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  "I'm sorry I couldn't be with you more," he said. "I love you so much."

  He held her tight, rocking her. The divorce had been the right choice. Christine deserved a better life than a friendship in the guise of a marriage. But he couldn't help regretting the divorce. He had tried to do the right thing and he lost his daughter.

  "I know," she said, and pulled out of his embrace. "I didn't mean to be such a baby."

  "Don't apologize for what you feel," he said. "Not to me, not to anyone. I try to act tough, but not a day passes that I don't regret you're an ocean away from me."

  She wiped under her eyes delicately, so that her carefully applied mascara didn't smudge.

  "It was a little better this year," she said. "I got to see you on Sing every week. You came more often. It didn't feel like there was a great big ocean between us."

  He nodded. He had been keenly aware of the distance, but seeing her more often made it just a little easier.

  "Come on," she said with a dignified sniffle. "The godfather can't be late for the wedding."

  Chapter 16

  Vy

  SEBASTIAN HELD THE CAR DOOR OPEN and offered her his hand. What had Helen been thinking to choose such a short dress for her? She felt naked in the tight little black dress she was wearing. She decided to think of it as a test for wearing something like that on stage. She'd have to talk to Alice about it.

  She took Sebastian's hand and got out of the car. She stood a bit taller than him in her ten inch stilettos.

  "Was that necessary?" she asked.

  "You're in a short dress with high heels. When was the last time you got out of a car wearing that?"

  "I see your point." she said, and pulled down the hem of her dress. "This thing rides up like it's alive or something."

  "That's a scary image," her brother said. "Come on, bridesmaid, don't dilly-dally."

  "Do I look ok?"

  "Sure. No one could possibly guess you put on your makeup in the car."

  "That's because you are a wonderful driver. And a wonderful brother."

  She leaned to kiss him, he ducked and she had to grab his ear to hold him still. She planted a big kiss on his cheek.

  "There's lipstick all over me now," he whined, rubbing at his face furiously, spreading the sparkling beige even more.

  "Let me," she said swatting his hand away. She took a tissue out of her tiny clutch. "Spit."

  Sebastian obeyed without thinking. She proceeded to rubbing her lipstick off his face.

  "The Queen of Rock is still a big sister," he said mockingly.

  "Don't call me that," she said. "Stand still. I almost got it all."

  "You used to like it. Your favorite trump card."

  She ignored him. She used to be the Queen of her car and she used the title sparingly.

  "There you go. All clean now."

  She stood tried to kiss him again, but he ducked.

  "I feel like I should hug you now," he said.

  "Nah. We don't do hugs."

  "Maybe we should."

  She wanted to ruffle his hair, but he looked so handsome all gelled up and clean shaven. The elegant dark suit was a nice change from his usual scruffy style. She oddly missed the guyliner look. She took his arm and they walked into the church.

  It was going to be a small traditional wedding. They had one person too many for her comfort, but she couldn't veto their choice of godfather.

  The large hall was silent and thanks to its impressive acoustics, her high heels announced her presence as soon as she stepped through the doors. She held on to her brother's arm all the way down the aisle. The further they got, the harder she squeezed him. Sebastian gave her an odd look, but he didn't say anything and he didn't pull his arm away. He massaged it when she let go of it.

  She squeezed her clutch desperately and went through her game plan for the day. She had to focus on her friends, and try to stay as far from King as could without being rude. She caught sight of him at the corner of her eye, but managed to shift her attention to the groom.

  Bryce looked more handsome and more anxious than she had ever seen him. She air kissed him to avoid what had happened with Sebastian.

  "Looking good, dude," she said, punching his shoulder. "I thought you'd be more nervous."

  "What? Why?" Bryce asked immediately.

  She winked at him. "Just messing with you. You're totally nervous."

  "No kidding," Marvin said. "He's more anxious than me."

  "Hard to believe," she said and craned her neck up for the same kind of air kisses, but Marvin took her in his arms and lifted her off the ground.

