Chapter Nine

Shane paced outside the Executive Lounge—outside because he couldn't handle being inside the large suite with the oblivious Brad. Hard enough to face him after what he'd done, but then to find his friend working at a table littered with paperwork ten minutes before his wedding ceremony...it was too much.

No matter how hard Shane tried, he couldn't picture the vibrant, smart, fun woman from yesterday spending the rest of her life with a man who stood her up for a business meeting and got more excitement out of a ledger than the anticipation of his bride-to-be. He rubbed at his burning gut. Guilt ate at it ever since Eden slammed the door in his face last night.

Guilt for kissing his best friend's fiancée.

Guilt for not trying harder to correct Eden's misinterpretation.

Worst of all, guilt for, even now, wanting to kiss her again.

The fault was his own. He’d taken Eden to his parent's house to show her what a real marriage looked like and he’d been the one to get the eye-opener. Trouble was, now he couldn't close them.

Clicking heels echoed from the adjacent corridor and soon Eden materialized around the corner.

God, she was beautiful. His chest constricted. A smile pulled at his lips. With her auburn hair shining over the sheath dress, she looked ethereal.

When she saw him, her purposeful stride faltered. Rose-shimmering lips formed his name, though no sound came out.

The pain quickly hidden behind a raise of her chin was almost his undoing. He went to her. He couldn't help himself. “Hey.”

She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Hello.”

He wanted to say so much, but the words wouldn’t come with the sweet cinnamon scent of her perfume messing with his already tight senses.

“Hi. I don't think we've met. I'm Leah Dellington.”

For the first time, Shane noticed the tall blonde. Reluctantly, he shook the outstretched hand between him and Eden. “Ah yes, owner of the blue jacket.”

The woman’s smile widened as she made an unadulterated perusal of him from head to toe.

“Shane Gallagher,” he offered when her gaze finally came back to his. The glint from her wrist pulled a grin back to his face. “Nice bracelet. Suits you, just like Eden said it would.”

“Thank you—wait, you're the Shane?”

“Pardon me?”

“Nothing,” Eden interrupted curtly, throwing a glare at her friend. “Leah, could you please go and let Brad know I'm here.”

Her gaze danced between them with an odd curve of a sleek brow. “Sure.” Then laughter followed the flip of her braceletted hand. “Very nice to meet you, Shane. You have great taste. More than you know.”

“Thanks,” he replied, raising a brow. She was nice enough, but he wasn’t in the mood to decipher the cryptic tone when the draw to Eden was pulling at his every nerve ending.

“Take your time,” Leah sang as she sashayed past them to the door.

“She's something,” he grinned, trying to lighten the tenseness that consumed the small hallway.

“Yes, she is.”

He took her small smile as a good sign and forged on. “Look, I'm sorry about—”

“Please, don't.”

His stomach clenched again. He’d spoken too soon. Eden's lips tightened and her whole demeanor went on the defensive.

“I'd rather just forget it, okay?”

“That's my problem. I can't forget.” He quickly held up a hand. “Wait, that's not what I meant to say.” And it wasn't. Just like last night, the words slipped out before his brain could censor them. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Look, it doesn't matter anyway. I just wanted…I just wanted to say I'm sorry, and give you this.” He pulled the small package he'd purchased that morning out of the inside pocket of his sports jacket.

Gaze fixed to the box, her head shook at a furious pace. “Shane, I can't.”

“Please. Call it a wedding gift. I…I hope you and Brad will be happy.”

Somehow he didn't choke on the words, but the burning in his stomach intensified. When she didn't move to take it, he opened the silver box, reached for her hand, and tipped the contents onto her palm.

“My cameo.”

The words were so low he wasn't sure if she knew she’d even spoken them. Her liquid gaze darted from her hand to his face and back again.

Shane swallowed around the sudden dryness in his throat. “I thought you should have it, especially today.”

Eden pushed it into his chest. “I c-can't accept this, Shane. I gave it to your mother. I wanted her to have it.”

He smiled, loving her even more—and driving the arrow into his heart even further with the sudden realization of the truth.

With effort, he forced his lips into what he hoped was a smile to mask the pain and added a small chuckle for effect. “Believe me, she loves your gift. Hasn't taken it off since you gave it to her.” He met her gaze, silver specks swimming in watery blue eyes. He folded his fingers over hers over the cameo, the soft skin burning into his. “I went back…for the other one.”

“Shane, I...”

“Don't…please. You were meant to have it.” Just like my heart. Shane held on for a moment longer. Then he let her go.

Each step back to the Executive Lounge twisted the arrow further into his chest. How on earth was he going to watch his best friend marry the only woman who ever made his heart blossom and crumble all at the same time?