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“We should toast to the soon-to-be-married couple,” Daniel announces in his toe-curling deep voice.
It’s the same voice I fantasized about before I walked in on him and his lover when I was a teenager.
Since then, I’ve done everything possible to avoid hearing him speak.
Everyone, including me, picks up the flute of Dom Pérignon that was served to us at Daniel’s request.
I intended to pay for this dinner, but if Daniel wants to shower us with expensive champagne, he can pull out his credit card.
Showoff.
Daniel pushes to stand. His gaze wanders the table, taking in the sight of my brother holding tightly to his fiancée’s hand. He smiles at Bella as she leans against the shoulder of her husband. Finally, Daniel locks eyes with me.
It’s intense in a way I’m not expecting, so I drop my gaze to my lap.
The fact that my nipples have furled into tight points under the thin fabric of the black lace dress I’m wearing isn’t lost on me.
It isn’t lost on Daniel either because when I look up, he’s staring at my tits.
What the hell?
I clear my throat. “You were saying, Lawton?”
A languid smile slides over his full lips. “Right. A toast to the happy couple.”
“The incredibly happy couple,” my brother corrects him.
Tearing his gaze away from me, Daniel nods. He focuses his attention on Dominick and Arietta. “I was thrilled when Dominick told me he’d fallen in love. It all made sense as soon as I found out that it was Arietta. Before I left New York, I had a front row seat to her keeping him in check at work.”
Laughter floats through the air from everyone at the table, including me.
His chuckle fades. “She has helped him view the world through a new lens. She’s given him a fresh perspective on life. I’ve known Dominick forever, and I can say with every confidence that I’ve never seen him happier.”
“Save some of this for your best man speech,” my brother says.
Everyone laughs again, but me.
I’m stunned that Daniel understands the depth of Dominick’s love for Arietta or that he’s noticed the difference in my brother since he fell for the beautiful blonde sitting next to him.
Daniel has been in California while he meets with potential new clients for the wealth management firm he owns with Dominick and another friend of theirs.
He hasn’t seen firsthand how the walls my brother always had around him have collapsed under the weight of his love for his fiancée.
“That speech is one for the ages.” Daniel laughs. “I’ve been working on it since you asked me to stand next to you when you marry the love of your life.”
Staring at Arietta, Dominick nods. “She is the love of my life.”
Raising his glass in the air, Daniel smiles. “Here’s to Arietta and Dominick.”
Everyone glides to their feet to clink glasses. I follow suit and softly wish my brother and Arietta all the happiness in the world before I turn to Bella and Barrett. When we’re done toasting, I glance at Daniel.
He’s waiting with his glass in his hand. “To Dominick and Arietta.”
I touch the side of my champagne flute to his. “To Dominick and Arietta.”
He leans across the table and lowers his voice. “True love rules.”
I bite back a smile at the reminder of the phrase I used to recite all the time when I was a teenager.
