Back to Me without you (Sibling Love Book 1) (20 page)

Snap back to reality, Abby. Get a grip, girl!

Raleigh and Adriana, the other two bridesmaids, entered the room wearing their plunging neck, pink maxi dresses. They were the same style as Abby’s dress. They also wore a single diamond tennis bracelet as a token of thanks from Jessica.

“It’s getting crowded out there,” Adriana commented as Abby slipped her shoes onto her feet.

“Then, that’s my cue to leave. Let me know when you’re ready to walk down the aisle.” Steven walked over towards the door.

“If you see my hunky groom, say hello to him for me,” Jessica called out to her brother.

Raleigh wandered toward Steven, placing one finger on his tuxedo. “Don’t forget to save me a dance tonight,” she purred, making Abby almost gag.

She got that women found her brother good looking. But there was a time and a place for everything. Attempting to hook up with your best friend’s brother at her wedding wasn’t one of them.

Steven didn’t seem moved by Raleigh’s flirt. He signalled his sister in response to her and then left the room.

“I saw Justin,” Raleigh said. “He’s looking good. You’re lucky to have snagged a man as fine as him.”

“There’s nothing lucky about it. I think they’re both lucky to have found each other,” Abby elaborated. She hated how Raleigh made it sound like Jessica didn’t deserve to be with Justin, like he was far better than she was. It was almost like Raleigh thought she should be with him and not Jessica.

Abby kept quiet after that, though. She didn’t want to risk causing drama on Jessica’s special day.

“I’ve found my one true love,” Jessica replied. “I am lucky, just as I’m sure Justin is as well.”

The door opened just as Jessica was rising from her chair. Steven re-emerged, clutching his hands together. “We’re ready to begin.”

“That’s our cue to leave then,” Abby said.

Raleigh and Adriana were the first to leave the room and as Abby turned to leave, she kissed her sister on the cheek.

“You look beautiful, Jess,” she murmured. “Mum and Dad would think so, too.”

“Thanks.” Jessica said, embracing both of her older siblings into one last hug before she became a married woman.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Steven declared. “We don’t want to keep your husband-to-be waiting any longer than he already has.”

Jessica giggled. “No, we wouldn’t want that.” She drew in a deep breath. sucking her tummy in. “I’m ready.”

Abby held her sister’s hand in a bolstering way. “I’ll see you out there, Sis,” she said with one final smile. Then she left the room, getting ready for her own walk down the aisle.

Steven extended his arm out towards his sister and Jessica linked her arms with his.

“Okay, big brother. I’m ready for you to give me away.”

“You might be ready, but I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“There’s no time to play jokes on me now, Steven Carter. You have a job to do and a tough one at that.”

“I wouldn’t say tough. I’m only stepping into the shoes of Dad. You said it yourself. I look like him.”

“With Dad not here, I’m glad you’re able to walk me down the aisle. I wouldn’t want to do it alone or have anyone else on my arm but my big brother.”

The music began to play. Following the lead of Adriana and Raleigh, Abby started her walk down the aisle. She looked towards those standing in the pews with a smile on her face. They weren’t waiting for her. They were waiting for her sister. Abby couldn’t help turn her own focus to the dashing gentlemen at the other end of the chapel.

Only she was looking at Sam.

He was gorgeous in jeans and a t-shirt, but he was even more appealing in a suit and tie. And as hard as she had been trying to convince herself to turn away, she couldn’t resist his charming smile and dimples. He was looking right back at her, and Abby was unable to look away despite trying everything in her power to do so.

She liked that his eyes were on her, like she was the only person who mattered to him.

Was she someone he couldn’t stop thinking about or just a fun lay to him?

Shit! It was going to be a hell of a lot harder than she thought to get him out of her head.

Abby glided down the aisle at a slow pace. Walking past Sam and Justin, she showed them a brief smile before standing on the opposite side. The bridal music began and then Jessica started on her walk down the aisle on Steven’s arm.

Abby could see her sister was both happy and scared. Getting married was a big decision. She was choosing to settle down with one man. Forever.

