A Sudden Spark (The Spark Brothers Book 2)
Page 9
A tall man with dark brown hair opened the door and welcomed him inside. Aiden’s broad shoulders filled out a black leather jacket that was paired with a white button-down shirt and black slacks. He led Brandon to his bedroom closet where he removed a couple of suits and placed them on his bed. “Take your pick.”
“Thanks, bro.” Brandon kept his tone light as he picked up the first suit—a dark gray one with a light blue dress shirt—and tried them on. He appreciated Aiden letting him borrow an outfit for the wedding ceremony, even if he didn’t support his decision to marry. He would probably be just as concerned, if not more, had their roles been reversed. “What do you think? The jacket’s a little wide in the shoulders, but it’s more formal than anything I own.”
“It works.” Aiden smoothed the lapels down and met his gaze. “Are you sure you want to do this, Brandon?”
“As sure as I’ve ever been of anything.”
Aiden’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know Bria’s telling you the truth? She could be using you again like she did in college.”
Brandon winced. He hated to be reminded of that kiss. He probably should’ve kept that bit of information to himself, but it was too late now. As he expected, his older brother was skeptical of the whole situation. He, on the other hand, had read and written enough romance stories to not be concerned. Or maybe he was so in love with Bria that he’d do anything for her. Either way, they had an appointment at City Hall in two and a half hours, and there was no time to hesitate. “I know her. She and Seth need my help. And I need yours, Aiden. You’re still coming with us to be our witness, right? We can’t get married without you.”
Aiden nodded, his lips drawn into a tight line. “Of course. You know I have your back. You were there for me through some of my worst days. I’m going to be there for yours.”
Brandon forced a laugh. “You make it sound like I’m dying. This is my wedding day. It’s supposed to be one of the best days of my life.”
“Need I remind you this is a pretend wedding?” Aiden shook his head. “I have half a mind to tell Mom and Dad about this, so they can talk some sense into you. But you’re a grown man. You’re old enough to make your own mis—choices,” he corrected himself. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Bran.”
“I know,” he replied simply. “You don’t have to worry though. I don’t expect anything to come of this. I’m just helping a good friend out. I don’t have any expectations.”
Aiden smirked. “Sure, you don’t. Your head is perfectly fine with the idea of marrying the woman of your dreams and having her live with you and then letting her go one day. But your heart, Bran—it’s your heart I worry about. Don’t you remember how you cried every day for a month after Shelley passed away? I don’t want to imagine what’ll happen when this, quote, unquote, marriage ends.”
It’d been years since Brandon had thought about their childhood pet, but the mere mention of the small aquatic turtle made his chest twinge. He’d loved that turtle. It’d been his closest companion whenever he was lonely. Despite having four brothers, he felt like that cold-hearted reptile understood him the best. They’d both been content to hide away in their shells when life got too loud or rough.
If Shelley had taught him anything though, it was that some people were worth coming out of your shell for. Perhaps he was asking to get his heart broken. But that was the price of loving someone. As the great poet Lord Tennyson said, it was better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. At least, that’s what Brandon told himself throughout the day when he found himself feeling too much for the woman who would become his wife.
Chapter Sixteen
Bria
Bria took a shaky breath as she stood in the center of the City Hall’s Rotunda. The enormity of the building made her feel as small as an ant. Everything, from the intricately patterned floors and the oblong-shaped archways on both sides of the room to the grand staircase leading up to the second story, held an air of complexity. At the center of it all was a domed ceiling that showcased an elaborate floral design bathed in sunlight from the adjacent windows. The beauty of the dome stole Bria’s breath away, and for a moment, she forgot her nerves. The queasiness in her stomach returned immediately, however, when she glanced at the man waiting beside her.
She almost hadn’t recognized Brandon when he came back from dropping Seth off at Amy’s that morning. She’d done a double take as she’d climbed into the passenger seat of his car. She’d never seen him in anything more than jeans and T-shirts, which made his transformation even more drastic. It wasn’t just his fancy suit; it was how the clothes made him appear—taller and more confident. Whoever said clothes made a man wasn’t kidding. Her feelings toward Brandon had already moved past the friend zone last night, but today they were off the charts.
Her heart was beating so fast, it must’ve been pumping all her blood into her cheeks because her face felt like it was on fire. This was how she’d felt as a teenager when she saw her favorite boy band in concert, and the lead singer had winked at her. It should’ve been her reaction to seeing that same guy, Aiden Spark, in the backseat of Brandon’s car earlier, but nope. The only man she had eyes for was her old friend, the man she would soon be marrying. The very thought made her swoon.
“Bria, are you feeling okay?” Brandon’s blue eyes were wide with concern. “You look like you’re about to faint.”
The hand he placed on her bare elbow almost made his words come true. Bria grabbed onto his arm to steady herself. Touching Brandon was not the smartest thing to do, but she had no other options if she didn’t want to keel over. “I’m f-fine. Just a little woozy, probably since we didn’t eat lunch yet,” she quickly added as an excuse.
