Page 12 of Braden

“That’s an option but Elodie wants to participate. She wants to support Tamarind all the way,” Braden said. “It means a lot to her.”

“I’ll com you the details when I have it set up,” Migs said. “Are the two of you okay to participate in the group dance?”

“No problem.” He detoured to get a bottle of water and ran into Tamarind on the way. “Have you seen Elodie?” she asked. “I’m worried about her—the dance overwhelmed her, which was obvious to all of us.”

“She’s handling it,” Braden assured her. “I think she’s a take home girl as far as learning new choreo.” He drew on memories of one of his sisters, who’d been on the dance team at her college for four years and the many conversations he’d overheard.

“Wow, you have the lingo,” said a nearby bridesmaid.

“Had a sister in dance,” he replied and went on his way. He’d have to remember to tell Elodie she was a take home girl and assure her again it was a fine thing to be.

When they came back inside for the class on the group dance, Elodie was flushed but calm and she told anyone who asked that she’d simply gotten overheated. Braden was a strong dancer, thanks to all those childhood lessons his mother had insisted upon, and he had no problem leading her in the movements of the dance, which fortunately was fairly simple and romantic, not athletic and full of dramatic moves. It was a lovely way to close out the bridesmaids’ portion of the reception ‘show’. Having her in his arms, swirling around the dance floor was the best part of all of it for Braden. Her soft curves met his hard muscles and gave his brain and his cock ideas they couldn’t act upon in the here and now but definitely would later. A few couples were showing off with fancy moves and Braden added a twirl and a dip to their circles of the floor, which left Elodie laughing and happy and he considered his efforts well rewarded.

Chapter Five

“I feel like I’m packing a year’s worth of parties and experiences into one week,” Elodie said as they sallied forth from the hotel, heading toward the club where the bride was going to have her party. “It’s overwhelming.”

“We can step away and take a breath any time you give the word,” Braden assured her. “it’s nice of Tamarind to offer all these diversions for the guests and the wedding party but you have to take care of yourself too.”

He was so considerate, which made her heart beat faster and she had to remind herself sharply this was all fake. They weren’t in a relationship, aside from Braden escorting her to the events of this mega wedding. As soon as the wedding reception was over so was their time together. She’d be on her way home to her dusty archives and he’d be off on another dangerous covert mission and that would be it. She cast a sideways glance at him as he walked beside her and suppressed a sigh. He was so handsome and sexy. Her core pulsed with a wave of hot desire and she reviewed the kisses they’d shared so far. Braden certainly seemed attracted to her. What would the harm be if they took things further than a little affection? She was a grown woman, if she wanted to have an affair on vacation there was no reason to refrain, if he was willing. She was pretty sure he was. She’d seen him adjust himself more than once and his reaction to her in her bathing suit earlier had been everything a woman could wish for.

Maybe after the parties tonight we can take things in that direction, she thought hopefully, pulling her shawl more closely over her bare shoulders.

‘”The sea breeze is a bit nippy after dark,” Braden said, helping her with the task.

“It’ll be warmer in the club, I’m sure.” Elodie made a face. This evening wasn’t her kind of thing at all and Braden wouldn’t be there to run interference this time.

They paused at the entrance to the club. “You have your handheld?” Braden asked.

“In my purse.” She showed him her tiny evening bag, covered in glittering green sequins with Renald’s team logo in the center.

“Call me if you need to.” He leaned over to give her a kiss on the lips. “I’ll wait while you go inside.”

Feeling cared for, Elodie nodded and made her way through the door of the club, past the big bouncers. She looked back and Braden was standing there. He gave her a chin lift and turned away, striding off toward the casino where Renald’s bachelor party was booked.

Suppressing her urge to skip the party and go back to her hotel and read a book while eating ice cream instead, Elodie asked the hostess where Tamarind’s party was and then followed the directions to the private room. She hoped the evening would pass by quickly and had no other expectations for the event. When she’d first arrived at the resort, Tamarind had scheduled a bridesmaids’ brunch so all the women could meet. Elodie had been excited about it, doing her makeup and hair carefully and keenly anticipating meeting all of her friend’s friends. She had a slight acquaintance with one or two from having been at special concerts or other events at Tamarind’s invitation in the past but if she had to admit it, she was a bit starstruck by some of the women who’d agreed to be bridesmaids and couldn’t wait to have a chance to talk to them and get to know them better.

Her experience with bridal showers and wedding-centric events in the past on her planet with co-workers and old friends from college had been fun, good bonding over silly games and shared affection for the bride and she expected more of the same at the brunch.

Seated at one of the two big tables, five women to a table, Elodie soon had her naïve hopes dashed. She could have a seat at the table but she clearly wasn’t part of their gilt edged, glittering world and the women Tamarind had selected as bridesmaids knew each other well, with friends and experiences in common. None of them seemed to find any reason to include Elodie in more than a perfunctory acknowledgment of her presence. Tamarind sought her out of course for a genuine moment of reunion, which was lovely, but for the rest of the meal Elodie sat silent and nibbled her toast. She had more conversation with the human waiter than the other bridesmaids.

When the brunch ended, there having been no games and no bonding, Elodie had slipped away quietly, realizing what the rest of this week was probably going to be like.

But then later, fueled by too many of the cute colorful feelgoods with umbrellas she’d made the impulsive absurd deal with Braden to be her date and life took a wonderful turn.

For the week at least…

Music was thumping inside the room and she could hear a lot of laughter so the party had already begun. She drew a deep breath and reached for the door handle. Once inside her eyes were dazzled by the lights. Most of the other bridesmaids and Tamarind were seated at tables around the room, eating tiny appetizers and drinking a rainbow of exotic feelgoods. She saw a number of the other female guests had arrived as well. Another two women entered the room behind Elodie and were greeted with cheers and waves from those already at the party. She followed them to a table and sat, her back to the wall. Tamarind wore a ‘Bride’ sash and a rhinestone studded crown and seemed to be having fun. Several of the women got up and danced together on the tiny wooden dance floor, while the rest egged them on.

The song ended and an emcee walked out from behind the red-and-gold curtains. “Welcome to the Club Stellar Paradise, ladies,” he said in a too smooth voice. “We’re honored by your presence tonight and ready to party if you are.”

The bridesmaids and other guests hooted and applauded, leaving no doubt they were primed for the entertainment to begin. The emcee did a dance step, adding hip thrusts as the music started up again. “Allow me to present the Stellar Paradise Review,” he said, making a sweeping gesture toward the backstage area. “Enjoy!”

A troop of male dancers came bounding out, clapping their hands as they came, grinning and looking thrilled to be in the room. The men were dressed in tuxedoes but barefoot and bare chested. There was an impressive amount of well-defined abdominal muscles on display. Elodie waited for what she was sure was coming next and the troop didn’t disappoint as the seven men began to rip off each other’s jacket sleeves and then the entire jackets, flinging the pieces into the small crowd. Next they bent over and ripped off their trousers to a chorus of yells and whistles and proceeded to dance in nothing but bow ties and gold g strings.

Elodie had nothing against male dancers and the view was impressive, although none of them roused any feelings in her like the sight of Braden’s bare chest had done. She enjoyed the precision of the footwork and the acrobatics a few of the dancers did. The entertainers were sexy, ripped, excellent dancers and easy on the eyes.

A waitress came with a basket, handing out pieces of green paper. “For the dancers,” she said as she reached Elodie’s table and plunked a wad of the ‘money’ on the table in front of each woman. “Your hostess already paid for these slips so be sure to reward the guys you enjoy the most, let them know how much you appreciate their efforts tonight,” she said brightly.