Page 93 of A Lesson for Laurel

In her mind, she wanted something modern and sexy, almost slinky.

Just another sign in her mind that what should have been her choice wasn’t and she wondered where her mind was that she’d gone along with it.

Maybe she should look into selling the gown. No reason to keep it. It’s not like she’d wear it for someone else when it was not even something she loved.

When she saw Ivy in that style, she just knew right away that she’d never be able to pull it off.

They got to Mona’s for the reception and people were finding their tables to sit at and walking around mingling.

“And who are you?” Violet asked, coming over with her husband, Trace.

She’d met Trace before, as she’d gone to his house for New Year’s Eve. Sage and her boyfriend, Knox, had been there too and now Sage was engaged.

“This is Easton Cooke,” she told Violet. “My boyfriend.”

“It made the rounds you weren’t going to be alone, but I guess I wasn’t expecting this. You two look like you could be on a runway.”

She laughed and turned to see Easton’s face. He was almost blushing. “He’s fancy that way.”

He hadn’t shaved and she was glad about that. She liked his facial hair on him, but he kept it trimmed.

“Easton, this is Violet and Trace Mancini. And coming over is Trace’s sister, Sage. She works in the main office with Ivy, and her fiancé, Knox Bradford.”

Easton shook hands with them and many more before the night was over.

They’d danced together, plenty of slow songs, then left when the wedding was winding down.

“I’m so ready to get you out of this dress.”

“I’m ready to get it off too,” she said.

“Shoes stay,” he said. “I danced.”

“You did dance. You held me close and whispered how sexy I was in my ear and have been turning me on for hours. Before we even left I was turned on.”

“What every man wants to hear.”

“I only want one man though,” she said.

31

HE WAS THAT MAN

The buzzing in his ears was a siren of Laurel’s words saying she only wanted one man.

He was that man.

Easton was going to show her how much he wanted her before this night was over.

They got into her house and up the stairs to her room. An attic that had been converted, he was sure, since the ceiling wasn’t as high as it was downstairs and the walls angled down.

It worked for her and that was all that mattered.

He’d set up his laptop up on a desk in a spare room and worked here yesterday. It wasn’t that big of a deal and something he could consider easily in the future to spend more time with her.

And the way her ass was swishing in front of him as they climbed those stairs and she did a little twirl in front of him on those sexy heels, he knew that he’d do anything to get back here quickly.

“Come here,” she said, reaching for him, grabbing his arm, and giving him a little tug toward her.

---