Page 56 of Irresistible

Everyone calls out their floor number and April pushes the buttons. Sutton and Callum get off first, my room is on the next floor, the girls’ suite is two floors up, and the couples’ suites are on the highest level.

Right before I get off, Scarlett is saying, “It would’ve been fun to rent a house for all of us to stay in, but—”

“It’s probably best that we’re not all sharing walls,” Holly says, laughing.

“Right.” Scarlett laughs.

The elevator dings and I shift past Marlow. Her breath hitches as I brush against her and I’m glad that I can escape to my room before my hands get a mind of their own.

* * *

An hour and a half later,I walk into the over-the-top bar and laugh when I see my brothers and Jamison already there with their drink of choice—well, all but Theo. They’re surrounded by massive floral arrangements, the chandeliers and brocaded wallpaper not quite the vibe we’re used to in Landmark Mountain.

“No sign of the happy couple?” I ask.

“Nope.” Sutton grins. “And since they can’t seem to keep their hands off of each other for more than five minutes, I suspect they’ll be the last to show.”

“Scarlett went to get ready with the girls—only reasonIgot here on time.” Jamison smirks.

Callum shakes his head at him, his voice a low rumble. “No.”

“No?” Jamison repeats.

“What Callum is trying to say so eloquently is that we don’t want to hear about our sister’s sexual exploits.” I make a face with those last three words, suddenly feeling slightly ill.

Sutton and Callum both groan in unison.

“Sorry.” I shudder.

Jamison laughs. “Fair enough. I wasn’t raised with a sister, so I can only compare it to hearing my niece Ivy being talked about like that one day.” His face pales. “Shit,” he mutters, gulping down his drink.

“Party’s here,” Scarlett calls.

We all turn toward the door and the girls walk in, dressed to kill. My eyes zero in on Marlow and holy fuck, I can’t even breathe right. I loosen my tie, determined to ditch it the minute Scarlett’s back is turned.

Marlow’s in a skin tone dress that shimmers in the light and accentuates every curve. Her long, wavy hair bounces down her back, and her legs look a mile long in her short dress and heels. Her nipples peak just enough to be completely tantalizing, and so help me, I don’t know what I’ll do if she turns around and reveals her perfect ass in that dress.

Being around her is becoming brutally painful. I run my hands through my hair, giving it a hard tug. Sutton frowns at me and turns to see what I’m reacting to, and it’s a good thing Theo and Sofie walk in when they do. We all cheer and pink drinks are brought out for the girls, while the bartender tops off the rest of ours.

We clink glasses and Sofie and Theo kiss. Everyone cheers and sips their drinks, and I’m so focused on Marlow that I see the moment Sofie squeezes Marlow’s shoulder, a shocked expression on Sofie’s face.

“I just realized this is the day, right?” Sofie lifts her glass in the air and does a loud yelp.

Marlow’s eyes dance, her smile huge and happy. “Well, it’s not something I was going to advertise when we’re celebrating your upcoming wedding, but yes.”

She presses her lips together and her eyes flit to mine for a second, barely landing on me before looking away again. She swallows and I watch the way her neck moves, the slight flush rising on her skin.

“My divorce is final,” she says.

I gulp. My stomach dips down to the floor and up again within a matter of seconds.

“Her divorce is final,” Sofie yells. “Woohooooo!”

Theo starts cheering and then Sutton, and everyone else joins in…except me. I stand there taking in this beautiful woman. I’d like to say I’m a gentleman and I’ll give her a chance to revel in being single, but fuck that. She can shoot me down if she needs time, but I’m not wasting another second hiding how I feel.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

BE STILL MY RACING HEART

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