rfect, disaster struck as the bride and her cousin
ed with a s
c. Through stinging eyes, she caught sight of Brad Davies, her groo
softened her panic, and she re
, heading straight for Maddie Gordon, Kiera's cousin. Cradling Maddie clos
iera screamed until her throat burne
her throat. Her final glimpse was Brad carrying
, heavy with soaked fabric, pulled her deeper, suffocating her like
ut toward her, strong and unhesitating. Arms w
m of steady hands pressing against her chest
sunlight blazing behind the stranger who had saved h
est, she whispered, "Thank you..
His voice rumbled low, certain, and unyielding. "
arrying through the chaos. While all eyes were on the commotion, Ki
era opened her eyes
e; Brad had
one vi
e, peeling an apple with a tenderness Kiera hadn't witnessed from hi
sound scraping her throat while te
ied, bound together since childhood and pl
ago. Brad had vowed to wait, swearing that the day she came back would be th
ed into the space beside him, and b
n sake. She clung to that explanation. Even as he abandoned her again and again, rushing to Maddie instead of offering her his
on, and she saw herself for what she tru
ction in the darkened glass, a face stai
overed the screen as if that
e who she becam
g chest. Her fingers moved quickly, fueled by
she erased Brad's number and blocked
asons of her own, but nobody had ever sa
that was what
rimson dress that hugged her frame, every curve demandi
e stranger who had saved her-a location tha
usting scrap metal loomed around her, their jagged silhou
she rubbed warmth into her skin and qui
at a crumpled car, its hood smashed, its emblem missing. The sc
or. Tall and solid, he stripped off his gloves, snatched a towel, and dragged i
tant, the light struck his face, every angle shar
ttered. This man w
ne with a graceful smile. "Good evening, Mr. Sm
bride-now she carried herself with flawl
ond's glance before his gaze shifted awa
cerity lacing her words
gh her dazed mind had barely clung to
allowing slowly before setting his gaze on her again. "
ther as she whispered, hesitant but resolute, "