  "Oh my God, you're growing like a weed!" she said trying to suppress a squeal.

  "Me Hulk."

  She laughed, and kissed him on the cheek. Tall and strong though he was, Marvin was the little brother she never had, since Sebastian had always acted like an elder brother. Marvin tightened the embrace until he made it hard for her to take another breath.

  "Can't breathe," she said.

  He let go of her immediately. "Don't know my own strength," he said, blushing.

  She looked up at him happy to still see the jumpy boy she met in the waiting room, the same day she had met Helen and Bryce.

  "Look at you! Mister best man," Vy said taking in the changes in Marvin. They seemed to go beyond the lack of eyeliner and blue hair. "Missed you, kid."

  "Guys, you're making this weird," Bryce said.

  That was the sign that she could no longer postpone the moment. She looked past Marvin at Andrew King who stood silent, somber and sinfully sexy.

  "Hey," she said.

  "Hello. It's good to see you."

  She smiled and gave him a brief awkward hug. His short-cropped beard brushed against her cheek. His scent bypassed any barriers she had in place and burrowed straight into her brain. Her heart beat hard and fast and shame burned in the pit of her stomach. How could she be so weak? He meant nothing to her. He was out of her life, out of her mind, out of her dreams.

  "You remember my daughter?" he said.

  Diane jumped out of her seat in the front row where she sat next to Alice, James and Bruno, the rest of Vanilla Velvet.

  "Don't I get a hug?" Diane said.

  "Are you still my biggest fan?" she asked, but before the girl could answer she opened her arms and Diane jumped into them.

  She was still hugging the girl when the bridal march started and the doors opened. She waved to Alice and the others while she rushed to her side of the altar, next to Lauren DeSalle who looked like the gorgeous hairy godmother Helen deserved.

  The bride walked in, at her father's arm.

  On her side of the church, Helen's mother stood next to Ryann Ford, who had come as Lauren's companion. She winked at him, and he winked back. They had to schedule that date he had paid for the week before.

  Andrew

  After their week in the Jungle, when he had seen her running toward him in a bathing suit, he'd had an uncomfortable amount of fantasies about having her legs wrapped around himself. After the bachelorette auction a few days earlier, he started having detailed fantasies about getting her out of that lacy off-white dress. Seeing her walk down the aisle with her brother, he tried not to stare at her legs, but he knew that the short black dress was going to show up in his dreams.

  When he was under stress, he fell back on the rudimentary skills acquired as a child actor. He was always uncomfortable when he noticed he was doing it, but sometimes it was the only way to get through a situation. He had to act as if everything was fine and he was happy to be there.

  As soon as the ceremony was over, he took Diane to the car.

  "I wanted to talk to Vy," his daughter said.

  "You can talk to her at the reception," he said.

  The wedding reception was going to be at Club Arcana, where Vanilla Velvet played every week. He'd spent many nights there with Bryce and the others. The kids had grown on him and he managed to relax around them once Alice made them cut
down on Vy stories. His assistant was an old soul, and she was very good at creating a relaxing atmosphere around him.

  Even after the situation with Carter exploded so spectacularly, she still managed to keep an oasis of calm around their team. He drove slowly from the church to Club Arcana, trying to postpone the moment when he'd be in the same room with Vy.

  "You should record a song with her," Diane said, shuffling through his playlist.

  He almost asked who.

  "I'm sorry I can't stay longer," she said when he didn't answer, "but I'm happy mom let me come for the wedding. Bryce and Helen are so cute together."

  "I'll come there next month," he said. "We have a few concerts, but after that I'll try to stay there for a couple weeks."

  "That would be awesome," she said. "You know, mom said we might be moving back to Illyria. I don't think she's super happy there."

  "She told me it's a possibility," he said. "I would be very happy if you come back, but I didn't want to pressure her. How is she getting on with the cop?"

  Diane giggled. "He's not a cop. He's pretty cool though," she said. "Mom is very weird around him."

  "Weird how?"

