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them.
     
     
    At the signal, Crystal stepped forward and concentrated on taking slow steps. The emotional pulse of the room kept her off balance. She clung to Ryan’s arm, a pure case of the devil you know . His thrust of desire had nearly blown her off her feet a few moments ago. Jesus, the man had no restraint whatsoever. You used to like that about him. She stopped that line of thought immediately and focused on shutting everything out of her head.
    It was easier than she had thought. Ryan was paying attention to the crowd now, nodding hello to someone every few feet and smiling broadly. Right, smile. She forced her stiff lips to curve. She could do this. They reached the front of the room and separated, taking their positions facing the crowd.
    The orchestra burst into the wedding march and Crystal didn’t have to fake her smile anymore. Mark was gazing up the aisle and she knew the minute Alisa appeared by the beatific grin that spread over his face. Alisa beamed at him from the back of the church, floating toward him in her sparkling fairytale princess gown, flanked by her parents who actually looked happy now.
    Her father kissed her cheek and put her hand in Mark’s. Crystal sighed, enjoying Alisa and Mark’s pure, uncomplicated joy. She might make her living from the physical side of love, the nitty-gritty aspect of the spiritual union, but she was a total sucker for romance. She closed her eyes to listen to Alisa’s clear voice recite her vows, waiting for her favorite part of the ceremony. She held her breath. It was coming.
    Alisa lifted her chin. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
    Tears stung Crystal’s eyes.
    So beautiful. Powerful. A promise of forever.
    Mark’s resolute baritone rang through the quiet room as he repeated his vows and Crystal felt a tear slip down her cheek.
    They kissed, then turned their dazed, shining faces to the crowd. Cheers and applause crashed through the room, knocking her back to reality. She dashed the tears from her cheeks and squared her shoulders, moving slowly to walk back up the aisle with Ryan.
    She took his arm and found herself enjoying a mellow buzz of good cheer before she realized she was channeling his surface emotions. She pulled away from him.
    He held her tighter, lowering his arm to clasp her waist. “If my guess is right, you’re about to run away from me again.” His voice held a low chuckle.
    Since his arm felt like a steel band, she didn’t struggle.
    “Am I wrong?” he asked.
    “Empaths don’t do well in receiving lines,” she admitted.
    “I’ll hold your hand,” he offered.
    “Yeah, like that would help,” she grumbled under her breath.
    His desire blasted through her. Acknowledging the charged atmosphere between them had been a mistake. Give the man an inch…and his hand caressed her hip, brushed the top of her thigh. Her nipples hardened and her sex began to tingle, even though two hundred people were watching them walk up the aisle.
    Panic welled deep inside her, in places she didn’t go anymore. She had to get away from him. They reached the hallway and she flung his arm away from her waist, panting. The wide-open door of the club beckoned. Freedom. Safety. Sanity.
    Ryan caught her arm.
    “Don’t touch me!” The words were out of her mouth before she could censor them. He let her go and she felt his concern, a warm blanket around her shoulders. She stopped at the door and closed her eyes for a moment. Freedom was appealing but she needed her purse. She wasn’t going to get far without her car keys. She pulled her shoulders back and stood straight, closing out the world, the room and everyone in it, including Ryan, until she felt cold but strong again.
    She opened her eyes and met his gaze for the first time today.
    “Is it really that hard for you?” he asked.
    She gave him a tight smile. “You have no idea.”
    She watched Alisa, swept into place by the wedding planner as the receiving line began to form, and shuddered, deciding