Opposites Attract (The Locklaine Boys Book 2) (31 page)

Jesus Christ, that was a lot for me to try and take in, and I was suddenly regretting my decision to start day drinking so early, solely because I wanted a clear mind to mull over everything I’d just heard.

Rowan stood and made for the door, only turning to face me once he reached the threshold. “Look, I’m not going to stand here and pretend to be some fucking genius when it comes to relationships. Truth is, I take it one day at a time, and most of those days I’m following Navie’s lead. But I saw how you were with Delilah. I saw how happy she made you, and how happy
you
made
her.
I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but it’s obvious just by looking at you, that you’re not happy with it. That has to matter for something, right?”

It did. It
does
. I was so lost in thought that all I could do was nod. Then he hit me with something more profound than I could have ever expected.

“She fucked with my head too, Rich.” My eyes shot to his as he continued. “Bree. She fucked with my head, too. But in the end, I found someone so much fucking better than her. Looking back, I can’t believe I wasted so much goddamned time and energy on a woman who wasn’t worth it. You finally put the shit with her behind you and maybe you’ll get as lucky as I did.”

I sucked in a deep breath as my heart beat rapidly against my chest. But he wasn’t done.

“Maybe it’s Delilah, maybe it’s not. But mark my words, there’s someone fucking better. I can promise you that.”

“Thanks, Ro,” I said, my voice suddenly sounding much rougher than it had earlier.

“No problem. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make sure Mom’s busy in the kitchen and not scaring the shit out of Delilah. Navie’ll lose her goddamned mind if those flowers aren’t perfect.”

“Wait. What?” I shot to my feet. “Delilah’s here?
Now?
”

The bastard shot me a knowing grin. “Pulled up about two hours ago. Griffin, Dex, and Collin went down to help her unload. She should be in the backyard setting up right now—”

He’d barely gotten
now
out before I bolted for the door, pushing him out of the way in an effort to get to the stairs. I took them two at a time, barely pausing at the foyer before spinning on my bare feet, Hell bent on getting to the backyard. To Delilah.

I had no clue what I was going to say. All I knew was that I needed to see her. And if God was feeling generous, maybe I’d get to see that smile of hers I missed so much.

I HAD MY EARBUDS
in, The Black Keys singing about the weight of love as I gently prodded long twigs dripping with crystals into the centerpieces of hydrangeas and peonies, giving the ivory and pale pink flowers a splash of sparkle to match the crystal chandeliers that had been artfully strung from the trees with thick bolts of ivory material that looked like satin. The effect made it appear as if there were a tent in the sprawling backyard of the estate, when really, the entire space was open. Delicate paper lanterns and white twinkling lights hung from the trees that surrounded the grounds. A parquet wood floor had been laid down for the reception, with forty round tables strategically arranged with pale pink and peach pieces of lace wound around the chairs to accent the fine ivory table clothes. There was a twenty-foot dance floor in front of a raised platform where Rowan and Navie would stand to say their vows. The backyard butted up to tree lines on all three sides, so it looked like the wedding was being held in some magical, secret garden.

It was beautiful, stunning really, everything a girl could possibly imagine for her wedding day. And taking it all in made my heart ache.

Brushing off my melancholy with a heavy sigh, I continued to work until there were only a few tables left. It was, by far, the most beautiful work I’d ever done for a wedding in my life, and if I hadn’t been so damned sad, I would have been really freaking proud.

At the tap on my shoulder, I turned and pulled one of the earbuds out. “Hey,” Toni said. “Devon and I are finished over there. She’s going to run Navie’s bouquet up to her, then we’re going to get dressed for the ceremony. You good here?”

I looked around and noticed everything was almost finished. “Yeah, I’m good. Go on up, I’m not too far behind you.”

“Okay. See you in a bit.”

As they disappeared into the house —
estate
— I stuck the bud back in and cranked up the music, humming along as I finished up the final few displays. I was on the very last one, leaning over the table to set the vase in the very middle, when something brushed across the small of my back, startling a jolt from me.

“Shit, sorry.” I stopped the music and looked over my shoulder at Richard, who was standing
way
to close in an effort to help me save the centerpiece from toppling over. “I thought you heard me. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said quietly, a small smile tipping my lips as my cheeks burned pink. “Nothing broke, so no harm, no foul.” I finished straightening the centerpiece and stepped back. Normally, I would spend these last few moments admiring my work, but with Richard standing next to me, it was hard to think of anything but him.

