It’s a beautiful day in Malibu.
I’ve never seen Jessie so happy. Jacob is waiting at the altar with his brothers. He has longish brown hair and
he’s wearing black-rimmed glasses. He’s handsome in a slightly nerdy, wholesome way. He doesn’t look nervous,
and he doesn’t look like he’s second-guessing anything. He seems grounded and stable and like there’s nowhere
else he’d rather be. As he kisses my cheek, I can tell by the kindness in his brown eyes that Jessie is going to get
her happily ever after.
I take my place beside Lexi and I can’t stop crying as Jessie walks down the aisle.
Rafe lifts Jessie’s veil and kisses her cheek. Jacob takes both her hands. Jacob and Jessie take their vows and
exchange rings as they gaze into each other’s eyes. It’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever seen.
It doesn’t matter that they’ve only known each other for a short time, or that it’s a shotgun wedding and
she’s—almost—beginning to show. True love doesn’t have a rulebook or a playbook. It looks a little different
every time.
I think about how lucky her baby is, to have Jessie as a mom, and Jacob, with his kind eyes, as a dad. A dad
who’s not going to walk out on them with no forwarding address.
And I think about what my mom told me all those years ago. Your father had trouble written all over him, but
he was so beautiful I went with it anyway. I fell so hard for your father I didn’t care that he would
break my heart. I knew he wouldn’t stick around, but I didn’t regret a single minute of it. Because I’d never
been so happy in all my life. And look at the gift he gave me, Lila Jade. He gave me you.
Lila Jade Danger Sunshine Bailey. I guess it has a certain ring to it. Lila Jade Danger Sunshine Bailey
Maddox, to be precise. Maybe history is r epeating itself. Maybe we do the things we do because we can’t help
ourselves.
Because I also knew Colton Maddox had trouble written all over him. And I also can’t bring myself to regret a
single minute of it.
Of course I’m aware that he’s watching me. My husband. Grumpily. With a steely resolve I don’t know
exactly how to read.
It’s not fair that he’s the most beautiful man at this wedding, eclipsing Jacob and his handsome brothers like a
god among men. Even Rafe Black isn’t as... Colton as Colton Maddox.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” says the minister. Jacob kisses Jessie and it’s so sweet, I’m crying
again. A hazy memory resurfaces. Of our kiss. It was sweet too. So sweet, I felt it all the way down to my soul.
And then it turned hot. So hot, Colton ended up carrying me back to our room where we couldn’t get close enough
fast enough and we consummated our marriage right there on that re volving bed in our swanky honeymoon suite
in Vegas before we could even get our clothes all the way off.
Maybe I wasn’t as drunk as I thought I was. I wipe my tears as the music starts up. Lexi and I follow the
newlyweds as part of their procession along the velvet carpet to the large white tent that’s been set up with the
tables under it. Candles have been lit and there are white roses everywhere.
People are congratulating the happy couple and the crowd starts moving into the tent. Some people are finding
their place cards and taking their seats.
We all watch as Jessie and Jacob take to the dance floor for their first dance.
“Lexi, hi,” a young woman says, and Lexi turns. “Hi, Olivia.” They hug and Lexi introduces us. “This is Lila
Bailey, Jessie’s maid of honor. Lila, this is Olivia Jones. Olivia works at Black Investments, where Jacob works.” I
can’t help but notice Olivia could easily be a supermodel. She’s tall and waif-thin with long, lustrous dark hair.
“Nice to meet you, Olivia.” “You too, Lila. Lexi,” Olivia’s voice lowers. “I didn’t know Colton Maddox was
going to be here. Holy hell, I had the best night of my life with that guy after that party at Downtown a few months
ago. But the bastard was gone by morning and never even called. I got his number through a contact, but he hasn’t
returned any of my texts.”
My blood feels like it just turned to ice. Lexi gets pulled onto the dance floor by Rafe before she can react to
what Olivia just said.
I remember her name, of course. Olivia. Kara. Bianca. Jemma. Olivia and I are both watching Colton try to
make his way through the crowd. But Jessie interc epts him, laughing and pulling him onto the dance floor. “You
have to dance with me,” I hear her say.
Of course he does. Jacob is distracted now and she’s the bride. She gets anything she wants.
“God, it’s not fair, he’s so fucking hot,” Olivia says to me as we watch them dance. “That to-die-for asshole is
loaded and seriously well-hung. He told me he wouldn’t call me the next day, but of course I went with it
anyway.” She sounds almost unhinged about it. Almost like he broke her heart. “I would fucking marry him
without hesitation if he asked me—but oh no, we all know he’ll never commit. Which is a crying shame, if you ask
me. I mean, just look at him.”
I am looking at him. “Oh my god, he’s coming over here.” Wild hope drips from Olivia’s hushed murmur.
He doesn’t even seem to see her. His gaze is fixed on me. “Hi, Colton,” says Olivia, watching Colton’s arm
loop itself around my waist. Possessively.
“Hey.” He’s somewhat dismissive, like he doesn’t recognize her. Is that possible? It was the best night of her
life and he doesn’t even remember her?
“Are you two together?” Olivia asks. “We sure are,” Colton confirms, pulling me toward the dance floor.
“You have a nice night now. Come on, Bailey. Dance with me.”
“Good luck, Lila,” Olivia calls after us. “Don’t fall for it!” I wonder if he’ll remember me three months from
now. I picture us running into each other at some party in New York, a new girl on his arm
and that same bored look on his face he just gave Olivia.
I pull away from him. “I can’t do this.” I start walking away. I have to, before he completely breaks me. I’ve
been broken once, and it was my own fault. I’m not going to let that happen again.
“Lila—” Colton grabs my arm. I know how strong he is and I can tell he’s taking care not to hurt me. I’m able
to pull from his grip, and I stare up into stormy sapphire eyes.
“The problem is, Colton, I don’t know if I can trust you. Trust is something I have trouble with anyway, and
everyone ke eps warning me that all you are is a mess of red flags. I don’t want to dance with you. I don’t want to
talk to you. I don’t even want to look at you right now. I want to go and enjoy my friend’s wedding without it
being all about you. So, please, leave me alone.” I walk away, willing myself not to cry again. I can’t handle his
harem making its way into my bestie’s romantic happily ever after. I need to get away from him.
But as I push through the crowd, I bump into someone. Someone solid. I’d completely forgotten he was
coming. The one person I haven’t been able to get out of my head for the last four years.
It’s Troy Beckett.