Chapter 5

Gabby

The grand glass doors of St. Michael’s swung shut behind us, cutting off the stunned murmurs of the congregation. The bright afternoon light washed over the stone courtyard, but my mind was spinning so fast the world felt completely out of focus.

I stopped dead on the top step, snatched my arm back from Nathan’s grasp, and whirled around to face him.

"Your cousin?!" I choked out, my voice dropping into an urgent, furious whisper. "You are Joel’s cousin?!"

Nathan didn't blink. He casually slid his hands into the pockets of his tailored charcoal trousers, his dark eyes calmly tracing the flush spreading across my chest and cheeks.

"Second cousin, technically," he corrected smoothly, his voice a cool, velvet rumble. "My father and his mother share a grandfather. But yes. Family."

"Are you insane?!" My hands flew up to my temples as I took a step back on my heels. "I hired a random guy outside a church to throw off my toxic ex-boyfriend! I didn't hire his relative! Do you have any idea how complicated this just made my life?!"

"You didn't hire a random guy, sweetheart," Nathan said softly, taking one slow, deliberate step toward me until the toes of his polished dress shoes nearly touched mine. The subtle scent of cedarwood and costly cologne wrapped around me, instantly scrambling my thoughts. "You hired me. And as I recall, you offered a thousand dollars for an hour of my time."

"That was before I knew you shared a bloodline with the man who ruined my self-esteem!"

"The man who is currently sweating through his tuxedo because he thinks you moved on to someone vastly superior," Nathan countered, a slow, dangerous smirk curling his lips. "Isn't that what you wanted? To make him choke on his regret?"

My breath hitched. I opened my mouth to argue, but the truth hit me like a splash of ice water. He was right. Looking back through those heavy oak doors, I remembered the sheer terror and inadequacy in Joel’s eyes when Nathan pulled me against his chest. It was better than anything I had dreamed up in that café two days ago.

"Besides," Nathan added, his expression darkening slightly as his gaze drifted toward the parking lot, "you're not the only one getting something out of this."

I frowned, reading the sudden shadow across his sharp jawline. "What do you mean, Nathan?"

Before he could answer, the church doors burst open behind us.

A middle-aged woman draped in emerald green silk and dripping in heavy jewelry marched out, her high heels clicking loudly against the stone. Her face was twisted in a grimace of pure outraged aristocracy. Beside her lagged Joel, looking pale, disheveled, and completely drained of his usual arrogant confidence.

"Nathan!" the woman barked, her voice cutting through the courtyard.

Nathan didn't even flinch. He slowly turned around, smoothing the front of his jacket, instantly stepping sideways so his broad frame partially shielded me from her sharp glare.

"Aunt Eleanor," Nathan greeted smoothly, his voice devoid of any warmth. "Congratulations on Joel’s wedding. The floral arrangements were... adequate."

"Don't you dare talk to me about flowers!" Eleanor snapped, coming to a halt three feet away, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits as she dragged her gaze over my red dress, my bare shoulders, and my bold lips. "Who is this woman?! What happened to Lina? You were supposed to bring Lina as your guest today! And what is this absurd lie Joel is telling me about an engagement?!"

Joel stepped up behind his mother, refusing to meet my eyes, though his knuckles were white as he clutched his hands together. "Mom, I told you... it’s Gabby. She used to... we used to know each other."

"I don't care who she used to be!" Eleanor hissed, her upper lip curling with disgust as she addressed me directly. "You show up to a sacred family ceremony in a dress like that, clutching my nephew's arm, causing a spectacle? Who raised you?"

The old, familiar sting of judgment flared in my chest. For a split second, the ghost of that little boy on 5th Avenue pointing at my body flashed through my mind. I felt myself shrink inward—

Then, a heavy, warm hand settled firmly on the curve of my waist.

Nathan pulled me flush against his side, his thumb pressing possessively through the red silk just above my hip. The sheer heat of his body radiated into mine, instantly burning away my doubt.

"Watch your tone, Aunt Eleanor," Nathan said, his voice dropping an octave into something dark, icy, and utterly commanding.

Eleanor froze, stunned into silence by the sudden danger in his tone.

"Gabby is my guest," Nathan continued, his dark eyes locked onto his aunt with terrifying intensity. "She is also my fiancée. You will speak to her with respect, or I will make sure Joel’s personal standing with the rest of this family becomes very uncomfortable by Monday morning."

Joel gasped, his face turning completely gray. "Nathan, wait—don't drag family matters into this!"

"Try me," Nathan said softly.

Silence descended over the courtyard, heavy and absolute. Eleanor swallowed hard, her necklace trembling against her throat as she realized her nephew wasn't making an idle threat. She cast one last venomous look at my dress, turned on her heel, and grabbed Joel’s arm, dragging her silent, defeated son back toward the reception hall.

My heart was hammering so hard against my ribs I thought it would break. I turned my head slowly to look up at the man beside me. His profile was carved from stone, his dark eyes still fixed on the doorway where his family had vanished.

"You... you just stood up to your own family for me?" I whispered, genuine shock lacing my words.

Nathan lowered his gaze down to meet mine, the icy hardness in his eyes melting into something deep, intense, and intoxicating. His hand stayed on my waist, his fingers pressing gently into my soft curve, completely unbothered by the fabric or my size.

"I stood up to her because she was rude to my fiancée," Nathan said raspy, his thumb tracing a tiny circle against my hip. "And because nobody gets to make you feel small while you're with me."

A shiver ran down my spine, settling deep in my belly. I still didn't know much about Nathan—just that he had an air of effortless authority that made people bow down, and a mouth that could make a woman forget her own name.

"Now," Nathan murmured, leaning down until his lips were inches from my ear, his warm breath fanning across my neck. "The reception is downstairs. Half the family is inside, including my ex-girlfriend who thinks she’s going to embarrass me today. We have a deal to finish, sweetheart. Are you staying by my side, or are you running away?"

I looked into his dark, stormy eyes, felt the solid weight of his hand holding me steady, and realized there was nowhere else on earth I’d rather be.

I reached up, adjusted the lapels of his charcoal suit, and smiled up at him with pure, unadulterated fire.

“Running away was never part of my plan.”

A small, private smile tugged at his mouth.

“Shall we?”