“Wow,” he breathed, sounding like he was in awe as he spun in a slow circle and took everything in. “It’s gorgeous here, Delilah. You really did a fantastic job.”

A nervous snort of laughter bubbled up my throat as I burned even redder. “Well, there were several vendors, so it wasn’t just me. But… thank you. I appreciate that.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, cutie.” He grinned sweetly down at me, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair that had fallen from my bun behind my ear. “You’re incredibly talented.” He leaned down and whispered conspiratorially and winked, causing my heart to skip. “The flowers are the best part.”

“Thanks,” I whispered, dipping my head to look down at my feet, unable to look at his handsome face any longer. God, why did it have to hurt so bad? I’d spent three years with Brant before finding out he’d been cheating on me. But even that hadn’t hurt half as bad as having Richard for such a short time before losing him.

“How…” he paused to clear his throat and I looked up in curiosity, noticing for the first time just how dragged down he looked. His jawline was covered in more scruff than I’d ever seen him wear before. Dark circles shadowed his fierce blue eyes. He looked like he’d been sleeping about as well as I had. “How have you been?”

“I’ve been…” I swept my gaze around the beautiful backyard, a pang of longing sharp in my chest before turning back to face him. “I’ve been okay, I guess. You?”

Richard stared down at me for several seconds, then took a step even closer, leaving only a few inches between us. “Worse than okay,” he said softly, and tears immediately began burning the backs of my eyes.

“Richard—” My breath hitched painfully, cutting me off.

“Delilah, I—” He was interrupted by the sound of a woman calling from the house. “Richard Locklaine! Get yourself in here and get showered right this minute! We’re running out of time and there’s no way I’m letting you stand in your brother’s wedding looking like a hoodlum!”

I looked past his shoulder at the petite woman standing in the doorway to the backyard, dressed in a classic skirt suit, complete with pearls and heels. She looked like pure class from head to toe. She also looked an awful lot like her two sons. “Your mother, I’m guessing?” I asked with a giggle as he dropped his head and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.

“Yeah, unfortunately.”

“Looks like you’re being summoned. You better do what she says.”

“Yeah,” he sighed, looking back toward the house. “You’re right. I need to go.” My heart sank. “But…” then fluttered, “…look, I want to talk to you. Are you sticking around after the ceremony?”

I told myself not to get my hopes up, but I couldn’t control the flutter in my belly as something akin to longing flashed in his eyes. “Uh… y-yeah, I mean yes. I’m staying for the reception.”

He let out a relieved puff of air and touched my hand with his. “Good. I really need to talk to you. Don’t sneak off, okay?”

Man, that pressure in my chest began to grow more and more intense, what could he possibly want to talk about? “I won’t.”

He graced me with one last smile before turning and jogging for the house. It was for the best, really. I needed a moment to collect myself before going inside and getting ready. I gave one last look around and stepped off the temporary wooden floor onto the plush grass, telling myself with every step that I was
not
going to get my hopes up.

I wasn’t.

FUCK ME.

Would it really have been too much to ask for
something
to go my way today? I somehow managed to stand through the entire ceremony without jumping from the platform and trampling guests in order to get to Delilah.

Christ, she looked so beautiful in that deep purple dress.

I had every intention of heading straight for her as soon as Rowan kissed Navie, and started in that direction, only to be stopped by my Nazi mother before I even got two feet away.

Then came the pictures. And serious as fuck, how long did it take to snap a couple goddamned pictures? There wasn’t nearly this much fanfare in my and Bree’s wedding, seeing as I was under the impression she was pregnant and
not
happy about it, but this was fucking ridiculous. Before I knew it, an hour had passed.

An hour I was never going to get back.

Fuck you, photographer.

I kept catching Rowan from the corner of my eyes, smiling and laughing at my obvious irritation, the smug bastard. Not that I wasn’t happy for the guy, he was my brother and I was born forced to love him, after all. And there was no denying that the moment he kissed Mrs. Rowan Locklaine a sense of contentment seemed to have washed over him, like he’d finally gotten what he wanted by giving Navie his name.

But
come on
!

I turned on my heel as soon as the photographer announced we were finished about to run into the crowds of people milling about with hors d’oeuvres in search of Delilah when my mother caught my arm… a-fucking-gain.

“Where do you think you’re going? Everyone’s being seated for dinner. You have to give your Best Man toast.”