Epilogue

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” she called, twirling in front of the mirror.

The door opened, and Julian poked his head around the corner, a hand over his eyes. “Do you think it’s really bad luck if I see you?”

She laughed, crossing the bridal suite to pull him into the room. “I think we used up our bad luck already, don’t you?”

“Agreed.” He dropped his hand and drank her in.

Holly grinned at him, swishing her white dress back and forth. “How do I look?”

“I think,” he said, pulling her into his arms before twirling them both in an expert turn, “that you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“You know there’s another version of me waiting out there in the church, right?”

“Not the right version,” he said before giving her a long, slow kiss.

“If you wreck my makeup, the wedding planner will hunt you down.”

“I’m willing to risk it.”

She draped her arms around his neck. “Me too.”

He kissed her again, and she wished they could skip the next few hours. It wasn’t the wedding she was looking forward to, it was the rest of their lives together. Today was just a day.

The day I promise to spend my future with one person.

But when it was the right person, there was nothing to hesitate over.

“How is it possible to love you more today than I did yesterday?” he asked.

“This from a man who once assured me he wasn’t the sentimental type?”

“Clearly, I was an idiot.”

“And I was a shadow. We do much better together than apart.”

“Now that’s one truth I wholeheartedly agree with.”

She smiled, resting her cheek against his chest. Contentment swirled through her. Everything was right in her world and in a few minutes, they’d walk down the aisle together.

“I love you,” she whispered.

His arms tightened around her. “And I love you. More than I ever thought possible,” he replied. “Good thing you two switched places.”

“Imagine where you’d be if we hadn’t.”

He shuddered. “I like Lillian, but that’s not a future I ever wonder about.”

“Better not be.”

“All I need is you.”

She smiled. “Me too.”

They stood, wrapped in each other’s arms, taking a small moment for themselves before the rest of the night became about their guests.

But their embrace was interrupted by another knock.

Holly groaned. “Who is it?”

Lillian ducked her head around the door. “We’ve got a problem.”

“Not words any bride wants to hear on her wedding day.”

“Father’s here.”

Julian stiffened. “What?”

“I didn’t think you’d want a scene.”

“No, he’s not going to ruin my wedding the way he tried to ruin my life,” Holly said.

“What the hell does he want?” Julian growled.

There was no love lost between John and any of them. The damned man had been over the moon to learn one of his daughters was still going to marry Julian. He’d been so thrilled, in fact, that he’d refused to sell, leaving them all back where they’d started.

Well, almost.

“We need to oust him,” Julian said, his voice grim. “The two of you should run the company. It’s your family legacy.”

“Wouldn’t that be ideal,” Lillian said, crossing her arms. “But as long as you’re a part of this, he’s going to use you as an ATM machine.”

“Then we trap him the way he tried to trap us,” Holly said. “Somehow, we can do it.”

Julian kissed her forehead. “We will,” he promised. “But let’s just get through today, and then we can focus on bringing him down.”

“Fine. But if he tries to make a toast, I’m tackling him.”

“I’ll ask Jason and Ryan to keep him busy,” Julian promised.

“We won’t let him mess this up,” Lillian agreed. “But right now, the two of you have a long aisle to walk down. Don’t trip.”

“Love you, too, Lil,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Come on.” Julian took her hand, and together the three of them left the bridal suite.

Butterflies started as they walked down the stone hallways of the church toward the entrance. The doors to the inner sanctuary were closed, giving them some privacy to get ready before they had to walk into the church.

“We’re really doing this,” Holly said.

His hand squeezed hers. “No regrets.”

“Not one.”

“Must be nice,” Lillian muttered behind them.

Ahead, the outside door opened to admit a man. Holly frowned, not recognizing the latecomer. He stood tall, with dark auburn hair swept away from his chiseled face.

He glanced around himself, his eyes widening when they landed on her.

The surprise in his expression quickly devolved into raw rage that took her by surprise.

“Lillian,” the man said, “if you think you’re getting married today, then you’re out of your goddamned mind.”

Holly glanced over her shoulder at her sister only to see her face had gone stark white.

“Someone want to clue me in?” Julian asked.

“Take your hands off her,” the unknown man said.

“Make me,” Julian shot back.

“Lil?” she asked.

Lillian stepped forward, her eyes narrowed. “Julian, Holly, allow me to introduce Dominic St. Clair. Probably the one man on earth who hates our father more than we do.”

Cold eyes swept to Lillian. “Not just your father,” the man said, his lip curling.

Holly glanced between the man and her sister before shaking her head.

“Fine,” she said to Julian. “You were right. Seeing each other before the wedding is bad luck.”

“Bright side, what’s the worst that could happen this time?” he replied.

“Oh, just wait,” Lillian piped in as the stranger strode toward them. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Holly sighed. So much for the perfect wedding day.

Julian slipped his hand into hers, giving it a squeeze that brought a smile to her face. Looked like she’d just have to settle for the perfect future with the man she loved.

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