Page 47 of Close to My Heart

“You don’t want to play our part of happy couple at midnight?” Sutton asked as we walked deeper into the gardens along the stone path.

“I wanted to be alone.”

She grimaced. “I know my family can be a bit much.”

“It’s not that.” We should have stayed and kissed in front of everyone, but I wanted to be alone with her. And I couldn’t tell her that I wanted to kiss her in private. She’d want to know why.

When we’d reached the fountain in the middle of the gardens, there was a decorated tree on top with lights. I checked my phone, then started the countdown.

“Ten, nine, eight?—”

Sutton tipped her head to the side. “Wes, are you planning?—”

“Seven, Six.” I took her glass and set it on the stone surface, wanting our hands to be free.

Sutton’s eyes widened at my movement. “What are you doing?”

“Five, four.” Then I moved so that there was an inch of space between us and cupped her cheeks. “Three, Two.”

“Wes?” Sutton managed to squeak.

“I’m kissing my fiancée at midnight. One.” Then I slowly lowered my lips to hers, kissing her softly as cheers sounded from the party.

I coaxed her lips apart, then slipped my tongue inside, exploring her.

Her hands gripped the lapels of my jacket as if she were holding onto me to remain grounded. Tingles raced down my spine. I was finally kissing Sutton Rosesmith like I’d always wanted to. I forced myself to take it slow, not to give into the driving passion that made me want to lift her and press her against the nearest wall.

The cheers from the party had died down by the time I pulled back. Her eyes were wide, and her cheeks were pink from the cold and what we’d just shared.

If I had any doubt in my mind before, I didn’t now. This woman was the one for me.

Her chest still heaving, she asked, “Why did you do that?”

“I’m not allowed to kiss my fiancée?” I asked, giving her a chance to tell me she didn’t want this.

Sutton gestured between us. “I thought—you know, that this wasn’t real.”

“It’s as real as you want it to be.” When she didn’t respond right away, I continued as a way of self-preservation. “We have to be convincing. Wouldn’t newlyweds steal off to kiss in the gardens?”

Sutton’s gaze cleared a bit. “Yeah, that’s believable.”

I hated giving myself that out, but I wasn’t sure she was into me. There was chemistry, but did she have feelings?

“And since it’s our tradition to dance everywhere we go, I thought we could dance for at least one song before we go back.” I fired up a song on my phone, hit Play, and set it down.

I held my hand out to her, and she came willingly. I wrapped my hand around hers and the other on her lower back, pulling her closer to shield her from the wind.

Her cheek was pressed against my chest. “You’re more romantic that I thought you’d be.”

“We’ve never talked much about this part of our relationships, and I have to be honest, I don’t think I’ve felt this way before. I want to do things for you.”

“Maybe it’s because we’re friends.”

I could tell she was searching for any reason for this thing between us to make sense. She wasn’t a romantic. She was a realist who’d been denied love at a young age. She wouldn’t be easy to convince, but I was a patient guy, at least when it came to her. “Yeah, maybe.”

She looked up at me. “Thank you for being my plus-one tonight.”

“It would have looked odd if your fiancé didn’t come to a party.” My voice was gruff.

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