4

“I honestly don’t see the point in continuing this conversation,” I said, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil inside. As a seasoned prosecutor, I had faced some of the toughest cases in Louisville, and dealing with this arrogant jerk was turning out to be easier than I expected. I wanted to feel something—anything—after spending nearly six months with Matt, but the truth was, I felt nothing at all.

Surrounded by the lavish wedding reception of my best friend, I was getting dumped, and all I felt was exhaustion. Maybe there was something inherently broken in me that made it difficult to form genuine connections.

“You don’t have anything to say?” Matt laughed, a hint of mockery in his voice.

“What do you want me to say? I might’ve had a bit too much champagne, but you’re the one breaking up with me. Did I miss the memo? Oh, let me guess: you chose to call me during the wedding festivities for a reason.”

“I’d like to hear that you’re upset. That you wish we could talk this through.” His tone turned sharp, as if he expected me to beg. “I called because you insisted I come visit you at the hotel.”

“Would it help if I were crying?” The orchestra played loudly, and I knew Katie was about to leave for her dreamy honeymoon in the Maldives—a trip her new husband had kept a secret from everyone except the maid of honor. Maybe I should be crowned the spinster of honor since my own Prince Charming was nowhere to be found.

He scoffed, irritation clear in his voice. “No, it wouldn’t at this point, Selena. Maybe it would’ve before.”

“Bullshit,” I muttered, coughing into my fist to keep from drawing attention. His exaggerated sigh made me want to stab him with a fork.

“The great Selena Barrios—the ice queen of the courtroom who let her coldness seep into her personal life.”

So we were resorting to insults now, as if using my full name meant I only cared about my career? At that moment, I almost did. I grabbed a champagne flute from a passing waiter, nearly knocking it out of his hands. I took a long sip, hoping my icy demeanor wouldn’t draw too much attention. Then, with a forced smile, I lowered my voice.

“Well, if your performance had been worth caring about, I assure you I wouldn’t be so cold. Who knows how many times I might’ve gone down on you if I could just find it?” Not my finest moment, but he had it coming.

He fell silent for a long ten seconds—unusual for him, as he usually bombarded me with words. Maybe I’d stunned him. Oops.

“And here I thought we could stay friends,” he said, his tone now somber.

“You don’t have friends, Matt. You have people to stroke your ego and enemies. And somewhere in between are your conquests. Don’t think I’m oblivious to that dirty blonde from your office. I’m not stupid. But you’re right; I simply stopped caring.”

I was bluffing about the affair—making an educated guess. When he hesitated, a sharp pang hit my heart, but I mentally pushed it aside, resisting the urge to unleash the words I wished I could hurl in court. What did it matter now?

“No, just an ice queen. Goodbye, Selena. I hope you find a man who doesn’t mind frostbite.”

“Oh, that really hurt.” I realized my voice had risen, drawing a small audience. After ending the call with a flourish, I shoved my phone into my purse and fought the urge to lash out. I forced a sweet smile for anyone watching, downed the rest of my drink, and made my way to find the bride. I still had responsibilities to attend to.

“There you are,” Jenny hissed, her eyes darting around. “Katie is about to toss the bouquet.”

“Great. At least I can retreat to my hotel, just a few blocks away from this madness, and drown my sorrows in cocktails before taking a long, hot bath. Ice queen? Please.”

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

“Matt called, didn’t he? I hate that pompous jerk.”

“Honestly, so do I.”

“What did that creep do this time?”

Jenny knew all about Matt’s possible infidelities and his rise through Louisville’s social scene. He was considered quite the catch, now free to lure in as many unsuspecting women as he liked. “He thought today was the perfect day to break up with me.”

“Ah, what a shame. He’s a pig, you know. A certified Grade A jerk with a stamp on his carved ass. If you ask me, he should be taken to slaughter.”

“Graphic much?”

She shrugged and tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder. “I’m just stating a fact.”

I didn’t need to look her way to know she was rolling her eyes. She’d always hated the guy and his perfect suits, a sentiment she’d expressed at least a dozen times. “Perfect timing. Just a reminder of why I’ll never get married.”

“If you want, I can hire my brother to put a bullet in his head. Or, if you prefer, he could handle it with a knife. Maybe he could serve him up as a filet.”

I laughed, though I didn’t want to admit I’d considered that option more than once since suspecting his extracurricular activities. Especially since her older brother was rumored to have connections to a mob in New Orleans. It was a topic we usually avoided in our friendship. I’d heard he was dangerous, and the entire syndicate was known for its brutality. Growing up in a powerful, tight-knit family like hers meant there were always secrets. She had escaped her family’s criminal ties and become a lawyer for the right side of the law. But her fierce spirit and zest for life remained intact—something she had inherited from her father. “You’ve been spending too much time with your brother. But the jerk did call me an ice queen. Can you believe that?”

