Page 26 of The Love of Secrets

“Thanks for the dance, Alex.” Hazel says as she taps my chest.

Looking down at her hand that sits on my chest just over my heart, I automatically reply, “No thank you, Haze.”

As she pulls her hand away, she looks up in my eyes and they soften a bit and I hate it. I hate how I see the pity in everyone’s eyes, now that I’m the last Hernandez brother and have no prospects in sight.

“You know Alex, you deserve to find someone, too.”

Lifting the right side of my mouth, giving her my signature smirk, “You know Hazel, I’m not meant to settle down. Who would satisfy all the ladies?” Winking at her as I put my brother out of his misery and walk away from his new wife.

Looking over my shoulder, watching the two of them as my brother fills in for me, as her dance partner. A longing feeling fills my chest. Something hard and wet hits my chest. What the hell is happening right now? A soft feminine voice fills my ears, drawing my attention.

“Oh shit. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

Glancing down at my chest, red wine drips down my white dress shirt. Fuck. That’s going to be a bitch to get it out. “I really am sorry.”

I look over at her and her beautiful brown eyes meet mine and my jaw drops. My eyes never leave her while she grabs a napkin from a nearby table and dabs at my chest. With every touch of hers, my body jolts, as if an electric current runs through me. Sweat beads up on my forehead as my brows furrow. I’ve felt nothing like this before.

Taking her in, she’s donned a silky champagne colored dress that clings to every luscious curve of her body with a slit that gives a peek of her thigh. I swear I get a peek at a flower tattoo; I want to see what it is and how far it goes. Black hair hangs down her back in loose curls. My cock thickens in my pants, and I have to adjust my stance, so she doesn’t notice.

I need to stop this before I do something I shouldn’t at my brother’s wedding. My hand wraps around her wrist, stopping her from continuing to clean me up. “It’s okay, love. But I need you to stop right now.”

Her eyes go wide with my words as she takes a step back from me. She recovers quickly, giving me a soft smile as she shuffles through her bag. “Let me pay for your dry-cleaning bill, at least.”

How did I not notice that giant black bag before.? Was I that engrossed in her?

“You don’t have to. Seriously, it’s not a big deal.”

“I insist.” She says as she pushes her business card toward me.

Nodding, I grab the card from her hand. “Well, since your last drink ended up on me, let me buy you another?” Tipping my head toward the bar.

She lets out a soft giggle. “It’s an open bar.”

“Even better. Come on, love. Let me do this for you.”

“Okay.” she whispers as we make our way toward the bar.

“Do you want another red wine?”

She nods as I turn toward the bartender. “Can I get a red wine for the pretty lady and a beer for me?”

Once the bartender leaves to go grab our drinks, I turn toward her. “I’m Alex. And you are?”

She clears her throat. “I’m Fiona.”

“How do you know the bride and groom?”

Fiona gives me a knowing smile as she lifts her bag as she replies, “I’m the photographer. How about you?”

Of course. How did I not realize? The wedding was such a whirlwind. I mean, I saw her before but when she ran into me, I didn’t put to in two together.

“The groom is my brother.”

“Aww…I should’ve known. You resemble him.”

The bartender comes back, interrupting our conversation as he places our drinks down in front of us. Handing her drink to her. “Are you done for the night?”

“Mostly. I want to take a few of them leaving the reception.” She says as she glances around the room. “Do you know when that is? I don’t see them.”

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