Page 35 of Alistair

“I sometimes feel like you’re keeping something from me, like I’m seeing things that aren’t really there,” she said softly, her gaze searching his. “But I know that’s the broken parts of me trying to keep myself from getting hurt again.”

Damn it.

He couldn’t tell her he was being one hundred percent honest with her, because he wasn’t. Hewaskeeping something from her.

“I told you that I would be careful with your heart, Maggie, and I meant it. Ineverwant to be the one who makes you cry or hurts you.”

“I’ll be careful with your heart too, Alistair.”

She slipped her arms around his neck and gave a gentle tug. He lowered his head and kissed her. She had the softest lips and felt so perfectly right in his arms.

When the kiss ended, far too soon, he smiled down at her. “Let’s get back to the table, we don’t want to miss the cake.”

She nodded and took his offered arm.

As they walked back into the ballroom, he noticed right away that Seth was at the head table, speaking to Brian. Penny glared at Maggie and Alistair, and he felt like everyone was watching them as they took their seats at the family table.

“What happened?” her mom whispered. “Seth told us that you hit him.”

Maggie rolled her eyes so hard they ached. “Mom, that’s not what happened at all. How could you think that Alistair would hit Seth? And at the wedding? For gracious sake.” She crossed her arms over her chest because what she wanted to do was throw something at Seth and get that smug look off his face.

Like a plate. Or the wedding cake.

Alistair explained quietly what he witnessed and how he’d intervened.

She still felt like a damsel in distress getting rescued by the sexy hero.

He’d looked so commanding and protective. Her skin prickled at the reminder of just how safe she’d felt with Alistair.

Which was a stark reminder that Seth hadnevermade her feel anything but insecure.

“I told you,” her dad said to her mom. “No way Alistair would do anything to cause a problem here. That asshole needs to leave.”

“Dad, we don’t want to cause any more drama,” Maggie said.

Seth walked away from the head table and went to the bar, looking like an unhappy toddler. How the hell had she ever found him attractive? And put up with his behavior for such a long time?

She looked at Alistair. He smiled warmly at her and put his arm around her shoulders.

“If you’re sure,” her dad said.

“I am.” She looked at her mom. “Why do you always assume the worst?”

“I don’t.”

“You do, though. Why couldn’t you wait to hear what I had to say before you jumped to conclusions?”

“Let’s not do this,” her mom said stiffly.

“All right,” Maggie said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. She reached up and linked her fingers with Alistair’s.

The newly married couple got up and moved to the cake table, and all the attention that Maggie had felt on her and Alistair disappeared as they watched them cut a slice of cake and feed it to each other. Everyone clapped as the couple kissed.

“That cake was so expensive, I hope it tastes good,” her dad said.

Her sister had picked a white cake with raspberry cream filling. “It’s good, I promise,” Maggie said.

“Chocolate lava cake good?” he asked with an arched brow.