“You do tuxes well. I’ve never seen you in one,” I replied finally. It was the closest thing I could say to the truth. Telling him it made my heart race in my chest was a bad idea.
He chuckled. “Thanks. I’m not a fan. It’s been a while since I’ve had to wear one. This one is new. I figured if I was staying in Rosemary Beach, I’d need to add a few pieces to my wardrobe.”
He was staying in Rosemary Beach? Why? Because he wanted to be home? “You won’t miss the open road and being able to pick up and take off whenever you want?” I asked, thinking about what I knew of his life since he’d left.
The next song began, and he pulled me closer. “I’m done running, and there’s nothing for me out there. What I want is in Rosemary Beach.”
He didn’t mean me. Not me. I didn’t want him to mean me. The romantic world we were wrapped in on this island was fleeting. Tomorrow we faced reality again. And, with it, the past.
I didn’t respond to him. Those weren’t words I wanted to say out loud right now. I wanted this fantasy for tonight. The fairy tale that I could be here, wrapped up in Tripp’s arms forever. We could dance like this, and I could feel his heartbeat and watch the pulse beating at the base of his throat. The warmth of his embrace was mine to keep. In this moment, I could pretend.
Tripp
I wasn’t being careful. Having her in my arms was making shit come out of my mouth that was going to fuck up the progress we’d made. I clenched my jaw tightly to keep from telling her how good she felt—and exactly what I wanted to do to her while she wore nothing but those sexy-ass heels.
I bent my head and inhaled deeply. If I could just press my lips to that curve in her neck. Maybe take a soft taste of her skin with the flick of my tongue. She used to make the sweetest sounds when I did that. Her body wasn’t tensed up anymore. She had her arms wrapped around me and her chest pressed against mine. The feeling of her leaning into me was heady.
Lifting my eyes from the soft skin so close to my mouth, I saw Woods glaring at me. What was his deal? He needed to dance with his wife and let me have this. He nodded his head to the left, and I looked over to see Charity sitting at the table alone. Oh, hell no. He wasn’t going to make me feel bad about that. Shit. Shit!
I looked back at him, and he gave another sharp nod of his head. I saw Della walking over to her. Well, fuck. Della wasn’t enjoying her own party because she was worrying about Charity. This seriously sucked. I was going to have to go over there so Della could go back to enjoying herself.
Where was Braden? It was her cousin, dammit. Why wasn’t she entertaining her cousin? I didn’t ask for a damn date. If I’d wanted a date, I’d have brought one.
Bethy’s fingers slipped into the hair at the back of my neck. Oh, fuck. I closed my eyes as she began running her nails up my neck softly. How was I supposed to walk away from this? God, I was in heaven.
My hand slipped lower down her back until the curve of her ass was under my fingertips. She didn’t move away, and I wasn’t breathing anymore. Tearing my eyes open before I completely lost myself, I saw that Woods was now walking toward me. He looked determined.
I was ready to plead with him to leave me the hell alone. Let me have this. He had no idea what eight years felt like. He’d had to go without Della for only two damn weeks before. He needed to try eight motherfucking years.
Thad walked by, and Woods grabbed his arm and said something to him. Thad’s gaze swung to me. He looked apologetic as he nodded his head. Woods was sending him over to cut in so I’d have to let her go.
Bethy chose that moment to run her nails down the front of my chest and stare up at me with those big brown eyes. I had to say something. Explain or apologize. Even though this shit was not my fault.
“Hey, dude. Share. You’ve had her for like the last five songs. My turn,” Thad said in a teasing tone that didn’t meet his eyes. He was watching me like I might take a swing at him.
Bethy blinked and seemed a little dazed and confused before she looked over at Thad, but her hands remained fixed on my body, and she didn’t move back. I was real damn close to pounding my chest in a very caveman move.
“Seriously, Bethy. Dance with me. Tripp needs to give a little attention to his, uh . . . well, the lady sitting beside him.”
“Oh,” Bethy said as awareness of what was happening dawned on her. She looked at her hands, still on me, then dropped them quickly and stepped back. “Right,” she said, glancing around nervously. “I’m sorry.”
I’d go dance with the woman to make Woods happy, but I wasn’t letting Bethy apologize. Fuck that. I grabbed her hand and tugged her back against me. “Do not apologize. Not for that,” I said, and then I placed her hand in Thad’s. “Careful,” I warned under my voice as I walked past him.
I turned all my frustration toward Woods, who was watching. He at least looked somewhat sorry.
Walking up to the table, I heard Charity trying to get Della to go dance with her husband and not to worry about her. Why couldn’t Thad have danced with her? Why did it have to be me? I shoved away the guilt that was trying to force its way through and put on a fake smile.
“Hey, Della, aren’t you supposed to be dancing? It’s your wedding,” I reminded her.
Della looked up at me with relief in her eyes. “Oh, yes, I was just visiting with Charity. Braden wasn’t feeling well. She’s been on her feet too long today. This second pregnancy is kicking her butt.”