Chapter 9

“Longer than you think.”

I should have asked what that meant.

Instead, a woman appeared beside us carrying a folder.

“Mr. Sullivan?”

Dominic turned.

She introduced herself as one of his attorneys.

Of course he had somehow summoned an attorney to my wedding in less than ten minutes.

She opened the folder.

“We need both signatures.”

I looked at Dominic.

“This is actually happening.”

“Only if you want it to.”

There it was again.

The choice.

I looked across the ballroom.

My family was watching.

So were hundreds of guests who would probably have the story online before I finished saying my vows.

Eight years ago, that would have terrified me.

Today?

Let them talk.

I took the pen.

“Natalie.”

Mom came closer.

“You're certain?”

No.

I wasn't certain about Dominic.

I wasn't certain about anything except one thing.

“I am not marrying Ryan.”

“You don't have to marry anyone.”

“I know.”

That mattered too.

Nobody was forcing me.

Not Mom.

Not Grandpa.

Not Dominic.

This insanity belonged entirely to me.

I signed.

Natalie Bennett.

Dominic took the pen.

He didn't hesitate.

Dominic Sullivan.

My stomach flipped.

The attorney collected the papers.

“We're ready.”

Apparently we were.

The staff worked quickly.

Ryan's name disappeared from the printed program at the entrance.

His place card vanished from the head table.

Nobody could change the initials woven into some of the decorations, but I didn't care.

At four seventeen, the quartet began playing again.

Dad stood beside me outside the ballroom.

He looked at me for a long moment.

“Still time to run.”

I smiled.

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Never.”

His voice cracked.

My smile disappeared.

I hugged him.

In my first life, Dad had become so ill he could barely walk.

Ryan had convinced me that stress from Bennett Group was killing him.

So Ryan had taken over more responsibilities.

More access.

More control.

I held Dad tighter.

“I'm going to take care of you.”

He laughed softly.

“I'm supposed to say that.”

“I'm serious.”

“I know.”

The doors opened.

Everyone stood.

And there was Dominic.

Waiting for me.

Not Ryan.

For one second, the two lives collided.

I remembered walking this same aisle toward Ryan.

I remembered believing forever waited at the end of it.

I remembered dying in our bed.

My steps faltered.

Dad squeezed my arm.

“Nattie?”

Dominic saw it.

Something changed in his face.

He started toward me.

The groom wasn't supposed to leave the altar.

Dominic apparently didn't care.

He walked halfway down the aisle and stopped in front of us.

“Everything okay?”

I nodded.

He looked at me.

Not Dad.

Not the guests.

Me.

“You don't have to do this.”

My throat tightened.

“You keep telling me that.”

“I'll keep telling you until you believe it.”

God.

I barely knew him.

So why did I trust those words?

I held out my hand.

“Take me to the altar.”

Dominic did.

The ceremony itself passed in a blur.

The officiant wisely skipped any references to our long courtship.

Daniel coughed when he mentioned love.

Mom elbowed him.

Then it was time for the vows.

“Dominic Sullivan, do you take Natalie Bennett—”

“I do.”

The officiant blinked.

“We haven't finished.”

A ripple of laughter moved through the room.

Dominic looked entirely unapologetic.

“Sorry.”

I bit my lip.

The officiant started again.

This time Dominic waited.

“I do.”

Then everyone looked at me.

Eight years ago, I'd said those words to Ryan.

I had promised to love him.

Honor him.

Stand beside him.

I'd kept every promise.

He'd kept none.

“Natalie Bennett, do you take Dominic Sullivan to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Dominic's eyes held mine.

No pressure.

No demand.

I could still leave.

“I do.”

Something in his expression broke.

Only for a second.

Relief.

It was so intense that I almost forgot to breathe.

The officiant smiled.

“Then by the authority vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife.”

Applause erupted.

“You may kiss the bride.”

Oh.

I hadn't thought about that.

Dominic leaned closer.

“May I?”

I stared at him.

He was my husband and he was asking permission to kiss me.

“Yes.”

His hand settled gently against my waist.

Then he kissed me.

I expected something polite.

Brief.

It wasn't.

His mouth touched mine carefully at first, but something changed the second I kissed him back.

His fingers tightened at my waist.

Heat rushed through me.

I forgot the guests.

Forgot Ryan.

Forgot everything except the man kissing me like he'd been waiting years to do it.

When Dominic pulled away, my heart was racing.

His forehead almost touched mine.

“Hello, Mrs. Sullivan.”

I swallowed.

“That is going to take some getting used to.”

“I have time.”

The certainty in his voice made me look at him.

Before I could ask, applause rose again.

We walked back down the aisle together.

For the first time that day, I smiled without forcing it.

At the ballroom doors, Dominic leaned toward me.

“We need to talk before the reception.”

My smile faded.

“About what?”

His expression had become serious.

“You.”

“What about me?”

He opened the door to a private room and waited until I stepped inside.

Then he closed it behind us.

“Twenty-four hours ago, you intended to marry a man you'd loved for ten years.”

My stomach tightened.

“Today you looked at him like you were standing in front of someone who had already hurt you.”

I went still.

Dominic watched me carefully.

Then he asked the one question I couldn't answer.

“What happened to you, Natalie?”