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dating. Who needed butterflies? As far as Kelsey was concerned, that ship had sailed when she'd broken up with Shane, the first and only man she'd fallen hard for. Her college sweetheart. He'd walked out of her life because her father had refused to stop interfering in their relationship. He'd made it abundantly clear that his daughter wouldn't end up with a penniless artist.
    Kelsey's eyes burned and she bit her lip in an attempt to hold back the tears that were forming. She wouldn't cry in the office. She was a professional. "Remember when you wanted me to do a background check on Craig before... marrying him?"
    "Yeeees?" Suspicion dripped from Delia's voice. "Is everything all right? You sound weird."
    Kelsey shook her head. A tear slipped out of her eye and slid down her cheek. "Are you still in touch with your private detective friend?"
    "Yes, Kelsey, what's going on?" Delia's voice was hushed.
    "I'll tell you later." Kelsey paused. "Can you ask your friend to do a background check on Craig?"
    The phone went silent as if Delia had hung up.
    "Delia? Are you there?"
    "Honey, you're getting married tomorrow. Why are you suddenly suspicious of Craig? Tell me, what did he do?"
    "I'll tell you tonight at dinner." Kelsey's father had organized a rehearsal dinner for her and Craig and although she didn't feel like showing up, she would. She had a plan. "I want to know everything about him, Delia."
    "You do know there's no way Cynthia can do a complete background check in only a few hours, right?"
    "Please ask her anyway, I need anything on him, his past... whatever I can get."
    Delia sighed. "I have a confession to make."
    Kelsey frowned. "What confession? What is it?"
    "I already asked her to look into his past. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone ahead without your permission."
    "Why did you?"
    "I was worried about you. He gave me a bad feeling." Delia paused. "In my defense, I didn't look inside the folder. It's inside my drawer, sealed. I was going to burn it."
    "Don't... don't burn it," Kelsey said quickly. "I need to see what's inside. I'm coming over."
    Kelsey was out of her chair before they had even hung up. Fifteen minutes later, she was at Delia's apartment, and Delia was handing her a white envelope.
    When Kelsey left an hour later, she was shaken, confused, and furious. Back at her apartment, racking sobs overwhelmed her and she slid to the floor, her legs splayed awkwardly, as she emptied her heart of the pain that filled it.
    ***
    On her wedding day, dressed in snow-white tulle and lace, Kelsey watched the minister's lips moving, but when his words hit her ears, they dissipated into nothing.
    This was the last place she wanted to be. Standing at the altar opposite the man who had betrayed her in the most unforgivable way. She wrinkled her nose. The smell of flowers, perfume, hairspray, and burning candles made her dizzy.
    Craig smiled as his lips moved and he held on tight to her hands. He was vowing to be her husband, to love and to hold, to forsake all others. Jerk , she thought. He was making a promise to be with her forever while he still smelled of another woman's perfume—something fruity.
    When the minister turned to Kelsey, she perked up and glowered at Craig. Her heart was thumping fast and beads of sweat formed on her upper lip. This was it—the moment she had been waiting for.
    "Kelsey O'Neil," the minister said, and rambled on about whether she, too, would take him to be her partner for life.
    As much as her heart was breaking, her lips twitched in the suggestion of a smile. She inhaled deeply and glanced at Delia; her friend nodded, urging her to do what had to be done.
    "Kelsey?" Craig leaned forward. "Are you okay?"
    "Never been better." Sweat oiled her palms, but her voice was hard. She would do this. Craig would not make a fool of her.
    "So," the minister arched a bushy eyebrow, "will you take Craig Carnahan to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
    The pews of the church were filled with guests, but