James: A College Girl Romance (28 page)

“I can’t believe it,” he said when he reached us. “Mayhem McDevitt married before me. Unreal. No one told me that Hell had frozen over.”

He looked down at Cass, who was staring up at him with a stunned expression—like a real-life Viking in a tuxedo had just walked up. At six-five, Bennett stood a good inch and a half taller than I did, and his blond hair had always had the tendency to make women lose consciousness.
Bastard
.

“It’s good to see you, too, Bennett,” I said, clapping him on the back. “Congratulations.” I turned to Cass. “Cass, this is my buddy Ryan Bennett. Ryan, this is my wife.”

“It’s great to meet you, Cass,” he said, holding out his hand.

“You, too,” she smiled.

“You’ll have to tell me how you tamed the wildest guy I know.”

“When I figure it out, I’ll let you know. Could it be he was just getting old and slow?”

She turned and winked at me as I grabbed her from behind and pulled her against me.

“It was unbelievable meeting you, Cass—truly unbelievable. I’m looking forward to talking to you more, but it’s almost time for me to get to the altar, so I’ll see you both at the reception.”

When he took off with his trusty German Shepherd trailing him, I turned to Cass.

“I’m going to have to get you a dog now, aren’t I?”

Her eyes widened before her face fell. She shook her head.

“We’ll be traveling too much. That’s not fair to a dog. Someday, though,” she said with a wistful glance at the retreating dog.

“We do have a private jet,” I pointed out. “And a private island.”

She smiled.

“Maybe.”

“Do you want to walk around the grounds before the ceremony?”

“Sure, but you’re going to be carrying me around by tonight if I don’t get out of these heels eventually.”

I took her arm as we walked toward the vineyard.

“
Mayhem
McDevitt?” she laughed.

“A well-earned title from undergrad.”

“I’m sure. Your friend seemed completely shocked that I was actually real. I’m sure he’s got some great stories to tell.”

I frowned at her.

“Don’t believe a word he says.”

Fortunately for me, Bennett was a stand-up guy, and he was less vindictive than I was. I highly doubted he would exact revenge on me for all the shit I had pulled more than three years ago by expounding upon my past exploits—even if I deserved it.

We walked to the edge of the asphalt and then I held Cass’s hand as we stepped into the vineyard. The vines were strung with lights in anticipation of the reception. I had to hand it to Bennett for pulling out all the stops in an effort to give Alex Reed her happily ever after.

“Are you sure you’re not going to regret it? Not having a real wedding?” I asked her.

She looked around.

“This is beautiful; it really is—but it’s one day. I don’t want a party. I want you.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

T
he entire wedding was like the scene out of a fairy tale.

Alex Reed looked like a princess as she walked across the grassy “aisle,” which had been strewn with white rose petals. I did have some dress envy—it was impossible not to. The soft sherbet-colored tulle bridal ball gown had a strapless sweetheart neckline, a ruched bodice accented with floral embroidery, and a Chantilly lace underlay. The chapel train only added to the fairy tale vibe.

At probably fifteen years old and already much taller than the bride, the maid of honor was clearly the bride’s teenage sister. They had the same smile, even if the younger girl was sporting braces.

Ryan Bennett was Prince Charming as he waited under the elaborate arch decorated with greenery and soft pink roses.

The mother of the bride cried softly into a tissue for most of the wedding. I even saw Ryan Bennett’s mother dabbing her eyes, which was surprising since James had described her as
stone cold
.

The dinner and garden-party reception took place on the grounds as the sun was setting a brilliant orange over the hills. James stayed by my side, introducing me to his old college friends and business acquaintances. Servers came by regularly with fresh flutes of champagne, and James seemed in his element. I was not. After convincing him to go reminisce with his buddies, I walked the periphery of the event, sipping champagne and wishing I felt more comfortable at huge events. Eventually I sat down at an empty table and took off my heels.

“That’s better,” I sighed.

When someone sat down next to me, I didn’t realize who it was until I noticed all the lace.

“Oh! Hi. You’re the bride, obviously.”

She laughed and held out her hand.

“Alex, and you’re Cass.”

“That’s me. Your wedding was absolutely beautiful. Like really amazing.”

“Thank you. It’s all Ryan. He’s the event guy … and the wine guy … and the mathematician.”

“Wow. A man of many talents.”

“He is. Did James tell you how we met?” she asked with a slight blush.

When I nodded, she smiled.

“I figured as much.”

She didn’t sound bitter about it, though.

“I think James has changed a lot since I met him my freshman year,” she said thoughtfully as she pointed to where James was standing with Ryan and two other college friends. “He seems much happier now, less jaded.” She laughed and then looked back at me. “I gave him a piece of advice—back when I was all of eighteen. I told him that someone out there would love him for who he was … and I’m going to guess he found that in you.”

“Thank you,” I smiled, blinking away my tears.

“Ryan said we were in school at the same time. I just finished in June. When did you graduate?” she asked.

I looked down.

“Oh. Well, I’ve still got another year. I was supposed to … I mean, I took off a couple of years. So what are you doing now that you’re finished with school?”

“Well, I’ve got a blog that I’m hoping I can keep going because I’ve built up some traffic, and I’ve been doing a little bit of press writing for this place. Do you know what you want to do when you’re done with school?”

I shook my head.

“Originally, I had been thinking about law school, but I think my mom was the only one excited about that idea.”

Alex laughed and rolled her eyes.