  "Like… I don't know… Like she doesn't want him to be there. And he's always nice to her."

  He pulled over into the Club's parking lot.

  "Being a grown-up can be complicated," he said.

  He escorted his daughter into the club, wondering if he should have asked Christine to come with them to the reception. He hoped that his ex-wife was doing better than him in the aftermath of their divorce. He wished that Diane and Christine would move back to Illyria, but he had to have a talk with his ex. She had left to be sure they went through with the divorce. She shouldn't come back because she couldn't deal with her relationship with the cop who wasn't a cop.

  Diane let go of his hand and ran straight to Vy. He went to the bar and sat in a corner, trying to keep an eye on his daughter without looking at Vy.

  He asked for a scotch, but realized that he'd rather be driving back than call for a cab and leave the jeep in the Arcana parking lot.

  "Is this seat taken?" Alice asked.

  He started at the sound of her voice. His assistant seemed to have the gift of turning herself invisible at will.

  He shook his head, and Alice perched on the tall chair next to him. She took his untouched glass of scotch and looked into his eyes.

  "You should ask Vy to dance," she said.

  For months, he had felt Alice make an effort not to interfere. He caught her looking at him disapprovingly when the others mentioned Vy. She steered the conversation away whenever they brought up the possibility of a collaboration. She'd been distracting Carter as much as possible whenever he brought up Vy in the House, to mess with his concentration.

  "I was just about to invite you," he said.

  There were three people in the world who had guessed his feelings for Vy. His ex-wife, Carter and Alice. Alice had been the only one who hadn't nudged him to do something about it. She was the person who knew Vy the best. If even Alice urged him to do something, he had to accept that things had gone far enough.

  "We still have to go on that date you paid for," Alice said. "You can dance my feet off then."

  He looked at the stage, and saw Vy in Ford's arms.

  "Speaking of paid dates, it looks like she has a dance partner," he said.

  "Andrew, do you trust me?"

  He turned his head back to Alice. The young woman was never blunt unless she had no other option. He must have annoyed the hell out of her.

  "Of course I do, but-"

  She interrupted him before he could say it was complicated.

  "Stop holding back. I don't know your reasons, but you're starting to hurt her."

  He hung his head. Last thing he wanted was to harm Vy.

  "She shouldn't have to get over you," Alice said, "and you know you will never get over her. Trust me on this."

  "Still trying to solve everyone's problems, aren't you?"

  "Like I said, just those of the people I care about," she said.

  He squeezed Alice's shoulder as he did when he was proud of her for something. Her usually bright smile was dimmed. Alice had her own serious issues to work through He wished he had done a better job of protecting her from Carter.

  The song was nearing the end. He timed his pace to reach Vy and Ford when it was over.

  "Tomorrow at ten then," Vy was saying.

  "I look forward to it," Ford said. "Hey, Andrew," he nodded and smiled at him before walking away.

  "May I have this dance?" he asked Vy, holding his hand out.

  She hesitated before touching him. She darted a look around as if wondering if he would make a scene if she refused. Spending so much time with Carter got her used to rude reactions apparently. His heart would explode in tiny pieces if she said no, but he would be a perfect gentleman.

  The slow, sensual song caused a shiver down his spine. She nodded and stepped closer. He placed his palm at the small of her back, guiding her with the lightest pressure. She followed his lead with uncanny precision.

  "I thought you were a bad dancer," he said.

  "Hmm?"

  "You told Diane you're a horrible dancer. She showed me how you disabled the guy-"

  She stepped on his foot before he finished talking.

  "Sorry," they said at the same time.

  "I shouldn't have mentioned it," he went on. "You were doing great before. Ouch," he said when she stepped on his foot again.

  "Can we stop?" she begged. "I want to salvage some of my dignity."

  He didn't want to stop. Letting her out of his arms was the last thing he wanted. A quick glance across the dance floor reassured him that Diane was in good company. She seemed delighted to be dancing with Sebastian.

  "I have an idea," he said, and took her hand.

