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Chapter 1
Henry
“Do you take him as your husband?”
I’m standing in front of the king with the gorgeous, feisty, stubborn-as-hell brunette I am madly in love with.
And she is avoiding even looking at me, not to mention speaking to me.
“Ruby,” I say softly for her ears only.
She presses her lips together, but she doesn’t look at me.
I move closer to her, the sleeve of my suit jacket brushing her bare arm. “Dammit, Ruby.”
“Not. Now.” The words are soft but still firm. And she’s still not looking at me.
“I do,” Ruby’s sister, Scarlett, replies to the king.
King Diarmuid looks at my best friend and smiles. “Cian, do you promise to love Scarlett with all your heart?”
The prince looks at Scarlett with a smile full of love. “I promise.”
“Ruby, we need to talk,” I say softly.
I knew she and her sister were on their way to the palace. Ruby was the one who had called and told me Scarlett needed toget to Cian immediately. I arranged the private plane, for God’s sake. Did Ruby really think she was going to avoid me once they got here? She’s smarter than that.
Finally, the green eyes of the woman I cannot get over no matter how hard I try—and I have absolutely tried—meet mine. They are flashing with a mix of emotions.
“Stop it,” she mouths.
“I’m not going to stop it,” I whisper.
She frowns then turns her attention back to the wedding happening ten feet in front of us.
The king makes the rest of the ceremony short and sweet. He has full authority to join couples in marriage in this country and while some prior weddings have been longer and more sentimental, they don’t need to be.
“Then I officially declare you husband and wife,” the king proclaims. He raises his hand. “Go forth with my blessing.”
And that’s it. Scarlett and Cian are married.
And Ruby’s and my lives are bound together for as long as we both shall live.
We are equally dedicated to these two people and will be running into each other for the rest oftheirlives. At least for the rest of their marriage. But theirs is a true love match. There is no reason to think that we don’t have a good sixty years ahead of us to fight this frustrating, amazing chemistry between us.
Unless we stop fighting.
Cian finally releases Scarlett from their kiss, and they turn to beam at the room full of people. It’s family and close friends only, but the room is still plenty full. Ruby steps forward and pulls her sister into a hug.
They are identical twins and closer than any two women I’ve ever met. I don’t even have to ask to know that Ruby is feeling the same mix of emotions that I am.
Cian steps toward me and I also pull him into a hug, thunking him on the back three times. “Well done,” I tell him, meaning it.
I might have been focused on Ruby through the ceremony, but I’m truly so damned happy for my friend. I’ve always wanted him fully cared for and Scarlett makes his heart full and whole in a way no one else ever could.
Scarlett Gale is the best decision my best friend has ever made.
And I’m forever grateful to her for choosing him as well.