gotten behind the wheel.”

“Well, whatever it was, it can’t have been
that
bad.”

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re a rule-follower. I can totally tell.”

“I used to think I was. But…”
Shut up, Keri. I’m serious this time.

But something about the kohl-rimmed eyes focused on Keri told her this woman wouldn’t judge. This woman would understand. “I tricked him into thinking we were married even though we weren’t.”

“Really?” Sure enough, the woman looked more impressed than scandalized. “How’d you pull that off? No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to ruin the mystery.” She leaned back against the red vinyl cushion, forehead knitted thoughtfully. “So you want to know how to get your man back. Lucky for you, it’s super simple.”

Keri caught herself leaning forward, so desperate for a way to fix things with Sean that she was anxiously awaiting advice from a virtual stranger—who thought black lipstick was an appropriate fashion choice for her sister’s wedding.

“All you have to do is—”

“Sorry, but I don’t think I should be taking relationship advice from someone I don’t know.”

The woman waved Keri’s objection away with one hand. “Don’t be silly. We’re sisters now.”

“I don’t even know your name!”

“I’m Liv. Short for Olivia. And you’re Keri. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…blow job.”

A surprised laugh escaped Keri’s throat. This whole conversation was completely surreal. “Excuse me?”

“Blow job.” Liv said it slower this time, enunciating carefully. “If you want Sean to forgive you, give him a blow job.”

“I was thinking more along the lines of apologizing.”

“Sure.” Liv looked extremely doubtful. “I guess that could work. Only…you know. Lead with the blow job.”

“So you’ve…tested this out?”

“Of course. It’s the perfect strategy because it works under any circumstances. You want him to do the dishes, but he’d rather sit on the couch? Blow job. You want to meet up with your girls for cocktails, and he’s suddenly needy? Blow job. You want him to forgive you for lying?”

“Blow job?”

“Exactly.”

If only it were that simple. “I appreciate your advice. Really. But what I did was a serious violation of his trust. And earning that trust back is going to take time.”

Liv snorted. “Time, shmime. That man is so into you that he passed up a no-strings-attached wedding hookup with yours truly. All you have to do is—”

“Give him a blow job?”

“Yes!” Liv glanced at something to her left, and her eyes went wide. “Don’t look now, but he’s totally checking you out.”

Keri froze. Her eyes were still pointed toward Liv, but it didn’t matter. She could feel the heat of Sean’s gaze.

“Well?” Liv demanded. “What are you waiting for?”

“You said not to look!”

“Exactly. Don’t sit on your ass and stare. March over there and get him back.”

“Okay.” Keri took a fortifying sip of her Chianti. “I’m going in.”

“
Finally
.”

She would tell Sean that she loved him. That if he gave her another chance, she would never break his trust again.

And if that didn’t work, there was always Liv’s technique.

She stood—and almost ran into her brother.

“Keri.” Ty wasn’t smiling. “You’ve got to talk some sense into Sean. He’s about to leave. Says he needs to get some sleep so he can hit the road early tomorrow and get back to The Towers.”

The Towers.
Cliff diving
.

Anger descended over her—a dense fog that obscured everything but Sean. She couldn’t believe he was back to this after everything that had happened.

And then she realized something. She really
couldn’t
believe it. Sean might be angry, but he loved her. He wouldn’t risk their future together for a hit of adrenaline.

Sure enough, when she did a more thorough examination of her brother, she found that hint of a grin twitching at his lips. “I call bullshit. Now tell me what’s going on before I beat it out of you.”

“Nice. Threaten your favorite brother with violence when he’s trying to make your dreams come true.”

“By telling me Sean is about to jump off a cliff?”

“I needed
something
that would get you over there to talk to him. What would you have said?”

“I don’t know. Something like, ‘Hey, Keri. Sean wants to talk to you.’ ”

“Well aren’t you the mature one.” He sighed. “Hey, Keri. Sean wants to talk to you.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard.”

“And yet, you’re still here.” His eyes narrowed. “You’re stalling.”

“What? No!”

“You’re definitely stalling,” Liv said. “For sure.”

Keri tried to force her feet into motion, but they didn’t remember how to work. Then Ty had his arm around her, as if he knew she needed the extra support.

“Look.” He spoke low and soft in her ear. “I’ve known Sean my whole life, and I’ve never heard him use the word love. Not even when he’s talking about that TV that takes up half his living room or his truck. But tonight, he told me he loves you.” Ty clapped her on the back. “You got this.”
 

Somehow, she made it to the bar. Another few steps, and she was at Sean’s side.

She cleared her throat. “Can we talk?”

He was off his stool before she’d even finished her sentence, regarding her with that same expression that had burned into her brain during the wedding ceremony. No smile. Just hot eyes.

A dangerous warmth spread through her. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but she knew they weren’t finished. Not when he was looking at her like that.

“Yeah. Let’s talk.” Sean’s hand settled on her shoulder, a firm pressure, guiding her exactly where he wanted her to go. “In private.”

She was vaguely aware of Annabelle’s parents’ stares. Of Liv, who pantomimed blowing her drink stirrer, like she was afraid Keri might’ve forgotten their conversation already. And then Sean was leading her into a back room, empty except for a pool table and a few chairs.

He shoved the door closed. Then he leaned back against it. He’d lost his jacket somewhere between city hall and the restaurant, and his white button-down shirt hugged his broad shoulders.

He stared at her, and she knew exactly what he was thinking.
You’re not getting through that door until I’m done with you
.