She’d been a teaching assistant, grading papers for him, helping him design student assignments. Sometimes he’d come to her campus apartment in the evening to discuss a particular student, their issues, good and bad. Then one night, Whitney blew into town for a visit. And as soon as Evan saw her sister, Paige had become all but invisible.
But she’d always wondered: Would he eventually have fallen for her, his friend and confidante, if he’d never met Whitney?
Some things were unknowable.
What she could hold on to now with all her might and all her heart was that last night, he’d finally kissed her. A kiss she had waited on for nine long years.
“You’ve made me whole again, healed me.” Will raised Harper’s hands to his lips. “Everything I have to give, I give to you. Please take my heart, my love. Because they are yours forever.”
In the row ahead of Paige, Susan sniffled softly with Bob’s arm around her. Sebastian looked tenderly at Charlie. While Evan stared ahead with fierce determination to appear completely normal.
Harper’s voice trembled as she began her vows. “I will take your heart, your love, and give you mine. I never thought I could need anyone the way I need you. I never thought I could let myself need anyone so much. But I also never thought I would meet someone I could trust with my life, with my brother’s life. I trust you with all of that, Will, and more. You are the kindest, most loving man I know. You bring me light. You are mine,” Harper declared as Will drew her closer. “And I am yours.”
The audience gave a collective sigh of happiness at the romantic and heartfelt vows as the officiant collected the rings from Noah, who had to be the cutest ring bearer on the planet. After Harper and Will had slipped the bands onto each other’s fingers, the officiant said, “I hereby pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Will cupped Harper’s face in his palms, his gaze roaming her features as if he needed to map each beautiful contour he saw. Then he slowly lowered his mouth to hers. Paige held her breath for the perfect moment, the perfect kiss, and sighed when it finally came, the melding of their lips, their hearts, their souls. Harper’s hands fluttered a moment, then settled on Will’s forearms, holding him. Their kiss was almost too intimate to watch, yet too beautiful to turn away from. Then Will slid his big hands down her throat, skimmed her shoulders, and finally gathered her into him, their hearts touching. With one hand across her back, he dipped Harper low over his arm, kissing her with all the passion that always burned between them.
Paige flushed, unable to stop herself from looking at Evan again. She swore she saw the same burn in his eyes as he looked right back at her, at least for a split second before he turned away, a muscle jumping in his jaw.
Finally, Will straightened with a grin, Harper laughed, her face glowing, and Jeremy jumped up from his seat to hug Will hard. Then he said in his best manly voice, “You better take care of my sister or else.” He looked over at the other Mavericks and asked, “That’s what they always say in the movies, right?”
Will laughed and group-hugged Jeremy and Harper. “Yep, that’s what they always say. I will definitely take care of her, buddy.”
“Just like we’ll take care of Will,” Harper said, then gave her new husband another very hot kiss.
Soon, everyone gathered around for hugs. Susan wiped tears from her face as she kissed Harper’s cheek. This was family and love, close friends and best wishes. And when Smith Sullivan gave Harper a hug, Paige was sure millions of women would have died to be in her shoes.
Paige circled around, planning to offer her congratulations once the crush was over. On the far side of the room, Evan watched, the barest hint of a smile on his mouth.
“Great wedding, wasn’t it?”
She turned at the sound of Daniel’s deep voice.
“The perfect wedding for a perfect couple,” he said. “Although I can see that you’re worrying.” Daniel nodded in Evan’s direction.
Busted. Of course Daniel had noticed her scrutiny. The Mavericks didn’t miss a thing. “I hate to think that he might be comparing his wedding to theirs.”
“I’m sure he is. But he’ll come through this.”
“Of course he will.” She gently nudged Daniel’s ribs. “After all, he’s got you guys to talk him down when he needs it.”
“And he’s got you too, Paige.”
That was definitely true. Evan had always had her, whether he knew it or not. Yes, she’d put up with Whitney’s behavior all those years because of her promise to their mother to look out for her. But Paige had also stayed for Evan—because she hadn’t been able to bear the thought of walking out of his life if she’d walked out of Whitney’s.
And now? Now that he and Whitney were done? Now that he and Paige had kissed?
She sighed, wishing she knew what to do, wishing she had all the answers. Her feelings for Evan were stronger than ever, but despite his passionate kiss last night, he was doing his damn level best to act as if it had never happened. She hoped he wasn’t sorry, that he hadn’t been about to apologize for kissing her when everyone burst out onto the porch to play in the snow. But given how raw and bruised inside he clearly was from her sister’s betrayal, Paige knew that his regret for their kiss was a distinct—and awful—possibility.
“Anything else you want to talk about?” Daniel asked. “Because that was a heck of a sigh.” His eyes were warm and far too perceptive.