Twenty minutes later, the roar of a sports car engine grew louder in the distance.
With a sharp swing of its rear end, the car pulled up in front of Zoey and came to a perfect stop.
The window rolled down, revealing a strikingly handsome face.
Quinn rested one hand on the steering wheel, an eyebrow raised and a cocky smile playing on his lips.
The top two buttons of his black shirt were undone, revealing his sharply defined collarbones. Everything about him radiated a wild, untamed confidence.
"Get in, bride."
Zoey froze for a moment.
This was her first time seeing Quinn in person.
He was exactly as she'd heard. Carefree, reckless, and unapologetically flirtatious.
Yet there was something about him that made it impossible to look away.
"Is all this really necessary?" she asked, frowning slightly as she glanced at the long procession of wedding cars behind him.
Quinn chuckled, pushed open the door, and stepped out.
With a few long strides, he was standing right in front of her.
He towered over her, looking down with amusement in his eyes.
"If I'm stealing a bride, I might as well make a scene. I've got a reputation to uphold, don't I?"
He held out his hand, palm up, his long fingers relaxed.
"Last chance to change your mind. You sure you want to come with me?"
Zoey stared at his outstretched hand.
Her fingers curled slightly before she finally placed her hand in his.
"I'm sure."
Her voice was soft but firm.
Quinn's smile widened.
Then, without warning, he caught her wrist, bent down, and swept her into his arms.
"Ah!"
Zoey gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Well, if you've made up your mind, let's get moving."
He grinned as he carried her toward the wedding car.
"When I marry someone, I don't sneak around. I make sure everyone knows!"
He settled her into the passenger seat.
Then he braced one hand against the car door and leaned in to fasten her seat belt.
The faint scent of cedarwood and tobacco surrounded her.
He was so close that his breath almost brushed against her ear.
Zoey felt her ears grow warm and instinctively turned her head away.
"Nervous?" he asked with a low chuckle, his voice dangerously charming.
"Relax. I don't bite."
He shut the door, walked around to the driver's side, and slid behind the wheel.
The moment he stepped on the gas, the sports car roared to life and sped off.
Dozens of wedding cars followed close behind, forming an impressive procession that drew curious looks from people along the streets.
Meanwhile, in another wedding car, Xavier watched the scenery rush past his window.
For some reason, he felt strangely empty inside.
Summer had her arm wrapped around his, her head resting against his shoulder.
"Xavier, I'm finally marrying you. This is everything I've ever dreamed of."
She tilted her head to look at him, her eyes full of anticipation.
"What about you? Marrying me has always been your dream too, hasn't it?"
Xavier looked down and met her expectant gaze.
His throat tightened slightly.
"Of course."
But the moment the words left his mouth, Zoey's face appeared in his mind.
He remembered her crouching beside him in the alley behind the bar when he'd been at his lowest, asking him cautiously, "Are you okay?"
He remembered how she'd sold the only antique emerald bracelet her mother had left her just to buy him a decent suit.
Yet she'd smiled and brushed it off.
"I don't really like wearing jewelry anyway."
He remembered how she'd once struggled to make him something to settle his stomach after a night of drinking, despite running a high fever herself.
She'd ended up collapsing in the kitchen.
One memory after another flashed through his mind.
His chest tightened as though an invisible hand had closed around his heart.
Summer noticed his distraction, and her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"It's our wedding day, and you're thinking about another woman? Xavier, have you fallen in love with Zoey?"
Xavier snapped out of his thoughts.
He pushed down the strange feeling in his chest and gently pinched her cheek.
"Don't you know who I love?"
Summer immediately broke into a smile.
"Then you owe me a kiss."
Xavier lowered his head and kissed her.
But the moment their lips touched, he found himself thinking of Zoey again.
She'd always been so sweet and shy when he kissed her.
Her lashes would flutter, and she'd breathe carefully against his lips.
Sometimes, when his kisses left her breathless, she'd gently push against his chest, her cheeks turning pink.
"Slow down," she'd whisper.
When the kiss ended, Summer nestled against his chest, blushing.
Just then, the driver spoke up.
"Mr. Shaw, there's another wedding procession up ahead. It's tradition for the brides to exchange bouquets for good luck."
Still distracted, Xavier murmured his agreement and rolled down the window.
Then he looked toward the other wedding car.
And found himself staring straight at Zoey James.
She was wearing a wedding dress.
And in her hands was a bridal bouquet.
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