Page 39 of Somebody To Love

Really? Because she was pretty sure she was the one near death here.

“Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

With one last longing look and a soft kiss, he tugged her back into the party where she had to finish the night, indulge in a bridal sleepover, and get through an entire wedding all while ignoring her body’s demand to jump BJ’s bones. Now that she’d said yes, she found all her doubts had vanished, or they were hidden by the cloud of lust she found herself encased in. Maybe once she and BJ actually had sex, her mind would clear, and she’d realize she miscalculated.

She hated being wrong about anything, but as she glanced out on the dance floor where BJ had once again resumed his playful interactions with his various cousins, she smiled. For once in her life, Penny realized she didn’t care about being wrong. Not when what just happened felt so damn right.

CHAPTER 16

“There’s still time to hop in the car and bail,” BJ nudged Del with his shoulder, but his little brother just grinned, checking the mirror and straightening his tie.

“Only if that car is heading to the restaurant so I can marry the love of my life.”

Love of his life? Damn, when did his carefree goof-off brother get so freaking sappy? He loved how happy Cassie made Del. He was excited for them today. But he did not understand how people could bind their life to someone else without worrying about what could happen in the future. It didn’t make sense to promise to love and honor someone for the rest of your lives when life was so fragile. It could be cut short at a moment’s notice and then all those plans and promises you had got flushed right down the toilet.

“Wow, someone call Cassie and tell her that her future husband has been replaced with a replicant, because there is no way our little brother is this sappy.” He nudged Ace, but his twin merely grunted.

“How the hell do you tie these damn things? And what idiot decided it would be a good idea for us to wear bow ties?” Ace struggled with his tie, the vein in his forehead that pulsed when he got angry, throbbing.

“I did,” Del grinned. “Because today is all about me, and I wanted to look suave while you both look like jackasses.”

He snorted. “Ha! That’s where you are wrong, brother dear. Today is not about you.”

His brother turned to face him. “Oh really? Then who is my wedding day about?”

He shared a look with his twin, silently laughing because their little brother still had a lot to learn.

“It’s about the bride, of course,” a loving voice said.

He and his brothers turned their heads at the soft, familiar voice. Their mother entered the room, a vision in deep blue. Her dark brown hair, flecked with strands of silver, was twisted up in something he remembered she once called a chignon. The barest hint of makeup graced her face, accentuating the love shining from her eyes. A smile curled her lips, but her eyes shone with moisture.

“Oh Delta. My dear sweet baby boy.”

“I’m hardly a baby anymore.”

But his brother let their mother cup his face, bending him down for a forehead kiss as she used to do when they were children. “You’ll always be my baby.”

Her eyes filled again, one lone tear finally spilling over to track a wet trail down her slightly wrinkled cheek.

“I wish your father could be here to see this day. He’d be proud of you.” She sniffed, turning her head to smile at him and Ace. “Of all you kids. You’ve been such a blessing. Even in the darkest of times.”

The darkest of times.

Those first few years after their father died. His gut still clenched, thinking about it. To this day, he could see the loss and pain in his mother’s eyes. She managed better now, not like those first months where she could barely get out of bed. But he knew she wasn’t as happy as she’d once been. A light inside her had died right along with his dad. They had loved so fiercely…it humbled and terrified him all at the same time.

That kind of love…he wasn’t sure he could handle that. An all-consuming relationship like his parents had. He didn’t want to lose a piece of himself if he lost a partner. Let other people walk down the aisle to their happily ever after. He would be content with a good business, working with his annoying, but loveable siblings, and great friendships.

A different emotion clenched his gut now, hotter and lower. His mind wandered to Penny and the turn their friendship would take tonight. His body tightened just thinking about it. Like a damn soda bottle, shaken until he feared his top might blow off. The moment she said yes to him last night, it had been all he could think about. Being a good—strike that—great brother, he had focused on Del. But Penny hovered in the back of his mind.

The dress she wore last night had been killer. She rarely wore dresses. Come to think of it, the only time he’d seen her in one had been at their senior prom. An event she only agreed to go to because he wrangled her into a group date with him, Ace, and a few others. He knew she was attractive—much as she might disagree—but he’d forgotten how long and supple his best friend’s legs were. He didn’t realize how much he wanted to grab her by that sweet ass and hoist her up so she could wrap those mile-long miracles around his waist, while he spent hours exploring the secrets of that sweet mouth of hers.

Damn! He had to stop thinking like this or he’d embarrass himself in front of the entire wedding party.

Reciting multiplication tables in his head, he got his body back under control. Just in time for his mother to release Del and wrap her arms around him. He embraced his mother, chuckling to himself when she turned to Ace. His twin had never been one for displays of affection. Ace wore his broody stoic personality like a flack vest, protection from all those messy feelings. But for their mother—the woman who’d raised them, sacrificed for them—he allowed physical contact.

Even if he bore the hug with a grimace.

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