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There went my theory of August rushing back because Veronica was back on the market. Why hadn’t he asked why the wedding was canceled?
Interesting . . .
“Pardon my manners,” Oliver apologized. “August, meet Grace.”
“Ah, the wedding planner extraordinaire!” August greeted me with a twinkle in his eye. “You’re quite a celebrity in our country already. Delighted to finally make your acquaintance, Grace.”
“The pleasure is mine, Your Highness,” I said, wobbling through an awkward curtsy. “I swear, I’ll nail it, eventually.”
“No pressure at all,” August assured with a grin. “Feel free to drop the formality. Call me August.”
I nodded, relieved. “Sounds good.”
“You certainly are entertaining,” August said. “I saw the video of you and Oliver at the gala, and the other one at Atomic Ventures. Never a dull moment.”
I laughed. “That is an understatement.”
“Cousin August!” Renzo called out. “Please come in. The water is amazing!”
Oliver gestured toward the pool. “Looks like a wardrobe change is in order.”
August shrugged nonchalantly. “I’ve got a much easier solution.” He peeled off his T-shirt and then unzipped his leather pants.
My eyes widened.
The man was not the least bit shy.
Oliver had mentioned that August was a free spirit, but was he really about to strip down to his birthday suit in front of everyone? My margarita became my new best friend as the show began. August pulled his pants off, revealing black, square-cut briefs underneath. The man was like a Greek God, a tower of muscles. I continued to watch with admiration as he folded his clothes and neatly placed them on the lounge chair. Then he walked to the edge of the pool with Theodore, and dove into the water.
He was attractive—any woman with decent vision could see that. But those devilishly handsome looks would only get him so far. Oliver, on the other hand, was the complete package. Smart. Funny. Generous. And gorgeous as well. August was like candy to the eyes, but he was no comparison to the man I loved.
I froze, analyzing my thoughts.
Wait a minute . . .
The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.
I love Oliver.
My mouth dropped open.
“Okay—I think you’re drooling,” Oliver said with a chuckle as he grabbed his margarita. “And just so you know, I’m not offended or jealous. It’s a common response when women meet August. I had become accustomed to it many years ago, since we were both teenagers.”
I shook my head, taking a long sip of my margarita, attempting to gather my thoughts. “It’s not that. Yes, he’s gorgeous, but I was just hit with a stunning revelation that caught me off guard. I’m simply trying to process it.”
“What's going on? Can I do anything to help?” he asked, his brows furrowing.
I let out a snort, unable to contain my frustration. “You've already done enough, Mr. Trouble-Maker. You’re the reason I find myself in this predicament.”
His confusion deepened. “What did I do? I don’t get it.”
Looking into his eyes, I blurted it out without thinking, “I love you.”
Oliver’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he remained silent. I didn’t expect him to reciprocate immediately, but a simple acknowledgment would have sufficed. Something that showed he appreciated those three words that came from my mouth. Instead, he stood there like a statue, leaving me hanging. This was rather embarrassing, to say the least.
From my perspective, it was also a terrible sign.
A sudden clearing of the throat startled me.
