“Oh, God.” I place my hand on my forehead and try to comprehend the conversation I am going to have with them about Alexander.
Alexander takes my hand away from my head and lowers his eyes so they grab my attention. I give him my most disapproving look. “Why did you talk to my parents?”
He shrugs his shoulders and says, “I needed somewhere to stay while I was in town.”
My inside release and I laugh out loud. “You’re staying at my parents’ house?”
Alexander nods. “I am.”
“You know there is zero privacy in my parents’ house, and there is no way they’re letting you stay in my room.”
“I know. I have Leah’s room,’ he says with a face of mock fright. I laugh and he pulls me into him.
His hands come up to my cheeks and he holds my head as if it’s the most precious thing in the world. “I love you, Emma. I should have told you before. This. Is. It. For. Me. I’m all in.”
“I love you too.”
He smiles at my words. “I know.”
I tilt my head in confusion.
“I got your voice mail,” he says just before leaning forward and brushing his lips against mine. They are smooth and strong and feel like heaven. Our lips entwine, melding together like branches of a hundred year old tree and my entire body melts into his embrace.
His tongue slides along my upper lip and the warmth of it runs a chill up my spine. When my own mouth opens further to welcome him, our kiss grows deeper. As our tongues meet, I swear we both exhale in bliss and need. Hungry for more, my hands are pulling at his suit jacket, desperate to have more of him.
We kiss for an ungodly long time and just when I reach for his belt buckle, Alexander puts his hand my own and moves it away. I look up at him in shock and surprise
His breathing is ragged as he put his forehead against mine and catches his breath.
“Baby, there is nothing more I want than to make love to you right now but your sister’s wedding just started and if I’m correct, you have a toast to make.”
A toast?
Oh my God.I am in no condition to make a toast right now. I scoot back and away from him and start to make myself look presentable. I grab my purse from where I left it in the bathroom and look into the mirror. My face is flush, my lips are bright red from the scruff of his jaw, and my hair is out of place from his strong hands grabbing at it.
“You’re beautiful.”
I look over to Alexander who is leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, looking at me like a man in love.
My shoulders rise and I let out a sigh. If only he knew what his words do to me.
I put some lipstick on and fix my hair just enough to look presentable. When I am done, Alexander takes my hand, and together we walk downstairs just in time for the toasts.
Thankfully, I wrote my speech out so I can recite it verbatim. When I am done, Leah and Adam hug me, thank me for the beautiful words, and I take my seat. At my table, I see Alexander has a place beside me. When I look back at Leah, she winks at me, and I thank her with my eyes for accepting Alexander into her life. It is the most Leah-like thing she has ever done. Her methods may be unorthodox but then again, that’s what makes Leah, Leah.
Alexander is an exceptional wedding date. He has been dancing with me all night, is patient when I have to leave him to do my maid of honor duties, doesn’t give me a hard time when I choose to avoid catching the bouquet at all costs, and gives Leah and Adam the most spectacular wedding gift: an all expenses paid trip to Capri.
I am talking to Adam as he, drunkenly, gives his blessing on my new relationship when I look over and see my dad pulling Alexander over for a chat.
I hug Adam and let him go back to enjoying his party and stand here, on the edge of the dance floor watching my dad and Alexander interact. Dad is a few inches shorter and narrower but he’s trying his best to be as intimidating as the man standing in front of him.
I am biting my thumbnail, watching the two of them talk. It’s foolish I would be nervous. I guess they just mean so much to me I want these men to get along. This is my future. The man who raised me and the man who completes me.
“Is that the young man you were telling me about?”
Grandma has slowly crept up next to me. All four feet, eleven inches of her. She’s a silver fox-tress, as Leah calls her, and is very proper. Everyone in the family says I’m just like her.
“Yes, Grandma.” I answer, yet my eyes are still on dad and Alexander. Dad has a serious look on his face and Alexander is simply nodding at whatever he is saying.
