Page 64 of Tamed By You

“Mr. and Mrs. Lawson would like to invite you all to join them on the dance floor,”the band announces.

“May I have this dance?” Harry asks, his voice low. I can't speak. I've lost the ability to use my words, so I simply nod.

His hands drift to my waist and I wrap my arms around his neck. He pulls me closer, so my cheek rests on his chest. I crane my neck to look up at him, and dear god, the glint in his eyeand the grin that shows his Colgate-worthy smile have my knees going weak.

Get it together, Ali girl, we don’t fall.

Harry glides us round the dancefloor like a pro and I let him take the lead. Usually, I'd fight him, but I don't want to, not in this moment. The music changes to something more up tempo and spins me out and then back to him, dipping me and a laugh escapes me. He repeats the movement, and my laughter grows louder, earning a deep chuckle from him.

I feel drunk on happiness. I don't think I have ever felt so carefree as I do at this moment, especially with a guy.

“Well, look at you two getting along,” Jack says as he and Ria dance past us. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“Consider it our wedding gift to you both,” Harry teases.

“Yeah, a one-night special. Enjoy it,” I add.

Ria and Jack both shake their heads before they vanish off into the crowd.

“One night, hey?” I’m so close I can feel his heart beating erratically in his chest. I look up at him, my own heart rate matching his. Our lips dangerously close, not caring if anyone notices, I edge closer.

“I think we both know me and you can never be just one night,” he says just low enough for me to hear.

The song ends, and he presses a kiss to my cheek and leaves the dance floor. I’m stood there bewildered.

No, we could never just be one night, but we can’t be more because my head and my heart simply will not allow it.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Harry

The guests start to make their way to their rooms, leaving just a few of us to gather in the bar area. Ali is talking animatedly with Harley and Kate as they watch over Gabby, who has fallen asleep across some chairs.

I can't help but look at her and my heart feels warm. She's the youngest in our group and we all feel a little protective of little Gabby.

“I had better get going,” Noah says raising his drink and draining the contents.

I hate that he has to go so soon. I miss him. “It’s good to see you, bud. When will we see you again?”

He runs a palm over his jaw and sighs. “Not sure. This next tour is going to be long one, but you know me, I’ll pop up when you least expect it.”

I clap his back and lean in, feeling myself getting choked up. We’ve been through so much, seen so much together, I don’t think any of us will feel whole again until he leaves the special forces and comes back home to us, permanently.

“You stay safe, brother, okay? Promise me.”

He pulls back from the embrace and sniffs. “I always do. You make sure he takes care of my baby sister okay,” he says with a playful smile.

“He will,” I nod. He leaves and I take the moment alone to finish my drink and take a deep breath. What a day. I love a good wedding and it puts ideas in my head. Do I want this one day? Never really imagined myself settling down, but watching Jack do it makes me want to. Watching what he has, the happiness he feels when he’s around Ria. I want that.

I raise my head when I hear Ali’s voice. “Brad.” I watch as Ali points to Gabby, gesturing for him to pick her up.

“Guess I’m on Gabby duty,” he grumbles, walking past me placing his empty glass down on the bar.

Brad takes off his tux jacket, draping it over Gabby, and then scoops her up. She looks so fragile in his big arms. He looks down and smiles. Brad might seem like a miserable fucker, but I know better.

I head over to where Ali and Brad stand.

“... thank you. I'll be up in a second. Here’s the key,” Ali says, popping the key card between Brads fingers then stroking Gabby’s hair out of her face.