Page 31 of Father of the Bride
“I told you…it’s my pleasure.”
Chapter 12
Thebackpatiowasstrung with white linen curtains that danced lazily in the breeze. The warm scent of roasted lemon chicken, garlic potatoes, and juicy tomatoes filled the air. The Mediterranean style lunch was something to behold. The chef came out personally to explain every fresh, locally sourced ingredient—hummus, tzatziki, fat olives, crusty pita bread, and all the grilled seafood and vegetables one could ever want.
Sunny sat near the middle of the long table, radiant in a white sundress that skimmed her honeyed shoulders. The seaside sun had done her body good as far as Mark was concerned, and between her beauty and her soft, melodic laugh, Mark was too mesmerized to eat.
Orion took the seat next to her, of course. Mark didn’t miss the way he constantly leaned toward her. Always in her space. Talking low and slow the way men do when they believe they still have access. Staking his claim for all to see. Every time Orion made her laugh, Mark’s fork scraped a little harder against his plate.
He wasn’t proud of what he was becoming, but he wasn’t trying to stop it, either. Because the truth was, she’d awakened something that he thought was long gone.
And dammit, every time she looked up and met his gaze, it was like an electric pulse sparking right underneath his skin, jolting him, making him simmer with lust.
His phone buzzed.
I think it’s only fair that you get to see my dress before everybody else.
He looked up just in time to catch her glancing his way. He hid his smile, waiting a beat before he responded.
After lunch?
Tell me where to be
There’s a casita at the back of the house. Meet me there
;)
“What you smilin’ about?” Orion asked, staring with disapproval.
Sunny set her phone face-down beside her plate. “Tigra keeps texting me.”
Orion raised a skeptical eyebrow. “She’ll be here tomorrow. She can’t let you live for twenty-four hours?”
Sunny took a sip of her Aperol spritz, content to ignore her ex-husband.
“You know she gets on my nerves,” he continued. “I can just imagine the shit she’s talking about me.”
“Contrary to what you might believe,” she said coolly, “not everything is about you.”
“Whatever,” he muttered. “I’m still trying to figure out why I didn’t see you last night.”
“Because I didn’t come to your room,” she said plainly.
At the far end of the table, Davion tuned out of the conversation between Brooklyn and Drew. His eyes were drawn to the trainwreck that was his mother and father’s relationship. Always in each other’s faces, dancing on the line between love and hate. He couldn’t understand it. It was mostly on his father, but his mother seemed to entertain it more than she’d ever admit.
“We only got one more night,” Orion pressed. “So I’m saying—“
“It’s probably not gonna happen, Ry.” Sunny dipped a chunk of bread in olive oil. “You should focus on your girlfriend.”
Mark couldn’t hear their conversation, but his eyes were fixed on the olive oil dripping off of Sunny’s fingers. He would have given anything to lick—
“Daddy, did you get my text?”
He tore his eyes away, bringing them to his daughter.
“Yes, Brookie. I got it.”
Sunny watched their exchange, feeling wistful. The relationship they had, the way Kez doted on Brooklyn, entertaining all her moods and whims, always gentle and loving…it was a turn-on.
