“Please just do it.” I’m starting to sweat. Accepting disorder in my neat and organized world is only a bad habit to overcome. It’s not that big of a deal. I have what? Four to six weeks to go. Max. I can survive a mess on my body for that long. My heavy gulp causes her to look up again.
She grins and gets to work. The marker lands on the plaster, and with unadulterated confidence, she starts dragging the black tip across the white surface. “We should bring the marker for your friends to sign at the reception.”
“Great idea.”I’ve created a monster.
Popping back up, she tucks the marker into the front pocket of my jacket. “All done.”
I breathe easier, and reply, “That’s good. It’s good. Fine.” Looking at her, I smile. It’s a little forced, but I’ll get used to the idea of chaos on my arm.
“Are you going to look or breathe through it?” Holding up her hands in surrender, she adds, “I’m not judging. I’m proud of you for trying something new.”
The black ink peeks out from the sleeve, but I need to pull it back to see the full thing. “I love you, Hotshot” with a heart punctuating the I. “Lowercase, bold move,” I joke, but there’s no lightness to it. My heart is now pounding only for her and the words we’ve never spoken aloud. Okay, whatever, except that time during sex, but I’m not sure confessing love while climaxing would hold up in court.
“You know me,” she replies so casually as she starts toward the door, but I catch her hand and bring her back to me.
“I do know you.” Brushing the backs of her fingers, I look into those pretty blues of hers, and whisper, “I love you, Delaney.”
Her smile falters, but I can see from the gleam in her eyes that it’s not from a lack of happiness. Reaching up, she cups my face and kisses me. This kiss holds promises we’ve not verbalized, apologizes for misgivings, and a future where we know we can survive anything.
And then she lands back on her heels and licks her lips. “I love you, too, so much.”
“Well, now that that’s been settled . . .” I prop my cast out for her. “It’s time for a wedding.” That didn’t come out the way I intended. “My friends’ wedding. Not ours.”
Wrapping her hand around my elbow, she cracks up. “Don’t worry. I didn’t think you’d rush us off to Vegas for a ceremony at the Little White Chapel, so you can relax.”
As we walk to the door, I say, “That’s very specific. Is that something you’d do?”
“Only if my family were there.” I open the door for her. Just before it slams closed behind us, she adds, “I couldn’t imagine getting married without my family present.” She looks up at me when we stop at the elevator. “What about you? Don’t you want your mother there?”
“I haven’t thought about it. There was no need to.” A desire suddenly arises as I stare at her and that ring on her finger.Would it be so bad if it were real?
CHAPTER 27
Warner
The magicof the sunset high on a terrace in the New York skyline is captured as the backdrop for the “I dos.” While the newly married couple kiss, my gaze gravitates toward the back left of the guests to discover Delaney’s eyes already on me.
The guests are clapping, pulling my attention back to the bride and groom as they make their way down the aisle. I follow with the maid of honor on my arm, wishing I were walking this aisle with my girl. I miss the heat between us, the electricity that sparks to life with each touch we share, and the magnetism that draws us together every time we’re in the same vicinity.
I lose sight of her as we’re shuffled off to the side while the crowd disperses to the bank of elevators that will take them to the reception on the second floor of this grand hotel. After taking too many photos and sharing a solid embrace with my friend on his special day, the wedding party is sent to enjoy the reception while the couple stays behind for a private moment.
The elevator took so long to return to the terrace that I considered taking the stairs down the twenty-five flights to reach Delaney sooner. But I hold it together and pretend to engage in conversation with the others. As soon as I enter the ballroom, I search for the light blue of her dress or any sign of where she might be.
The dim lights create a flattering ambiance, while music pumps through speakers around the room. And even though it’s classical jazz, it’s too loud to call out for her. Not that I would do that during an event like this, but it’s tempting. I search the dance floor and then walk along the longest wall toward one of the bars set up at the back of the room.
I stop to search the dessert bar just beyond the buffet line. That’s where she is. I cut through small groups standing in the walkway between tables and weave through the maze, losing sight of her. As soon as I finally make it there, she’s gone again.
“Looking for a date?” The sweet sound of her voice has me turning around.
“No thanks. I got one.” My ass is smacked in a roar of laughter when I start to walk off. I turn back in a flash and pick her up into my arms before she can escape. Our lips meet in the middle, but before the kiss deepens, because it could so easily, I set her down again. Running my hand over the soft skin of her neck, I say, “I have the most beautiful date in the room.”
“Only the room?” Her chest racks with laughter again as she reaches up to wrap her arms around my neck.
“New York City,” I reply, chuckling as my gaze wanders through the options I can think of. “The state, the country. The continent, and the world.” Looking into her eyes, I whisper, “You’re the most beautiful woman in the universe.”
“Is this another play for the blow job? Because this flattery is working.”
“Say the word, and we’ll ditch this place.”
