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Jewel’s eyes skittered to his and dove away.
Finn held his breath.
“We said it’s fine,” Sky snapped. “We’re not linking arms.”
Finn steadied his eyes on Jewel and waited.
Slowly, Jewel raised her hand and latched onto his like a child holding onto the bicycle bars when first learning to ride. Her fingernails dug into his skin, but he smiled through the pain.
When he turned around, the bride and her friends were gawking at them.
Sky broke out of the stunned trance first. Shaking her head, she forced a trembling smile. “Okay then. Let’s do this.”
Finn stepped forward and got in line. Jewel stumbled beside him. He could feel her shaking, could feel every nerve in her body tightening up, but she held on for dear life and stared straight ahead.
Finn guided her hand to his elbow. “Hey.”
Frightened brown eyes flitted to his.
“Should we do a dance as we walk in?” He broke away from her and did a move that his sister had taught him before she died. “Spice things up?”
Her lips quirked. “No.”
“You sure?”
Jewel nodded.
When he guided her hands back into the crook of his elbow, she’d lost the rollercoaster-death-trap grip. Instead she was watching him intently. He acknowledged her with a nod. “What?”
“Thank you.”
As the music played, he clenched his jaw and tried to ignore the way his heart was tightening. She wouldn’t thank him if she knew why he was really here.
Then you’ll just have to make sure she never finds out.
9
Jewel held her breath as Finn guided her down the aisle. His arm brushed against her side, sending flares of panic through her body.
It had been so long since a man had touched her. The nerves in her brain were going crazy. Mayhem. And all because of the burly man who’d invaded her world in the blink of an eye.
Her breath thickened. The guests all stared at her, picking her apart with their dark eyes. She felt exposed, powerless.
Could they see past the makeup and the fancy dress to her scars?
Could they feel her fear? Sense the guilt that had been a constant presence since she was sixteen?
Jewel fought for control, sensing that she was on the losing side of the battle.
Keep it together.
Sky’s wedding was too important. She’d spent a year building her confidence back, nurturing her strength and will beneath the watchful eye of her friends.
She could handle a simple elbow tuck. Right?
Her heart pounded in her chest.
Instead of looking up at Finn, Jewel focused on the scenery. Emerald green grass. White-draped chairs. The sun ducked behind a cloud and a strong breeze rustled her skirt. Majestic Mayan pyramids cast extravagant shadows on the lawn.
