Then the familiar sound of the wedding march started and people were coming to their feet. An overwhelming sense of need to see…her—Payton—filled him, and he wondered how Dominic was bearing under the same pressure. Heads were tilting this way and that to try and get the first glimpse and in another moment, the vision Cruz was waiting for almost breathlessly turned the corner and came into view.

Lovely didn’t even begin to describe her.

His heart burgeoned in his chest as he took in Payton’s almost ethereal beauty. Dressed in the same pretty dress as his sisters, she somehow managed to make it all her own as it clung to her graceful figure—a figure that had fit so well against his own—the hemline ending just above her knees. Her strawberry blond hair shone in the diminishing light, and he admired the way it was swept up and off her shoulders, leaving that creamy pale neck exposed. He waited, as she drew nearer, to see the two moles just below her ear.

She met his gaze, and he was confounded by the deep green depths, so alive and bright and luminous. Eyes that promised forever last night; he was near crazy enough right now to believe that she was looking at him in that same way now.

Like she was his.

Then she glanced away and passed Dominic to find her place in the line. Cruz’s heart was pounding so loud he thought his brother was going to look over at him in alarm but he didn’t. Cruz was relieved to see that everyone’s eyes were now trained at the start of the aisle, waiting for Kate.

Save for one.

Emily Vaughn’s gaze was on him, her eyes narrowed almost to slits, and he knew without any doubt that whatever emotions he felt for the woman’s daughter had been naked and exposed not just to Payton’s gaze—but to her mother’s. Heaven help him.

A bright and beaming Kate appeared next and the crowd came to their feet, eager for a better glimpse at the beautiful bride. He patted Dominic’s shoulder, but his brother barely noticed, his eyes only for one woman.

On notice from the glaring woman in the audience to keep his attention where it should be—on the bride and groom—Cruz turned to the justice of the peace who was officiating over the ceremony.

But it was hard. So hard. Because now on opposite sides of the row, both facing the couple in the center, he was hard-pressed not to stare into Payton’s pretty face. To take in his fill of the soft contours of her jawline, the curve of those deep red lips that he ached to taste again. Stare into those eyes that were staring back at him just as ferociously.

Damn. He should have kissed her in the elevator. Should have crushed her to him and finally been honest with her. Confessed to her that she aroused so many different needs and feelings in him that he was still trying to figure them all out. But that if she stayed by his side—in his arms…in his bed—they could figure things out together.

Dominic began to speak, to promise words of love to one woman, but it was Payton that Cruz was watching. His words from the previous night came flooding back to him. Promising to love her, honor her, stay true to her always and forever, promising himself only to her.

Dominic repeated those same words, and this time Cruz tore his gaze from Payton to stare at Kate, his almost sister-in-law. Kate stared in rapturous wonder at Dominic, her heart there for everyone to see.

What would it be like to have Payton standing before him again, sober, with that same look? To be standing where Dominic was, knowing this woman loved him so deeply and entirely, pushing away any doubts he might have that he was never going to be enough?

That she only wanted him, now and always?

Like the best thing that could ever happen to him.

Payton watched Dominic swear his love and devotion to her best friend, working hard the entire time to keep her gaze from meeting the man’s just behind him. The man who, when she’d come down the aisle just moments ago, had looked at her with those dark, haunting brown eyes, eyes that made her think for a minute he was waiting there for her.

Kate repeated the same vows and despite herself, Payton found tears slipping down her cheek. All too soon, the official proclaimed them husband and wife, and Dominic pulled Kate in for their first kiss, sending the audience into wild applause.

Payton dared a quick glance at Cruz. Yep, he was watching her, and she wiped the tears from her cheek and put on a bright smile just as Kate turned around and reached for her bouquet.

“Congrats, Kate,” she whispered, and her best friend hugged her tightly, then turned back to her new husband, as he took her hand and they walked down the aisle together.

At least one of them could have it all.

By the time pictures were taken and they were free to their own devices, the sun was tucked away and the sky above them dark save for the bright twinkling lights that crossed overhead, lighting the dance floor and dinner tables underneath.

Kate had foregone designating where anyone was going to sit for the reception and had left that to the guests—a wise decision since Payton wouldn’t put it past Cruz’s boisterous family to disregard name cards anyway. Most tables were full but one was left reserved for members of the wedding party. The sisters were already there, trying to get the kids to settle down. Kate and Dominic were held up speaking to Cruz’s parents, which left Cruz unaccounted for.

Payton’s eyes searched the tables again, in case she missed someone. An odd prickling at the back of her neck told her that she’d found her quarry when seconds later, his warm breath tickled her bare skin.

She didn’t dare to move, didn’t know if she could, as this man, this man who engendered the most bewildering conduct from her, reached her side. Neither of them seemed capable of speech, just enjoying the moment. She was almost afraid to speak for fear the magic of the moment would be broken.

“Payton,” Cruz finally said, his words deep and soft.

But whatever he was about to say was lost as Emily Vaughn’s determined face appeared in front of them, and Payton took a step back involuntarily.

“There you are, Payton. Cruz,” she muttered, barely glancing his way before returning her attention to Payton. “I was worried that Kate was going to keep you hostage the rest of the night for wedding photos. Now that you’re here, we should go take a seat as it appears they’re finally going to serve us dinner.”

“Oh. I was planning on sitting with the rest of the wedding—”

“I hope you understand how difficult it is for me, Payton, being here in this strange place,” her mother said in that long suffering voice Payton knew all too well, “not knowing anyone except you. You’re not going to leave me to sit by myself for dinner, too, are you? I promise I won’t make you miss out on the festivities. In fact, I’ll make myself scarce right after dinner. You may want to consider it, too, since our flight leaves in the afternoon and we need to make sure we leave plenty of time to check in and—”

Payton barely managed to restrain from rolling her eyes. “Yes. Fine. Of course, I can sit with you.” If it meant that her mother would retire to their room as soon as they ate, she could force herself to share a meal. A peace offering to the news that she’d dropped on her mother’s lap.

“We’ll both keep you company,” Cruz said and glanced around “We could probably squeeze in another chair at our table, if you’d like.”

“Isn’t that…sweet. But it won’t be necessary. I already have my sweater and purse holding our seats over there.” She pointed to a location several seats away from Kate and Dominic’s.

If Payton wasn’t actually stressed at the unlimited amount of barbs and insults her mother could level on Cruz in the space of twenty minutes, she might have put her foot down. Told her mother that she wanted Cruz’s company and if she didn’t like it, she could leave.