The kiss lasts a second. Barely a heartbeat of time.
And yet my whole body lights up like I’m a holiday display at Christmas time.
Our guests cheer, and I cling to his big, hard body.
Aunt Syl shouts, “Rhett Walker is officially off the market, ladies!” And everyone laughs.
“Hell, yes, he’s off the market,” I yell playfully, and the laughter grows. I wink at Rhett so he knows I’m just messing around. Though if I’m feeling possessive of him, I’ll never admit it. When I spot the three-tier cake again, I point at it. “Can we smash the cake in each other’s faces? I’ve always wanted to do that.”
He chuckles. “Whatever you want,wife.”
Baylee makes us pose for photos. We munch on pizza and wings, and I eventually reach for a beer because I don’t want to hurl later. But the best part is when we cut the cake.
Rhett and I stand armed with vanilla cake that’s filled with custard and smells amazing. “Don’t get this on my dress, or I’ll hurt you.”
We both start to feed each other, and just as I’m about to take a bite out of his hand, he gets a glint in his eye, but I beat himto it and smash my slice in his face. Screaming with laughter, I turn around, but he wraps his arms around me, lifts me off the ground, holds me to his chest, and smears it across my cheek before he shoves a piece in my mouth.
I’m laughing so hard, I almost choke.
Especially when I slide down his body, and I’m greeted with something else that’s really hard.
Good Lord, he’s built like a bull. My eyes widen as I realize what’s pressed up against my back.
“Shit,” he grumbles. “Sorry.” He pulls away, but keeps his hand on my shoulder, probably to buy himself a minute.
Why can’t I ride Rhett later? I’m so bummed I won’t get to enjoy his incredible body tonight, I could stomp. “Didn’t know foot-longs were on the menu,” I say under my breath.
After a few more photos, we wipe our faces.
As it starts to get dark, someone cranks a stereo through the open windows of the house. Mav hops up on a picnic table and yells, “Let’s get the happy couple out here for a dance!” He jumps down and half-tackles Rhett, who laughs.
Ryan Hunt’s newest hit, an enchanting love song about his wife, blares through the quiet night. I take a deep breath when Rhett grabs my hand and leads me across the backyard to the concrete patio.
When he pulls me into his arms, Mav starts barking like an idiot. Baylee elbows him in the gut, and I laugh. If anyone in our group of friends was going to get married, I always thought it would be them, but based on the sexy little blonde following him around, that’s not happening anytime soon.
As Rhett and I sway, I try to keep from pressing against him, but it’s difficult because I have to lean up to hold his shoulders.
He had a rock-hard erection earlier.
The intrusive thought makes my heart speed up, but I remind myself it was just his body reacting to having me rub against him, nothing more.
I finally brave a look at my husband.
He’s already staring at me. “How’s your ankle?”
His dark eyes have the thickest lashes. All the men in this family have beautiful eyes, and if this was real, I wouldn’t feel so conflicted about losing myself in their depths.
“Hurts a little, but the alcohol helps.”
“We’ll get you off your feet after this. Get you a bag of ice.”
“I’ll be fine.” As much as I’m enjoying being this close to him, I’m looking forward to getting away from him later tonight. Too much of Rhett is a bad thing. I need some solid boundaries if I’m going to survive the next few months with my heart intact.
Was I being honest with him about not being able to fall in love? To an extent. I’ve never come close to being in love with any of my boyfriends, and I’ve tried.
Do I think I could fall in love with Rhett? All too easily, which is why I’m hoping my heart can stay aloof like it always does.
When the song is over, Aunt Sylvia comes up to us, dangling something off her finger. “These are the keys to Love Bird cabin next to Firefly Lake. It’s yours for the weekend. It’s my wedding gift to you and Rhett. Y’all deserve a little honeymoon.”
