Page 21 of Just Between Us

“Oh! Come on, ladies ... it’s almost time for the bouquet toss.” MJ circled a finger around the table. “Then the guys have something special too.”

Sylvie shook her head. “Isn’t this just for single people?”

Kate chimed in. “Sloane wanted everyone to feel included. Looks like we’re all suffering now.” She stood and the rest of the women followed. As they walked away, MJ looped her arm into Veda’s, leaning in to whisper something I couldn’t hear.

I was transfixed by the shape of Veda’s ass as they moved toward the dance floor. MJ turned to enthusiastically nod and mouth something likeVeda. She shot me a thumbs-up from behind Veda’s back.

Oh, she’s going tolovethis.

The girls were definitely up to something.

Sure enough, when Sloane launched her bouquet behind her, the women parted like the sea, leaving an unprepared Veda to catch the flowers. She bobbled it once but with a determined snatch held the bouquet in a firm grip inches before it hit the floor.

A breathy smile slipped out as she adjusted her dress with her free hand, and my heart flopped over.

We then learned that Abel planned to toss an empty whiskey box, the bottle being awarded to the lucky winner. It was a relief because if you stop to think about it, publicly removing a garter fromhis new wifeand then tossing it into a crowd of rowdy dudes is super fucking weird.

The DJ came over the speaker. “All right, gentlemen, let’s get you lined up. The winner will receive a Macallan double cask whiskeyanda dance with this lovely young lady.”

He gestured toward Veda, and her cheeks flared pink. My eyebrows pitched higher.

Game on.

I scrambled from my seat to take to the dance floor. The men exchanged friendly shoves as we waited for Abel to take his position in front of us.

“Twenty bucks says the box is mine.” Lee Sullivan tipped his chin at my brother JP.

“Make it a hundred and then maybe we’ll talk,” JP fired back with a smug huff.

Lee grinned. My toes bounced with unreleased energy. I didn’t give two shits about that whiskey, but I wanted that fucking dance.

Music played as Abel gave us his back and tossed the box over his head.

I took off like a shot, launching myself into the air. I used Lee’s back as a springboard to hoist myself higher. My arm stretched, and when my hand connected with the slim blue box, I tucked it into my armpit. Lee tumbled forward, taking me with him.

We crashed to the floor and rolled. A chair was overturned. The crowd parted and we laughed. From the ground, Lee took a cheap shot, punching me in the arm, and I laughed only harder. I leaped to my feet, dusting off my slacks before reaching down to haul Lee up.

With a shove he left me to scoop Annie into his arms and leave the dance floor.

The whiskey box was mangled, crushed under our weight. I held it like a baby in the crook of my arm and sauntered toward the DJ booth. When I reached Veda, I grinned, tossing the box onto the table beside me.

“You’re reckless.” She crossed her arms. Veda’s icy stare warmed my blood.

My lips scrunched. “Resourceful. Determined.” When the slow song started, I held open my arm and gestured toward the dance floor. “They’re all waiting.”

Her eyes darted around to see every guest’s eyes locked on us. A pained smile spread across her face as she stepped into my embrace. I held her, without shame, as we swayed to the music.

Veda’s perfume was rich and heady—not sickly sweet like many girls wore but a woman’s fragrance with notes of musk and something floral. It was alluring and sexy.

I drew in a deep lungful and held it.

“Did you just sniff me?” she asked, a slight ring of annoyance on the edges.

I chuckled. “I did. You smell nice.”

A noncommittal huff was her only response.

I held her close, pressing my palm into the center of her back. Heat pulsed between us. My hunch that Veda wasMsBlackCatscratched at my brain, but I wasn’t sure how you asked someone whether she happened to frequent an app that provided users with varying levels of sex work.

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