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PROLOGUE
Dani
Six Months Ago
“I can’t believe she chose that dress.” I glanced at my mother as I took a long sip of wine. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she watched my sister and her new husband share their first dance.
“Bridget looks beautiful,” I scoffed. “What are you talking about?” I knew better than to take the bait, but I had to defend my sister, especially on her wedding day.
“It’s so unflattering.” She rolled her eyes, then turned her gaze on me. I braced myself for whatever was about to spew from her mouth. “And your dress. Don’t you wish she would’ve chosen a better one for you? It shows off everything.” She emphasized everything as she scanned me head to toe. My stomach twisted as I watched her dissect every imperfect inch of my body. I didn’t want to tell her I’d been the one to choose my dress.
“I like it,” I said as I smoothed my hand over the light pink satin.
“It clings.” She cringed, then turned back to Bridget and Alex, just in time to clap as their dance ended. She smiled brightly, even dabbed at her eye as Bridget smiled at us. She looked the part of a loving, caring mother when she was exactly the opposite.
Getting to my feet, I swayed slightly, but steadied myself. The wine hadn’t gone to my head yet, and if I was going to deal with my mother for the rest of the night, I needed something a hell of a lot stronger than wine.
Making my way across the reception hall, I dodged people I didn’t know. After Bridget moved to the city to live her fairytale with Alex, she found a new group of friends, and I knew exactly zero of them.
“Dani!” I turned as my sister called my name, finding her smiling brightly next to me, her cheeks flushed. “You wanna dance?”
“I’m not nearly drunk enough for that,” I laughed. “Maybe after a few more drinks.” She laughed as she shook her head. Before she could respond, Alex snuck behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“Hey, wife,” he mumbled against her neck. I stood awkwardly as my sister and her new husband giggled like love-sick teenagers.
Don’t get me wrong, I was happy for her. Alex was a good guy, and if anyone deserved a good man, it was her. I just didn’t want to watch their PDA.
“I’m gonna go grab that drink.” I threw my thumb over my shoulder, and she nodded as Alex pulled her back to the dance floor. Her wedding party swallowed her, and she disappeared into the center of their large group as they cheered.
I leaned against the bar as I waited for the bartender. There was a couple at the other end, but otherwise, it was empty. Looking around, my gaze caught my mother. She sat in her chair like it was a throne, judging the people around her like she had any right to do so.
“Excuse me.” I shuffled to the side to make room for the man who stepped up beside me, my eyes still watching my mom. What made someone like that, so bitter and hateful toward her own daughters? The stranger cleared his throat, and I finally glanced up at him.
My breath caught as our gazes locked. His dark hair, peppered with grey at the temples, was pushed away from his face. His suit, while plain-looking, still looked expensive—in fact, everything about him looked expensive.
“Hi,” I blurted out without thinking, then felt my face burn bright red. His full lips tipped up in a smirk.
“Hello.” His voice was deep and velvety, and it made my body tingle in all the right places. “I’m Aiden.”
“Dani.” I held my hand out awkwardly, and he gently took it in his much larger one. Slowly, he brought it to his mouth and brushed his lips across my knuckles, his eyes never leaving mine.
“Can I get you a drink, Dani?” he asked as he straightened to full height.
“It’s an open bar.” I twisted my hands tightly together, my eyes darting around the room.
What the fuck.
I didn’t do this—talk to strangers, especially not hot ones.
“Right,” he laughed, then turned toward the bar again.
Well, I ruined that before it even started. That had to be a world record.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked, and I turned to answer him, thankful this awkward moment was about to end.
“I’ll have a whiskey, and she’ll have…” The stranger—Aiden—looked down at me, his brows lifted slightly.
“The same,” I piped up before I could stop myself. He smirked again, then gave the bartender a nod and turned his attention back to me. Maybe I didn’t ruin everything; not yet, at least. “So, how do you know Bridget and Alex?”
