Free Capture Me: Alpha Billionaire Romance (Hollywood Dreams) by C.J. Thomas Page B

barely spent two minutes with Dani and me to discuss what we wanted—and that was to sell us the matching hand-polished cherry wood caskets that he couldn’t be bothered to pull together.
    I walked to the edge of the stage and tried to raise my voice. “Excuse me.” The words came out cracked and hoarse. I guess that was what nearly a week of crying would do to you.
    Before he could even look in my direction, the florist, with her sleek hair and pressed pantsuit, pulled him the other way, pointing to a row of uneven arrangements in the sea of flowers covering the whole back wall. Given my father’s position and my mother’s outreach in the community, I’d say half the state sent a plant of some sort.
    I pressed my palms to the stage, leaning my weight on them, telling myself to breathe. Every time I did, the overpowering scent of lilies assaulted my nose, reminding me exactly where we were.
    “Wait here,” Liam said to me, then walked over to take care of things himself. His broad shoulders flexed under his tailored suit as he carefully wheeled my parents to the center of the sanctuary.
    I smoothed the hem of my black skirt down. “Thank you,” I said and sighed—something I’d been doing a lot this week as well. “Always something else, isn’t there?”
    Liam stepped beside me and rubbed my back. His hand felt warm and comforting. Being here with him seemed so natural.
    “I spent all week making arrangements so I wouldn’t have to worry about anything today. Just come here and . . .” I shook my head. “I don’t know why I expected it to not be so hard.”
    “It’s okay. This isn’t something you ever plan for. Actually, this seems to be going smoother than my parents’ funeral.”
    My chest felt tight as his words hit me. “I’m sorry for asking you to come here. This has to bring back some tough memories.”
    He took my shoulders in his hands and gently turned me to face him. “Don’t think for a second that I’m not here for you. I’m glad you asked me. If there’s anything else I can do, just say the word.”
    My breath caught in my throat and a tear streamed down my cheek. He wiped it away. “I’m surprised I’m not all cried out.” I meant it to be funny but it didn’t come out that way. Making jokes in stressful situations had always been my go-to way to cope. Sometimes people caught on and gave a sympathy chuckle, but usually it fell flat.
    Liam smiled. “That won’t last forever. Might not feel like it now.” He kissed my forehead. “You have me.” He nodded to Dani and her boyfriend, Jason, as they walked down the side aisle toward us. “And you have your sister.”
    As Dani stepped beside me, I saw that she appeared about as haggard as I felt. I wrapped her in my arms and wished we could freeze this moment. Looking up, I caught Jason’s eye, and mouthed, “Thank you.”
    He and Dani had been on again, off again for over four years—an eternity for teenagers. Even though he was only nineteen, a year older than Dani, he’d been her rock this past week. I didn’t know why I figured he would’ve bolted. Maybe I should give the guy more credit.
    Dani pulled away and looked down at the caskets. She reached out to one, then pulled her hand back. “Are we supposed to say something at the service?”
    “You can, or I will for us both.”
    She turned to me. The look of surprise on her face pained me. “Really? You’re the best.”
    “We’re in this together.”
    The overhead lights reflected off the polished wood. Dozens of smeared fingerprints littered the surface.
    “God, I’m sorry.” Liam looked around to find something to wipe it down with.
    I shook my head. “There’s no way all those could be yours.”
    Jason stepped beside the first casket and began rubbing it down with his handkerchief. Liam joined him and they kept looking at different angles to make sure they hit every spot.
    Considering what Dani said, seeing their coffins now, barely two feet apart, I