Chapter 7

Brynn stepped out of the Clerk’s Office, staring at the fresh marriage license in her hands. Her mind spun. She couldn’t believe it. She’d really gone and tied the knot with some guy she barely knew.

Brynn shook her head, letting out a quiet laugh at how wild it all was. “Now I’m done with the Everetts—for real this time,” she murmured, her voice soft, almost lost in the wind.

She snapped out of it, her gaze dropping to the photo. Her brain rewound to that moment. Her eyes were caught up in the memory: soft lips brushing hers. A weird, fizzy feeling shot through her, starting at her mouth—new and kinda thrilling. Brynn lingered on it—her first kiss. She’d just stood there, totally thrown.

“So…guys’ lips can be soft too, huh?” she muttered, half to herself. Then it hit her. Her face went red-hot, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, horrified. She shook her head like she could rattle the dumb thought loose, sucking in a big breath to pull herself together.

“You grip that thing any harder, and we’ll be back inside grabbing a new one,” Dominic’s voice slid in, smooth and playful. Brynn jumped, almost fumbling the license. She spun around, sucking in a quick gasp, and met his eyes.

“When’d you sneak up on me? What’d you hear?” Her words spilled out, edged with panic. He’d said something about forgetting his keys when they left the office and told her to head to the car. She’d wandered over, too wrapped up in her head to notice him slip into the driver’s seat.

Her eyes went wide, heart thumping. Oh crap, he didn’t catch that, did he? “What do you think, Mrs. Johnson?” He smirked, tilting his head as he watched her flail. That smug little grin—teasing but warm—bounced her red face back at her in his dark eyes.

Brynn couldn’t handle it. She dropped her head, cheeks on fire. “This guy’s too smooth,” she groaned to herself. She was way out of her depth here, and it wasn’t even close. She bit her lip, stuck between annoyed and something else. Yeah, she’d dated before. Chase, her ex, was a cold fish—distant, cocky, and about as charming as a spreadsheet. Dominic, though? He knew how to get under her skin and make her stomach do flips.

“Crap,” she whispered. “If this keeps up, he’s going to have me totally hooked.” Her brows scrunched up, irritation simmering. She chewed her lip harder. No chance. I’ve got to flip this. Get the upper hand. She clenched her fists, determination kicking in.

Easier said than done. Flirting wasn’t her thing—she didn’t have a clue where to start. Her brain scrambled for a move, but she was drawing a blank.

Chapter 7

“Bot—bot.” Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of it. Brynn blinked, digging it out of her pocket. Hailey Bennett’s name glowed on the screen—her best friend. She froze, staring at it. The phone felt like it was burning a hole in her hand. She hesitated, thumb hovering over the answer button. She knew Hailey was calling about the wedding. With the weather being a mess lately, flights were grounded all over. Hailey hadn’t made it back for the big day.

The idea that Hailey might be calling to say congrats froze Brynn in her tracks, her finger stuck over the screen. But ignoring it wasn’t happening either. Hailey would freak, thinking Brynn got cold feet or something, and start spamming her phone—probably everyone else’s too. She hit answer, steeling herself.

“Hey…” she started, voice shaky, feeling it out.

“Brynn! Did that jackass Chase pull some stunt that broke your heart and trashed the wedding?” Hailey’s voice blasted through, loud and bold, cutting Brynn off before she could even finish.

Brynn blinked, thrown. “Where’d you get that?” she asked, legitimately confused.

“You’re really going to act like I don’t know?” Hailey huffed, all fired up. “Chase plastered it all over his socials. Said you guys had a little fight, and you flipped out, started taking wedding RSVPs from strangers, so it’s off.”

“Total crap. I know him, and I know you better. You wouldn’t pull that unless he screwed up big time to push you over the edge.” Brynn’s chest warmed at Hailey’s fierce backup. She dipped her head, a tiny smile sneaking out. But then Chase—spreading lies like that? Her stomach twisted, brows scrunching. Typical. He was obviously shielding the Johnson family’s reputation, tossing dirt on her to look good. It was like she was the crazy one throwing a fit.

“What if Chase is right, though?” Brynn threw out, testing the waters.

“No way,” Hailey snapped back, not even blinking. “Brynn, how long have we been tight? I know you like the back of my hand. You’re not some drama llama who’d burn it all down over nothing.”

Brynn’s throat got tight, eyes stinging. She blinked fast, holding it together. Her parents, who’d raised her for over twenty years, didn’t buy her story. Chase, her boyfriend forever, didn’t either. She shook her head, bitterness rising. But Hailey? Hailey had her back, no doubt. Brynn sniffled, hit hard by it.

“Plus, this was your dream wedding,” Hailey charged on, voice climbing with pure fire. “You picked out every little thing—the flowers, the wine, the whole feel. You’d never ditch it over some stupid spat.” At last, she added furiously, “Chase had to have done something so rotten it crushed you to make you…”

Chapter 7

Brynn’s heart puffed up at Hailey’s words, but—oh no. The call was on speaker. She shot a quick look at Dominic next to her. He’d heard it all. Her eyes flicked to his face, watching it get stormier by the second. She swallowed, guilt creeping up, and jumped in to stop the crash. No way was she letting Hailey spill every messy detail of her and Chase’s past right here.

“Hailey, hold up,” Brynn said, sharp and fast. “I didn’t just ‘grab a groom’ at the wedding for kicks. Chase didn’t even show—he bailed to hang with Kylie.”

“What?” Hailey’s voice spiked, pure shock blasting through the phone. Hailey was losing it on the other end, sounding like she’d sprout wings, zoom back from halfway across the globe, and beat Chase into next Tuesday. Brynn could practically hear her grinding her teeth over the line. And Kylie? Hailey was mentally tearing her apart too. That shady duo—thinking about them just cranked her anger to eleven.

“So, hold up—you legit went groom-hunting at the wedding?” Hailey asked, her voice oozing disbelief.

“Yup,” Brynn said, playing it chill and easy. That set Hailey off. “Girl, I get you were mad, but you can’t just lose it like that!” she said, sounding all worked up.

“I didn’t—” Brynn tried to jump in.

“Look, if you’re scoping out guys, wait ‘til I’m back home. I’ll hook you up with a whole crew—hot local, international studs, whatever you’re into. Pick your favorite,” Hailey swore, like she was making a blood pact.

Dominic, behind the wheel, let out a sharp little snort but kept quiet. Brynn, meanwhile, felt sweat popping up on her forehead. Please, Hailey, shut it, she pleaded in her head.