  He walked off the dance floor and pulled Vy with him. One of the perks of visiting Club Arcana often was that he knew a few of its secrets. He led her to a room in the back from where they could hear the music. It might be full of mops and cleaning supplies, but he didn't mind having to hold her very close while they danced.

  "No one will see us here," he said when they got to the door of the cleaning supplies closet. "You can step on my feet as much as you want, and we can finish the dance."

  "I'm going to ruin your shoes," she said.

  "I don't mind." He took a step inside the tiny room. He held her hand over the threshold. "Come in," he said.

  She didn't move, but her eyes couldn't lie to him. Her pupils were growing in the brightly lit hallway.

  "Are you afraid of small places?" he teased her.

  She stepped in and slammed the door shut before he could finish the taunt. That was his fearless girl!

  The music was faint, but they could pretend they were dancing. He placed his palms on her hips, and Vy slid her arms around his neck. Their breathing was louder than the music. They moved slowly, losing all connection with the rhythm of the song.

  Her high heels brought them almost eye to eye. She took advantage of that to initiate the kiss. He answered tentatively, worried that he might not be able to stop if he let himself at the mercy of his desire, but her urgency tore through his reasonable concerns. She angled her mouth, and her slippery satin tongue dove deep past his lips, exploring hungrily. He walked her backwards until he had her pressed against the wall. She whimpered when he sunk his teeth in her full bottom lip.

  His hands skimmed greedily down her body until his fingers reached the hem of her dress. He clutched the fabric, trying to stop himself. That damn thing was begging to be bunched up around her waist.

  She gasped when he nudged her legs apart with his knee, but she hooked a leg around his hip, pulling him closer. He ran his palm up and down along her outer thigh. She bucked against him when he cupped her toned bottom.

  "We can't do this here," she said, forcing the words between shuddering breaths.

  "I k
now," he said, without letting go.

  She pulled him into a kiss and he pressed her harder into the wall. Vy wrapped her other leg around his hips. He kneaded her ass while she locked her ankles behind his back.

  "We really can't do this," he said, kissing his way down her neck.

  "We should stop," she said, arching her back, and pressing his face into the hollow of her neck.

  "We should go out on a date," he said, moving back up.

  Vy mewled softly when he nibbled her ear.

  "Okay," she whispered. "Date."

  "Tomorrow?" he asked, trying to stop his hips from grinding into her.

  "God, yes!" she said. "We should get out of here," she said, panting as they kept kissing.

  They tried to tone down the intensity of their embrace. He clenched his jaw when Vy unlocked her legs, and he nearly lost control to feel her shaking in his embrace.

  "Vy?" he whispered, not trusting himself to speak. "Are you sure?"

  She shook her head. "I'm not even sure what's my name right now," she said. "But I want to see you again."

  "Tomorrow," he said. "I'll drive Diane to the airport in the morning. Can I see you in the afternoon?" he asked.

  He knew she had her date with Ryann at 10. He needed to see her before he took her to a fancy night club. Maybe he should have waited. Maybe he should have asked her for a proper date the day after, but he couldn't wait. He couldn't risk losing his chance again.

  "Sure," she said, trying to arrange her dress. "I should be at home in the afternoon. Sebastian and I take turns going home while our parents are away."

  She was pulling down the bottom of her little black dress. He had to look away when she pressed her palm over her lower belly. If she was half as aroused as him, she'd feel as if a fire was burning inside her.

  "Okay," he said. "I can be there around 2."

  He could pick her up at 2, and give her a tour of his studio before she had to get ready for her date with Ford. He didn't feel jealous of Ryann for taking her to some club at night, but he resented having to give up any time with her.

  "Does everything look ok?" she asked, turning around and presenting her back for inspection.

  His hands landed on her hips as soon as she had her back to him. The long zipper of the dress drew his attention. He ran his fingers along its length, from the small of her back all the way to the back of her neck. She gasped as he unzipped her dress down to her shoulder blades. He pressed his lips on her skin, eliciting a small whimper from her.