Page 63 of The Wedding Deal
Chapter Twenty-Four
There was nothing like a wedding to make you long for a relationship, long for a person who’d look at you like his world revolved around you and who would always be there for you.
For the past several months, Charlotte had congratulated herself on realizing that she didn’t need anyone. Patted herself on the back for giving up on the idea of being a part of a duo, because when it came down to it, she’d been mostly alone a large chunk of her life, and she was best that way. She got to choose when she did things and how, and no one hurt her feelings, and…
It was all bullshit. As much as she’d tried to convince herself she’d be perfectly happy as a me, myself, and I, she’d seen the Quaids and how they were all there for each other. She wanted that. To be part of something more. To have a group that’d be more supportive than draining.
The damn love bug was in full force this evening, and she’d caught it bad.
Honestly, even if she weren’t in a decorated reception center, surrounded by dressed-up people who’d been telling stories about the couple even before they’d walked down the aisle, the longing would still be there.
Because that guy standing up front next to his brother had made it rise up and take hold. Not only was he devastatingly sexy and smart, he listened to her and valued her opinion. The way he held her and kissed her… It made her feel things she thought she’d never feel.
He caught her eye and gave her a devilish smile that sent her stomach somersaulting.
I’m falling so hard.
Panic roiled inside her, but on its heels came the reminder of how things had changed. They’d lowered their walls and let each other in. He’d called her his Sam, told her he didn’t know what he’d do without her, and said he wanted to be with her. That made it okay to embrace the fall.
Right?
Her phone chimed, and her eyes flew wide.
Shit, shit, shit.She’d been sure she silenced it.
This dress didn’t exactly have pockets, either, so she’d shoved it into her cleavage and now…well, now if she didn’t go digging—witnesses be damned—it might chime again.
Or worse, ring.
The people around her gave her stern, reproachful glares as she unearthed her phone.
Her thumb quickly flicked the switch to silence it, and her gaze snagged on Lance’s— He was looking at her, fighting a laugh.
She tried to silently convey with her expression it wasn’t funny. Not to mention it was basically his fault. After all, she’d only turned it on again so that if someone texted back about…
O-M-G!Excitement zipped through her as she read the words on her phone screen, one strong blast after another, and she fought the urge to dance-bounce in her seat.
Since she didn’t want to disturb the wedding any more than she accidentally had, she dropped her phone in her lap and concentrated on the ceremony. The bride and groom were about to exchange vows.
They said beautiful things about each other and to each other, and promised a lifetime of love and laughter, and Charlotte let the romance of it all sweep her away.
As soon as the groom kissed the bride, Charlotte again sought out Lance.
Their gazes locked, and desire and affection melded together and streaked through her body. Right then and there, she decided she was going to stop holding back and second-guessing everything and just let herself enjoy being a girl who was dangerously close to being in love.
She filed out along with her row, showing great restraint by not pushing through the crowd like a running back determined to reach the goal line.
Finally, a hole opened up. She quickened her pace and dodged and weaved. The crowd parted, and she searched for that dark head of hair and the blue eyes.
There.
Since there were still too many people between them, Charlotte pointed at her phone and then surreptitiously held up her thumb, keeping it against her sternum.
It took him a second, and then his eyes flew wide, his smile widening to dazzling range.
He understood. The Mustangs had just acquired their quarterback.
A woman tried to catch his attention, her intent to flirt clear, but he politely brushed her off, his eyes still on Charlotte. He started her way, the crowd parting more easily for him than they had for her.