When Jessica made it to the end of the aisle, Abby watched the way Steven kissed her cheek, just as their father would have done if he were here.

The priest asked who was giving this woman to Justin and both Steven and Abby raised their hands saying, “We do.”

Fifteen minutes into the ceremony Jessica and Justin recited the traditional vows. The song Marry Me by Train played quietly through the sound system.

“I, Jessica, take thee Justin to be my husband. To have and to hold from this day forward. For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; and I promise to be faithful to you until death parts us.”

One lone tear ran down Abby’s cheek. She knew those vows meant a lot to Jessica. Abby couldn’t help but allow her eyes to wander over towards Sam, who was doing his best to keep his attention on his brother and Jessica.

She would have liked to know what he was thinking right then. Was hearing those vows tough for him? Especially when he had said them not so long ago and it hadn’t worked out?

When the ceremony ended and the priest announced Jessica and Justin as Mr. and Mrs. Collins, everyone applauded them. They shared a passionate kiss. More applause, cheers and whistles sounded within the walls of the church. Then Jessica and Justin walked down the aisle, followed by the bridal party, including Abby and Sam.

Abby breathed deeply as she walked arm and arm with Sam. She couldn’t allow herself to get worked up over someone she would never see again after today.

She would get over Sam just as she had with every other man who’d walked into and out of her life. She knew she was better off alone. She didn’t need a man to be happy. Sam would go back to New York and to his normal life as a leading cardiologist, where he would most likely resume his womanizing ways.

He was just not the man for her and the sooner she realized this, the better off she’d be.

P
hotos were over. The reception was in full swing. Sam’s brother and new sister-in-law had entered the room earlier as husband and wife, their faces bright with joy. Sam couldn’t be happier for his little brother.

What Sam wouldn’t give to have that kind of love and happiness in his own life. There was a time when he assumed he and India would be happy together. Then it came crashing down around him. Now Sam wasn’t sure if he was ever going to be able to commit to another relationship, let alone marriage.

Sam watched as Justin and Jessica took to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife. He couldn’t help but look over at Abby. She seemed enamoured with the sight in front of her.

Something spurred him to action. He had to ask Abby to dance.

His fingers were tingling and his voice was trembling with fear. It wasn’t something he was used to. His job demanded nerves of steel. Although, he suspected that Abby was worth the jangled nerves. He knew he wanted to spend more time with her.

When Sam asked her to dance, he totally caught Abby by surprise. She hesitated, but then decided one dance wouldn’t hurt.

She let him lead her out onto the dance floor where Jessica and Justin were already dancing.

When he took her into his arms, she couldn’t help but notice how well she seemed to fit against his body. Was the universe trying to tell her something?

Fuck. Her mind and body were conspiring against her and Abby did not like it at all.

He tuned his movements to hers in a slow rhythmic pattern, and they glided across the dance floor in sync with each other.

He placed his hand on the small of her back and for a flash, Abby could feel herself swept up in the moment. It was almost as though they were an actual couple rather than just the brother and sister of the bride and groom. Abby relaxed a little in his presence. Her arms hooked around his neck.

She hadn’t realized that Sam knew how to dance, but he was very graceful on his feet. She wished she could say the same thing about her own dance skills.

Shivers raced through Abby’s body when she realized Jessica was watching them.

But Jessica wasn’t frowning. Instead, she was smiling.

Could Jessica see the chemistry between Sam and Abby? Tomorrow she’d most likely get the third degree from her, so it was a good thing that she was leaving to go home to New York City.

Abby spotted her brother make his own way onto the dance floor. His dance partner looked familiar.

Steven was dancing with Alex—the waitress from the engagement party.

No one had known she would be serving the guests tonight, but from the look on her brother’s face, he didn’t mind seeing her again.

Steven would deny that he felt something stronger for Alex than just sex, but his face told a different story. He was caught up in the moment. For the first in a long time, that was something Abby, Steven and Jessica all shared in common.

As they swayed and glided in the arms of their respective partners, it was as though they were the only three couples on the dance floor.