ROWANNE'S POV
Thailand. Escape.
That's what I'd told myself. A reset. A chance to breathe somewhere far away from Eli Carter.
Except, I'd clearly forgotten one crucial thing, Rory Knight, Vivian's fiancé, was Eli's best friend. And Eli? Single, available and dangerously so... meaning he was here. As the best man.
Perfect.
The humid evening air clung to my skin as I stood under the glow of string lights, pretending to enjoy the music and laughter swirling around the open garden terrace.
My fingers toyed with the rim of my wine glass while my gaze betrayed me, drifting toward the sound of his laugh.
Eli stood across the crowd with Rory, laughing easily, that same casual confidence wrapped around him like a tailored suit.
The sight of him shouldn't have affected me but it did. It always did.
A day before flying here, I'd ignored his calls. Then I'd ignored them again. And again.
But it was useless. I could run to another continent, change time zones, change my damn name again and I still couldn't outrun him.
Even from across the terrace, I could feel him. That pull. That memory of his mouth on mine, of the way his voice had broken through my composure.
His words still burned in me like an old bruise I couldn't stop touching. "I want you, Rowanne."
God.
I swallowed hard, pressing the cold glass to my lips. My body remembered everything, every forbidden ache, every pulse that had no business belonging to him.
And then, he started walking toward me.
My pulse spiked. Panic unfurled low in my stomach. Leave. Now. No one would notice. I could slip away, vanish into the crowd before he reached me.
"Vivi," I said quickly, placing my glass into my sister's hand, "hold onto my wine for a second, okay?"
But before I could move, Vivian followed my line of sight. Her smile lit up instantly. "Come on, let's say hi to your brother-in-law. He just flew in!"
My stomach dropped. "Vivi, I'm really pressed-"
Too late. She was already tugging me forward, her excitement completely ignorant of the fact that my heart was about to explode out of my chest.
"Eli! Oh my God, it's so good to see you. I'm so sorry for your loss," she gushed, throwing her arms around him.
I stayed behind her, blinking fast, trying to steady my breathing. His words echoed in my head like a curse: Answer my calls, Ro.
I shut my eyes for a second, biting my lip. Maybe I should've answered. Maybe ignoring him had only made things worse.
"Rowanne told me it wasn't just a casual accident," Vivian said sympathetically. "I hope the police find whoever did it soon."
My lungs tightened. I wanted to vanish.
I began inching backwards, silently praying she wouldn't notice. "Ro? Rowanne?"
I froze mid-step. "Oh." My laugh was thin, awkward. "Yes, sorry."
I straightened, walking back into the circle like a guilty schoolgirl. And when my eyes finally met Eli's, he was already looking at me with that infuriating look that made me feel so seen.
A ghost of a smirk tugged at his mouth before he lowered his head, trying and failing to hide it.
Was I funny to him? Was this funny? The way he had me completely undone, barely keeping my composure while pretending to be the grieving widow?
Heat flooded my chest.
"I think I really need to use the restroom," I said quickly, forcing a polite smile. "You guys talk."
And this time, I didn't wait for permission. I turned, walking away as fast as my heels would allow, each step pounding with the sound of my own heartbeat.
I didn't stop until I reached the far edge of the garden, where the laughter and music softened into the night.
Two days. Two entire days I'd managed to avoid Carter.
I knew that avoiding him was only feeding the fire and that the next time our paths crossed, neither of us would be strong enough to walk away.
The lace hugged my skin soft, sinful, and dangerously delicate. I ran my fingers over the sheer white fabric, tracing the floral embroidery that looked far too angelic for the kind of thoughts circling in my head. Vivian's bridal shower, I reminded myself.
This wasn't about Eli Carter and his godforsaken blue eyes.
"Okay, Ro, come on! You've been in there forever!" Vivian's voice was impatient and playful for my pounding heart.
"Yeah," Kalea added, laughing from outside the curtain. "If you don't come out in five seconds, I'm coming in!"
I rolled my eyes and took one last look in the mirror. The lace dress was... breathtaking.
The kind of piece you wore when you didn't want to just be seen, you wanted to be remembered.
I pulled the curtain aside and stepped out.
The reaction was instant.
Vivian gasped. Sarah covered her mouth. Kalea blinked once, twice, before letting out a sharp whistle.
"Holy hell, Rowanne!" Kalea grinned, eyes wide. "You look like a literal fantasy. Who even let you wear that?"
"Oh my God," Vivian breathed, standing up from the couch. "Ro, that's- that's lace. I knew that was the lace! Good thing I chose that."
Sarah's giggle joined hers, light and teasing. "If I looked like that, I'd be the one getting married."
I tried to smile, but warmth crept up my neck. "You guys are exaggerating. It's just a dress."
"Just a dress?" Kalea said, circling me slowly. "Sweetheart, that's the kind of dress that makes men forget their own names." She paused, tapping her chin dramatically. "Like Sivan?"
Vivian's head whipped toward her. "Sivan?"
I felt my stomach tighten. "Kalea." My tone was a warning, but she only raised her brows innocently.
Vivian blinked. "Wait. Sivan Knight? My fiancé's brother? You mean that Sivan?"
I forced a small laugh, brushing imaginary dust from the dress. "It's nothing. Just forget it. We only bumped into him on the way here. I guess he doesn't know much about me."
Vivian squinted suspiciously but said nothing more, still admiring the outfit. "Well, whatever it is, you look stunning. The theme is white elegance, not divine temptation, but I guess I can make an exception."
Sarah nodded eagerly. "You have to wear that tonight. Everyone will die... In the photos! We are taking tons. Show some to Sivan."
I caught my reflection in the boutique mirror again. The lace, the curves it barely concealed, the glow on my skin. Maybe Thailand wasn't the escape I hoped for.
