Page 121 of Temporary Vows

Salvatore taps my shoulder. “Go, be with your woman. It’s your wedding day. If anything urgent comes up, I’ll call you.”

I look back at him. He’s aware of my situation with Elodie. With the investigation going on, I couldn’t exactly hide it from him. Plus, there is the fact that I bought Elodie athisauction,and he backed me up when we had to deal with Marcus. “You know my wedding is?—”

“A wedding is a wedding, young one.”

I smirk. “Young one?”

“Remember I have twenty years on you, so take my advice.” He focuses on Elodie. “This may be business to you, but it’s not for her. This isherwedding day. No matter what happens between you, she’ll always remember it. Besides, look at her.”

I do. And I’m already guessing what he was going to tell me.

“She’s beautiful, andyoupicked her. What harm could come of indulging a little? You know you want to.”

I cut him a hard stare. “What makes you think that?”

He levels me a hard stare and smirks. “You’ve hardly taken your eyes off her all day. As you should. Don’t you dare insult me by denying it.”

I breathe out a ragged sigh and glance back at my wife. She is beautiful. Admittedly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“A girl like that is not going to wait around for you,” Salvatore taunts.

Irritated, I raise my brows at him. “I don’t want her to wait for me.” I might have sounded more convincing if not for the unhinged edge in my voice giving me away.

The look Salvatore gives me says he sees right through me. “Dorian Vale, say whatever you want, but if you’re not careful, that cousin of yours will make his move on her. I don’t think you’d like that very much.”

Fucking Parker.

My jaw clenches. That asshole has been looking at Elodie all day, too, watching her like a hungry dog. The fact that Salvatore noticed it says a lot.

Parker wants to fuck with me, but I know him. If he ever got the chance to put his filthy hands on my wife, he’d take far morethan just the opportunity to get under my skin. Then I’d have to cut off his dickandkill him.

“Go,” Salvatore says with a curt nod. “Like I said, I’ll call you if anything comes up.”

“Alright.” It’s time to go anyway. And against my better judgment, I should speak to Elodie. In private. “Talk later.”

He dips his head. With a rough sigh, I make my way toward Elodie. I spot Knox talking with Levi and Locke near the bar. They look like they’re having one hell of an animated discussion. Locke is doing most of the talking, which suggests he’s up to one of his shenanigans.

Knox sees me, just as I hoped. I lift my hand, signaling to him that I’m heading out. He nods back.

Before I reach Elodie, I scan the place for my parents and Adeline. I don’t see them anywhere, but I find Parker on the second-floor balcony, his eyes glued to my wife’s ass. He’s so engrossed, undressing her with his seedy eyes, he doesn’t even notice me watching him until I’m a stone’s throw away from Elodie.

Only then does he straighten. The motherfucker doesn’t even try to look guilty for being caught. Instead, he raises his champagne glass to me, as if he’s making a fucking toast.

I look away. It’s best to. I don’t want to get into anything with him tonight.

I walk right up to Elodie. I’m not sure if she saw me coming and pretended she didn’t. When I reach her, she gives me the same stiff smile I received earlier when she saw me talking to one of the ladies who run my PR team.

“There’s my Dorian.” Maureen glides up to me and gives me a quick hug. The millionth one for the day. “I’m ecstatic for you. Your wife is a rare gem.”

I slip my arm around Elodie. Her shoulders stiffen at my touch. “That’s why she’s my wife.”

Maureen claps. “I’m so happy for you. You must take her to England. She tells me it’s her dream to go there. She’d love the family Cotswold cottage.”

“I’m sure I’ll find my way there one day soon. Dorian is always so busy.” Elodie tries to brush away the idea.

“Nonsense. Work will always be there.” Maureen shakes her head. “You are young and you just got married. That’s the best time to have fun. Do it before the kids come along.”

“You’re right, Aunt Maureen.” I flash her one of my boyish grins, guaranteed to get her off my back. “And with that said, it’s time for us to head home. We want to spend what’s left of the day together.”