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Despite everything that Tate has said about his family, I have been met with nothing but warmth. While it may be a show just for me, I haven’t felt out of place or snuffed. I get treated much worse at the café every day. Just as I have this thought, Tate’s ex-fiancée, Eden makes her way toward us. She’s smiling with flaming red lips, brighter than her hair.
“Tatum.” She smiles and lets out a long sigh.
“Eden,” Tate replies coldly.
The tension could be cut with a knife, and I stand tall and proud, interlocking my fingers with Tate’s. He squeezes my hand, and I know this is the reason why I’m here, the reason why I’m playing his fiancée this weekend.
“I’m shocked you actually showed up after going into hiding,” Eden bites out. She’s both cold and penitent at the same time. Her words are weighted with history.
“I wanted my fiancée, Brianna, to meet the family,” Tate says coolly, looking over at me and smiling, shooting me a wink. That look alone nearly has me melting in place.
“Oh,” Eden says in shock. I see her gaze down at my hand, spotting the ring. Recognition flashes across her face, and I watch as her nostrils flare. “Well hopefully you get to actually see Tatum from time to time,” she says to me with a not so subtle note of scorn in her voice.
“I do,” I tell her with a huge smile, glancing over at Tate. “It’s just him and me most of the day in the cabin on the mountainside. It’s so peaceful. I love getting to spend every minute of my time with my Tate. Right, sweetheart?” I look at Tate, and he leans over and plants a kiss on my lips. It’s so soft and sweet, I feel as if I may float away.
Eden narrows her eyes at us, and I can almost see the jealousy leaking from her pores. “Eventually he’ll start disappearing,” she adds, turning her hard gaze toward him. “Just like clockwork.”
I look over at Tate, and he’s so carefree around her as if her presence doesn’t bother him, but I know better. I’m not the only one putting on a show.
“I disappear when I have something I need to disappear from,” he says, turning back toward me with a smile. He cups my cheek, making me feel like we’re the only two in the entire room. “I’m hopelessly in love with Brianna. So goddamn crazy about her.”
I look at him too, searching his eyes but they only reveal the truth. “I’m madly in love with you, too.” I think he notices my shift too and gives me another wink that sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
Eden rolls her eyes and lets out a huff. “If only I would’ve been your priority. Things maybe could’ve been different.”
I don’t let the smile falter. “Oh, is this your ex?” I look at Tate then back at her as if recognition just flashed across my face. I hold out my left hand, allowing the sapphires and diamonds to sparkle in the light.
“I’m Brianna. I’ve heard so much about you.” My tone is light and fluffy, and Eden’s furious as she takes my hand, taking a glance at the ring she told Tate she hated.
“I can only imagine,” she says dryly.
I see her husband coming toward us from across the room.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Eden. The two of you deserve each other.”
“It could’ve been you and me, but you ruined that,” she says in a hushed tone.
“You ruined it by fucking my best friend,” Tate replies nonchalantly. “But I guess I should thank you considering I found the love of my life from your betrayal.”
Thomas, Eden’s husband walks up, and Tate smiles. “There he is, the man who was supposed to be my best friend and fucked my fiancée instead. Nice to see you again.” He’s still smiling as if this is a happy reunion. Thomas’ mouth goes into a straight line.
“Yeah, I didn’t think you’d have anything to say,” Tate adds with raised eyebrows.
Thomas grabs Eden’s hand and basically forces her to the other side of the room.
Tate’s in better spirits than before, and I feel as if we’re floating. After we run into his brother, who’s had a little too much to drink, Tate takes my hand and leads me out of the ballroom to a secluded hallway.
“You were fucking amazing in there,” he whispers against my ear, feathering kisses on my neck. My breathing increases as he hitches up my dress and tingles fly up my spine when I feel his arousal against my stomach. “I don’t give two shits about Eden, and I haven’t in a long time, but I was worried I’d have conflicted feelings when I saw her again.”
“Yeah?”
“But nothing. I’m so goddamn crazy about you that no one else matters to me.”
“I want you, Tate,” I tell him, nearly begging. His hands are exploring my body, teasing me and making me crave every inch of him.
“I meant what I said, Brianna.”
Blinking, I look into his eyes and see the sincerity in his gaze.