“Really? That’s pretty much how I ended up taking Calculus freshman year. I thought I wanted to go to med school. Big mistake. Where are you guys going to be living?”

“Well, James bought a house near school—”

“Yeah, when Ryan told me about that, I couldn’t believe it.”

“I’ll probably stay there while I’m in school, and I’ll commute out to San Francisco. James’s schedule is pretty open, which is nice.”

Alex laughed.

“That’s right. When I met him, he wasn’t a tech billionaire yet.”

I gave her a wry smile.

“I pretty much didn’t know about that until after I married him.”

Her eyebrows shot up.

“
What
? Now, that sounds like a story. Since you guys are going to be close by, we should get together.”

“Definitely,” I nodded.

She got up and looked around.

“Well, I should go make the rounds.”

“It was really great meeting you.”

“You too. Have fun. Did James tell you where you’re staying?”

I shook my head, and she gestured toward the wedding welcome bag we had received. She reached in, took out a key, and handed it to me. I slipped it into my clutch.

“You’re in cottage five right across from the main building. James probably already had someone take over your things if you need to freshen up at all.”

I jumped a little when I heard James on the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if we’ve never met, I am Ryan Bennett’s roommate from freshman year of college. He’s put up with a lot from me since we were eighteen, and if anyone suffered through more of my youthful—and not so youthful—indiscretions over the years, it was him. I want to thank him and the entire Bennett family for allowing me to step foot on the grounds this evening.”

People laughed, and he lifted his glass.

“To Ryan and his lovely bride Alex, all the best to both of you. In honor of your wedding, my beautiful wife Cass and I invite you to spend as long as you’d like at our villa in Tuscany.”

Alex turned to me as people started clapping.

“Did you know he was going to do this?” she asked.

I smiled and shrugged as I stood and slipped on my shoes, ready to find the guest cottages.

“James is unpredictable.”

“Yes, he is,” she agreed.

She walked to the next table, and I was just about to go find the cottages when I heard a familiar song begin playing.
Fade Into You
. My eyes flitted to the dance floor, where I saw James standing, waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat. Goddamn, that man was gorgeous. And it made sense that he was my prince. The dark stranger who could easily be cast as the villain, but was so much more than that. When I walked into his arms, I let myself melt into him.

“You know I can’t dance,” I warned.

He lifted me off my feet and easily twirled me around.

“I don’t care. I just wanted to hold my wife.”

“So, why not the island in the Maldives for a wedding present?” I asked with a smile.

“Because that’s
our
place, lovely.” He bent down and kissed me. “I saw that you met Alex.”

“Yeah, she’s really nice. She said you took her advice.”

James smirked.

“Did she?”

“She also said you seem much happier now.”

“I am.”

I leaned my head on his chest. When the song ended, two of his college buddies I had met earlier in the evening—Dave Peterson and Mike Borelli—came up with shots. Both of them were already a little hammered.

“Mayhem McDevitt—
married
. I still can’t get my head around it,” Mike said, shaking his head.

“That just leaves you and me, brother!” Dave guffawed. “Obviously we’re the smarter and better looking of the four of us.”

I touched James’s cheek.

“I’m going to walk over to the cottage to check it out.”

“I’ll come with you.”

I shook my head.

“Stay. Hang out with your buddies.” I pointed over to one of the two men in suits standing at the edge of the dance floor watching us. “I’m sure one of them will follow me over there.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m just going to check it out, take off my shoes for a second. I’ll come right back.”

I stood on my toes and kissed him.

“Don’t get into too much trouble,” I smiled.

“I’m a reformed man.”

I started walking toward the main building.

“Mayhem reformed? Sure he is,” I heard his friend Mike chortle drunkenly.

When I glanced back, James’s attention was fixed on his friend, who I fully expected to explode into a puff of dust under the intensity of James’s stare. I kept going. I wasn’t going let something one of his drunken friends said worry me.

I walked across the grounds, marveling at the twinkling lights everywhere. The air was warm and dry, one of the things I loved about summers in Northern California. Even if the days were sweltering without AC, the nights were always pleasantly warm. Great for shorts and a tank top—or a dress.

The cottages looked like miniature Italian villas. On the door, there was a sign that said
Mr. and Mrs. James McDevitt
. I smiled crookedly. It was shocking to see it in print.

I was
married
. Such a strange thought.

I turned and waved at the security guy who had shadowed me to the cottage before unlocking the door and walking inside. Suddenly a wet nose pushed past me into the cottage.

“Well, hi there, Finn. You sure do think you own the place, don’t you?” I asked the German Shepherd as he accompanied me inside.

I set my shoes in the corner and started walking around. The cottage was beautiful, decorated throughout with white roses. There were natural wood floors and terra cotta tile. Everything was done in soothing earth tones, except for the king-sized bed, which was piled high with white linens.

There was even a terrace that looked out onto the vineyard. I opened the French doors and looked around. When I walked back to the bathroom, which had a beautiful tub and separate shower. Closing the bathroom door behind me, I heard Finn whine at the door until I came out. His tail thumped the floor as I bent down to scratch his neck.

“Do Ryan and Alex know where you are?” I asked him.

A knock at the front door made me jump. Expecting James or the security guy, I looked out the peephole and opened the door with a surprised smile.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Did something happen? Wait—is James okay?”

Then Finn snarled and took a step in front of me.

“I’m sorry, Cass.”

My eyes suddenly focused on the gun pointed at my chest.