to go by, Isabelle Sinclair had a

iecing together a puzzle-put me on edge. The air between us was thick with unspo

re going to love Izzy, Claire. She's helping with some of the wedding plann

urp

eth

ged itself i

d into a slow, knowing smile. "Lucas and I have spent a lot of time together

oke, his tone un

o

firmation, but no

anymore. Who he spent time with, who he wante

ers curled sligh

er shoulder, "it's nice to finally meet you, Clai

ach tig

nervously.

omething calculating in her gaze. "I mean, it's not every d

Lucas's ja

her throat. "

need Emma t

mooth. "Funny. From what I remembe

e smirk off I

s tightened ar

ike she was ready to div

her expression unreadable, "thi

er that, leaving an awk

n the seating arrangements and scurried

me alone

ai

nd through his hair. "Yo

my arms.

ver game she's t

w. "Oh, so I'm the

ed but did

utumn leaves. I hated that, despite everything, s

thing unreadable in his eyes.

quiet. Almos

to let myself fall into old

moment before shaking h

oice dipped, like he wasn't sure if

rom this conversation. From the

Emma," I said quic

idn't s

lt his gaze linger on me-h

ed to ignore it, one truth wa

't as over the past a

... neith

tion hall

ably became. Bridesmaids rushed between tables, florists adjusted centerpieces, and my m

ng the seating chart-but my mind was stil

y think I

couldn't swat away. Because the way he'd asked it-the way his vo

nking. I wasn't here for L

the seating arrangement

deep in

turn around to

ca

cou

glancing at him. "Just making

cing at the chart. "Am I

t I kept my expression n

at his lips. "Don'

the chart. "I'd ask Emma to change it,

y too familiar-too comfortable. It mad

kept working, but

e hesitated, then sighed.

ised he was even

continued. "She thinks she know

w. "And what d

ietly, he said, "That I n

art s

wavering. There was no teasing smirk, no

thing sudden

ay to that, so I defaul

uc

e exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "But being around

hen maybe we should stay

but there was no humor in it

dn't. Because deep down,

avoid him, Lucas Montgomery ha

r that this time, I might