Free Just the Way You Are (1) by Lexi Ryan

been making myself scarce, and this is the first she’s mentioned my absence. The words claw at my heart and I pull her into a hug. She wraps her arms around my neck and I inhale deeply.
    “Are you mad I got upchuck on your pretty dress?”
    I flash a grin back to the sexy stranger and shake my head. “I don’t know what pretty dress you’re talking about. I’ve been wearing this ugly thing all day.”
    Abby stifles a giggle behind her hand.
    “Abby,” someone calls.
    William .
    He’s headed down the hill toward us. “Your sister needs you for a few more pictures,” he tells her.
    “But I don’t want to take more pictures,” Abby whispers, a rare complaint from a people-pleasing child.
    “Go on now. It’s important to Krystal.”
    Abby nods. “Bye, Maggie,” she says as she scurries away.
    Will watches her go. When he turns to me, his expression shifts from stoic to pained.
    “Are you married? Is it official?” How ironic that he’s the only one here I trust enough to ask.
    “No.” The word is so soft I almost miss it.
    “So…now what?”
    His eyes devour me. It’s been a year since I was his, and it’s like he’s trying to catalogue every new freckle, trying to account for every missed smile. “We haven’t decided yet.”
    I open my mouth to speak then close it. My throat is so tight there’s no room for words. I can’t identify the emotion strangling me. Hope that he’ll give me another chance? Fear that he might?
    “Maggie.” He breathes my name like a prayer, but then says, “It doesn’t change anything. We’re getting married. I love her. She wants to make a life with me.”
    I force a smile to hide that he’s just smacked me with his words. Krystal wants to make a life with him, and I hadn’t.
    Not true, my mind objects. But I know that’s what he must think. It’s what I’d made him think.
    Will notices the stranger for the first time. I’d forgotten about him, but he’s still there, watching us carefully. “What’s he doing here?”
    “He’s with me,” I blurt. “Krystal said I could bring a date.” The impulse to make Will think I’m attached is kneejerk, but I regret my words as soon as I see the man’s eyebrows lift. I didn’t mean for him to hear me, and horror sweeps over my face in hot waves.
    But instead of calling me on my lie, Asher comes to my side and wraps his arm loosely around my shoulders. “I didn’t want my girl to have to dance alone.”
    Will blinks then jerks back, and, as if we’re tied together by invisible threads, I have to fight the instinct to follow.
    “The bar opens in ten,” he says. “Enjoy yourselves.” With that, he turns and heads back to the reception.
    When he’s gone, I step out of the stranger’s embrace. “You didn’t want your girl to dance alone?”
    “You started it.” He grins full-out now, and my heart damn near stops in my chest. Sexy Stranger goes from hot to panty-melting when he grins.
    “Are you prepared to continue this charade all night?” I ask. “To dance and pretend you like a total stranger just to help her out of an awkward conversation?”
    He shrugs. “I can think of worse ways to spend my time.” He slides his gaze over me. When he returns to my face, I notice his eyes for the first time. Wolf eyes. A blue so icy it’s nearly colorless, rimmed by a dark ring.
    This might not be the worst day of my life after all.
    “Want to check out that open bar?” I ask, nodding toward the reception. “My family is loaded, so I’m sure it’s stocked with the good stuff.” I’m already heading in that direction, hoping he’ll follow, hoping the company of a stranger will keep people and all their polite inquiries far away.
    “Do you dance?” Asher stops me before I can make it to the bar.
    “Not even a little.”
    He has Bad Boy written all over him, and my mom is going to flip when she sees me on his arm. Of course, this only enhances the appeal.
    “Okay. I give up,” Asher says. “I