“Karl.” His name comes out like a breath on my tongue. When I see those soft brown eyes gazing at me, it’s as if everyone else suddenly stands still, as if the music goes silent and there’s nothing but us twirling in slow motion beneath a single light. “Abby,” Karl whispers as we spin together.
Abby “Is there a problem here?” Damon’s voice is powerful and firm despite the sound of the party whirling around us. His grip tightens around my shoulders, pulling me in closer against his warm body. I stumble a bit in my heels and feel my body press against him in a way that makes me shiver.
In fact, I think I didn’t speak because I was a coward. That was it. And now I need to get away. Damon hands me his pocket square instead of slipping it back into his pocket and rubs my shoulder gently. “Perhaps a little work might do you some good,” he says gently. “But please, if you need to r
Karl “And stay out!” The guard shoves me away with so much force that I nearly pitch forward onto my knees on the front lawn. All around us, curious guests watch and whisper in hushed tones. I turn, dusting myself off, and bow theatrically to the crowd. “Enjoy the show, everyone,” I chide them
Abby “Ahh… My feet are so sore,” Daisy whines as we enter our private chambers. She wanders over to one of the large, plush couches and flops down with a satisfied sigh. “Your feet hurt, but your heart is soaring, isn’t it?” Anton teases. “What a successful party, eh?” I almost laugh out loud
Abby The light of the moon streaming in through the high windows casts a dim blue glow over the corridor. As I step up to the cracked-open door of Damon’s private chambers, however, a flickering orange light mixes in with the dusky blues and grays. “Hello?” I call out softly, knocking twice on t
Once again, I’m a bit taken aback by Damon’s words. I suppose I should expect it by now because of my previous experiences with him, but his questions all feel a bit probing. “I apologize, Damon, but that’s my business,” I say. “I’m not sure if I’m willing to discuss that.” Damon’s eyes flash mo
Abby The lock slides into place behind me from the other side of the door. A soft gasp escapes my lips as I turn and try the door handle, and that’s when it fully hits me: Damon really did just lock us in here. “Let me go, Damon,” I say as calmly as I can. “This isn’t funny.” “Funny?” Damon le
Abby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “Abby, why don’t you sit down?” Karl looks up at me from where he’s sitting on the sofa, a look of concern on his face. He pats the spot next to him, but I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, continuing to pace back and forth in our living room. “I won’t sit down until I hear back about that
Abby As I chop, stir, melt, and saute, the others stand around me, watching intently. The pasta simmers on the stove, the air smelling like warm butter and spices. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But my focus isn’t on the rumbling in my belly, nor is it even on the lingering pain in my
As we continue searching, I keep thinking back on our last harrowing hunt for black truffles; those poachers nearly shot us. Even now, I can still remember the sound of the bullets whizzing past my head, and the thuds they made when they careened into trees. “We got really lucky,” I say. “If we ha