“I’m sorry we ran out of time. I had no idea it’d take so long to drive into the city. I should’ve accounted for the lunchtime traffic.” He patted his jacket pockets until he found what he was looking for. He produced a granola bar, opened the wrapper, and handed it to her. “Here, eat this. I have some crackers in the car, too. Do you want me to get them?”
Grateful, Bria took the bar and bit into it. She shook her head in between bites of the sweet and salty snack. “No, this is perfect. Thanks, Brandon. You’re a lifesaver.”
“It’s just a granola bar.” Crinkles appeared around his eyes as he smiled bashfully. “It’s not like I saved you from a burning building. I leave that kind of stuff to Darren.”
She cocked her head as she studied him. She wished he didn’t put himself down like that. “You should give yourself more credit. You’re marrying me today, for goodness’ sake. That’s pretty hero-worthy if you ask me.”
His eyes held hers for an extra beat before his gaze fell to the ground. “Marrying you isn’t a sacrifice at all. Any man would be blessed to have you in his life.”
The genuineness in his tone melted her heart, buoying it with optimism. She wanted to believe him, to hope beyond hope that he wasn’t only saying these things out of kindness. Brandon was the sweetest man she’d ever known. If only she’d realized this ten years ago. “There you go again saying all the right things.”
“You make it easy to say them.” He smiled. “Hanging out with you these past few days reminds me so much of college. Those were some of the best days of my life. Being able to reconnect again after all these years has been amazing. Nothing beats an old friendship.”
Bria cringed. There was that word again—friendship. Did Brandon not notice the effort she’d made to look her best for him? How she’d curled her hair and styled it in a fancy updo? Or that she’d worn her prettiest dress, a cream-colored one with a lace halter top and an open back? She probably would’ve gotten a better reaction had she left the house in sweats. She nodded in resignation, wondering if it was too late to be anything but friends.
“You guys are up,” Aiden called out to them from the top of the second floor. He motioned for them to join him. “Come on, we’ve only got ten minutes before the next couple’s turn.”
Brandon reached for her hand to help her up the steps. “Let’s do this.”
She followed his lead, thankful he was going at a safe pace for her three-inch heels. He glanced over at her often to check how she was doing, an act that made her body warm. When their eyes connected, she couldn’t help smiling. She likely had the goofiest grin on her face, but she didn’t care. It was her wedding day, and she was marrying a wonderful man. Brandon wasn’t the guy of her dreams—that one was neither realistic nor what she needed—but he had the potential of making her dreams come true. If only this marriage were real. Oh, how she prayed for it to be.
When they reached the second floor, the deputy marriage commissioner, a middle-aged man with bushy brows, directed her and Brandon to face one another.
Brandon reached for her other hand and squeezed both gently. He held her gaze and mouthed the words, You look amazing, before biting his lower lip.
Bria’s breath hitched. Maybe her effort hadn’t been for naught. The look he gave her didn’t say “friends” at all. She mouthed back a quick thanks before the officiant called for their attention.
“Brandon Spark and Bria Montgomery, I presume?” The man read from the paper in his hands then peered at them over the rim of his bifocals.
“Yes, sir,” Brandon answered, “that’s us.”
“Very well. Let’s get this show on the road. If we finish up in five minutes, I’ll have plenty of time to run to the boys’ room before the next appointment.” He gave them a pleading smile. “Please repeat after me. Brandon, you’ll go first.”
Brandon nodded.
“I, Brandon Timothy Spark,” the commissioner began, “take thee, Bria Grace Montgomery, to be my wife, and before God and these witnesses, I promise to be a faithful and true husband.”
Brandon took a deep breath and repeated his vows. His tone was even and calm, even business-like.
“Very good.” The commissioner turned to Bria. “It’s your turn, dear. I, Bria Grace Montgomery, take thee, Brandon Timothy Spark, to be my husband, and before God and these witnesses, I promise to be a faithful and true wife.”
Bria swallowed hard and recited her vows as well. It hit her mid-sentence when she said the words “I promise” how much she wished for this marriage to be true. She finished her vows with a trembling voice as waves of longing washed over her.
The commissioner reached out his hand as he addressed Aiden. “The rings, please?”
Bria gasped. She’d completely forgotten about this part of the ceremony. They hadn’t prepared rings to exchange.
Brandon must’ve noticed the worry on her face because he squeezed her hands again. He mouthed, Don’t worry.
She watched in surprise as Aiden stepped forward and handed over two silver rings. What? Where had those come from?
The commissioner gave the smaller ring to Brandon. “Repeat after me. With this ring I thee wed, and all my worldly goods I thee endow. In sickness and in health, in poverty or in wealth, ’til death do us part.”
Brandon slipped the band on Bria’s finger and stated his vows. He punctuated them with a nod of his head.
“Please take this ring and repeat after me,” the commissioner urged Bria.
She picked up the band, grasping it tightly as she slipped it onto Brandon’s finger. The solemnity of the situation weighed heavily on her heart with each word she repeated. There was no turning back now.