“Just say the word, girlfriend. You need an outlaw in your life, not some prim and proper jerk with a stick up his ass. You need a hard body. A harder cock. Someone who won’t take no for an answer. My brother could make it look like an accident.” She shot me a playful glance.

“First of all, I don’t think that’s the kind of thing you should be suggesting. Second, dating a criminal wouldn’t exactly help my career.” Though the thought did sound tempting.

“I’m not talking about dating a criminal, at least not a well-known one. I’m talking about a sexy, dangerous man with a permanent five o’clock shadow and dark, mysterious eyes that scream passion. A total hottie with a Harley—someone who’ll sweep you off your feet and claim you as his. You know the type—dominating and charismatic.” She leaned in closer, lowering her voice. “And please, girlfriend, don’t tell me you haven’t thought about crossing the line at least once, doing something that could get you into trouble.”

I wanted to deny it, but that would’ve been a lie. My mind often wandered to thoughts of violence and her connections. The delicious fantasy of dating a hot alpha male made my mouth water. She was right; I was used to the uptight men who spent more on their ties than I did on a suit, with perfectly manicured nails and gleaming shoes. Oh wait, I’d just described Matt. “The image you’ve painted is mouthwatering, but it’s not going to happen. I’ll stick with my dazzling pink vibrator from now on.” It should have been a red flag that Matt hadn’t even bothered to leave a toothbrush at my place by month three.

Jenny shook her head as we entered the room where the festivities would take place. “Your loss. But I think that’s exactly what you need—a hot fling with Mr. Alpha Dog. Imagine sneaking away to the shadows near your hotel room or going down on him in his flashy car. No, wait, I have the perfect spot—in the ice room of the hotel.”

The images that flashed in my mind were nauseating, especially after my tense conversation with Matt.

At this point, I had no idea what I needed, but that definitely wasn’t it.

“Nope. Not my style,” I insisted, though I could easily visualize ice cubes melting against a sizzling male body. Whew, it was getting hot in here.

“Maybe you need to break free. Spend the rest of the weekend going wild.”

I shot her a look of disdain, letting out a sigh as exaggerated as hers. “You’re crazy.”

“Who, me? Never! You need to live a little. That’s when the perfect man will come along, sweeping you off your feet and fulfilling every fantasy. Then you won’t need that cheap vibrator.”

“Hey! I spend a small fortune on certain devices.”

The sad truth was that I had, and I probably would again.

“Not the same as a big, fat cock.”

She had a point.

I’d rolled my eyes far too many times over the last two days of celebrations. “You’ve had way too many glasses of bubbly.” At least she managed to make me laugh, something I desperately needed right now.

If I didn’t find humor in this, I might start plotting Matt’s demise with a gleeful heart.

“I’ll give you one piece of advice,” she said just before we entered the room.

“I won’t be able to stop you, will I?”

“Nope. You know me.”

“A bull in a china shop. What’s your advice?”

“Find a sinfully gorgeous alpha man and let yourself go for just one night. I promise you won’t regret it. Plus, you might discover the man of your dreams hiding underneath that mysterious exterior.” When she glanced at the man who had come with her to the event, I smacked her arm.

“Don’t tell me that’s how you met Brad.”

“Then I won’t,” she replied, lifting her chin in mock defiance.

“You little brat.”

We both laughed again, and I wanted to pry her for all the juicy details, but it was time for the bride and her prince to make their exit. I had a feeling Jenny’s wedding would be on my social calendar soon enough. I really would end up being the old maid of the group, which was definitely not something I wanted on my résumé.

Katie was radiant, her face glowing with joy. She beckoned us closer, and I knew better than to try to shy away from the semi-circle. So I stood there, stoically, while the other girls giggled like schoolgirls. I hated the odd tradition, but the extravagant celebration had been all about what Katie wanted.

The lucky girl.

She was marrying an actual prince, for crying out loud. How did that happen in the modern world? Even as she turned around, she glanced over her shoulder, pouting her passion-pink lips while the drummer in the small orchestra began a familiar drum roll.

“Come on, girl! You ready?” I shouted on cue. “One,” I yelled.

“Two!” the entire group echoed.

“Three!” This time, the room joined in.

Katie tossed the stunning bouquet of two dozen long-stemmed red roses over her shoulder, just like the one her mother had carried in her fairytale wedding.

And it landed straight into my arms.

What. The. Heck?