sank into the grass. Losing her balance, she slipped her hand onto Jace’s
tuxedoed arm and held onto it to steady herself. Make that Jace’s incredibly stiff arm. Now that Emma had stopped crying long enough to pay attention to her date standing
next to her, she realized his entire body seemed tense. She glanced sideways at him.
His jaw was clenched tight and a small frown creased the forehead beneath the cowboy
hat he wore. This was not the Jace she knew.
“You okay?”
Jace jumped at her question. He barely glanced her way when he said, “Yeah. Fine.”
That wasn’t very forthcoming or reassuring. He was definitely not fine, but there
wasn’t much Emma could do about it now anyway. Not with a church full of people filing
out into the churchyard. Then there would be photos before they headed from the church
to Tuck’s parents’ house for the reception that was being catered in the backyard
under a tent.
The sound of a shutter brought Emma’s attention to the photographer, snapping photos.
Emma realized she had more important things to worry about than what was up with Jace.
Such as her makeup. Her lipstick was probably in need of repair before they got to
the formal posed shots that would immortalize this moment for Becca and Tuck—and haunt
Emma if she didn’t look good in them.
They were heading into a long night of speeches, dancing, and socializing with the
hundred plus guests, most of whom she didn’t know. Emma definitely did not have time
to deal with Jace or his unexplained frowning now.
She slipped the lipstick she’d hidden in her bra out and swept on a quick application
before stashing it back. “This part will be over soon. Just smile for the pictures.”
“No worries.” Jace’s words didn’t match the continued tension radiating off him.
Emma squeezed his arm and made sure to take her own advice and smile.
Jace remained just as strange during the photos as the photographer arranged the wedding
party on the church steps. Meanwhile, Emma didn’t miss how Tara was trying to get
close to Logan; it was as if she were trying to get inside his tuxedo with him. In
fact, Tara’s hand was inside it at one point as she slipped her fingers beneath the
lapels of the tux.
Emma tried to determine how Logan felt about that as she watched him—smiling for the
camera the entire time—take Tara’s hand off his chest and hold it in his. She sighed
and glanced at her own tuxedo-clad date. He stood far enough away from her that the
photographer had to ask him to move in closer a few times.
Were all weddings this complicated? With this being her first gig as part of a wedding
party, Emma couldn’t be sure. But if this were par for the course, she’d definitely
consider eloping when her time came. Whenever that would be.
A tropical island would be nice. The ceremony on the beach. A simple white sundress
and some flowers in her windswept hair. Becca and Tuck would fly down with them for
the wedding, she was sure.
The only thing missing from her mental picture was the groom. She glanced sideways
at Jace and saw his smile was as stiff and forced as his posture. A look toward Logan
on the other side of the bride and groom told her Tara had now resorted to pressing
up against him until the halter top of her dress began to gape. These photos were
in real danger of showing exposed nipple if someone didn’t adjust Tara’s dress.
Emma tried to subtly get Tara’s attention to warn her, but the girl had eyes only
for Logan. After a moment, Emma gave up and glanced at the photographer, who wasn’t
any more responsive from behind the lens as she tried to coordinate the group.
A sigh of frustration escaped Emma. She felt like a failure in her maid of honor and
sister of the bride duties, and the ache in her feet and lower back was beginning
to be unbearable. Emma could appreciate the enticing view Tuck’s groomsmen made, lined
up in
tuxedoed arm and held onto it to steady herself. Make that Jace’s incredibly stiff arm. Now that Emma had stopped crying long enough to pay attention to her date standing
next to her, she realized his entire body seemed tense. She glanced sideways at him.
His jaw was clenched tight and a small frown creased the forehead beneath the cowboy
hat he wore. This was not the Jace she knew.
“You okay?”
Jace jumped at her question. He barely glanced her way when he said, “Yeah. Fine.”
That wasn’t very forthcoming or reassuring. He was definitely not fine, but there
wasn’t much Emma could do about it now anyway. Not with a church full of people filing
out into the churchyard. Then there would be photos before they headed from the church
to Tuck’s parents’ house for the reception that was being catered in the backyard
under a tent.
The sound of a shutter brought Emma’s attention to the photographer, snapping photos.
Emma realized she had more important things to worry about than what was up with Jace.
Such as her makeup. Her lipstick was probably in need of repair before they got to
the formal posed shots that would immortalize this moment for Becca and Tuck—and haunt
Emma if she didn’t look good in them.
They were heading into a long night of speeches, dancing, and socializing with the
hundred plus guests, most of whom she didn’t know. Emma definitely did not have time
to deal with Jace or his unexplained frowning now.
She slipped the lipstick she’d hidden in her bra out and swept on a quick application
before stashing it back. “This part will be over soon. Just smile for the pictures.”
“No worries.” Jace’s words didn’t match the continued tension radiating off him.
Emma squeezed his arm and made sure to take her own advice and smile.
Jace remained just as strange during the photos as the photographer arranged the wedding
party on the church steps. Meanwhile, Emma didn’t miss how Tara was trying to get
close to Logan; it was as if she were trying to get inside his tuxedo with him. In
fact, Tara’s hand was inside it at one point as she slipped her fingers beneath the
lapels of the tux.
Emma tried to determine how Logan felt about that as she watched him—smiling for the
camera the entire time—take Tara’s hand off his chest and hold it in his. She sighed
and glanced at her own tuxedo-clad date. He stood far enough away from her that the
photographer had to ask him to move in closer a few times.
Were all weddings this complicated? With this being her first gig as part of a wedding
party, Emma couldn’t be sure. But if this were par for the course, she’d definitely
consider eloping when her time came. Whenever that would be.
A tropical island would be nice. The ceremony on the beach. A simple white sundress
and some flowers in her windswept hair. Becca and Tuck would fly down with them for
the wedding, she was sure.
The only thing missing from her mental picture was the groom. She glanced sideways
at Jace and saw his smile was as stiff and forced as his posture. A look toward Logan
on the other side of the bride and groom told her Tara had now resorted to pressing
up against him until the halter top of her dress began to gape. These photos were
in real danger of showing exposed nipple if someone didn’t adjust Tara’s dress.
Emma tried to subtly get Tara’s attention to warn her, but the girl had eyes only
for Logan. After a moment, Emma gave up and glanced at the photographer, who wasn’t
any more responsive from behind the lens as she tried to coordinate the group.
A sigh of frustration escaped Emma. She felt like a failure in her maid of honor and
sister of the bride duties, and the ache in her feet and lower back was beginning
to be unbearable. Emma could appreciate the enticing view Tuck’s groomsmen made, lined
up in
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