“All right. Now, by the authority vested in me by the State of California, I pronounce you to each other, husband and wife,” the commissioner announced. He flashed Brandon a mischievous grin and told him, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Oh! She’d forgotten about this part of the ceremony, too. Could it be she would get to kiss Brandon again? A thrill ran down her spine. This could be the perfect opportunity to show him what she thought of their “friendship.” If she had fooled him into thinking she had feelings for him back in college, how much easier would it be to convince him of her real feelings now? She licked her lips and waited for his next move.
Uncertainty flickered across Brandon’s face. He rocked back and forth on his heels as he glanced at the commissioner then at Bria. After a moment, he gave her a small smile and stepped forward.
Bria caught a whiff of his aftershave as he leaned in, bridging the distance between them. This was it! She closed her eyes and puckered her mouth in anticipation. His lips brushed the corner of hers, hovering there briefly, before moving up to her cheek. They landed there with a soft smacking sound, leaving a trace of warmth when he pulled away.
Her stomach immediately sank. So much for changing the game. It was clearer now more than ever where she stood. Despite her new title as his wife, Brandon’s kiss—or non-kiss—confirmed one thing: she’d long lost her chance to be anything more to him than a friend.
Chapter Seventeen
Brandon
Brandon felt Bria’s hand slip out of his grasp when they reached the bottom of the grand staircase. She excused herself to go to the ladies’ room, leaving him standing alone in the middle of the Rotunda. He turned around to find Aiden behind him, his brows raised in curiosity.
His brother placed a hand on his shoulder and asked, “What’s going on with Bria?”
“I think it’s nerves,” Brandon replied with chagrin. It was clear to him how anxious Bria was during the ceremony. She hadn’t been able to complete one sentence without stumbling over her words. He guessed she must be sick to her stomach right now. “It’s probably good she didn’t have much to eat beforehand.”
Aiden nodded. “What about you? You seem to be taking this in stride.”
“That’s because—” Brandon stopped himself when the commissioner passed by. He lowered his voice to finish his sentence. “All this isn’t real.”
“It’s still a big occasion.”
“I guess I’ve had lots of practice being in stressful situations.” Brandon forced himself to take a few deep breaths. He might have appeared relaxed on the outside, but inside, he was beside himself. The only thing keeping him from breaking into a cold sweat were the Bible verses he kept repeating in his mind. Verses about love, particularly one from the book of First John about perfect love casting out fear. He held onto that truth, trusting that God, the absolute source of love, would sustain him.
Going through the ceremony confirmed what a great responsibility marriage was. Yet, he realized during his vows that he’d be willing to make this lifelong commitment to Bria. He’d do just about anything for her and Seth. Unfortunately, his desires and reality were worlds apart. As much as he wished to be part of their lives, this was all temporary. “To be honest, I was more sad than anxious.”
“Sad? Why?”
“I’ll probably never get to experience the privilege of being a husband.”
Aiden scoffed. “Never get to—did you not hear yourself reciting those vows? You are officially a married man. You just paved the way for the rest of us brothers. Who would’ve guessed you’d be the first to go?”
Pulling his tie loose, Brandon shook his head. “Under normal circumstances, I’d be the last guy to find love.”
Aiden narrowed his eyes. “You forget we’re praying for you, both me and Abby are. God can do miracles. Just you wait. The right woman for you is out there.”
He sighed. Why couldn’t the right woman be Bria? Ever since she’d walked down the driveway that morning to his car, he’d had a hard time tearing his eyes away. She looked gorgeous in her dress, her hair and makeup done perfectly as if she were a princess going to a ball.
Even with a designer suit on, he didn’t possess the charm needed to hold Bria’s attention. She’d hardly noticed the effort he’d put in to impress her. Any reaction would’ve been better than the silent one he received when she got into his car.
Brandon figured Aiden’s presence had rendered her speechless; that’s usually w
hat happened with women who met his pop star brother. While Aiden, or any of his brothers, could attract the eye of any woman, he couldn’t win over even one. At least not the one who mattered the most.
He glanced at his watch then at the restroom door. Close to ten minutes had passed, and Bria still hadn’t come out. “Maybe I should check on her.”
“Hey, guys!” a female voice called out to them from across the circular floor. A woman dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans approached, flashing a wide grin in Aiden’s direction.
“Abby! What are you doing here?” Aiden asked with obvious pleasure.
“Surprise! I snuck out of the studio a few minutes early to have lunch with you.” When she reached him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a loud kiss on his mouth. “Unless you’d rather be a third wheel for the newlyweds. Hi, Brandon,” she acknowledged him over her shoulder. “Congrats on your big day.”
“Hey, Abby. Thanks.” Brandon looked away to give his brother and Abby some space. He doubted if they needed the privacy; they seemed more than comfortable showing their affection for all the world to see. In all fairness, they were more than ready to get married. The love between them was real, strong, and evident. Oh, how he wished he could say the same for him and Bria.
He checked the time again. They would need to get moving soon to avoid being stuck in traffic on their way home. He didn’t want to leave Seth at Amy’s longer than necessary. Just as he considered asking Abby if she could check on Bria, he saw her emerge from the restroom.
Brandon rushed to her side, noticing how red and puffy her eyes were. “Are you sick?”