Dylan and Colton chuckle.
“You’re the cousin who’s going to give us zero heads up that you’re thinking of getting married, aren’t you?” Dylan says.
“Thisismy heads up,” I say. “You meeting her.”
Their eyes widen.
“And truthfully, I don’t think you’ve got the right cousin. The guy we’ve got to worry about no heads up with?” I point my beer bottle at Cam, who’s busy flirting with three women at once. “It’s that Wild.”
“Cam?” Colt spins around to get a better look.
“Mark my words,” I say. “He’s the wild-card Wild. We all know it.”
“Shit.” Dylan runs his hand through his hair, effectively ruining the perfect professional styling he’d had done. Luckily, the family pictures are over and done with. “You’re right.”
* * *
Leleila
When the dancing starts, Brayden’s mom beckons us to follow her and her husband onto the dance floor.
The music is loud, and the band plays lots of different styles, so before an hour’s over, Braden and I have waltzed, done the salsa, and danced to Top 40 music. His cousins are good sports, and they try to keep up. Dylan can dance—I’m beginning to wonder what Dylan Wildcan’tdo well—and he and Jasalie join us for a while.
When a slow song starts, Brayden pulls me close, and my body melts into his. It’s a beautiful song. And maybe it’s the song, or maybe it’s the way Brayden’s looking at me…but I feel like I’ve opened my heart a little more with each dance until I can’t shut it down anymore. I pull him as close to me as possible, and he puts his cheek to mine.
“I didn’t plan on falling so hard for you, Leleila,” he says in my ear. “But I don’t regret one second of our time together. As unconventional a start as it was.”
I stop thinking about everything and lean forward and kiss him. My “no PDA” rule flies out the window. I want to touch Brayden so much I don’t care who sees.
Brayden takes my face in his hands and kisses me back. The taste of whiskey and cake on his tongue is intoxicating.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brayden and I leave the wedding reception and walk to the parking lot.
And once we’re alone inside the truck, there’s nowhere to hide from the sexual tension that’s been between us all night.
Brayden turns the key in the ignition as he looks over at me.
He hesitates before he says, “So…is it too soon to ask if you want to come over?”
I instinctively inch toward him. He leans over and kisses me lightly on the lips. His mouth is gentle on mine, but I can feel the urgency behind his kiss. “I don’t ever want to push you,” he says in a rough tone. “God knows I want you, Leleila, but I can wait as long as you need.”
“What about your cousins?”
“They’re all staying at the hotel next door. Dylan secured rooms for everyone who wanted them so nobody would have to worry about drinking and driving.”
“That was thoughtful.”
He lightly nips my bottom lip, and I barely suppress a moan. “It was, but I only had one shot before the ceremony, so I’m safe to drive. And I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than alone at my house with you.”
“On your porch?”
“Among other places.” His breath ghosts my cheek. “I’ve imagined being with you in every square surface of my house.”
I drop my head to his shoulder as I let out a strangled cry. “That sounds…amazing.”
“If you’re ready. If not, we’ll wait.”
