Page 36 of Wrecked (McIntyre Security Bodyguard #16)

Beth’s mother, Ingrid, kindly hands me a tissue so I can wipe my eyes.

* * *

After the ceremony, Beth does the bouquet toss. Lia catches it and says, “Oh, hell no!” She shoves into Molly’s hands. “Here, you take it.”

Then Shane gets on his knees in front of a seated Beth and peels her garter down her thigh and calf. Instead of tossing it to one of the guys, as planned, he kisses the garter and then he stuffs it into his pocket, earning lots of laughter.

Finally, the moment I’ve been waiting for arrives. The dancing begins. First, the happy couple share their first dance as husband and wife. I’m nervous as more couples take to the dance floor. It’s now or never.

I roll my wheelchair to the corner of the room, where Shane stashed my crutches for me.

I hoist myself up onto my feet and hobble slowly over to where Cooper is standing with Shane, Shane’s father Calum, and Jake.

They’re all helping themselves to whiskey at the bar.

Beth is right behind me in case I lose my balance.

I’m so nervous right now, I could throw up. I don’t know how Cooper’s going to handle this. Will he be surprised? Happy? Mortified? God, I hope it’s the former and not the latter. Otherwise, this could go south real quick and turn into a one big fucking disaster.

When Cooper spots me slowly hobbling toward him, he slams his glass down on the bar and stalks toward me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? You’re not ready to be up on crutches yet.”

I smile at him, even as I’m wobbling a bit. “I wanted to surprise you.”

Cooper’s complexion darkens. “Surprise me? By falling on your ass and hurting yourself?” Furious, he grabs my arm. “Come on. Back to the wheelchair.”

In that moment, my stomach knots. I’m so nervous it feels like my insides are on fire, like there’s a blazing inferno inside me.

I wrench my arm free from Cooper’s grasp.

“No. I’ve been practicing for days for this moment.

” I suck in a deep breath. What do I have to lose?

My heart is on the line here. “Daniel Cooper, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

My stomach sinks as I watch the myriad of emotions flashing across Cooper’s face.

His brow furrows as he stares at me before glancing around the room at all the people watching us. “Sam…” He just stares, unable to complete a sentence.

I shake my head, plowing forward no matter the consequences. I’m done waiting for him. “No excuses, big guy. Dance with me.” I smile at him, hoping I can give him the courage to take this chance with me. “Come on, I dare you.”

Cooper stands there staring at me. He’s motionless. Silent. Frozen to the spot.

My heart pounds as I wait for a reaction, anything. Finally, I accept the fact he’s not going to meet me halfway. He’s not going to give me what I need.

Cooper frowns. “Come sit down, please, before you get hurt.”

It’s too late. I’m already hurt, just not in the way he means.

“We are with family and friends here! There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

Cooper scowls at me, clearly embarrassed by my outburst. “I told you to sit down, damn it.”

I took a chance, and it backfired on me in the most glorious way possible. I’ve never been so humiliated in my life. There’s a tearing sensation in my chest, and I’m pretty sure that’s my heart giving up.

With my head held high, I turn away from Cooper and hobble out of the room. Beth follows me, grabbing the wheelchair along with her.

I stop at the elevator and repeatedly stab the up button.

Beth lays her hand on my arm. “Sam.” There’s so much compassion and empathy in her voice, my heart breaks. “I brought the wheelchair. Do you want to sit down?”

I shake my head and step into the elevator as soon as the doors open.

Beth follows me in with the damned wheelchair. “I’m so sorry.”

“So am I.”

As the elevator begins to ascend, I sway on my feet.

My leg is killing me, the pain agonizing.

When we reach the second floor, the doors open, and I step out.

I’m struggling to walk now, practically dragging my bum leg behind me.

The pain is unbearable. Beth rushes ahead and opens the door to my room.

I barely make it to the bed before I collapse and throw the crutches across the room. My cast is half on the bed, half off.

I feel hollow. Sick. I took a chance, and I failed. “Fuck!” My eyes burn as tears stream down my cheeks.

Beth lays her hand on my good leg. “Sam, I’m—”

“Don’t. These are our friends here. If he can’t stand up with me here, in front of our friends, he’ll never be able to do it.” My heart splinters into pieces. It’s time for me to face reality.

“Give him time,” Beth says. “Sam, Cooper cares about you. I see how he watches you, how he takes care of you. He never once left your side when you were in the hospital. And he brought you home with him so he could take care of you. Those are the actions of a man who cares.”

“A man who’s also very much in denial.” I sigh.

“I’m tired of being his dirty little secret, Beth.

He can’t get enough of me when we’re alone, in private.

But if he won’t claim me in public—in front of people we trust—then what kind of relationship do we have?

I won’t live in the shadows, not even for him. ”

I hear Beth’s stifled sobs as she tries to hold them in.

“It’s all right, Princess. I knew there was a chance this might happen if I pushed him. But it was a risk I had to take.”

When she asks me if there’s anything she can do, I shake my head. “No. I’m going to call it a night. I’m exhausted, and my leg’s killing me.”

“Do you need any help?”

“I can manage, thanks.”

As she heads out, I say, “Lock the door on your way out, will you?”

She nods, fresh tears forming when she realizes I’m locking Cooper out of my room.

No, out of my life.

I’m done being his dirty little secret.