“Excuse us,” he said. His tone was calm, a murmur against my ear reminding me that he was in charge.
Crystal blinked, stunned. She hadn’t expected him to protect me. At least it seemed like it from the way her mouth opened and closed. Maybe she believed that she still mattered. He didn’t even look back at her.No. Sam was focused on me. My emotional state. Getting me out of the reception room and away from prying eyes so I wouldn’t be embarrassed. I saw Judd quietly point at Crystal, then to the exit doors. He must have seen what had happened. At least she wouldn’t be allowed tostay any longer. Not if she couldn’t play nice. That thought did little to soothe my nerves.
Sam steered us to one of the private dressing room slash lounges for the bridal party. Once the door shut behind us, he lifted me like I weighed nothing and set me on the counter. Dripping in wine and shame, I should have been more embarrassed but anger boiled through my belly. But he just grabbed a handful of paper towels and began blotting gently at the fabric. Focused. Careful. His calm handling was almost too much. I wanted him to snap too!
“She’s got some fucking nerve,” I growled, the words hitting the room hard. “I wanted to punch her right in her perfectly painted-on mouth!”
“I’m glad you didn’t.” His voice was calm, but there was steel underneath it. “She wanted attention. Yours, mine, anyone who offered it. Giving it to her would’ve been a mistake.”
I blinked at him, still seething. “Why would she even think dumping wine on me would get your attention?”
He paused, eyes lifting to meet mine. “Because it’s the only card she had left. She’s jealous.”
I laughed bitterly. “Of me? Yourex-wifeis jealous of me?”
“Yeah. Of you. A few weeks ago she came to me and begged for another chance. That she’d changed. That maybe we could—” He shook his head like the thought was a gnat buzzing around his face. “I told her no. Firmly. And when she saw you at my house? She must have completely lost it.”
“Oh,” I mumbled. My throat went dry.
“It’s awful that she had to stir the pot by embarrassing you.” He tossed the last towel into the trash and stepped back. “And you need to hear this, sweetheart. Hear me clearly. She doesn’t matter. Not anymore. Not to me. But you?”
He reached out, touched the edge of the jacket still draped around me, then trailed his fingers down to the wine-soakedfabric beneath. “You’re the one I think about when I wake up. You’re the one I watch when you walk into a room. You are the one I want to take care of, protect, even when you don’t think you need it.”
His words stole the air from my lungs. I stared at him in awe. I didn’t think I could love him anymore than I already did, but then he went and said something so sweet that it tugged at my heart strings.
“If you need further proof, babygirl, then listen. When Crystal pulled that stunt out there? I wasn’t worried about her.” He stepped in between my legs, his hand resting heavy on my thigh. “I was worried aboutyou. About how it made you feel. That’s what being your Daddy means, by the way. It means you come first. Always.”
My heart hammered, words catching in my throat. I found a bottle of water and took a few sips. This wasthatmoment. I’d been scared to say it to him, scared to mean it. But I didn’t hesitate. “Daddy,” I breathed, the word sounding like a secret and a promise all at once. “You’remyDaddy,” I repeated with feeling. “Only mine.”
His lips curled into a slow, gentle smile. “That’s right. I’m your Daddy and you’re my sweet girl.”
He slid his hand higher, and my body melted under the weight of his claim. I licked my lips, suddenly frisky. “I always come first, huh?”
“Don’t be sassy. Not right now.” Sam stepped backward. “Take off your dress.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” I hopped down from the counter and turned to the huge mirror. The muscle in Sam’s jaw twitched as he slowly descended along the row of buttons on the back of my dress. He ran his hands along my spine, stopping to lift each of my feet and gather the gown.
“I’m going to get this spot to dry. Sit on the lounge chair and behave yourself.”
I was still feeling vulnerable from the whole interaction with Crystal, but I resigned myself to following orders. Sinking into the plush cushion, I was thankful for the private bathroom. It was surprisingly luxurious for our small-town venue. Sam carefully dried the fabric with a hair dryer. His forearms flexed as he did and I couldn’t stop watching. Sam glanced over, his mouth curled into a smile. “Like what you see?”
“It’s an alright view,” I deadpanned. Of course I liked watching his muscles flex, thinking about what it’d be like for him to pin me to a wall.
“I like the garter belt,” he said. “Nice touch.”
“I was hoping to show off what was underneath my dress later if you played your cards right.”
“Don’t tempt me, little girl. I’ll put this dress on you wet and carry you straight to my truck right now.”
“Hm, that’s not what I wanted to hear. Perhaps I should find somewhere else to sleep tonight.” I teased him, but I was giving the newlyweds time alone without anyone else staying there. The couple at the inn had enjoyed the ceremony and checked out early as a wedding gift to my best friend. Sam had me to himself whether he wanted me with him or not.
“You’re already coming home with me. It’s your decision on whether you want to go to sleep with a red ass, or not.”
“Sounds ominous.” I lifted one polished nail to my mouth and tapped it against my lips.
“Keep testing me. I think you’re throwing some sass at me because you feel extremely vulnerable after calling me Daddy. I’m paying attention, darling.”
Fuck. How did he do that? See straight to the heart of the matter? Instead of complying, I slid off the chair and kneltdown on the smooth, tiled floor. “So, I think I should thank you properly for rescuing me again.”
