Page 78 of House of Desire

Her face falls.

“I think we should just be friends first. We were on a show where emotions were running high and we deserve to get to know one another without cameras in our faces.”

My heart falls a little, but the fact she didn’t say no keeps me hopeful.

“You can never have too many friends,” I tell her, and her smile seals one of the cracks inside me. The song changes to something faster paced, but we continue swaying at the edge of the dance floor. I will dance every minute of this reception if she will let me hold her in my arms.

“Beautiful wedding,” she says, conversationally. “Charlie’s dress was gorgeous. She looked perfect.”

“Not as perfect as you.”

Her blush is enchanting and when her lips part, I lean down. But as our lips are about to touch, she pulls back.

“Just friends, remember?” she says. I refuse to let the disappointment last longer than a few seconds.

“Sorry, yes, just friends,” I tell her. My arms relax just a bit, letting her gain some space but not run away.

“It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you, Parker. I do. But maybe that would make things too blurry?”

Her words make me bold.

“What if, maybe, we have a ‘what happens at the wedding, stays at the wedding’ night? When we get back home, friends only.”

I can see her thinking, mulling over my proposition.

“Tempting. I’ll let you know.”

“Deal.”

The night continues. Drinks flow and the dancing goes from cute and fun to down and dirty. Courtney gets drunk and makes out with her husband on the dance floor like she promised, grinding on him like they are going to make baby number two later tonight. Charlie dances around like a demented show girl, Anastasia trying not to get hit by a flying limb as she dances with her and Lorelei. Tank stands near them, swaying on his crutches, his attempt at dancing with his wife. Alec sits at the table, nursing a drink, but his eyes don’t leave his bride.

“She is an awful dancer,” I say, taking a seat next to him, my words slurring ever so slightly.

“Absolutely no sense of rhythm, but I didn’t marry her for her ability to dance.”

“That’s obvious. Congratulations again.”

“Thank you,” he says, finally looking at me. “How’s staying with Anastasia?”

“Absolute fucking torture, thanks for asking.”

His mouth lifts in a bit of a smirk.

“That’s how I felt every time I had to watch Charlie and you flirt for the audience.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t beat the shit out of me for kissing her, regardless that it was to sell the ‘romance’ to the people at home,” I admit. Somehow, we’ve never had this conversation before and maybe their wedding isn’t the place, but here we are.

“Because that would have hurt her chances. And I couldn’t step foot in the house or I’d be fired.”

“That didn’t stop you later though,” I say, referencing when he went in to protect her from the villain of our season that was oddly obsessed with her. And then them having sex in the library.

“I was still trying to follow the rules when you kissed her. I loved her by the time I went into the house.”

We fall quiet, watching the group dance for a bit longer before Alec finally decides to take my best friend back to their room to sleep off her over exuberance. The rest of the guests begin leaving and I go find Anastasia as she says goodnight to Lorelei.

“Ready to go back to our room?” I ask, as she turns to me. Her cheeks are flushed and she’s a little sweaty, but she’s gorgeous.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

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