It's a Wonderful Lie

Chapter Eight

Emery

Today should not have felt as long as it did.

Who knew dress fittings took hours? I thought we just had to the put the dresses on and they’d pop a couple of pins in a few spots and then let us go, but no. They basically had to sew Ava into her wedding dress because she’d lost more weight than she anticipated due to the stress of it all—her words—which meant a shaky old woman was slowly constructing a new dress in front of our eyes. It felt extremely inefficient and like a total scam. Randy from Say Yes to the Dress would never.

And somehow, they’d gotten my measurements wrong, so the dress they ordered for me was approximately twice as big as I am. When Ava suggested the old woman size down my dress once she was finished with her gown, I jumped in to save my sanity by recommending I just buy something off the rack from the bridal shop. Thankfully we found something in the right color that my sister likes even better than my original dress.

And while I gave lots of supportive smiles while Ava picked out her lingerie preferences, I know for certain I did not need to be there for that appointment. My life would have gone on just splendidly without ever learning that Micah prefers her in crotchless underwear. I can never un-know that.

I may have excused myself to browse the store after it felt like things were getting too personal. So it wasn’t all bad. I did end up with a very impractical sheer lace bra and thong set in the same color red at the dress I wore last night.

And I may be wearing them under the emerald green satin cocktail dress I brought to wear tonight to show everyone that I am hot and successful, even without a man on my arm, while not upstaging my sister. It’s not as “wow” as the red one, but the mock collar elongates my neck fashionably while the ankle length skirt with a knee-length slit on each side shows off my legs without being too obvious.

I feel sexy without looking like I’m trying to be sexy.

And the lingerie only I know I’m wearing adds to my confidence. It might also contribute to some hardcore wishful thinking I’ve been having all day about potentially seeing last night’s mystery man at dinner. He is a wedding guest and tonight is for all guests who have already arrived.

I would expect him to be here.

But I’ve been standing by the bar in the private dining space for twenty minutes, watching Ava greet guest-after-guest and I haven’t seen him yet.

“I’ve been looking for you,” a low voice sounds from behind me and I pivot quickly to find Bennett leaning into me.

I catch myself on the bar as I stumble back at his close proximity.

“Oh,” I shake my head, clearing away my surprise, “I’ve been here.”

“Yes, I’m embarrassed I didn’t see you sooner,” he runs a hand through his dirty blonde hair, “that dress is absolutely gorgeous on you.”

“Thank you,” I duck my head, feeling awkward at his compliment. Mostly because I wish it was coming from someone else.

“Hey,” he taps my arm with the back of his hand and I look up, “don’t get all bashful on my account.”

“What?” I crinkle my forehead, not understanding what he means.

“Maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like you’ve been kind of shy since I saw you this morning.” He shrugs and leans against the bar, “I don’t know, you just—you’ve always been so sure of yourself. I hope you’re not acting differently because of me.”

I almost laugh at the idea that I’m the one supposedly acting differently. I’ve known Bennett practically twenty years and in all that time we’ve been nothing more than buddy-buddy. But now he’s telling me I’m stunning and gorgeous. He’s greeting me with kisses on the cheek and pulling out my chair.

If anything, I’m acting differently in reaction to his new personality.

And maybe that’s just him growing up, but, I don’t know… even if this is just how matured Bennett is, it feels weird that he’s this way with me just out of the blue. I might not be giving him enough credit, but I’m also only human and if one day my puppy started wearing a top hat and bowing to me, I’d be rightfully freaked out.

“I’m not any different,” I smile, hoping to put him at ease, “guess it’s just been a while since we last saw each other.”

Also probably doesn’t help that I am a little skittish thinking about a certain someone who totally rocked my world last night.

“That’s true,” he steps forward and is close in my space once more, “so we definitely need to use this week to catch up. More than just the little bit of chit chat we managed at brunch earlier, too.”

“Sure,” I nod, not knowing how much more there is to catch up on beside work and relationships.

Job: sucks. Boyfriend: none. All caught up.

I fiddle with the stem of my wine glass as the silence lengthens between us, hating how awkward I feel with him just look at me, like he’s expecting me to do or say something. My mind is unfortunately too preoccupied daydreaming about the multiple orgasms it had in the last twenty-for hours to come up with new conversation topics.

“Can I get you another—” he points to my nearly full glass of Chardonnay.

I widen my eyes, confused as I hold up the wine, “No, I’m good.”

“Right,” he nods while turning to flag down the bartender to order himself a drink.

I take a large sip and habitually scan the room once more while Bennett’s busy. And that’s when I spot him.

Slipping past Ava and Micah while they’re distracted with some other guests, he enters the room in a charcoal gray suit that fits him so perfectly I can see every defined muscle in his strong legs and am immediately reminded of the power they had thrusting into me. His black tuxedo shirt takes gives him a whole other layer of s*x appeal that immediately dampens my new underwear.

With his right hand in the front pocket of his trousers, he glides through the space with so much swagger and confidence it’s like he owns the place. I try my best to tamper my beating heart, but I can already feel my chest starting to noticeably rise as my pulse increases watching him, wondering what I need to do tonight to get a repeat performance with him.

As if he can sense my need, he turns his head and locks eyes with me instantly, not even needing to look around the way I’ve been since I arrived. That sexy smirk takes over his mouth and he’s heading straight for me.

“So, did you and Ava have a good day together?” Bennett asks, turning back to me, drink in hand.

“Um,” I hear his question, but my eyes are still on my mystery man whose expression has suddenly shifted, falling flat. Does he think I’m here with Bennett? He starts to turn around and my heart drops.

Looking at Bennett, I see he’s now shifting his focus to the center of the room where I’d just been gazing and now he’s lifting his hand to get someone’s attention.

“Oh, hey,” practically giving myself whiplash, I look back over to see who he’s waving at only to hear him add, “dad!”

The man from the bar last night pivots back and lifts his hand in response to Bennett’s call and my face drops as realization hits me.

I f****d Bennett’s dad. I f****d Micah’s dad. I f****d Ava’s future father-in-law.

What the f**k?