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“Keeping it Real Reginald. He’s a reality TV show vlogger, He was onSay Yes to the Rosefor an episode,” Diana explained.
A bald man in a trendy, tailored purple suit that showed his bare ankles sashayed up to their table. His white shirt had purple stripes in a check pattern and a folded pocket square.
“I’ve been trying to get over here to get the scoop from you ladies, but I keep getting stopped by my fans. Sorry to keep you waiting.” He exchanged air kisses with Imani, then lifted Diana’s hand to his mouth. “No ring. But that doesn’t mean anything, does it? What scoop can you give me on your season, darling?”
“You know I can’t divulge any spoilers.”
“But you can drop an exclusive hint. In exchange, I promise to make you look good in my coverage.”
“Sorry. They’ve got me locked up with confidentiality clauses.” Diana smiled sweetly.
Reginald implored her with his eyes and a pout. Getting nothing, he turned to Imani and took her hand. “No ring either, but you’re here at a wedding together. That’s promising.”
“Things are good, but we’re taking it slow.” Imani beamed at Trent.
“I know you two bonded in a bowling alley, but you need to step up your game and pick someplace more upscale if you’re going to propose.” Reginald waggled a finger in Trent’s face.
Trent just smiled.
“And you,” Reginald shifted his gaze to John and Elizabeth. “So, the rumors about you and Shelby aren’t true?”
“What rumors? Ones you started?” He took a guess.
“I didn’tstartany. So, what do you like about the big guy?” Reginald eyed Elizabeth.
“What’s not to like? He’s kind. Makes me laugh. He’s good to his dog.” Elizabeth smiled up at John.
He’d take that. It was a start anyway.
“He’s also tall, with muscles, and handsome in a rugged kind of way. How about a picture of the three of us?” Reginald flicked on his phone’s camera app.
“Pass.” John squelched the request. Reginald extended the phone anyway, forcing John to strategically block the shot.
“Really?” Reginald sighed and pouted as if unaccustomed to being told no but cowered a bit under John’s I-can-kill-you-if-I-have-to gaze. Reginald gave Lauren a quick once-over. “Weren’t you the Harry Potter girl?”
“Yep.” Lauren said cheerfully. “I’m a Gryffindor. I’ll be in grad school and am still single.”
“Oh honey,” Reginald patted Lauren’s hand and gave Beth a dismissive glance before he moved on to mingle with other guests.
Elizabeth was still hitting it off with Lauren and the others when the wedding director came around and invited everybody to the barn for dinner.
“I’ve got to make my entrance with the wedding party. I’ll join you at the table.” John walked her out, then he watched as she headed to the barn with the women. He’d never seen her in heels. They accentuated her great legs. The urge to kiss her had nothing to do with putting on a show for Shelby and everything to do with his growing and undeniable attraction to Elizabeth. As opposite as they were, it seemed she was made for him and he for her, even if she didn’t fully know it yet.
He hummed “Opposites Attract” while waiting for the rest of the bridal party to assemble but was not about to admit he knew the words to the Paula Abdul song.
ChapterForty
(I’VE HAD) THE TIME OF MY LIFE – Bill Medley & Jennifer Warren
Elizabeth enteredthe tent with Lauren and her friends fromSay Yes to the Rose.
Diana offered her a pen after the women stopped to sign one of the pages for the guest book.
“I’ll let John sign for us.” She was just the plus one. A fake date for the day. At least everyone seemed to be believing their act. Not that it was hard to pretend with John, and they knew each other well enough to be convincing as a couple.
Elizabeth studied the seating chart and moved to their assigned table, saying hello to a woman and man already seated at the head table. The DJ turned down the music after everyone was seated and announced the wedding party’s entrance. The pairings each danced their way in. John held hands with a pretty bridesmaid and gracefully twirled her. Unexpected tightness in Elizabeth’s chest finally eased when they made their way to the table and the brunette sat next to the man at the other end of the table and kissed him.
John didn’t kiss Elizabeth as he slid into his seat, but he did drape an arm around the back of her chair with his fingers lightly brushing her shoulder as the other couples entered. Watching Nate and Cecilia dance together as husband and wife for the first time, Elizabeth swallowed the sensation of missing out, similar to how she’d felt holding Rhonda’s baby at the birthday party.
